“Lesson 21: The Ten Commandments,” Primary 6: Old Testament, (1996),90

Flour Sugar Baking Powder Salt Eggs Milk Vanilla How would you use these ingredients to make a cake?

Instructions are necessary to be able to do what I asked you to do. How are rules and laws like instructions? You could make a cake even if you didn’t follow instructions, but you might not want to eat it. If you carefully followed the instructions of a good recipe, the cake would be good to eat.

Rules are necessary in other aspects of our lives. Name some rules we should follow to: be safe have good health have good relationships with others have eternal life

Rules bring order into our lives and are necessary for us to know how to live happily. In this lesson we will learn about Moses and the Israelites receiving the Ten Commandments. These are laws given by God to help us know what to do and how to live so we can be happy.

The Israelites were not happy when they did not follow the Ten Commandments. They were denied blessings when they disobeyed the commandments they had been given.

The Story of Moses The Israelites traveled in the wilderness for two months. They came to Mount Sinai. Moses went up the mountain. Jesus Christ spoke to him. Jesus told Moses to tell the Israelites how they had been blessed.

After the children of Israel came out of Egypt and were miraculously helped by the Lord to cross the Red Sea, they traveled to the wilderness of Sinai. When the Lord talked to Moses from Mount Sinai, He asked Moses to remind the children of Israel how He had saved them from the Egyptians Let’s read Exodus 19:4

Why was it important for them to remember this incident? Why should we always remember blessings we receive from Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ?

Jesus had led them out of Egypt Jesus had led them out of Egypt. He said the people should obey His commandments. He would bless them. Moses went down the mountain. He told the people what Jesus said. The people promised to obey. They would do what Jesus said and Jesus would bless them.

A cloud of smoke came on the mountain. Jesus was in the cloud A cloud of smoke came on the mountain. Jesus was in the cloud. The mountain shook. Jesus spoke to the people. Jesus wanted the Israelites to hear his voice. Moses told them to stand at the bottom of a mountain. The mountain was called Mount Sinai.

What was required of the Israelites to become God’s “peculiar treasure”? Let’s read Exodus 19:5–6 In the Old Testament “the Hebrew term from which peculiar was translated is segullah, which means ‘valued property’ or ‘treasure’ ” (Russell M. Nelson, in Conference Report, Apr. 1995, p. 44; or Ensign, May 1995, p. 34). What can we do to show Heavenly Father that we want to be part of his “peculiar,” or covenant, people?

What did the Israelites say when they covenanted with the Lord? Let’s read Exodus 19:8 What similar covenants have we made with the Lord? Our covenants at baptism to keep his commandments. When do we renew our covenants with the Lord? When we partake of the sacrament each week.

Why is it important to renew and remember our covenants each Sunday? What sacred opportunity did the Lord promise the Israelites if they washed their clothes and purified themselves? Let’s read Exodus 19:9–11 They were preparing themselves to be presented to God.

After the children of Israel had prepared themselves to be in the presence of the Lord, what did they see and hear? Let’s read Exodus 20:18, 22

The people heard Jesus Christ. They were afraid The people heard Jesus Christ. They were afraid. They did not want Jesus to talk to them. They wanted him to talk to Moses. Then Moses could tell them what Jesus said. Moses went back up Mount Sinai. Jesus gave other commandments for the people.

Moses told Aaron and Aaron’s two sons to come up the mountain. He also told seventy elders to come up. The men went up the mountain. They saw Jesus.

Jesus told Moses to come higher on the mountain. Jesus wrote the commandments on stone with his finger. Jesus gave Moses the commandments.

Moses was gone forty days and forty nights Moses was gone forty days and forty nights. He did not eat or drink all that time.

What did the Lord give Moses on Mount Sinai? Let’s read Exodus 24:12; 31:18 What are the Ten Commandments? The Ten Commandments were part of a more complete spiritual law that God gave Moses. 1. Thou shalt have no other gods before me (Exodus 20:3).

2. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image (Exodus 20:4). 3. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain (Exodus 20:7). 4. Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy (Exodus 20:8). 5. Honour thy father and thy mother (Exodus 20:12).

6. Thou shalt not kill (Exodus 20:13). 7. Thou shalt not commit adultery (Exodus 20:14). 8. Thou shalt not steal (Exodus 20:15). 9. Thou shalt not bear false witness (Exodus 20:16). 10. Thou shalt not covet (Exodus 20:17).

What do the commandments mean? Let’s play a game! I am going to give each of you a number from 1 to 10. Learn the commandment that goes with your number. Then, I am going to take down the Ten Commandments chart and call out random numbers. When I call your number say the commandment that goes along with it. Enrichment Activity #2

Let’s fill in the blanks! Enrichment Activity #1

All of the Ten Commandments fit under the two great commandments that Jesus Christ gave us. I am going to put on the board: Love God & Love Neighbors Let’s look up Exodus 20:3-17 Each of you will take a turn reading a commandment and writing a few key words under the appropriate heading. Enrichment Activity #3

Think of ways to live these commandments. I challenge each of you to choose one specific way to show love for God and to show love for your neighbors this week. Enrichment Activity #3

One of the seventy elders on Mount Sinai was Joshua One of the seventy elders on Mount Sinai was Joshua. He waited there for Moses. Aaron and the other men went back down the mountain.

Some of the Israelites came to Aaron Some of the Israelites came to Aaron. They said Moses had been gone a long time. They did not know what he was doing. They were tired of waiting for him. They wanted Aaron to make an idol for them to worship. They did not want to worship God.

How long was Moses on Mount Sinai? Let’s read Exodus 24:18 What did the children of Israel do because he was gone? Let’s read Exodus 32:1–4

All the men and women wore gold earrings All the men and women wore gold earrings. Aaron told them to bring the earrings to him. He made an idol out of the gold. The idol looked like a calf.

Aaron built an altar near the golden calf Aaron built an altar near the golden calf. Some of the Israelites made sacrifices on the altar. They worshiped the golden calf. It was wicked to make sacrifices to the golden calf.

Which of the Ten Commandments were the Israelites breaking in worshiping the golden calf? What kind of “graven images” or idols do people in our modern world worship?

Some people worship gods made of brass or wood, the way the Israelites worshiped the golden calf. But idol worship can also be more than that. An idol can be anything that becomes so important that it takes an inappropriate amount of our time and thought. It becomes a god to us.

Today our false gods can take such forms as money, material possessions, physical appearance, recreation, or idolizing famous athletes, actors, or musicians.

Moses was on Mount Sinai with Jesus Moses was on Mount Sinai with Jesus. Jesus said some of the Israelites were doing wicked things. They had forgotten Jesus. Jesus was angry. He said the wicked Israelites must die. He said Moses would be blessed because he was righteous.

Moses asked Jesus to remember his promise to the Israelites. Jesus had promised they would be a large family. They would have the priesthood. They would have the promised land.

Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two large stones in his hands. Jesus had written the commandments on the stones with His finger.

Moses saw the golden calf and the Israelites dancing Moses saw the golden calf and the Israelites dancing. Some had no clothes on. Moses was very angry and threw the stones down. They broke.

How did Moses react when he saw what the Israelites had done? Let’s read Exodus 32:19 Why did he break the tablets of stone? He couldn’t share such sacred things with people who were not ready to receive them.

Moses threw the golden calf in the fire. He was angry at Aaron. Moses asked Aaron why he had helped the Israelites to be wicked. Aaron said he did what the Israelites wanted him to do.

Why do you think they asked Aaron to make the golden calf? Why do you think Aaron agreed to do it? Whom did Aaron blame for his actions? Let’s read Exodus 32:22–24 What should we do instead of blaming others when we do something wrong?

Moses asked the righteous Israelites to come to him Moses asked the righteous Israelites to come to him. He said they would be blessed. He told them the wicked Israelites must die.

Jesus told Moses to bring two new stones to the top of Mount Sinai. Jesus again wrote the Ten Commandments on them. Moses took the commandments down to the people.

What did the Lord have Moses do after Moses broke the first set of tablets? Let’s read Exodus 34:1, 28

The Joseph Smith Translation of Deuteronomy 10:2 explains that these later tablets had the Ten Commandments written on them, but they no longer contained the “words of the everlasting covenant of the holy priesthood.” Because of their wickedness, the children of Israel lost the opportunity to have the higher spiritual laws.

How did Moses show great love for his people even though they had done wrong? Let’s read Exodus 32:30–32 How did the Lord show his love for the Israelites? Joseph Smith Translation, Exodus 32:14; the Lord promised to spare the Israelites if they would repent of the evil they had done.

How would keeping the Ten Commandments have blessed the children of Israel? How will keeping the Ten Commandments bless us? Why is it so important to obey the commandments?

Loss of Freedom—Unhappiness Choices I am going to put these wordstrips on opposite walls: Loss of Freedom—Unhappiness Freedom—Happiness Although Satan often makes it look like fun to break the commandments, all the choices we make have consequences. Enrichment Activity #4

When people follow Satan’s plan, at first it seems to give them more freedom. But as they continue to make wrong choices, the consequences begin to bind them. Enrichment Activity #4

For example, if people lie and cheat, they are not worthy to be in the presence of God. People who choose to keep the commandments may at first feel restricted. But as they continue to make right choices, their lives begin to open up to greater freedoms. Enrichment Activity #4

For instance, if young people stay pure and morally clean, later they will have the privilege of going to the holy temple to receive all the blessings of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Enrichment Activity #4

Each of you will get a slip of paper from this bag Each of you will get a slip of paper from this bag. Depending on what is on your paper, stand by the appropriate wordstrip. Read the action out loud and tell what the consequence might be and why it brings us happiness and freedom or unhappiness and loss of freedom. Enrichment Activity #4

Keep the Commandments 1. Keep the commandments; keep the commandments! In this there is safety; in this there is peace. He will send blessings; He will send blessings. Words of a prophet: Keep the commandments. In this there is safety and peace. 2. We are His children; we are His children, and we must be tested to show we are true. Hold to His promises; Hold to His promises, Heeding the prophets: Keep the commandments. In this there is safety and peace. Words and music: Barbara A. McConochie, b. 1940. © 1975 IRI. Obbligato by Barbara A. McConochie © 1989 IRI. Arr. by Darwin Wolford © 1986, 1989 Deseret Book Company. Used by permission. This song may be copied for incidental, noncommercial church or home use. Enrichment Activity #5

I bear my testimony that because the Lord loves us, he gives us commandments. Obeying these laws brings us happiness.

Slide 1 painting is by Jean-Jacques Gailliard Slide 1 painting is by Jean-Jacques Gailliard. Images and clipart are from lds.org, sugardoodle.net, bing & google images and Microsoft Office. Hymn and lesson materials are from lds.org. The lesson and activities are from the Primary 6 Old Testament manual. The scripture story is from Old Testament Scripture Stories from lds.org. No copyrighted materials were knowingly used in this presentation. Please do not use this presentation for commercial use.