The Ten Commandments: Then and Now

by Lara Goold

Materials needed: scriptures

Purpose: Teach family members all about the Ten Commandments--The history, what each means, how we can
live the commandments today, and how keeping the commandments will help us to be happy.

Scripture: Exodus 20:3-17, Doctrine and Covenants 14:7

“If ye love me, keep my commandments.” John 14:15

Songs: “Keep the Commandments”, Hymns page 303

“Dare to do Right”, Children’s Songbook, page 158
“I Will Follow God’s Plan”, Children’s Songbook, page 164

Opening song and prayer:

Lesson:
Participation Story—“Israel Worships a Graven Image”: Read the enclosed summary of the children
of Israel worshipping a graven image, while Moses was away receiving the 10 commandments. Have the
children hold up their visuals each time that word is mentioned in the story. Each word is mentioned
several times, so there will be plenty of opportunity for participation.

Discuss: Even though the Children of Israel had been witness to such great miracles (like the parting of
the Red Sea) they were still quick to revert back to their evil/traditional ways when their prophet was
away. The Ten Commandments are a gift from Heavenly Father meant to be basic guidelines for
righteous living, that even the weakest among us can live.

Enrichment Activities:
“Living the Commandments Today” Activity: Using the cards match the commandment with a
way we can live that commandment today while we’re young. These are VERY simplified. Refer to,
“Living the Commandments Today” reference sheet for more detailed examples (and scriptures).

Younger Children: Ten Commandments Fingerplay (below)

Older Children: Review the “Wickedness Never Was Happiness” Chart—use it as an opportunity to
share specific instances of how sin actually decreases your freedom, rather than increasing it as some
critics would suggest. (Drinking alcohol, although possibly fun and exciting for a moment, leads to
losing control of your mental capacities and leading you into morally and physically dangerous situations
you would never normally consider. Also mention physical sickness, possible addiction, etc. that can also
result).

Discuss: I think it’s extremely important that teens understand that there is an appealing element to most
sin, otherwise it wouldn’t be so rampant. But no matter how appealing it may seem, that there is
ALWAYS a dark side to it filled with negative consequences (in additional to the harmful spiritual effects
that result). The commandments were given to us as a basic guideline for righteous living and we will be
blessed immeasurably for keeping the commandments.

Closing song and prayer:

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Refreshments: see recipe below

Oatmeal Cake
from the Recipe Shoebox

The ingredients:
CAKE:
1-1/4 cups boiling water
1 cup instant oatmeal
1/2 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1-1/2 cups flour
1 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt

ICING:
2 Tbs. melted butter
1 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. salt
2-4 Tbs. milk

Directions: Preheat oven to 350°. Grease a 9x13-inch baking pan and set aside. Place oatmeal in a small bowl and our
boiling water over it. Let stand for 20 minutes. Meanwhile cream butter and sugars together; add eggs, vanilla, and
oatmeal. Mix well and blend in flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. Pour mixture into prepared pan. Bake for 35
minutes or until a wooden pick comes out clean. Cake will be dark brown.
FOR ICING: Mix melted butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt with a mixer. Beat in enough milk to achieve
consistency of glue. Drizzle icing over warm cake with the tines of a fork. Serve warm. Enjoy!

For more ready-to-print FHE lessons visit http://thegoldenseven.blogspot.com.

Israel Worships a Graven Image
A Participation Story

(Raise the appropriate “puppet” each time Moses, Mount Sinai, Aaron, the Children of Israel, Stone Tablets, or Gold(en) (or Calf) is mentioned. )

Moses was called up to Mt. Sinai to talk with the Lord. While Moses was on Mt. Sinai, his
brother, Aaron, was left in charge of the Children of Israel. They became restless and afraid
when Moses was away so long. They said to Aaron: “Make us gods which shall go before us;
for as for this Moses…we know not what is become of him” (Exodus 32:1)

Aaron told them to bring their gold earrings. All the Children of Israel brought their gold
earrings. Aaron took them and fashioned them into a golden calf and said to the Children of
Israel, “These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt” (Exodus
32:4). Aaron built an altar before the golden calf so the Children of Israel could worship. He
said, “Tomorrow is a feast to the Lord.” (Exodus 32:5) Early in the morning the Children of
Israel arose and made burnt offerings to the golden calf and worshipped it.

Meanwhile on Mt. Sinai the Lord spoke to Moses and gave him commandments written on two
stone tablets. Then he told Moses, “Go, get thee down; for thy people….have corrupted
themselves: They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them: they
have made a molten calf, and have worshipped it.” (Exodus 32:7-8)

Moses went down from Mt. Sinai taking the stone tablets with him. When he came near the
camp, he saw the golden calf and the Children of Israel dancing and worshipping before it.
Moses was angry. He threw the stone tablets on which the Lord had written the law with his
own hand, to the ground and broke them. Then he took the golden calf and burned it.

Afterwards Moses stood at the gate of the camp and said, “Who is on the Lord’s side? Let him
come unto me.” (Exodus 32:26) The Children of Israel who chose the Lord, gathered
themselves unto Moses. The others were destroyed because they had made a graven image and
worshipped it.

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Israel Worships a Graven Image—visuals

Moses

Aaron

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 Israel Worships a Graven Image—visuals

Mount Sinai

Stone
Tablets

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 Israel Worships a Graven Image—visuals

Gold(en)

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 Israel Worships a Graven Image—visuals

Children of Israel

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Living the Commandments Today Activity—I laminated these pages, then used packing tape to attach each
page to the next into a tri-fold booklet.

For more ready-to-print FHE lessons visit http://thegoldenseven.blogspot.com.

Living the Commandments Today Activity—I laminated these pages, then used packing tape to attach each
page to the next into a tri-fold booklet.

For more ready-to-print FHE lessons visit http://thegoldenseven.blogspot.com.

Living the Commandments Today Activity—I laminated these pages, then used packing tape to attach each
page to the next into a tri-fold booklet.

For more ready-to-print FHE lessons visit http://thegoldenseven.blogspot.com.

“Living the Commandments Today” Activity—For future reference you may want to label these cards
on the back with the corresponding commandment.

#7 “Thou shalt not commit

#9 “Thou shalt not bear false
adultery.”
witness.”

#6 “Thou shalt not kill.” #5 “Honor thy Father and thy

Mother.”

For more ready-to-print FHE lessons visit http://thegoldenseven.blogspot.com.

“Living the Commandments Today” Activity—For future reference you may want to label these cards
on the back with the corresponding commandment.

#4 “Remember the Sabbath Day, #2 “Thou shalt not make unto thee
to keep it holy.” any graven image.”

#1 “Thou shalt have no other gods #3 “Thou shalt not take the name
before me.” of the Lord thy God in vain.”

For more ready-to-print FHE lessons visit http://thegoldenseven.blogspot.com.

“Living the Commandments Today” Activity—For future reference you may want to label these cards
on the back with the corresponding commandment.

#8 “Thou shalt not steal.” #10 “Thou shalt not covet.”

For more ready-to-print FHE lessons visit http://thegoldenseven.blogspot.com.

Ten Commandments Fingerplay :

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“Wickedness Never was Happiness” Chart (from an old FHE manual published by the church)

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“Living the Commandments Today” A reference sheet for older kids and teens who are ready
for more specific details about living the commandments today.

1st commandment: “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.”

Then: Exodus 34:10-14, Deuteronomy 5:6-7 Now: D & C 76:1-4
The Lord taught Moese that God’s work is to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. Anytime his
children set anything before God in importance, at that moment they are breaking the 1 st commandment.
Worshipping God, and God only, is obedience to this commandment. Part of worshipping is listening to his
counsel, following him, loving him, trusting him, and placing no other gods before him.

2nd commandment: “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image.”
Then: Exodus 34:17, Deuteronomy 4:15-19 Now: D & C 1:15-16
When Moses was on the mountain receiving the Ten Commandments, he came down and found the Children of
Israel had made a golden calf to worship. A modern prophet has said that anything can become a “golden calf”
in our lives. When activities or material blessings become so important that they trun us away from God, we
are breaking the second commandment. Some of the graven images that people may worship today may be
money, power, cars, homes, fancy clothes, etc. Anytime we think our possessions or pursuits are more
important than worshipping Heavenly Father, then we may be worshipping a graven image.

3rd commandment: “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.”
Then: Leviticus 19:12, Deuteronomy 5:11 Now: D & C 63:61-62
When we speak of Heavenly Father or Jesus Christ, we should do so with the deepest reverence. Elder Dallin H
Oaks has explained that we take the name of the Lord in vain when we use it in an angry or irreverent way.
President Spencer W Kimball counseled that it is not enough to refrain from profanity or blasphemy. We need
to live our lives in such a way that others will not doubt our love for our Savior. Obedience to the 3 rd
commandment has as much to do with the way we live and the way we are as it does with the way we speak.

4th commandment: “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.”

Then: Exodus 31:12-17, Deuteronomy 5:12-15 Now: D & C 59:9-13
The Sabbath day was set up as a time for man to worship Heavenly Father. The activities we choose to
participate in on Sunday should be things that draw us closer to Him. The Hebrew word Shabbat means rest or
cessation of labor. But beyond simply resting from our labors on the Sabbath, we are to sanctify the day, to
make it holy. We do this by seeking to draw closer to God, worshipping him, and serving others.

5th commandment: “Honor thy father and thy mother.”

Then: Exodus 21:15, 17, Deuteronomy 21:18-21 Now: D & C 27:9
We honor our parents when we show them respect and love. Anytime a child lives righteously he brings honor
to his parents. Conversely, whenever a child is unrighteous he brings shame to his parents. When we follow
the righteous principles that our parents teach us, we are showing respect, honor, and love for them.

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6th commandment: “Thou shalt not kill.”
Then: Exodus 21:12-14, Deuteronomy 5:17 Now: D & C 42:18-19, 79
One of the most serious of all sins and crimes against the Lord’s plan of salvation is the sin or murder or the
destruction of human life. As followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, we can do something to curb the effects of
violence in our own lives and homes by looking for opportunities to relieve suffering wherever possible. We
should avoid watching violent shows and playing violent video games and if we see someone hurting an
innocent person or animal we should tell a parent or other trusted adult.

7th commandment: “Thou shalt not commit adultery.”

Then: Exodus 22:16-17, Deuteronomy 5:18 Now: D & C 42:22-26, 74-81
One of the most important responsibilities we have been given as part of the plan of salvation is that of
becoming parents. It is something that should not be taken lightly. The Lord wants each child to be born in the
covenant of eternal marriage, so that these family relationships can continue in happiness forever. By always
treating members of the opposite sex with complete respect and dignity, we can live this commandment now
while we are young. We should also keep our thoughts clean and not watch shows or read books, magazines, or
websites that will fill our minds with sinful thoughts.

8th commandment: “Thou shalt not steal.”

Then: Leviticus 19:13, Deuteronomy 5:19 Now: D & C 42:20, 84-85
Stealing involves far more than just taking property that belongs to another. There is a wide range of dishonest
behaviors that are also stealing. Cheating, lying, and stealing are all included in “thou shalt not steal.” To keep
the 8th commandment we should always respect the rights and property and needs of others. No thief will ever
get away with his crime in the end and in the long run, a thief will damage himself far more than anyone else.

9th commandment: “Thou shalt not bear false witness.”

Then: Psalm 101:7, Deuteronomy 5:20 Now: D & C 42:21, 27, 86
To bear false witness is to pass along reports, speculations or rumors that hurt another person and tell others
falsely that they are true. Peace, happiness, security, trust, and tranquility are in jeopardy when this
commandment is ignored. The consequences of bearing false witness may be as obvious as causing an
individual to be punished for crimes he did not commit. Or bearing false witness may be as subtle as the
teaching of our children, by negative example, that shading the truth is acceptable is okay as long as you won’t
get caught.

10th commandment: “Thou shalt not covet.”

Then: Proverbs 28:16, Deuteronomy 5:21-22 Now: D & C 19:25-26
To covet is to yearn for things others possess that you do not have. The 10th commandment is inseparably
integrated with all the others, as coveting could lead to the breaking of all the other commandments. We should
not permit anything to come between us and the Lord—not possessions, power, pleasure, or people.
Covetousness can be more than greedily looking upon the material possessions of others and desiring to have
them for ourselves. It may also be an inordinate desire for things that will satisfy our egos: physical
attractiveness, power and influence, even the reputation for wisdom and goodness. Covetousness, envy,
jealousy, and greed easily escalate into a vicious spiral as we seek greater and greater gratification but find less
and less contentment.

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