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Sunday, June 8, 2014

The Ten Commandments


Remembering The Ten Commandments

1. Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

[One rhymes with sun.  Some people have worshipped the sun.
One also rhymes with none.  God tells that we should have NONE -- no other gods before Him.]

You can also show one finger for "one."  Point it to heaven to indicate one God.





2.  Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image.

Two rhymes with zoo.  There are statues of lions at the gate of the zoo.  We can make statues, but we should not worship them -- or anything else but God.
Hold up two fingers.  If you worship an idol, you are worshipping TWO gods.







3.  Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.

Put up three fingers.  That also is the sign for W.  W stands for words.  Watch your words. Do not take the Name of God in vain.
Three also rhymes with tree.  A man was chopping down a tree.  His ax slipped and he cut his foot.  Even if you're hurt, don't take the Name of God in vain.
Also, a leaf on a tree has veins. Don't take the name of God in vein/vain.





 4. Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy.

Hold up four fingers.
Four rhymes with door. Picture yourself using those four fingers on one side of the door opener with your thumb on the other side, opening the doors of the church. There are other doors you will NOT open on the Sabbath.  What doors will you open and not open on the Sabbath Day?







5. Honor thy father and they mother.

 Hold up five fingers.  Now use that whole hand to salute your parents.
Also, five rhymes with alive.  This commandment tells us that our days will be long if we honor our parents.



6.  Thou shalt not kill.

 Hold up six fingers.  Take the hand with just one finger held up and pretend is is a gun.
 Six rhymes with sticks.  Do not use guns or sticks to kill.

Or use this story:

     During the Zion’s Camp expedition in the summer of 1834, an incident occurred that allowed a practical application of concern for animal life. As related by the Prophet Joseph Smith in his history:

“In pitching my tent we found three massasaugas or prairie rattlesnakes, which the brethren were about to kill, but I said, ‘Let them alone—don’t hurt them! How will the serpent ever lose his venom, while the servants of God possess the same disposition, and continue to make war upon it? Men must become harmless, before the brute creation; and when men lose their vicious dispositions and cease to destroy the animal race, the lion and the lamb can dwell together, and the sucking child can play with the serpent in safety.’ The brethren took the serpents carefully on sticks and carried them across the creek. I exhorted the brethren not to kill a serpent, bird, or an animal of any kind during our journey unless it became necessary in order to preserve ourselves from hunger.” (Documentary History of the Church, vol. 2, pp. 71–72.) Found at https://www.lds.org/ensign/1972/08/the-gospel-and-animals?lang=eng









7. Thou shalt not commit adultery.


Hold up seven  fingers.   On the hand showing two fingers, cross those fingers.  Mom and Dad should always be close, always stay together.
Also, seven rhymes with heaven, and you won't be with your family in heaven if you commit adultery.





8.  Thou shalt not steal.

Hold up eight fingers.  Use the hand with five fingers to grab (steal) the hand with three fingers.
Eight rhymes with gate and people put up fences and gates to keep out the people who would steal.







9.  Thou shalt not bear false witness. (lie)

Nine sort of rhymes with "lyin'."
Hold up nine fingers, then put both hands over your mouth.  No lying, please.







10.  Thou shalt not covet.

Hold up all ten fingers.  Then reach out with your hands as if you are trying to grab all of the stuff.  When you covet you want it all.
Ten also sounds a lot like "tent."  A tent covers.  COVER  sounds like COVET.
If you'd like a reminder about how the Israelites received the Ten Commandments, watch these videos.   Moses had led them out of Egypt, they had crossed the Red Sea on dry land, and the Lord had provided manna and quail for them to eat in the wilderness.  As the first video begins, they have reached Mount Sinai and are camped there.

1. https://www.lds.org/friend/online-activities/videos/scripture-stories/old-testament?

lang=eng#19-the-ten-commandments

2. https://www.lds.org/friend/online-activities/videos/scripture-stories/old-testament?
lang=eng#20-the-golden-calf