“Exodus 19–20; 24; 31–34: Lesson 50: Exodus 20:12–17—The Ten Commandments Help Us Love God and Our Neighbor,” Old Testament Seminary Student Manual (2026)
Exodus 19–20; 24; 31–34: Lesson 50
Exodus 20:12–17
The Ten Commandments Help Us Love God and Our Neighbor
Visit “Studying the Scriptures” to help prepare yourself spiritually to learn.
When the children of Israel were camped at Mount Sinai, the Lord revealed the Ten Commandments. By keeping the Ten Commandments, we show our love for God and others. This lesson can help you understand ways to keep commandments that will help you love God and your neighbor.
Study the Scriptures
Think about the Ten Commandments, which the Lord gave to Moses. Many people in our day struggle to keep them. Take a moment and rank them in your opinion from 1 (most obeyed) to 10 (most broken).
If you need to review the commandments, read Exodus 20:3–17. In a previous lesson, you might have marked the commandments. If you have not, mark each of the Ten Commandments now.
In this lesson you will study more deeply the six commandments found in Exodus 20:12–17.
Understanding the Lord’s commandments can help you more fully love God and your neighbor. Use the following resources to study two or more of the commandments more deeply.
For each commandment you study, do the following:
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Link passages you study.
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Add tags that will help you find these passages later.
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Respond to the questions in your notebook.
Exodus 20:12. “Honour Thy Father and Thy Mother”
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What promise is associated with this commandment?
Read Luke 2:42–51; 22:41–42 or John 17:4–6; 19:25–27 (see also Joseph Smith Translation, John 2:4 [in John 2:4, footnote a). Look for how Jesus set an example of honoring His earthly parents and Heavenly Father.
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How can you honor your parents?
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How might doing these things influence your relationship with your parents?
Exodus 20:13. “Thou Shalt Not Kill”
In Exodus 20:13, the word “kill” was translated from a Hebrew word that means murder (see footnote a). Murder means to end another person’s life intentionally and illegally.
Read Doctrine and Covenants 59:6 to see how the Lord expanded our understanding of this commandment.
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In what ways do some media or entertainment promote violence or disrespect for human life? What can we do to avoid these types of media or entertainment?
Exodus 20:14. “Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery”
In For the Strength of Youth: A Guide for Making Choices (2022), read the eternal truth “Sexual feelings are an important part of God’s plan” (23) and the invitation “Keep sex and sexual feelings sacred” (25).
You can also read Genesis 39:9, looking for how Joseph responded when he was tempted to be unchaste.
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Why do you think sexual feelings are sacred and an important part of God’s plan?
Exodus 20:15–16. “Thou Shalt Not Steal. Thou Shalt Not Bear False Witness.”
For the Strength of Youth: A Guide for Making Choices (2022) teaches: “Love the truth so much that you would never want to steal, lie, cheat, or deceive in any way—at school, at work, online, everywhere. Be the same faithful follower of Jesus Christ in public and in private” (32).
If available, watch the video “Honesty: You Better Believe It!” (4:46).
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What are some ways that youth are tempted to lie, cheat, or steal?
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In what ways can we strive to be honest in all we do?
Exodus 20:17. “Thou Shalt Not Covet”
Coveting means having a selfish, excessive want for something that belongs to another person. Coveting can cause feelings of envy, pride, greed, and ingratitude. We can admire what others have and seek to improve our lives and circumstances. But we should do so with honest, appropriate actions.
President Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:
Coveting, pouting, or tearing others down does not elevate your standing, nor does demeaning someone else improve your self-image. So be kind, and be grateful that God is kind. It is a happy way to live. (“The Laborers in the Vineyard,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2012, 32)
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How do you think being grateful for God’s blessings can help you not to covet?
Review the following study options. Complete one or more.
Option A
How can I share the blessings of keeping the Lord’s commandments with others?
Create a public service announcement about one of the commandments you studied. Describe how it helps people love God and their neighbors. Your announcement could be written, drawn, or even recorded. Include the following:
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The commandment
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The blessings of keeping it
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The problems associated with not keeping it
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An invitation for others to keep it
Option B
How can God’s commandments help me make good choices?
Knowing and living the Lord’s commandments can bless you and others. Read the following scenarios, and think about which commandments the person could try to obey. It might help to also think about how that commandment could bless the person.
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A young man has been busy playing sports for his school team. He has missed some school and needs to make up homework and tests before his next game. He decides to use his friends’ assignments and tests to get the answers quickly.
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A young woman follows many different people on social media. She is unhappy with the way she looks and dresses. She spends a lot of time trying to look like people she sees online.
Select one of the commandments you studied. In your notebook, create your own scenario. Describe a teenager who could be blessed by living the commandment you chose. Include promised blessings and encouragements.
Share Your Thoughts
Lesson Purpose: To help you understand ways to keep commandments that will help you love God and your neighbor.
Share one or more of the following with your teacher or class:
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The public service announcement you created.
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The scenario you created.
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Something specific you did to achieve the purpose of this lesson.
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Any questions this lesson raised for you. How will you try to find answers to your questions?