Deuteronomy 6:1–6

Imagine you will be moving away from your loved ones. You can leave one short note of advice for them before you leave.

What counsel would you share with them? You could also include what you hope they will do or not do in the future, what you hope they will focus on in their lives, or how you feel about Jesus Christ and His gospel.

After serving as a prophet of God for 40 years, Moses instructed the Israelites to make camp on the border of the promised land. Joshua would soon lead them across the border (see Deuteronomy 31:23). Moses was able to view the promised land from a mountaintop before the Lord translated him, or took Moses unto Himself without Moses dying (see Deuteronomy 34:1–6; Alma 45:18–19). The book of Deuteronomy contains Moses’s final counsel to the people.

Read Deuteronomy 6:5. Mark what Moses told the Israelites to do. How might following this command from the Lord have helped the Israelites as they entered the promised land?

Read 1 John 4:19. Link this passage to Deuteronomy 6:5. Consider ways God has shown His love for everyone, including you.

President Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained the connection between the verses:

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The first great commandment of all eternity is to love God with all of our heart, might, mind, and strength—that’s the first great commandment. But the first great truth of all eternity is that God loves us with all of His heart, might, mind, and strength. That love is the foundation stone of eternity, and it should be the foundation stone of our daily life. Indeed it is only with that reassurance burning in our soul that we can have the confidence to keep trying to improve, keep seeking forgiveness for our sins, and keep extending that grace to our neighbor. (“Tomorrow the Lord Will Do Wonders among You,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2016, 127)

In your notebook, answer the following questions:

• What do you learn from President Holland’s statement that could motivate you to show your love for God?

• What are some steps someone could take toward loving God “with all [their] might” if they don’t feel strong enough to do it yet?

As you continue to study Deuteronomy today, pay attention to impressions from the Holy Ghost. His influence can deepen your love for Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. The Holy Ghost can teach you ways you can express that love to Them.

Review the following study options. Complete one or more.

Option A

How can I show my love to God in my everyday life?

Read Deuteronomy 30:16. Look for what Moses invited the Israelites to do.

Elder K. Brett Nattress of the Seventy asked some important questions for us to ponder personally:

I testify that our Heavenly Father always remembers us and that He loves us perfectly. My question is this: Do we remember Him? And do we love Him? (“Have I Truly Been Forgiven?,” Liahona, May 2023, 67–68)

If available, watch the video “If We Love Him” (3:57). Pay attention to the song’s lyrics and to the things the youth do to show their love for God.

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Select one of these common settings: at work, at school, at seminary, at church, at home, at practice, with friends, on social media.

Record your answers to the following questions in your notebook:

• In this setting, how have you seen someone show their love for God?

• What are some appropriate ways to express your love for God in this setting?

• Is there anything that might make expressing love for God difficult in this setting? If so, how could we overcome it?

After answering, discuss these questions with a family member or friend. Add any insights they have to your notebook.

Lesson Purpose: To help you understand how you can show your love for God.

Share one or more of the following with your teacher or class:

• What it could look like to show love for God in the setting you picked.

• Ideas from the talk you chose about putting your love for God first.

• Something specific you did to achieve the purpose of this lesson.

• Any questions this lesson raised for you. How will you try to find answers to your questions?