All That the Lord Hath Spoken We Will Do

Come, Follow Me Conversations | The 10 Commandments with Rabbi Ilana Schwartzman

Rabbi Ilana Schwartzman, Jacob Rennaker

The John A. Widtsoe Foundation Podcast (Apr. 2022)

Rabbi Ilana Schwartzman and Jacob Rennaker discuss what the law of Moses means to the Jewish community.

Darkness, Light, and the Lord: Elements of Israelite Theophanies

Kerry Muhlestein

Ascending the Mountain of the Lord: Temple, Praise, and Worship in the Old Testament, Sidney B. Sperry Symposium 46 (2013)

In Exodus 19 and 20, there seem to be “four elements associated with the divine presence: smoke, light, thunder, and quaking. . . . It would seem that the Israelites understood that God’s presence is something beyond man’s capacity to withstand.”

Deuteronomy 1–16: An Exhortation to Obedience, Part 1

Church Educational System

Old Testament Student Manual, Genesis–2 Samuel: Religion 301 (2003)

Deuteronomy is a title formed from the two Greek words deutero, “second”, and nomos, “law”. Thus, the title means “the second law,” or “the repetition of the law.” The Shema, which consists of Deuteronomy 6:4–9; Deuteronomy 11:13–21; and Numbers 15:37–41 (in that order), is recited twice daily by all devout Jews as an evening and a morning prayer. In Deuteronomy 11, Moses pointed out to Israel that the children were not aware of all that God had done for their fathers while they were wandering in the wilderness (see Deut. 11:2). He gave them specific instructions about teaching their children (Deut. 11:18–19) and promised them certain blessings if they obeyed.

Seeing God in His Temple: A Significant Theme in Israel’s Psalms

Andrew C. Skinner

Ascending the Mountain of the Lord: Temple, Praise, and Worship in the Old Testament, Sidney B. Sperry Symposium 52 (2013)

A significant theme in the Psalms is the idea that worshippers could come into the presence of God in his holy house in Jerusalem and see him face-to-face. Many Psalms were sung in connection with the Temple. In First Temple times, it seems that both the outward actions and the inward thoughts of the worshipper had to conform to a holy standard for the person to gain entrance into the temple precinct.

The Restoration as Covenant Renewal

David Rolph Seely

Sperry Symposium Classics: The Old Testament (2005)

This article discusses the significance of covenants in the context of the restored gospel, emphasizing that they are central to understanding the relationship between God and His children. It explores the scriptural history of covenants, including their renewal during pivotal times, and highlights the Doctrine and Covenants as the document of the new and everlasting covenant. The piece also examines the biblical evidence to define covenant and covenant renewal, identifying seven elements that are consistently present in scriptural accounts.

The Sermon on the Mount and the Sermon on the Plain

S. Kent Brown

The Testimony of Luke, BYU New Testament Commentary, excerpted on the BYU New Testament Commentary website (Feb. 2015)

Brown explores the similarities between the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7) and the Sermon on the Plain (Luke 6:20–49), suggesting they are variants of each other.

The Treaty/Covenant Pattern in King Benjamin’s Address (Mosiah 1–6)

Stephen D. Ricks

BYU Studies 24, no. 2 (1984)

King Benjamin’s address mirrors the ancient treaty/covenant pattern found in the Old Testament and other ancient texts. The pattern includes a preamble, sharing of antecedent history, outlining individual stipulations, participants giving oaths of acceptance, warnings of curses to attend covenant-breakers, promises of blessings to covenant-keepers, and the recording and depositing of the text. This insight deepens our understanding of covenant theology and invites meaningful connections between the Book of Mormon and the Old Testament in our personal and family study.

Theophany on Sinai

Amy Blake Hardison

Ascending the Mountain of the Lord: Temple, Praise, and Worship in the Old Testament, Sidney B. Sperry Symposium 44 (2013)

When Moses first encounters God and is called to bring Israel out of bondage in Egypt, he reacts with fear. God reveals that he will deliver his people from their afflictions. This is a God who cares deeply and responds to their distress.

Come, Follow Me Conversations | The 10 Commandments with Rabbi Ilana Schwartzman

Rabbi Ilana Schwartzman, Jacob Rennaker

The John A. Widtsoe Foundation Podcast (Apr. 2022)

Rabbi Ilana Schwartzman and Jacob Rennaker discuss what the law of Moses means to the Jewish community.

Counting to Ten

John W. Welch

Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 12, no. 2 (2003)

In 2 Nephi 9:27–38, Jacob preaches ten “woes” to the Nephites. These can be compared to the ten commandments. Welch approaches this phenomenon through ten topics: perfection, worthiness, consecration, testing, justice, reverence, penitence, atonement, supplication, and ascension into the holy of holies or highest degree of heaven.

Exegesis or Eisegesis: Does Chiastic Analysis Help Us to Understand Leviticus 20?

Jonathan Burnside

“Chiasmus: The State of the Art,” BYU Studies Quarterly 59, supplement (2020)

Leviticus 20 is an example of a well-developed chiasmus in biblical law. Burnside, a prominent professor of biblical law, shows the careful internal structure of Leviticus 20, signifying its importance in the law. The chiasmus puts 20:9–16 as the central point.

Exodus 21–24; 31–35, The Mosaic Law: A Preparatory Gospel

Church Educational System

Old Testament Student Manual, Genesis–2 Samuel: Religion 301 (2003)

The law of Moses first lays down basic principles and then gives specific instructions about certain situations. Permanent ownership of slaves was not allowed unless a servant chose to stay with a master. The law was concerned with making restitution to offended parties. The worship of the golden calf seems unfathomable; perhaps Aaron did not intend to supersede the worship of God. Moses’s face shone, and he wore a veil.

Honoring His Holy Name

Robert L. Millet

Ensign 24, no. 3 (Mar. 1994)

When we truly appreciate our divine origins and heritage, we will shun the taking of the Lord’s name in vain.

Jesus Teaches about Wealth (Mark 10:17–31)

Julie M. Smith

The Gospel according to Mark, BYU New Testament Commentary, excerpted on the BYU New Testament Commentary website (May. 2019)

While the impulse to minimize Jesus’ teachings should generally be avoided, there is good reason to believe that the command to sell all was not meant to be a universal command but rather was unique to this man’s situation.

No Other Gods before Me

S. Michael Wilcox

Ensign 24, no. 1 (Jan. 1994)

There is no other god like our Father. In truly worshipping him, we will strive to be worthy of all that we are and can become.

Planting Promises in the Hearts of the Children

Bruce C. Hafen

Ensign 24, no. 6 (Jun. 1994)

Honoring father and mother in the fullest sense of the fifth commandment not only brings eternal blessings to families but also builds enduring societies.

Refusing to Worship Today’s Graven Images

Dennis Largey

Ensign 24, no. 2 (Feb. 1994)

The shapes of the idols may have changed since the days of Moses, but the basic principle, allegiance to God above all else, is still the commandment.

Remember the Sabbath Day

D. Kelly Ogden

Ensign 24, no. 4 (Apr. 1994)

Observance of the Sabbath is not a restriction but a source of strength and protection.

Teaching Old Testament Laws

Robert E. Lund

Religious Educator 8, no. 3 (2007)

The law of the Old Testament has been superseded by Jesus’s law, but it is still the foundation. Within the law laid out in Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy are spiritual principles designed to bless us.

Ten Commandments

Bruce T. Verhaaren

Encyclopedia of Mormonism (1992)

The Ten Commandments are part of the covenant made on Sinai between God and the children of Israel but they are carried into all later dispensations. This brief overview tells the history of these laws and how Christ expanded on them.

The Treaty/Covenant Pattern in King Benjamin’s Address (Mosiah 1–6)

Stephen D. Ricks

BYU Studies 24, no. 2 (1984)

King Benjamin’s address mirrors the ancient treaty/covenant pattern found in the Old Testament and other ancient texts. The pattern includes a preamble, sharing of antecedent history, outlining individual stipulations, participants giving oaths of acceptance, warnings of curses to attend covenant-breakers, promises of blessings to covenant-keepers, and the recording and depositing of the text. This insight deepens our understanding of covenant theology and invites meaningful connections between the Book of Mormon and the Old Testament in our personal and family study.

Theophany on Sinai

Amy Blake Hardison

Ascending the Mountain of the Lord: Temple, Praise, and Worship in the Old Testament, Sidney B. Sperry Symposium 44 (2013)

When Moses first encounters God and is called to bring Israel out of bondage in Egypt, he reacts with fear. God reveals that he will deliver his people from their afflictions. This is a God who cares deeply and responds to their distress.

Thou Shalt Not Bear False Witness

Robert J. Matthews

Ensign 24, no. 10 (Oct. 1994)

Obedience to this commandment frees us from the fear, insecurity, doubt, torment, and eventual condemnation that are the fruits of deceit.

Thou Shalt Not Covet

Brent L. Top

Ensign 24, no. 12 (Dec. 1994)

The tenth commandment teaches that anything we permit to come between us and the Lord (possessions, power, pleasure, or people) is a spiritual stumbling block.

Thou Shalt Not Kill

Arthur R. Bassett

Ensign 24, no. 7 (Aug. 1994)

The sixth commandment’s injunction to avoid murder is the minimum standard. The Savior’s example points to a higher level” enhancement of life for others.

Thou Shalt Not Steal

Richard D. Draper

Ensign 24, no. 9 (Sep. 1994)

The eighth commandment prohibits theft in all forms. The Lord’s law of love teaches us the commandment’s positive side: Respect the rights and property and needs of others.

We Are Christians Because

Robert E. Wells

Ensign 14, no. 1 (Jan. 1984)

Our Church closely follows each of the Ten Commandments.

Worship: Bowing Down and Serving the Lord

Jennifer C. Lane

Ascending the Mountain of the Lord: Temple, Praise, and Worship in the Old Testament, Sidney B. Sperry Symposium 48 (2013)

We can study worship in Old Testament vocabulary and usage, and examine what this suggests about worship in our day. Both the vocabulary and temple context of worship in the Old Testament give us a vision of worship as the embodiment of a true relationship of submission to God.

"Jesus Walks on Water" (Mark 6:45–52)

Julie M. Smith

The Gospel according to Mark, BYU New Testament Commentary, excerpted on the BYU New Testament Commentary website (Mar. 2019)

This excerpt examines the story of Jesus walking on water, emphasizing Jesus' attempt to reveal his true nature to his disciples and their failure to understand him.

Chart 101: Benjamin’s and Mosiah’s Covenant Ceremonies Compared with Old Testament Rituals

John W. Welch, J. Gregory Welch

Charting the Book of Mormon (1999)

The Treaty/Covenant Pattern in King Benjamin’s Address (Mosiah 1–6)

Stephen D. Ricks

BYU Studies 24, no. 2 (1984)

King Benjamin’s address mirrors the ancient treaty/covenant pattern found in the Old Testament and other ancient texts. The pattern includes a preamble, sharing of antecedent history, outlining individual stipulations, participants giving oaths of acceptance, warnings of curses to attend covenant-breakers, promises of blessings to covenant-keepers, and the recording and depositing of the text. This insight deepens our understanding of covenant theology and invites meaningful connections between the Book of Mormon and the Old Testament in our personal and family study.

Healing the Infirm Woman (Luke 13:10–17)

S. Kent Brown

The Testimony of Luke, BYU New Testament Commentary, excerpted on the BYU New Testament Commentary website (May. 2019)

Jesus’s restoration of this worn-down woman lifts her back to her prior status as a Jewess of strength and vigor, back into the embrace of acquaintances and friends who have come to think ill of her, back to a proper state of self-worth. In a word, Jesus has healed her wholly—physically, socially, and psychologically.

Jesus Teaches about the Sabbath (Mark 2:23–28)

Julie M. Smith

The Gospel according to Mark, BYU New Testament Commentary, excerpted on the BYU New Testament Commentary website (Mar. 2019)

Julie M. Smith discusses Jesus’s disciples plucking grain on the Sabbath and the Pharisees questioning the legality of their actions. This is an excerpt from her book, The Gospel according to Mark in the BYU New Testament Commentary series.

Old Testament Types and Symbols

Gerald N. Lund

Literature of Belief: Sacred Scripture and Religious Experience (1981)

This article examines many Old Testament symbols. The bondage of Israel is a type of humanity’s bondage to sin. The Passover lamb is Christ. Leaven is a symbol of corruption, and unleavened bread is a symbol of purging ungodliness from our lives. The bitter herbs are a reminder of bondage. Eating in haste exemplifies that there must be no delay in following Christ. The firstborn being passed over from death is a symbol of deliverance from spiritual death. The actions of the angel of God (Exodus 13, 14) are symbolic of disciples receiving not only baptism by water but also baptism by fire.

Tabernacle of Moses

Huntington Beach Stake (2016)

In 2017, BYU Religious Education hosted a replica of Moses’s tabernacle on BYU campus. This replica was created earlier by the Huntington Beach California Stake. A video created by the Huntington Beach Stake shows the courtyard, the Holy Place, the Holy of Holies, and the items used for worship.

The Jerusalem Conference: The First Council of the Christian Church

Frank F. Judd Jr.

Religious Educator 12, no. 1 (2011)

Discusses the issue of adherence to the law of Moses for non-Jewish converts and the decision made at the Jerusalem council.

“Ye Shall Have Joy with Me”: The Olive Tree the Lord and His Servants

Daniel L. Belnap

Religious Educator 7, no. 1 (2006)

The servant in the allegory can be interpreted as Christ or his covenant people. Belnap looks at the role of the servant and how the servant grows under the Lord’s instruction.

Chart 94: 1 Nephi and the Exodus

John W. Welch, J. Gregory Welch

Charting the Book of Mormon (1999)

Lehi’s group saw themselves as reenacting the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt. This chart shows twenty-seven parallels between the narratives in 1 Nephi and Exodus.

Theophany on Sinai

Amy Blake Hardison

Ascending the Mountain of the Lord: Temple, Praise, and Worship in the Old Testament, Sidney B. Sperry Symposium 44 (2013)

When Moses first encounters God and is called to bring Israel out of bondage in Egypt, he reacts with fear. God reveals that he will deliver his people from their afflictions. This is a God who cares deeply and responds to their distress.

Darkness, Light, and the Lord: Elements of Israelite Theophanies

Kerry Muhlestein

Ascending the Mountain of the Lord: Temple, Praise, and Worship in the Old Testament, Sidney B. Sperry Symposium 46 (2013)

In Exodus 19 and 20, there seem to be “four elements associated with the divine presence: smoke, light, thunder, and quaking. . . . It would seem that the Israelites understood that God’s presence is something beyond man’s capacity to withstand.”

Come, Follow Me Conversations | The 10 Commandments with Rabbi Ilana Schwartzman

Rabbi Ilana Schwartzman, Jacob Rennaker

The John A. Widtsoe Foundation Podcast (Apr. 2022)

Rabbi Ilana Schwartzman and Jacob Rennaker discuss what the law of Moses means to the Jewish community.

Jesus Teaches about the Sabbath (Mark 2:23–28)

Julie M. Smith

The Gospel according to Mark, BYU New Testament Commentary, excerpted on the BYU New Testament Commentary website (Mar. 2019)

Julie M. Smith discusses Jesus’s disciples plucking grain on the Sabbath and the Pharisees questioning the legality of their actions. This is an excerpt from her book, The Gospel according to Mark in the BYU New Testament Commentary series.