God's Ten Commandments

What are God's Ten Commandments?

God's Ten Commandments are more than rules; God's Ten Commandments are “patterns of living” that God himself follows. Therefore, by living God's Ten Commandments we become more and more like our Heavenly Father.

God's Ten Commandments are a moral code that tell us what to do and what to avoid in order to receive Heavenly Father’s richest blessings, including joy, peace of conscience and lasting happiness.

God's Ten Commandments are the ancient and modern foundation

God revealed to Moses, his prophet, a foundational set of commandments from which all other commandments flow. This set of commandments are God's Ten Commandments. 1

In these latter-days, God's Ten Commandments were revealed anew to the Prophet Joseph Smith thus confirming their continuing validity 2

Here is a review of God's Ten Commandments and how we might apply them.

1. Thou shalt have no other gods before me. As marriage partners covenant to never divide their affections, so we covenant to never place anyone or anything before God. We should do “all things with an eye single to the glory of God.” 3 We promise to love and serve the God “with all our heart, might, mind, and strength.” 4
2. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image…. The Lord condemns any form of idolatry that receives our affection and attention before God. When a person’s heart is set upon money, material possessions, ideas, sins, prestige, he is practicing idolatry and abandoning his devotion to God.
3. Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain…. Profanity is one form of taking the name of God or Jesus Christ in vain. Another violation of this commandment is using the name of God or Jesus Christ as part of an oath. Yet another violation is using these holy names without authorized authority. The names of deity should always be used by with profound respect and reverence.
4. Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
• to receive “the fulness of the earth”
• to remain "unspotted from the world"
• to renew covenants by partaking of the Sacrament
• for physical and spiritual rest that you might "enter into the glory of the Lord"
• to refrain from work and worldly pleasures
• to worship God

• to offer "sacraments," which could include partaking of the formal Sacrament and making personal sacrifices, such as payment of tithes and offerings, sacrificing a broken heart and offering contrite spirit, visiting the sick and afflicted, making amends, and “confessing thy sins unto thy brethren, and before the Lord.”
5. Honour thy father and thy mother…. This is the first commandment with a promise: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. 5 Once again, the Lord warns against divided loyalties. The blessing of long life upon the promised land may have eternal significance, since this earth will become the celestial kingdom 6 and the humble, meek, and those that wait upon the Lord will inherit it. 7
6. Thou shalt not kill. Nothing could be further from the Lord’s way of life than taking life; he is wholly devoted to giving and saving life. 8
7. Thou shalt not commit adultery…. And to us in these latter-days, the Lord has added “or anything like unto it.” 9 Any sexual sin, with or without a partner, with or without clothing, by thought or by action, is a violation of this commandment. Passionate kissing, petting, fornication, homosexual activity, self-stimulation, viewing soft or hard pornographic material all fall within this category. No sexual activity, despite how minor it may seem, is exempt from this commandment.
8. Thou shalt not steal. Taking someone’s property, large or small, without permission, or taking contracted-for time from your employer, or cheating in any way is stealing. “We believe in being honest….” 10
9. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor. Lying and dishonesty for any reason, including covering misdeeds or attempting to hurt or cheat another, are violations of this commandment. A person may be a false witness: “A false witness…speaketh lies and…soweth discord….a false witness [speaketh] deceit.” 11
10. Thou shalt not covet…. Coveting or envying something that belongs to another always leads to disaster. Coveting can consume our thoughts and plague us with constant unhappiness and dissatisfaction. Coveting often leads to other sins such as financial indebtedness, stealing, and sexual sin. It always leads to idolatry and giving something or someone our affection besides God.

God's Ten Commandments--Thou shalt and Thou shalt not

Some of God's Ten Commandments begin with ‘Thou shalt not.” However, Jesus added a higher manifestation of God's Ten Commandments. For example, “Thou shalt not commit adultery” is restated as “Thou shalt love thy wife with all thy heart, and shalt cleave unto her and none else.” 12

Likewise, God's Ten Commnadments teach us that we should not steal or covet, but Jesus added that we must freely give of our substance. 13

Another of God's Ten Commandments instruct us to not bear false witness, but Jesus added that we must become more charitable. 14

Moreover, the first of God's Ten Commandments states that we should have no other gods before God, and Jesus emphasized the importance of our worshipping the one true God; 15

The second of God's Ten Commandments is avoiding idolatry, which Jesus restated as praying only to our loving Heavenly Father; 16.

The third of God's Ten Commandments is not taking the name of God in vain, which Jesus recast as reverencing the name of God and Jesus Christ; 17

Finally, another of God's Ten Commandment is to not kill, which Jesus reworded as to give life—both physical and spiritual life. 18

In the teachings of Jesus we see the higher manifestation of God's Ten Commandments that Moses received.

God's Ten Commandments summarized

Jesus summarized God's Ten Commandments in two principles—

1. Love God
2. Love our fellow men:

“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” 19

Love, therefore, not rule, is the underlying principle of all commandments including God’s Ten Commandments.

Questions about 'God's Ten Commandments--What are God's Ten Commandments?'

• God's Ten Commandments are more than rules. What are they?



• God's Ten Commandments are the foundational commandments for all other commandments. God's Ten Commandments were revealed to which two prophets in ancient and modern times?



• Can you recite each of God's Ten Commandments and explain what they mean?



• How did Jesus reveal a higher manifestation of God's Ten Commandments? Can you give some examples?



• What two principles summariaze all commandments, including God's Ten Commandments?

References for 'God's Ten Commandments--What are God's Ten Commandments?'

1. Exodus 20:1-17
2. D&C 42:18-29; D&C 59:5-13; D&C 63:61-62 – And now, behold, I speak unto the church. Thou shalt not kill; and he that kills shall not have forgiveness in this world, nor in the world to come. nd again, I say, thou shalt not kill; but he that killeth shall die. Thou shalt not steal; and he that stealeth and will not repent shall be cast out. Thou shalt not lie; he that lieth and will not repent shall be cast out. Thou shalt love thy wife with all thy heart, and shalt cleave unto her and none else. And he that looketh upon a woman to lust after her shall deny the faith, and shall not have the Spirit; and if he repents not he shall be cast out. Thou shalt not commit adultery; and he that committeth adultery, and repenteth not, shall be cast out. ut he that has committed adultery and repents with all his heart, and forsaketh it, and doeth it no more, thou shalt forgive; But if he doeth it again, he shall not be forgiven, but shall be cast out. Thou shalt not speak evil of thy neighbor, nor do him any harm. Thou knowest my laws concerning these things are given in my scriptures; he that sinneth and repenteth not shall be cast out. If thou lovest me thou shalt serve me and keep all my commandments" (D&C 42:18-29). "Wherefore, I give unto them a commandment, saying thus: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy might, mind, and strength; and in the name of Jesus Christ thou shalt serve him. Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. Thou shalt not steal; neither commit adultery, nor kill, nor do anything like unto it. Thou shalt thank the Lord thy God in all things. Thou shalt offer a sacrifice unto the Lord thy God in righteousness, even that of a broken heart and a contrite spirit. And that thou mayest more fully keep thyself unspotted from the world, thou shalt go to the house of prayer and offer up thy sacraments upon my holy day; For verily this is a day appointed unto you to rest from your labors, and to pay thy devotions unto the Most High; Nevertheless thy vows shall be offered up in righteousness on all days and at all times; But remember that on this, the Lord's day, thou shalt offer thine oblations and thy sacraments unto the Most High, confessing thy sins unto thy brethren, and before the Lord. And on this day thou shalt do none other thing, only let thy food be prepared with singleness of heart that thy fasting may be perfect, or, in other words, that thy joy may be full" (D&C 59:5-13). "Wherefore, let all men beware how they take my name in their lips—For behold, verily I say, that many there be who are under this condemnation, who use the name of the Lord, and use it in vain, having not authority" (D&C 63:61-62).
3. D&C 82:19
4. Deuteronomy 6:5; D&C 59:5
5. Exodus 20:12
6. D&C 63:20-21; D&C 88:18-20, 25 – Nevertheless, he that endureth in faith and doeth my will, the same shall overcome, and shall receive an inheritance upon the earth when the day of transfiguration shall come; When the earth shall be transfigured, even according to the pattern which was shown unto mine apostles upon the mount; of which account the fulness ye have not yet received" (D&C 63:20-21). "Therefore, it must needs be sanctified from all unrighteousness, that it may be prepared for the celestial glory; For after it hath filled the measure of its creation, it shall be crowned with glory, even with the presence of God the Father; That bodies who are of the celestial kingdom may possess it forever and ever; for, for this intent was it made and created, and for this intent are they sanctified...And again, verily I say unto you, the earth abideth the law of a celestial kingdom, for it filleth the measure of its creation, and transgresseth not the law—" (D&C 88:18-20, 25).
7. D&C 45:58; D&C 88:17; Matthew 5:5; Psalms 37:9 – And the earth shall be given unto them for an inheritance; and they shall multiply and wax strong, and their children shall grow up without sin unto salvation" (D&C 45:58). "And the redemption of the soul is through him that quickeneth all things, in whose bosom it is decreed that the poor and the meek of the earth shall inherit it" (D&C 88:17). "Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth" (Matthew 5:5). "For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth" (Psalms 37:9).
8. Moses 1:39 – For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.
9. D&C 59:6 – Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. Thou shalt not steal; neither commit adultery, nor kill, nor do anything like unto it.
10. Articles of Faith :13 – We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.
11. Proverbs 6:19; 12:17
12. D&C 42:22
13. Mosiah 4:16, 22, 26 – And also, ye yourselves will succor those that stand in need of your succor; ye will administer of your substance unto him that standeth in need; and ye will not suffer that the beggar putteth up his petition to you in vain, and turn him out to perish...And if ye judge the man who putteth up his petition to you for your substance that he perish not, and condemn him, how much more just will be your condemnation for withholding your substance, which doth not belong to you but to God, to whom also your life belongeth; and yet ye put up no petition, nor repent of the thing which thou hast done...And now, for the sake of these things which I have spoken unto you—that is, for the sake of retaining a remission of your sins from day to day, that ye may walk guiltless before God—I would that ye should impart of your substance to the poor, every man according to that which he hath, such as feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and administering to their relief, both spiritually and temporally, according to their wants.
14. Moroni 7:44-48 – If so, his faith and hope is vain, for none is acceptable before God, save the meek and lowly in heart; and if a man be meek and lowly in heart, and confesses by the power of the Holy Ghost that Jesus is the Christ, he must needs have charity; for if he have not charity he is nothing; wherefore he must needs have charity. And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail—But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen.
15. Ephesians 4:6 – One God and Father of all, who [is] above all, and through all, and in you all.
16. Matthew 6:6 – But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
17. D&C 20:29, 37; D&C 50:29 – And we know that all men must repent and believe on the name of Jesus Christ, and worship the Father in his name, and endure in faith on his name to the end, or they cannot be saved in the kingdom of God... And again, by way of commandment to the church concerning the manner of baptism—All those who humble themselves before God, and desire to be baptized, and come forth with broken hearts and contrite spirits, and witness before the church that they have truly repented of all their sins, and are willing to take upon them the name of Jesus Christ, having a determination to serve him to the end, and truly manifest by their works that they have received of the Spirit of Christ unto the remission of their sins, shall be received by baptism into his church" (D&C 20:29, 37). "And if ye are purified and cleansed from all sin, ye shall ask whatsoever you will in the name of Jesus and it shall be done" (D&C 50:29).
18. Genesis 1:28; D&C 18:15 – And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth (Genesis 1:18). "And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!" (D&C 18:15).
19. Matthew 22:37-39