……lay lay up up

these these my my

words words in your in your heartheart Khinckley1@yahoo.comKhinckley1@yahoo.com

Exodus 20Exodus 20

12 Honour thy father and thy mother: 12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth land which the LORD thy God giveth thee thee

Question:Question:

What does honoring your father and What does honoring your father and mother have to do with long days mother have to do with long days upon the land?upon the land?

Deuteronomy 11Deuteronomy 118 Therefore shall ye keep all the commandments which I command you this 8 Therefore shall ye keep all the commandments which I command you this

day, that ye may be strong, and go in and possess the land, whither ye day, that ye may be strong, and go in and possess the land, whither ye go to possess it;go to possess it;

9 9 And that ye may prolong your days in the land, which the LORD And that ye may prolong your days in the land, which the LORD sware unto your fatherssware unto your fathers to give unto them and to their seed, a land to give unto them and to their seed, a land that floweth with milk and honey.that floweth with milk and honey.

18 Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, 18 Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes.between your eyes.

19 And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou 19 And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.liest down, and when thou risest up.

20 And thou shalt write them upon the door posts of thine house, and upon 20 And thou shalt write them upon the door posts of thine house, and upon thy gates:thy gates:

21 21 That your days may be multiplied, and the days of your children, That your days may be multiplied, and the days of your children, in the land which the LORD sware unto your fathersin the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers to give them, to give them, as the days of heaven upon the earth.as the days of heaven upon the earth.

In other words:Honor [the covenants of] your fathers and mothers that you may live long [upon the Land of promise] that the Lord thy God has given thee

What is “the Shema”What is “the Shema”

The Shema [hear], named from the opening The Shema [hear], named from the opening words of Deuteronomy 6:4, consists of words of Deuteronomy 6:4, consists of Deuteronomy 6:4-9 and 11:13-21, and Deuteronomy 6:4-9 and 11:13-21, and Numbers 15:37-41, preceded and followed Numbers 15:37-41, preceded and followed by one or two benedictions. These passages by one or two benedictions. These passages were recited as the great confessions of were recited as the great confessions of faith among the Jews: faith among the Jews:

"Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord: and thou shalt love the Lord thy God Lord: and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.and with all thy might.

Deut. 11Deut. 11

18 ¶ Therefore shall ye lay 18 ¶ Therefore shall ye lay up these up these my words in your heart my words in your heart and in your and in your soul, and bind soul, and bind them for a sign upon them for a sign upon your hand, your hand, that they may be as that they may be as frontlets frontlets between your eyes.between your eyes.

19 And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of 19 And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.when thou risest up.

20 20 And thou shalt write them upon the door posts And thou shalt write them upon the door posts of thine houseof thine house, and upon thy gates:, and upon thy gates:

QuestionQuestion

The “doorpost” is also The “doorpost” is also symbolic of our hearts. symbolic of our hearts. What kind of things should What kind of things should we be writing on the we be writing on the “doorposts” of our hearts?“doorposts” of our hearts?

Sister Susan W. TannerSister Susan W. Tanner

Just recently President James E. Faust reiterated Just recently President James E. Faust reiterated this very point in a BYU devotional address. He this very point in a BYU devotional address. He said The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day said The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is found in the hearts of its members. Saints is found in the hearts of its members. He told of an experience he had some time ago He told of an experience he had some time ago when a car with an out-of-state license plate when a car with an out-of-state license plate stopped him on his walk and asked, “Where is stopped him on his walk and asked, “Where is the church of the Mormons?” the church of the Mormons?”

He directed them to Temple Square, but said in He directed them to Temple Square, but said in retrospect, “I could have pointed to my chest retrospect, “I could have pointed to my chest and said that the Church should be first and and said that the Church should be first and foremost in our hearts” (foremost in our hearts” (Church NewsChurch News, Mar. 5, , Mar. 5, 2005, 7). 2005, 7).

Harold B. LeeHarold B. Lee

Service and obedience are Service and obedience are the keys that unlock the keys that unlock the door to the the door to the celestial glory. Now celestial glory. Now you remember that and write it you remember that and write it on the tablets of your heart, on the tablets of your heart, and remember that is the sure and remember that is the sure way to safety in this church.way to safety in this church.

QuestionQuestion

In the Shema, the Lord states that He In the Shema, the Lord states that He is the “one God”. is the “one God”.

What are some “other Gods” we might What are some “other Gods” we might go to?go to?

Why would we go to any other Gods?Why would we go to any other Gods?

Elder OaksElder OaksWhen we think of service, we usually think of the acts of our When we think of service, we usually think of the acts of our

hands. But, as shown in earlier chapters, the Lord looks to our hands. But, as shown in earlier chapters, the Lord looks to our hearts as well as our hands. hearts as well as our hands. He is concerned not only with He is concerned not only with our acts but also with our motives.our acts but also with our motives. One of his earliest One of his earliest commandments to Israel was to "love the Lord your God, and to commandments to Israel was to "love the Lord your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul" (serve him with all your heart and with all your soul" (Deuteronomy 11Deuteronomy 11:13:13).).

In order to purify our service to God and to our fellowmen, it is In order to purify our service to God and to our fellowmen, it is therefore important to consider not only how we serve, but also therefore important to consider not only how we serve, but also why we serve.why we serve.

[Here are 6 reasons why we serve][Here are 6 reasons why we serve]

1.1. Earthly RewardEarthly Reward2.2. Good CompanionshipGood Companionship3.3. Fear of PunishmentFear of Punishment4.4. Duty or LoyaltyDuty or Loyalty5.5. Hope of RewardHope of Reward6.6. CharityCharity

Question:Why is our motive so important?

Sooooo…Sooooo…

If we are not ready to If we are not ready to serve for the right serve for the right reason, should we just reason, should we just not serve at all?not serve at all?

Elder Oaks Continues:Elder Oaks Continues:We know from these inspired words that We know from these inspired words that

even the most extreme acts of service fall even the most extreme acts of service fall short of the ultimate "profit" unless they short of the ultimate "profit" unless they are motivated by the pure love of Christ. are motivated by the pure love of Christ.

If our service is to be most If our service is to be most efficacious, it must be efficacious, it must be

unconcerned with unconcerned with self and self and heedless of heedless of personal personal advantage. It must be advantage. It must be

accomplished for the love of accomplished for the love of God and the love of his God and the love of his

children.children.

QuestionQuestion

How did the Law of Moses, How did the Law of Moses, with all its many with all its many requirements, prepare the requirements, prepare the people of Israel to serve people of Israel to serve God for the right reason?God for the right reason?