Conference Talk: "Keep the Commandments" by President Thomas S. Monson
Thought: God’s commandments are not given to frustrate us or to become obstacles to our happiness. Just the opposite is true. He who created us and who loves us perfectly knows just how we need to live our lives in order to obtain the greatest happiness possible. He has provided us with guidelines which, if we follow them, will see us safely through this often treacherous mortal journey. We remember the words of the familiar hymn: “Keep the commandments! In this there is safety; in this there is peace" (President Thomas S. Monson, "Keep the Commandments," October 2015 general conference).
Song: "Keep the Commandments" (Hymns #303)
Scripture: "For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous" (1 John 5:3).
Lesson: Teach your children about the importance of keeping the commandments. When Moses returned from Mount Siani, the Lord told him the children of Isreal were worshiping a golden calf (Exodus 32:7-8).
7. And the Lord said unto Moses, Go, get thee down; for thy people, which thou broughtest out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves:
8. They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them: they have made them a molten calf, and have worshipped it, and have sacrificed thereunto, and said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which have brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
In his anger, Moses destroyed the first set of stone tablets and the Lord took away the ordinances of the Melchizedek Priesthood. Instead, the Lord gave Israel the lesser law or law of Moses.
Moses then hewed new stone tablets with the 10 commandments inscribed upon them, but they were not the same as the tablets he had before.
Discussion: Why is it important we live by the commandments? What happens when we don't? What can we do to live the commandments more fully in our lives?
Activity: Create origami versions of the10 commandments tablets using Todd Huisken's Bible Origami.
What You'll Need:
As many colored or white pieces of paper as people in your family.The paper can be colored or white. Special origami paper works best, although regular printer paper will also work.
Directions:
- Fold in half diagonally both ways and unfold.
- Fold four corners into middle.
- Fold sides into middle.
- Fold sides in as shown.
- Fold bottom point up.
- Fold top point down.
- Fold bottom up where shown.
- Turn model over.
- Tablet can stand up on its own or lay flat.
- With new piece of paper, repeat steps 1–8. Tablets finished.
Lead image from Getty Images
Keep your children's hands busy during church services with Bible Origami. Instead of folding the service programs into paper airplanes, they can fold Noah's ark, an oil lamp, or Joseph's coat! As you develop the unique skill of creating these simple-to-intermediate origami designs, you will find opportunities to use them with all ages for lessons, activities, crafting, and everyday fun!
