lay up these my words in your heart

…lay up these my words in your heart Khinckley 1@yahoo. com

Exodus 20 12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee Question: What does honoring your father and mother have to do with long days upon the land?

Deuteronomy 11 In 8 Therefore othershallwords: 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 go to possess it; Honor [the covenants of] your fathers and 9 And that ye may prolong your days in the land, which the LORD sware unto your fathers to give unto them and tomay their seed, a land long that floweth with milk and honey. mothers that you live [upon the 18 Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind Land of promise] that the Lord thy God them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes. has given thee 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 liest down, and when thou risest up. 20 And thou shalt write them upon the door posts of thine house, and upon thy gates: 21 That your days may be multiplied, and the days of your children, in the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers to give them, as the days of heaven upon the earth.

What is “the Shema” The Shema [hear], named from the opening words of Deuteronomy 6: 4, consists of Deuteronomy 6: 4 -9 and 11: 13 -21, and Numbers 15: 37 -41, preceded and followed by one or two benedictions. These passages were recited as the great confessions of faith among the Jews: "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord: and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

Deut. 11 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 between your eyes. 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 liest down, and when thou risest up. 20 And thou shalt write them upon the door posts of thine house, and upon thy gates:

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

Sister Susan W. Tanner Just recently President James E. Faust reiterated this very point in a BYU devotional address. He said The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is found in the hearts of its members. He told of an experience he had some time ago when a car with an out-of-state license plate stopped him on his walk and asked, “Where is the church of the Mormons? ” He directed them to Temple Square, but said in retrospect, “I could have pointed to my chest and said that the Church should be first and foremost in our hearts” (Church News, Mar. 5, 2005, 7).

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

Question In the Shema, the Lord states that He is the “one God”. What are some “other Gods” we might go to? Why would we go to any other Gods?

Elder Oaks 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 hearts as well as our hands. He is concerned not only with our acts but also with our motives. One of his earliest commandments to Israel was to "love the Lord your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul" (Deuteronomy 11: 13). 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 why we serve. [Here are 6 reasons why we serve] Earthly Reward 2. Good Companionship Question: 3. Fear of Punishment Why is Loyalty our motive 4. Duty or 5. Hope of Reward 6. Charity 1. so important?

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

Elder Oaks Continues: We know from these inspired words that even the most extreme acts of service fall short of the ultimate "profit" unless they are motivated by the pure love of Christ. If our service is to be most efficacious, it must be unconcerned with self and heedless of personal advantage. It must be accomplished for the love of God and the love of his children.

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