COMMANDMENTS

The members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) regard commandments as God’s guidelines for a righteous life. God gives commandments by direct revelation or through His prophets. Written accounts of such revelations can be found in the Holy Scriptures. God gives His children commandments because He loves them. He knows that “wickedness never was happiness” (Book of Mormon, Alma 41:10) and that obedience to His commandments will lead to joy and peace in this life and eternal happiness in the life to come.

The members of the Church also believe that it is clear from the teachings of Christ in the New Testament and the Book of Mormon that there is a purifying effect when we obey the commandments. Obedience is not just in relation to an individual’s actions but also to his thoughts and intentions.

The Ten Commandements

The basic commandments which God revealed to the prophet Moses in Old Testament times are still valid for members of the Church today. These commandments, which can be found in the 20th chapter of the Book of Exodus, are:

Thou shalt have no other Gods before me.
Thou shalt not bow down to other Gods.
Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.
Remember the Sabbath to keep it holy.
Honor thy father and thy mother.
Thou shalt not kill.
Thou shalt not commit adultery.
Thou shalt not steal.
Thou shalt not bear false witness.
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s possessions.

All the prophets since Joseph Smith, including the current prophet and President of the Church, Gordon B. Hinckley, have emphasized how important it is for the individual, the family and the community to keep the Ten Commandments. Increased emphasis is being placed these days on some of these commandments, especially on that which is sometime called “the forgotten seventh commandment”. The members of the Church are thus required to keep the law of chastity, which means sexual abstinence before marriage and complete fidelity towards one’s spouse within marriage.

The Word of Wisdom

In 1833 God revealed a health law to Joseph Smith, so that we can keep our bodies healthy and functioning. This law is known as the Word of Wisdom.In it, great emphasis is laid on healthy nutrition and physical and mental health.In it, God also forbids the use of:

Tobacco,
Alcohol,
Coffee and black tea,
And illegal drugs.

God promises those who keep the Word of Wisdom great physical and spiritual blessings. Present day science confirms many of the principles which Joseph Smith learned from a loving God almost two hundred years ago.

The Law of Tithing

The principle of tithing, that one voluntarily pays one tenth of his income for the work of the Lord, has been known since Old Testament times. Abraham paid tithes to Melchizedek (Genesis 14:17-20).

The Lord finances His Church through the law of tithing. Today, all active members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints voluntarily pay a tenth of their income in tithing. Tithing is used for the following purposes:

To build temples, meeting houses and other buildings.
To cover the administrative costs of the Church.
To finance the mission program.
For the production of materials which are used in teaching and Church organizations.
Temple work and genealogy and numerous other Church activities.
Education.

When the Lord reminded his people of this law through the prophet Malachi in the Old Testament, He promised to bless those who were prepared to pay an honest tithe (Malachi 3:10).Apart from those already mentioned, there are other commandments in the Church which forbid or require certain behaviors. Nevertheless, the Lord has made clear that taking personal responsibility for one’s actions is also one of His commandments:“For behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is compelled in all things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant; wherefore he receiveth no reward. Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness; For the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves. And inasmuch as men do good they shall in nowise lose their reward.” (Doctrine and Covenants 58:26-28).