I have been reading in the Old Testament this year and this morning read Exodus Chapters 18- 20. In Chapter 19 the Lord reminds Moses of everything he has done for the Children of Israel and promises him that if they are obedient to his commandments they will become a holy nation.
The people agree that they will do all that the Lord asks of them. The Lord then instructs Moses to have the people sanctify themselves and wash their clothes (repent and become clean)in order to prepare to hear his commandments. They do and in Chapter 20 those commandements are given.
As I read through those commandments I wondered "Why do some citizens want to see those commandments removed from our buildings? Don't they see that we should be protesting that they be placed in MORE places." Why? Lets review them:
ONE: 'You shall have no other gods before Me.'
TWO: 'You shall not make for yourself a carved image--any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.'
THREE: 'You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.'
FOUR: 'Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.'
FIVE: 'Honor your father and your mother.'
SIX: 'You shall not murder.'
SEVEN: 'You shall not commit adultery.'
EIGHT: 'You shall not steal.'
NINE: 'You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.'
TEN: 'You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor's.'
Like the Children of Israel, we too need to humble ourselves, repent and recognize that we have not been obedient. We too need to REMEMBER all that God has done for us and our nation.
As I read through those commandments I wondered "Why do some citizens want to see those commandments removed from our buildings? Don't they see that we should be protesting that they be placed in MORE places." Why? Lets review them:
ONE: 'You shall have no other gods before Me.'
TWO: 'You shall not make for yourself a carved image--any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.'
THREE: 'You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.'
FOUR: 'Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.'
FIVE: 'Honor your father and your mother.'
SIX: 'You shall not murder.'
SEVEN: 'You shall not commit adultery.'
EIGHT: 'You shall not steal.'
NINE: 'You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.'
TEN: 'You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor's.'
Like the Children of Israel, we too need to humble ourselves, repent and recognize that we have not been obedient. We too need to REMEMBER all that God has done for us and our nation.
Can you imagine if these laws were PROMOTED and displayed more to help remind us instead of removed and replaced with laws and regulations in order to "fix" those who break these laws?
Wouldn't it just be easier to promote the LAW, TEACH the people and ENCOURAGE these to be lived in our communities? I believe that could have a greater effect and CHANGE (did you hear that Obama) then anything else.
And now, as the preaching of the word had a great tendency to lead the people to do that which was just—yea, it had had more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the sword, or anything else, which had happened unto them—Alma 31:5
Wouldn't it just be easier to promote the LAW, TEACH the people and ENCOURAGE these to be lived in our communities? I believe that could have a greater effect and CHANGE (did you hear that Obama) then anything else.
And now, as the preaching of the word had a great tendency to lead the people to do that which was just—yea, it had had more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the sword, or anything else, which had happened unto them—Alma 31:5
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