mountain

A mountain in Egypt traditionally believed to be Mount Sinai.

April 18–24

Exodus 18–20

“All That the Lord Hath Spoken We Will Do”

Sister Michelle Craig taught, “As [Jesus Christ’s] faithful disciple, you can receive personal inspiration and revelation, consistent with His commandments, that is tailored to you” (“Spiritual Capacity,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2019, 21). Record and act on the inspiration you receive as you read Exodus 18–20.

Record Your Impressions

The Israelites’ journey from Egypt to the foot of Mount Sinai was filled with miracles—undeniable manifestations of the Lord’s matchless power, love, and mercy. However, the Lord had blessings in store for them that went beyond freeing them from Egypt and satisfying their physical hunger and thirst. He wanted them to become His covenant people, His “peculiar treasure,” and a “holy nation” (Exodus 19:5–6). Today, the blessings of this covenant extend beyond just one nation or people. God wants all of His children to become His covenant people, to “obey [His] voice indeed, and keep [His] covenant” (Exodus 19:5), for He shows His mercy “unto thousands of them that love [Him], and keep [His] commandments” (Exodus 20:6).

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Ideas for Personal Scripture Study

Exodus 18:13–26

I can help “bear the burden” of doing the Lord’s work.

As you read the counsel Moses received from his father-in-law, Jethro, ponder how you can be like the “men of truth” (sometimes translated as “trustworthy” men) described in verse 21. How can you help “bear the burden” of your Church leaders? (verse 22). For instance, how might this counsel apply to your ministering efforts?

You might also consider whether you, at times, are like Moses, trying to do too much. How might Jethro’s counsel apply to you?

See also Mosiah 4:27; Henry B. Eyring, “The Caregiver,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2012, 121–24.

man shaking hands with a woman

Ministering to others is one way we can take part in the Lord’s work.

Exodus 19:3–6

The Lord’s covenant people are a treasure to Him.

Consider what it means to you to be “a peculiar treasure” of the Lord (Exodus 19:5). President Russell M. Nelson offered one explanation of this phrase: “In the Old Testament, the Hebrew term from which peculiar was translated is segullah, which means ‘valued property,’ or ‘treasure.’ … For us to be identified by servants of the Lord as his peculiar people is a compliment of the highest order” (“Children of the Covenant,” Ensign, May 1995, 34). How does knowing that keeping your covenants makes you a “peculiar treasure” influence the way you live?

See also Gerrit W. Gong, “Covenant Belonging,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2019, 80–83.

Exodus 19:10–11, 17

Sacred experiences require preparation.

The Lord told Moses that the children of Israel needed to be prepared before they could “meet with God” (Exodus 19:10–11, 17) and keep a covenant with Him (see Exodus 19:5). What do you do to prepare for sacred experiences in your life, such as attending the temple or partaking of the sacrament? What can you do to more fully prepare for these experiences? Think of other spiritual activities that require preparation, and ponder how your preparation can affect the kind of experience you have.

Exodus 20

God is merciful.

As you read Exodus 20, consider noting which of the Ten Commandments you feel you are obeying and which you feel you could obey more faithfully. You could choose one commandment to work on and then study it in more detail by reading related scriptures (see the Guide to the Scriptures at scriptures.ChurchofJesusChrist.org) or conference messages (see the topics section of conference.ChurchofJesusChrist.org). Consider including in your study the blessings that come to those who obey the commandment. How do these blessings show God’s mercy and love for you?

See also Carole M. Stephens, “If Ye Love Me, Keep My Commandments,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2015, 118–20.

Exodus 20:1–7

It is important to put the Lord first in my life.

Reading Exodus 20:1–7 might prompt you to think about the priorities in your life—you could even write them down in a list. What are some possible “gods” or “graven image[s]” (Exodus 20:3–4) that you might be tempted to put before God? How can putting the Lord first help you with the other important things in your life? What are you inspired to do to increase your focus on Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ?

See also Dallin H. Oaks, “No Other Gods,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2013, 72–75.

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Ideas for Family Scripture Study and Home Evening

Exodus 18:8–12.What effect did Moses’s testimony of God’s deliverance have on Jethro? What great things has the Lord done for our family? Who can we share our experiences with? How can we preserve those experiences for future generations?

Exodus 18:13–26.These verses might inspire your family to think about the service of your local Church leaders, such as the bishop, youth leaders, or Primary teachers. What responsibilities do they have that may seem “too heavy” (Exodus 18:18) for one person to carry alone? What can we do to help lift their burdens?

Exodus 20:3–17.Think of a meaningful way to discuss the Ten Commandments as a family. For instance, you might write the commandments in Exodus 20:3–17 on ten strips of paper. Family members could then sort them into two categories: (1) honoring God and (2) loving others (see also Matthew 22:36–40). Consider choosing a commandment or two each day this week and discussing it together in more detail. For example, how does obeying this commandment strengthen our family? How did the Savior obey it?

Exodus 20:12.To better understand Exodus 20:12, it might help if your family looked up definitions of the word “honor.” Then family members could make a list of things we can do that would honor our parents. You might sing a song about honoring parents, like “Quickly I’ll Obey” (Children’s Songbook, 197), and then use some of the ideas in your list to write new verses to the song.

For more ideas for teaching children, see this week’s outline in Come, Follow Me—For Primary.

Suggested song: “Keep the Commandments,” Children’s Songbook, 146–47.

Improving Personal Study

Find a time that works for you. It is often easier to learn from the scriptures when you can study them without being interrupted. Find a time that works for you, and do your best to consistently study at that time each day.

Moses holding stone tablets

Illustration of Moses holding the Ten Commandments, by Sam Lawlor