As the Savior and His Apostles observed Passover in the upper room, the Savior taught His Apostles important truths. With His suffering in Gethsemane and Calvary yet to come, Jesus instructed these men whom He dearly loved, “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15). This lesson can help you show your love to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ by obeying Their commandments.
Observing and discerning. Take time to observe the students, and seek the Spirit’s help in discerning their needs so that the lesson can be adjusted accordingly. Do not be overly preoccupied with covering lesson material or with what to say next; this can overshadow students’ needs and the promptings of the Holy Ghost.
Student preparation: Invite students to watch the video “Going to Grandma’s” (4:02), available at ChurchofJesusChrist.org, and to think about what this account can teach us about why the Lord gives us commandments.
Possible Learning Activities
Consider beginning class by sharing personal examples of family members showing love for each other. Alternatively, invite students to discuss the following questions.
How do you show love?
How can you tell if someone loves you? What words, actions, or attitudes indicate their love?
How do you show your love for others?
What if you love someone, but your attitude or actions have not always shown that love? What could you do?
As the Savior continued to instruct His Apostles during the Last Supper, He taught of His love for us and taught how we can show our love for Him.
Depending on students’ needs and abilities, each student could read all of the following verses, or the class could be divided in half and each half assigned one of the passages.
After students have finished reading, encourage them to ask questions or make comments about what they read. As they do so, help them identify how we can show our love for God, and also help them note words or phrases that show God’s love for us.
What did the Savior emphasize in these verses about how we can show love for Him?
Consider writing on the board the following or a similar truth that students identified: We show our love for Jesus Christ by keeping His commandments.
What do these verses teach about the Savior’s love for you?
What are some situations in which the truths the Savior taught in these verses would be helpful?
If students were invited to watch the video as part of their student preparation, invite them to discuss what they learned about why God gives us commandments, rather than rewatching the video in class. Or students could watch the video “Going to Grandma’s” (4:02), available at ChurchofJesusChrist.org, or read the statement below.
Sister Carole M. Stephens, formerly of the Relief Society General Presidency, taught about God’s motive for giving us commandments and our motive for being obedient to them.
Watch the video “Going to Grandma’s” (4:02), located at ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
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Carole M. Stephens
We may feel at times that God’s laws restrict our personal freedom, take from us our agency, and limit our growth. But as we seek for greater understanding, as we allow our Father to teach us, we will begin to see that His laws are a manifestation of His love for us and obedience to His laws is an expression of our love for Him.
How are the commandments you listed a “manifestation of [God’s] love for us”?
How can your obedience to these commandments be an “expression of [your] love for Him”?
Choose one of the commandments from your list. It could be one you are working on keeping or one you have been tempted to break but have chosen to obey.
Validate students’ efforts to be obedient by identifying some of the commandments they do keep, and help them evaluate their motives for keeping those commandments.
Consider displaying the following questions and giving students adequate time to thoughtfully ponder and write their responses in their study journals. Be mindful of the sensitive nature of these questions.
The following questions will help you assess your motives for keeping God’s commandments. As you think about your responses, it is important to know that you may have various reasons for keeping the commandments. Regardless of your current motives, continue to be obedient, and with time your desire to obey out of love can increase.
What motivates you to keep this commandment?
How do you feel about your reasons for keeping the commandments compared to the Lord’s example of obeying out of love?
Why might the reasons behind your obedience (your motives) matter?
What counsel would you give to someone who wishes to obey God’s commandments out of love?
Our Savior’s example of love
Jesus Christ gave us the perfect example of how to obey God’s laws and commandments out of pure love. After the Last Supper, He said, “But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do” (John 14:31). Jesus then went to suffer for our sins and our “pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind” (Alma 7:11) in the Garden of Gethsemane and again on the cross.
Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles invited us to consider carefully what the love of Jesus Christ can motivate us to do. You may want to watch the video “Abide in My Love,” available at ChurchofJesusChrist.org, from time code 14:27 to 14:50, or read the following statement:
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Elder D. Todd Christofferson
Will you not love Him who first loved you? [see 1 John 4:19]. Then keep His commandments [see John 14:15]. Will you not be a friend to Him who laid down His life for His friends? [see John 15:13]. Then keep His commandments [see John 15:14]. Will you not abide in His love and receive all that He graciously offers you? Then keep His commandments [see John 15:10].
(D. Todd Christofferson, “Abide in My Love,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2016, 51)
How can your commitment to greater obedience, based on love, influence your relationship with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ? (See Mosiah 5:13.)
As you strive to keep the commandments out of love for Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, you will feel an increase of Their love in your life (see John 14:21). If you struggle to be obedient, or to even desire to be obedient, Heavenly Father can help you if you humbly ask Him for a change of heart. Remember, too, that one of the commandments is to repent, and we can keep this commandment while working to overcome our weaknesses.
Commentary and Background Information
Why does God require our obedience to His commandments?
President Dallin H. Oaks of the First Presidency taught:
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President Dallin H. Oaks
God requires us to obey His commandments because only through that obedience, including repentance, can we return to live in His presence and become perfect as He is.
Each of us should ask ourselves why we obey God’s commandments. Is it because we fear punishment? Is it because we desire the rewards for living a good life? Is it because we love God and Jesus Christ and want to serve Them?
It is better to obey the commandments because we fear punishment than not to obey them at all. But we will be much happier if we obey God because we love Him and want to obey Him. When we obey Him freely, He can bless us freely. He said, “I, the Lord, … delight to honor those who serve me in righteousness and in truth unto the end” [Doctrine and Covenants 76:5]. Obedience also helps us progress and become more like our Heavenly Father. But those who do nothing until they are commanded and then keep the commandments unwillingly [will] lose their reward [see Doctrine and Covenants 58:26–29].
If students struggle to obey commandments because of worldly influences or persecution, these verses may help them take courage or gain perspective.
Invite students to think about how Jesus Christ would be received if His mortal ministry occurred in our day.
Students can study John 15:18–25, looking for what the Savior said of the world and the reasons why His people have always suffered opposition and persecution from the world. What comfort and strength to obey can we find in His message?
We can keep commandments even if we do not understand why they were given
The Prophet Joseph Smith (1805–44) said, “I made this my rule: When the Lord commands, do it” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith [2011], 160). The scriptures and Church history include many accounts of people who chose to be obedient even when they did not fully understand why the commandment or counsel was given. The following passages include examples of faith-filled obedience and some of the blessings these individuals received because they were obedient:
Students could be invited to ponder these questions: What are some commandments you don’t fully understand? How can your love for God help you be faithful and obedient until further understanding comes?
Review your commitments
Invite students to review any plans or commitments they have recently made to be more obedient to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. They may have done so in a previous seminary lesson or as part of their goals for the Children and Youth program. If they do not already have a goal or plan to be more obedient, they may think about one of the commandments they listed in this lesson.