Deuteronomy 6–8; 15, 18; 29–30; 34: Lesson 59

Deuteronomy 6:6–25; 7:1–26; 8:1–20

“Thou Shalt Remember the Lord Thy God”

Visit “Studying the Scriptures” to help prepare yourself spiritually to learn.

After years of being guided and protected by God through the wilderness, the Israelites were about to settle in the promised land. Though arriving at their new home would be a welcomed change, comfort could also tempt them to forget God. This lesson can help you remember what God has done for you.

Study the Scriptures

Consider the following scenario:

Josh enjoys attending church on Sunday with his family. But he is so busy with school, work, and sports that he often goes the rest of the week without consciously thinking about Heavenly Father or Jesus Christ.

Respond to the following questions in your notebook:

• Why might it be more difficult to remember God and rely on Him when life is going well for us?

• Why is it important to remember God in all circumstances?

After leading the children of Israel for 40 years in the wilderness, the Lord was ready to bring them over the Jordan River into the promised land. The Israelites had now become a mighty army, and the promised land had many natural resources that would make their lives much more comfortable.

Read Deuteronomy 4:7–9; 6:10–13; 8:7–14. Mark the repeated warnings Moses gave the Israelites. Why do you think Moses was worried about this? Why do you think Moses’s counsel is still needed by members of the Savior’s Church today?

Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained why Heavenly Father wants us to remember Him and His Son:

Our Heavenly Father wants us to recall His and His Beloved Son’s goodness, not for Their own gratification but for the influence such remembrance has on us. By considering Their kindness, our perspective and understanding are enlarged. By reflecting on Their compassion, we become more humble, prayerful, and steadfast. …

Every time we use, benefit from, or even think of these gifts, we ought to consider the sacrifice, generosity, and compassion of the givers. Reverence for the givers does more than just make us grateful. Reflecting on Their gifts can and should transform us. (“Consider the Goodness and Greatness of God,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2020, 41–42)

Respond to one or more of the following questions in your notebook:

• Why do you think remembering the Lord leads to such significant blessings?

• How have you experienced the truths Elder Renlund shared?

We can also look to Jesus Christ as the perfect example of remembering Heavenly Father.

President Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:

Jesus’ entire being, His complete purpose and delight, were centered in pleasing His Father and obeying His will. Of Him He seemed always to be thinking; to Him He seemed always to be praying. Unlike us, He needed no crisis, no discouraging shift in events to direct His hopes heavenward. He was already instinctively, longingly looking that way. (“The Hands of the Fathers,” Ensign, May 1999, 14–15)

Review the following study options. Complete one or more.

Option A

How can remembering the Lord help me face challenges?

To obtain the promised land, the Israelites faced a challenge. The Lord told them they would have to defeat mightier nations (see Deuteronomy 7:1). Knowing that the nations were mightier than they were might have made many of the Israelites nervous.

Read Deuteronomy 7:17–21; 8:2–4, 15 to see what the Lord wanted the Israelites to remember as they dealt with future challenges. Consider marking each time the Lord encouraged the Israelites to remember Him.

Like the Israelites, remembering how the Lord has helped you face past challenges can help you face new challenges.

Record in your notebook a time when the Lord has helped you or someone you know to face a challenge. Or you might write a scenario where a teenager is able to face a challenge by remembering what the Lord has done to help them in the past.

Option B

What can I do to remember the Lord?

The Israelites were instructed to always keep the Lord’s words in their minds, in their hearts, and on the doorposts of their homes (see Deuteronomy 6:5–9). Jewish communities developed customs centered around this. One custom involves writing scripture passages on pieces of parchment placed in small leather boxes called tefillin, or phylacteries. These boxes are worn over the forehead and on the inside of the biceps of the nondominant arm, with the box pointed toward the heart.

Another custom involves writing several scripture passages on parchment placed in a small container called a mezuzah, which hangs on the right side of the doorframe of a home.

Like the Israelites, you can develop habits to remind you of the Lord. Study two or more of the following resources, looking for things you can do to remember the Lord. How might seeing God’s hand in your daily life affect you?

1. Mosiah 2:17 (King Benjamin’s address)

2. Alma 34:38 (Amulek’s counsel to humbled Nephites)

3. Helaman 3:35 (Nephites’ response to affliction)

4. “O Remember, Remember” (1:28)

Using what you have learned, brainstorm ways to remember the Savior daily. Then create a plan in your notebook. Include what you will do to remember the Lord when life is going well and when facing challenges.

Share Your Thoughts

Lesson Purpose: To help you remember what God has done for you.

Share one or more of the following with your teacher or class:

• The scenario or experience you recorded.

• The plan you made to remember the Lord in both good and challenging times.

• Something specific you did to achieve the purpose of this lesson.

• Any questions this lesson raised for you. How will you try to find answers to your questions?