The commandments are a gift from God, given and obeyed out of love. Keeping them strictly, with holiness of heart, with prayer and thanksgiving, will not only bring you a multitude of blessings but is the straightest path to freedom and life. It is the commandments that open the gates to heaven and access to the tree of life - letting you come to know Christ, be His friend, and abide in His love. God has given only a few important commandments, to be followed in faith and patience, so that you are MORE FREE to make your own choices in all other areas. Although some commandments may feel hard - He will not give any to you unless He's prepared a way for you to succeed at fulfilling it. Out of all the promises given for keeping the commandments(light, love, freedom, power, posterity, peace, safety)none is repeated more than the promise of receiving "the land of promise." Earth(a pure example of keeping the commandments as it is firm, steadfast, immovable) reflects the beauty of Christ's example of obedience to the commandments and represents all the glory of what it means to keep the commandments - for earth is life just as the commandments are life.
*Gen 2:16 - First commandment on earth: do not eat fruit on tree of knowledge *John 5:3 - Jesus says first commandment is to love God(keep commandments)
*Ex 20:6 - Keep commandments out of love, receive mercy, 'if you love me, keep my commandments' - John 14:15 - LOVE = Keeping the Commandments 2 John 1:6
*Gen 6:22 - Noah did all God commanded
*Ex 34:28 - Moses and the 10 Commandments, Deut 4:13, Ex 39:32 - Children of Israel obeyed
*Lev 26:3-9 - If you keep commandments, you get: rain, harvests, safety, peace, enemies fail, strength and power, God's respect and His covenants, you will be fruitful and multiply.
*Deut 5:1-22 - The 10 Commandments(God tries to give them directly, but they were too afraid of fire so Moses went)
*Deut 6:17-25 - Diligently keep commandments, testimonies, and statutes - it will be well with thee, you will receive land/good lof land, enemies will fall, you will be preserved. Teach. your children that keeping the commandments is like being freed with signs and wonders from Egypt
*Deut 10:19 - "Love ye therefore the stranger: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt."
*Deut 10:13-22 - Keeping the commandments is for your good.
*Prov 4:4 - "keep my commandments, and live." - Prov 7:2 - "my law is the apple of thine eye."
*Prov 6:20-23 - Obey commandments of your parents, commandments are lamp, the law is light, "reproofs of instruction are the way of life."
*Prov 19:16 - Keeping commandments keeps your soul. If you despise commandments you die.
*Matt 5:19 - Do and teach commandments and you will be great in heaven
*Matt 22:36-39 - The first and second greatest commandments are to love God and love your neighbor, John 13:34 - Love each other as Christ loves you, 1 John 2:7-12 - love your brother, walk in light, 1 John 3:23-24 - Believe in Christ, love one another, dwell in Him, abide in Spirit
*John 14:21 - Keep commandments out of love, receive love, Christ will manifest to you, John 15:10 - Abide in His love through commandments
*John 15:14 - Those who keep commandments are a friend to Christ, 1 John 2:3 - If you know Him, you keep the commandments
*Eph 6:2-3 - Honoring parents(1st commandment with promise) if will be well with you and you'll have long life
*Col 2:20-23 - Commandments help you do things that last, all lusts/temporary things perish
*1 Tim 1:5 - The end of commandments is charity - pure heart, good conscience, love unfeigned
*Rev 14:12 - Have patience while keeping the commandments
*Rev 22:14 - Doing his commandments brings you the right to the tree of life, enter into the gates
*1 Ne 2:10 - Earth is an example of keeping the commandments, it is firm and steadfast, immovable
*1 Ne 3:7 - The Lord doesn't give any commandment to men unless He's prepared a way for them to accomplish it.
*1 Ne 17:3 - Keeping commandments you'll be nourished, strengthened, provided means of help
*1 Ne 22:31 - Commandments: obey, endure:saved
*Jacob 2:10 - God's commandments can be strict
*Jarom 1:9 - "In as much as ye shall keep my commandments ye shall prosper in the land, Alma 9:13, 50:20 - "In as much as ye shall not keep my commandments ye shall be cut off from the presence of the Lord." - 1 Ne 2:20-22 - Those promises and ruler and teacher over brethren, Alma 48:25 - Should want others to have the blessings too. Land/prosperity=presence of the Lord
*Mosiah 7:22 - All he asks is for you to keep the commandments, then ye shall prosper
*Mosiah 13:11 - Have the commandments written on our heart
*Alma 12:31-37 - After breaking the first commandment so they could act, God gave other commandments so that they would have help as they acted. (Adam and Eve)
*D&C 1:24 - God gave commandments to men for their weaknesses, to help them understand
*D&C 1:37 - Commandments are true and faithful - all prophesies and promises shall be fulfilled
*D&C 29:35 - Commandments are spiritual, connected with agency
*D&C 43:3 - Prophets appointed to receive commandments and revelations as long as they abide Christ
*D&C 43:8 - Purpose of gathering(a commandment itself) as church is to instruct/edify on points of God's laws and commandments
*D&C 46:7 - How to follow commandments in holiness of heart, walking uprightly, considering salvation, doing things with prayer and thanksgiving, this will protect you from evil spirits, doctrines of devils, and commandments of men.
*D&C 58:26 - God does not command in all things - just the important ones. If you have to be commanded to do all things, you are slothful and foolish.
*D&C 61:31 - Commandments are for our good
*D&C 84:27 - Law of carnal commandments=law of Moses
*D&C 89:2 - Some things are not commandments but revelation and words of wisdom
*D&C 93:20 - Keeping the commandments helps you receive fulness, glory, grace for grace
*Ex 20 - Chapter on commandments
*3 Ne 18:25-29 - The kindest commandment = come unto Jesus for healing and protection. Christ fulfilled all commandments, He is the perfect example. Take the sacrament, don't let those you know as unworthy take it knowingly
