In Deuteronomy 4 The Lord asks the people to hearken unto the statutes and judgments of the Lord. This means to follow the commandments they have been given by the Lord. The Lord promises that if we keep these statutes as a people our nation will be great. We will be considered a wise and understanding people because we have the Lord with us in all of our doings. This example is what will bring others to the gospel. When we keep the statutes and judgments of the Lord people will want to be more like us due to our countenances. As parents we need to teach our children to live by the laws set forth by the Lord. it is our responsibility to raise them in the gospel.
Those of jewish heritage take the teaching of Deuteronomy quite literally by constructing a phylactery and a mezuzah. A phylactery was worn on the arm or the forehead with several scriptures inside. They were meant as reminders to those that wore them to keep the Lord at the heart of all they do. A mezuzah is another reminder with the scriptures that was put on the door frame of ones home. The people would touch the box when they left or came into their homes. Deuteronomy 6:5 was usually one of the verses included. It reads, "And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
The Lord warned the Israelite people not to worship false gods and that the Lord was a jealous God and would not put up with their worship of any other worldly gods. The Lord told them to destroy those alters that were made in order to worship false gods. Today we might not have gods like back then but if we fear men more than we fear God we are worshiping their will, not the Lord's. If we care for money more than we can for our families we are again worshiping things of the world.
The Lord also commanded his people to not marry outside of the covenant. He warned them that if they did, they would be draw away from the Lord and start to worship false gods. He told them that if they did they would be destroyed suddenly. Marriage within the covenant brings baout so many earthly and eternal blessings. When we marry in the temple we are able to spend eternity with one another and to continue to build the kingdom of God. We will be able to become priests and priestesses if we remain faithful and worthy. If we forget that we have three degrees of heaven and the only way to achieve the highest degree is to marry in the temple then we can miss out on so many blessings! We are unable to live with our Heavenly Father forever. If that way, Satan wins because he doesn't want us to return to our Father in Heaven.
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