The Ten Commandments are a foundational set of guidelines for behavior that are intimately familiar to most Judeo-Christian faiths. Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS or Mormon) accept the Ten Commandments as recorded in Exodus 20. They are also reiterated in modern-day Mormon scripture, signifying the importance of the ten commandments in Mormonism.
(Please note that Mormons use the traditional Jewish and Protestant divisions of the Ten Commandments, rather than the divisions Catholics and Lutherans generally use.)
Mormons and the First Commandment
“Thou shalt have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3)
Mormons worship God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost as a Godhead (three beings that are one God in purpose.) Mormon scripture instructs followers to do “all things with an eye single to the glory of God” (D&C 82:19) and to love and serve the Lord "with all thy might, mind, and strength" (D&C 59:5.)
Mormons and the Second Commandment
“Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image” (Exodus 20:4)
The second commandment condemns idolatry, the practice of worshiping physical statues or images. (Famously recognized Mormon artwork and statues are for appreciation rather than worship.) Additionally, most Mormons understand the second commandment to be a warning against turning wealth or any other possession, idea, person, or achievement into a "false god." LDS leader David H. Madsen says that, "In essence, the practice of idolatry means putting worldly things ahead of God."
Mormons and the Third Commandment
“Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain” (Exodus 20:7)
Mormons are taught to keep their language clean and avoid all types of swearing, especially when it concerns the inappropriate use of the names of God and Jesus Christ. Talking respectfully about them or praying to God is perfectly acceptable in Mormonism, but their names should never be used as profanity or, as Mormon apostle Dallin H. Oaks says, "marks of punctuation in common discourse."
Mormons and the Fourth Commandment
“Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy” (Exodus 20:8)
Mormons observe the Sabbath on Sunday. They believe that the commandment to keep the Sabbath day holy includes resting from worldly activities (such as work, sports, shopping, and recreation) and actively participating in spiritual ones (going to church, scripture study, prayer, and quiet family activities.) For more information, see What Do Mormons Do on Sunday?
Mormons and the Fifth Commandment
“Honour thy father and thy mother” (Exodus 20:12)
Mormonism sees the family as a very important and sacred unit, emphasizing the necessity for honoring one's parents. Honoring parents includes obeying, loving, and helping them. Children and teens especially are taught to be forces for good in their families and work to create harmonious family environments.
Mormons and the Sixth Commandment
“Thou shalt not kill” (Exodus 20:13)
Mormons believe that after the unpardonable sin of denying the Holy Ghost (see Matthew 12: 31), murder is the most serious sin a person can commit. Mormon scripture D&C 59: 6 repeats the sixth, seventh, and eighth commandments with the addition of the words, "nor do anything like unto it." LDS leaders teach that elective abortion is a violation of the sixth commandment that is "like unto" murder in almost all instances.
Mormons and the Seventh Commandment
“Thou shalt not commit adultery” (Exodus 20:14).
In Mormonism, sexual intimacy is believed to be appropriate only within marriage. Spouses married in the Mormon temple promise complete fidelity to each other, after which adultery can be grounds for excommunication from the LDS church. Mormons also interpret the "anything like unto it" scripture reference in D&C 59: 6 to forbid fornication, masturbation, and homosexual activity as well. Sexual sins are described collectively in the LDS Law of Chastity.
Mormons and the Eighth Commandment
"Thou shalt not steal” (Exodus 20:15)
Mormons believe that not only stealing but "anything like unto it" (see D&C 59: 6) is breaking the eighth commandment. This includes any act of dishonesty to get personal gain including shoplifting, cheating, embezzling, defrauding, or accepting payment for work not done. The LDS church stresses the importance of personal integrity and requires individuals to affirmatively answer the question "Are you honest in your dealings with others?" before they can get a temple recommend.
Mormons and the Ninth Commandment
“Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour” (Exodus 20:16)
Bearing false witness is generally understood to mean lying. Mormons believe in being honest in all they do, and should avoid shading or misrepresenting the truth, gossiping, exaggerating or making understatements, telling half-truths, or remaining silent and allowing others to reach the wrong conclusion. Even "little white lies" are believed to have serious cumulative consequences to a person's sense of integrity.
Mormons and the Tenth Commandment
“Thou shalt not covet” (Exodus 20:17)
Coveting is being jealous of what another person has and wanting it for oneself. Specific items are listed in Exodus, but Mormons believe that the prohibition on coveting applies to any possessions or achievements even if they aren't listed. It is believed that the selfishness and greed behind covetousness is destructive to happiness and may even lead to debt or dishonesty to obtain the coveted items.
Mormons accept and teach the Biblical ten commandments as part of their doctrinal beliefs. All the same, they do not see the Ten Commandments as God's final word on the subject of human conduct. They also rely on additional LDS scriptural, a living Mormon prophet, and continuing revelation from God as a guide.
Readers interested in learning more about Mormon commandments may be interested in Mormon Rules Explained and LDS For the Strength of Youth Pamphlet.
Sources:
The Holy Bible, King James Version.
Doctrine and Covenants (D&C) of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
David H. Madsen, "“No Other Gods Before Me”." Ensign, Jan 1990.
Dallin H. Oaks, "Reverent and Clean", Ensign, May 1986.
Jenny Evans - Jenny Evans is a freelance writer and editor specializing in parenting and the family. She is also the Mormonism Topic Editor for ...
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