📜 19 And behold, I have given you the law and the commandments of my Father, that ye shall believe in me, and that ye shall repent of your sins, and come unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit. Behold, ye have the commandments before you, and the law is fulfilled.
Why Does Jesus Give Us Laws and Commandments?
Dissecting 3 Nephi 12:19
3 Nephi 12:19 gives us the Lord’s own explanation. When we slow it down and let each phrase speak, we see that His commandments are not arbitrary rules—they are invitations into transformation.
1. “I have given you the law and the
commandments of my Father”
Why?
Because we cannot become like Him without a revealed pattern.
God’s laws are not barriers; they are bridges. They show us the shape of a Christlike life when we cannot yet see it clearly on our own.
What this means for us
▪︎ We need divine structure because
our natural impulses pull us in
every direction.
▪︎ Commandments anchor us in
God’s character.
▪︎ They teach us how to love, how to
repent, how to walk in covenant.
We are not left to guess what holiness looks like—He gives us the pattern.
General Conference Talk That Pairs With This Section
A perfect General Conference pairing for this section is Elder D. Todd Christofferson’s “The Blessing of Scripture” (April 2010).
Elder Christofferson teaches us:
》 "The central purpose of all scripture is to fill our souls with faith in God the Father and in His Son, Jesus Christ." 《
This fits our theme with almost uncanny precision because Elder Christofferson teaches that God gives law, commandments, and revealed patterns so we can actually become like Him, not wander in spiritual guesswork.
Why this talk fits:
Elder Christofferson teaches that God gives us revealed law and commandments because we cannot discover the path to holiness on our own. Scripture provides the divine pattern that shapes our discipleship—exactly the point you are making in your section.
Key themes that align with the teaching:
▪︎ God reveals commandments so we
can know His will, not guess at it.
▪︎ Scripture gives us the
“pattern of godliness”
we could never invent ourselves.
▪︎ The law is a gift that anchors us in
God’s character.
▪︎ Revelation provides the structure that
keeps us from drifting with
our impulses.
▪︎ Commandments are not restrictions—
they are the way God forms
a holy people.
Summarizing Elder Christofferson teaches that scripture and commandments are essential because they show us God’s mind and will, giving us a sure foundation for righteous living.
Why it pairs with this section:
This section emphasizes:
▪︎ We need divine structure
▪︎ Commandments anchor us in
God’s character
▪︎ God gives us a revealed pattern
so we can become like Him
Elder Christofferson’s talk is essentially a doctrinal expansion of those exact truths.
2. “That ye shall believe in me”
Why commandments?
Because obedience creates belief.
When we live His teachings, our hearts begin to recognize His voice, His goodness, and His reality.
What this means for us
▪︎ We grow faith by living the law,
not just thinking about it.
▪︎ Commandments train our hearts
to trust Him.
▪︎ As we walk His path, we discover that
He is exactly who He claims to be.
The law is a tutor that leads us to Christ.
General Conference Talk That Pairs With This Section
This talk expands the principle that belief grows as we live what jesus teaches.
Elder David A. Bednar — “Converted unto the Lord” (October 2012)
》 "Knowing that the gospel is true is the essence of a testimony. Consistently being true to the gospel is the essence of conversion." 《
This talk is a perfect companion to this section because Elder Bednar teaches the exact principle emphasized: obedience produces belief, and belief deepens through action. He draws a clear distinction between having a testimony and being converted, and he explains that conversion grows as we live the doctrine—not just think about it.
Why this talk fits this section:
This section teaches:
▪︎ We grow faith by living the law
▪︎ Commandments train our hearts to
trust Him
▪︎ As we walk His path, we discover
He is who He says He is
▪︎ Obedience creates belief
Elder Bednar teaches:
▪︎ Conversion is a process of consistently
living what we know
▪︎ Obedience invites the Spirit,
and the Spirit creates deeper belief
▪︎ We come to know Christ by
acting in faith, not by passive belief
▪︎ True discipleship is demonstrated in
the way we live, not just what we feel
Elder Bednar explains that as we obey the commandments, we receive spiritual power that transforms testimony into conversion. Belief becomes anchored and enduring when we practice the principles of the gospel.
Why it pairs with this section of the study:
This section says, “The law is a tutor that leads us to Christ.”
Elder Bednar’s talk shows how that tutoring happens—through daily obedience that shapes our hearts and reveals Christ’s reality to us.
3. “And that ye shall repent of your sins”
Why commandments?
Because commandments reveal where we need healing.
They show us the places where our hearts drift, where our habits wound us, and where we need the Savior’s restoring power. Repentance is not about shame—it is about turning toward the One who can make us whole.
When Jesus gives us commandments, He is giving us a way back.
He is giving us a path that leads directly into His mercy.
What this means for us
▪︎ Commandments help us see clearly
what we need to turn away from
▪︎ Repentance becomes a daily
return to Christ, not a one‑time event
▪︎ As we change, we feel His healing,
cleansing, and strengthening power
▪︎ Repentance opens our hearts to the
Spirit and restores our spiritual clarity
Repentance is not God pointing out our failures—it is God pointing us toward our future. The law reveals our need for grace, and repentance brings us into Christ’s embrace.
General Conference Talk That Pairs With This Section
This talk expands the principle that repentance is the Savior’s invitation to be healed, renewed, and restored.
Elder Neil L. Andersen — “Repent… That I May Heal You” (October 2009) Elder Andersen teaches that:
》 "... repentance is not a burden ... it is the pathway to the Savior’s healing ...
the invitation to repent is rarely a
voice of chastisement but rather a loving appeal to turn around and to “re-turn” toward God" 《
This talk is a perfect companion to this section because Elder Andersen explains that repentance is a hopeful, ongoing process that draws us closer to Christ. He teaches that the Savior stands ready to heal us the moment we turn to Him.
Why this talk fits this section
This section teaches:
▪︎ Commandments reveal where
we need to change
▪︎ Repentance is how we
turn toward Christ
▪︎ The law shows us who we can become
▪︎ Repentance brings renewal and healing
Elder Andersen teaches:
▪︎ Repentance is a joyful, hopeful invitation
▪︎ Christ heals us as we turn to Him
▪︎ Daily repentance brings spiritual power
▪︎ The Savior’s grace transforms
us as we change
Elder Andersen explains that repentance is the way Christ fulfills His promise to “heal the brokenhearted” and make us whole.
Why it pairs with this section of the study
This section shows that commandments lead us into repentance, and repentance leads us into Christ’s arms. Elder Andersen’s message deepens that truth by showing that repentance is the very process through which Christ heals, lifts, and restores us.
4. “And come unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit”
SECTION: Broken Heart & Contrite Spirit
Why does Jesus give commandments?
Because commandments soften us. They break down pride, self-sufficiency, and rebellion.
📜 20 And ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit. And whoso cometh unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, him will I baptize with fire and with the Holy Ghost, even as the Lamanites, because of their faith in me at the time of their conversion, were baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost, and they knew it not.
A broken heart in scripture means:
▪︎ A heart open to God
▪︎ A heart willing to be taught
▪︎ A heart that lets go of stubbornness
▪︎ A heart that yields instead of resists
A contrite spirit means:
▪︎ A spirit willing to change
▪︎ A spirit that acknowledges
dependence on Christ
▪︎ A spirit that seeks reconciliation,
not justification
Cross‑reference themes for “broken heart and a contrite spirit”
▪︎ Sacrifice of the heart (Psalm 51:17)
▪︎ Yielding to the Holy Ghost
▪︎ Humility before God (Ether 12:27)
▪︎ Remission of Sins (D&C 21:9)
What this means for us
The commandments are not meant to crush us—they are meant to break us open so the Lord can fill us with new life.
We keep commandments not to prove our strength, but to surrender our hearts.
5. “Behold, ye have the commandments before you, and the law is fulfilled.”
SECTION: The Law
📜17 And as many as have received me, to them have I given to become the sons of God; and even so will I to as many as shall believe on my name, for behold, by me redemption cometh, and in me is the law of Moses fulfilled.
Why commandments if the law is fulfilled?
Because Jesus fulfills the law for us, but He still invites us to live the law with Him.
He does not abolish righteousness—He embodies it and then teaches us how to walk in it.
Cross‑reference themes for “law”
▪︎ Christ is the end (completion)
of the law (Romans 10:4)
▪︎ The law was a schoolmaster
to bring us to Christ (Galatians 3:24)
▪︎ Higher law replaces
lesser law (3 Nephi 12:20)
What this means for us
▪︎ The law is no longer a checklist—
it is a covenant path.
▪︎ We obey not to earn salvation,
but to walk with the One
who already fulfilled it.
▪︎ Commandments become expressions
of love, not burdens of fear.
We keep the law because He kept it first—and now walks it with us.
Why Does Jesus Give Us Laws and Commandments?
Because commandments are the way He:
▪︎ Teaches us His character
▪︎ Builds our faith
▪︎ Leads us to repentance
▪︎ Softens our hearts
▪︎ Draws us into covenant
▪︎ Helps us become like Him
The law is not a cage—it is a path.
The commandments are not restrictions—they are invitations.
They lead us to Christ, and Christ leads us to life.
Commandments For Our Benefit
Out of Love
I testify that Jesus Christ gives us commandments because He loves us. His laws are not weights on our shoulders—they are the way He shapes our hearts, builds our faith, and leads us back into His presence. As we receive His word, believe in Him, repent of our sins, and come with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, we discover that His path is the path of life. I know that He fulfills the law perfectly and then invites us to walk with Him in covenant. I know that as we follow Him, He heals us, strengthens us, and transforms us. He is the Living Christ, and His commandments are invitations into His grace. Amen.
The Way Christ Shapes Us
This entire study has shown us that the commandments of Jesus Christ are not random rules—they are the pattern of discipleship. They teach us who He is and who we can become. They help us believe, they lead us to repentance, they soften our hearts, and they draw us into covenant. Every commandment is a doorway into deeper relationship with Him. When we live His teachings, we begin to recognize His voice, trust His goodness, and feel His healing power. The law is fulfilled in Him, and as we walk with Him, we discover that His yoke is easy, His burden is light, and His path is peace.
Becoming Christlike in His Image
Jesus gives us commandments so we can become like Him. He reveals the pattern we could never create on our own. His law teaches us to believe, to repent, to surrender our pride, and to offer Him our broken hearts. Through His commandments, He anchors us in His character and leads us into covenant. Through repentance, He heals us and restores us. Through the higher law, He walks with us and fulfills all righteousness.
The commandments are not restrictions—they are invitations. They lead us to Christ, and Christ leads us to life.
Where Could I Go But To The Lord
By The Harmonizing Four
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