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We have HOW many commandments?

Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2012 11:36 am
by _bcuzbcuz
A simple reading of Exodus 20 (or Deuteronomy 5) list 14 commandments, in two couplets of six shall (or shall nots) followed by imperatives. It starts out with 6 shall..... all dealing with honoring God, then number 7 says Remember the Sabbath. The next couplet of six regard our treatment of fellow humans then finishes with Honor you father and mother.

That makes 14 in my book.

However, if one goes through the Laws of Moses (mitzvot) you get 613 commandments, either as positive statements of what shall be done or negative commandments of what must be abstained from. Granted, some of these laws cannot be followed in modern times, and some apply only to within Israel. But that still leaves around 200.

A good reference to how various scholars have juggled the 14 commandments into ten can be found at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ten_Commandments

All you have to decide if you want to count according to the Philonic ten, or the Talmudic ten, or the Augustinian ten......or you can just read the commandments as they stand and count to 14!

Re: We have HOW many commandments?

Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2012 9:24 am
by _Drifting
There are only three latter day commandments under which all other rules and obligations fit as a sub commandment.

1. Thou shalt Pray
2. Thou shalt Pay
3. Thou shalt Obey

Obviously number one is optional but the last two are cast in stone tenets that, if you are in breach of them then you cannot be exalted.

Re: We have HOW many commandments?

Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2012 10:31 pm
by _moksha
For Christians there are two overriding commandments (a.k.a. the Great Commandments):

1. Love God
2. Love everyone else.

For some Latter-Day Saints, the foremost commandment is obedience to Church Authorities who speak for God, followed by the Word of Wisdom, the Ten Commandments, and occasionally, the Great Commandments.

A handful of Mormons prioritize the above list in the reverse order.

Re: We have HOW many commandments?

Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2012 1:55 am
by _MCB
No, I will not tell the little penguin that he is not a true Mormon. :biggrin: He might not take it the right way. :wink:

Re: We have HOW many commandments?

Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2012 3:26 pm
by _bcuzbcuz
Drifting wrote:There are only three latter day commandments under which all other rules and obligations fit as a sub commandment.

1. Thou shalt Pray
2. Thou shalt Pay
3. Thou shalt Obey

Obviously number one is optional but the last two are cast in stone tenets that, if you are in breach of them then you cannot be exalted.


I think you're right. Transgression of all the other commandments can be forgiven but 2 and 3 are written in stone.