On the plains of Moab, Moses gives his farewell sermons to a new generation about to enter the promised land. His great worry is that when life gets easy, they'll forget the Lord who brought them out of Egypt. So he teaches them to love God with all their heart, to teach their children, to open their hands to the poor, and to choose life. Then he climbs Mount Nebo, sees the land, and is taken by the Lord.
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Study guide
Deuteronomy is Moses's farewell, three sermons to a new generation at the edge of the promised land. These notes help you hear it as a call to remember.
How to read this week
Hear it as a sermon. Moses is speaking to people who were children (or not yet born) at Sinai. Imagine him addressing you.
Track the word “remember.” It and “forget not” recur throughout (6:12; 8:2, 11, 18). The great danger isn't the wilderness; it's prosperity.
Notice the heart. Love God with all your heart (6:5); let His words be in your heart (6:6); don't harden your heart to the poor (15:7); a circumcised heart (30:6).
Connect it to Jesus. He quoted Deuteronomy to answer Satan and to name the greatest commandment. Deuteronomy 18:15 points to Him.
Read the hard parts carefully. Commands to destroy the Canaanites (7:1–5) are troubling. See the scripture helps for how the manual addresses them.
Moses's last days
Plains of Moab — Israel camps across from Jericho (1:1–5)
First sermon — Recounting the journey (chs. 1–4)
Second sermon — The law restated, including the Shema (chs. 5–26)
Third sermon — Covenant renewal: choose life (chs. 27–30)
Farewell — Song and blessings (chs. 31–33)
Mount Nebo — Moses sees the land and is taken (ch. 34)
Images and ideas to recognize
Passage
Image
What it means
Deut 6:8
Frontlets between the eyes
Keeping God's word constantly in mind.
Deut 6:9
Words on the doorposts
A home defined by God's word.
Deut 8:3
Bread and every word
Spiritual nourishment more essential than food.
Deut 15:11
An open hand
Generosity toward those in need.
Deut 30:6
A circumcised heart
Inner commitment to the covenant.
Deut 34:1
View from Nebo
Seeing the promise, even before it's fully received.
Restoration connections
Alma 45:19 — Moses was taken up by the Spirit, as Alma may have been.
D&C 110:11 — Moses restores the keys of the gathering of Israel in the Kirtland Temple.
3 Nephi 20:23 — The Savior identifies Himself as the prophet Moses spoke of.
Helaman 12:1–2 — When the Lord prospers His people, they often forget Him.
Questions for the week
What does it look like in your daily life to love God with all your heart, soul and might (6:5)?
What helps your family talk of the gospel “when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way” (6:7)?
When has prosperity or comfort made it easier to forget the Lord (8:11–17)?
How can you open your hand wider to people in need (15:7–11)?
What does “choose life” mean for a decision you face right now (30:19)?
Conference talks & Church resources
Talks the Church's lesson points to this week, plus other Church resources that teach from these chapters.
Scholarly papers
Faithful scholarship from BYU and related publishers, tagged with the chapters each one discusses.
Podcasts & video
Come, Follow Me shows and episodes covering this week's reading.