captained by Christ~ Dueteronomy 6+11

Deceive, beguile, snare, cheat, devour, entice, tempt, lull, rage, blind, lie, flatter, destroy are some of Satan’s tactics in his efforts to draw us away from God. We can be protected from Satan’s attacks by building an environment to repel them: holding Family Home Evening, personal and family prayer, attending Sunday School, living the commandments, and daily personal and family Scripture study.

The Israelites were tested, chastened, and taught in the wilderness for 40 years. Finally, God deemed them ready to enter the promised land. However, they needed important instructions, which Moses delivered in three sermons. We are privileged to have those instructions found in Deuteronomy.

"And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up." Deuteronomy 6:5–7

You may have noticed 5 contains the "greatest commandment" uttered by Jesus during His ministry (see Matthew 22:36–37 ). "It is the sum and substance of all other commandments, for if people loved God with all their heart, might, mind, and strength, every aspect of their lives would be devoted to righteousness and holiness. And if these words were constantly in their hearts and they sought to teach them to their children in every way possible, in every aspect of their lives, through precept and example, at night and in the day, at home or elsewhere, all of society would be dramatically altered. In that respect, this belief of the Jews is correct. The Shema , if it truly is an affirmation of faith and not just words, should be the supreme thought in one’s heart, and it is even worth dying, if living means a denial of that affirmation." Old Testament Institute Manual

God commanded the Israelites (and us) get the words of the scriptures into our hearts and teach them to our children, implying a commitment of time. We cannot love or teach what we do not know. We cannot know what we do not study. Parents can effectively teach their children and help them learn to love the scriptures by spending daily time in the scriptures themselves so that they are ready to teach, when the moment arrives and during scheduled daily family devotionals. They live what they teach, because it is part of them.

"And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates." Deuteronomy 6: 8-9

"Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes. And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt write them upon the door posts of thine house, and upon thy gates:" Deuteronomy 11: 18-20

"Frontlets were “strips of parchment on which were written four passages of scripture … and which were rolled up and attached to bands of leather worn … around the forehead or around the arm” [Bible Dictionary, “Frontlets,” 676]). Gospel Doctrine Teacher's Manual

Moses told the people to place passages of scripture between their eyes, on their hands, on the posts of their houses, and on their gates so the scriptures would always hold a prominent place in their lives. This is known as the Shema, mentioned above, or "hearing" and is contained in its entirety in Deuteronomy 6:4–9 ; Deuteronomy 11:13–21 ; and Numbers 15:37–41 (in that order). Devout Jews recite this section of scripture as a prayer each morning and evening. Constant reminders of God's commandments and love serve to make us want to do right. In our lives today, we don't wear frontlets to remind us of the Lord, his words, and our covenants with him. Nevertheless, we can surround ourselves with reminders of this Heavenly Parent with pictures of the Savior, gospel depictions, and holy temples, wholesome books to read on our shelves, and media that would not embarrass us if Jesus walked in unexpectedly. If the things we do bring the Lord to mind, they follow this commandment.

President Ezra Taft Benson said that people who are “captained by Christ will be consumed in Christ. … Enter their homes, and the pictures on their walls, the books on their shelves, the music in the air, their words and acts reveal them as Christians” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1985, 6; or Ensign, Nov. 1985, 6–7).