In his ten holy precepts, God has given a rule for man’s life, a law which Christ declares is not to abate one jot of its claims upon men through all their generations, to the close of time. That law is still the believer’s rule of life, the sinner’s condemnation. That law Christ came to magnify and make honorable. He showed that it is based upon the broad foundation of love to God and men, and that obedience to its precepts comprises the whole duty of man. In his own life he gave men a perfect example of obedience to the law of God. In his sermon on the mount he showed how its requirements extend beyond the outward acts, and take cognizance of the thoughts and intents of the heart. That law, obeyed, will lead men to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and to live “soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.” {LP 323.2}

Med sine ti hellige forskrifter, har Gud givet en regel for menneskets liv, en lov som Kristus erklærer ikke skal ændre en tøddel af dets krav på mennesker igennem alle deres generationer, indtil tidens afslutning. Den lov er stadig levereglen for den troende, synderens dom. Den lov kom Kristus for at ophøje og gøre ærværdig. Han viste at den var baseret på et bredt fundament af kærlighed til Gud og mennesker, og at lydighed mod dets forskrifter omfatter alle menneskers pligter. Med sit eget liv gav han mennesker et fuldkomment eksempel på lydighed til Guds lov. Med sin bjergprædiken viste han at dets krav går langt ud over ydre handlinger, og anerkender hjertets tanker og intentioner. Adlydes den lov, vil mennesker fornægte ugudelighed og verdslige lyster, "og leve besindigt og retskaffent og gudfrygtigt i den nuværende verden".