Book of Mormon: Impact of the Law of Moses
From understanding science, it can be concluded that the earth and human nature is governed by laws like why the sun always rises in the east. Laws have governed humans since the beginning of time, and one can abide by them or ignore them facing the consequences whether good or bad. One of the main forms of law that governs humankind socially is a spiritual law. A spiritual law founded throughout the scriptures that has impacted the lives of millions of people is the Law of Moses. The Law of Moses was a “collection of written laws given through Moses to the house of Israel, as a replacement of the higher law that they had failed to obey”. These laws, “consisted of many ceremonies, rituals, and symbols, to remind the people frequently of their duties and responsibilities”. The Law of Moses was also made up of moral laws, food laws, social laws, and, arguably the most well-known, the ten commandments. These laws affected their lives inviting them to remember God each and every day. An important note is that these laws were most often kept because the people believed that Heaven’s blessing will come from doing so.
Not only is the Law of Moses found in the Old and New Testament, but also is found throughout the Book of Mormon. The Book of Mormon contains the most references of the words “Law of Moses” than the Old Testament where this law was originated. The Book of Mormon references the Law of Moses 61 times. To illustrate the point of the Law of Moses further the prophet Nephi states that “we keep the law of Moses”, creating a distinguishing line between the righteous followers of the law and the wicked. The Law of Moses is a significant theme in the Book of Mormon because it creates a delineating line between the wicked and the righteous by pointing its followers to Christ.
Contextual and Formal Analysis
The Law of Moses was the law of God on the earth at during the commencement of the Book of Mormon. About 80% of the Book of Mormon takes place during the practice of the Law of Moses having a major effect on the people and culture. Nephi made clear from the very beginning of the Book of Mormon that, “notwithstanding we believe in Christ, we keep the law of Moses, and look forward with steadfastness unto Christ, until the law shall be fulfilled”. This scripture states clearly that they followed, are following, and will follow the Law of Moses as taught from the scriptures with, as well, hope to the coming of Christ. During these verses, Nephi is writing down his thoughts about why he included the chapters of Isaiah so that his people will know the judgments of God. Nephi is afraid because his people did not understand the words of Isaiah causing him to write Isaiah’s words in a way for the people to understand. He was especially worried because he knew that his death was approaching and he wanted his children to know where to look for peace and happiness. The Law itself does not save the people, but they kept the law with the hope in Christ. From these words he wrote and others, he appears to be a man of authority as he takes an active role in teaching his posterity about religious topics.
Knowing the role of the Law of Moses has with the people, Nephi mentions this law early on in his writing of 2 Nephi 25:24. Beginning this pericope with the word “notwithstanding” is showing us that despite whatever he just said, this is what is important to focus on, the belief in Jesus Christ. He is highlighting that the Law of Moses is important for the righteous because it points them to Christ. Then he testifies that the Nephites who are at the time prospering and are righteous are keeping the Law of Moses. Webster's 1828 dictionary defines the word keep as “ preserving from falling or from danger; to protect; to guard or sustain”. This shows that the righteous protected, guarded, and sustained the Law of Moses. Nephi continues to habituate this point of the righteous keeping the Law of Moses with Christ in the foreground by stating that they steadfastly looked to Christ. The righteous where eager and excited for the coming of the Savior to come and fulfill the Law.
Detailed Analysis
The Law of Moses was so vital for the righteous in the Book of Mormon, that Lehi was commanded to retrieve the brass plates that contained the Law of Moses. After having traveled many days in the wilderness, this was not an easy task and despite seeing opposition, the Lord lead Nephi to obtain the plates. Nephi had to kill someone to procure the plates showing that this law is even more important than the life of one man. This necessity to have the Law of Moses was recounted in Mosiah speaking to his son, that if it were not for the plates of brass, “that even our fathers would have dwindled in unbelief”. Mosiah as well invites his sons to keep the commandments of God. This speech to his sons meant that they needed to keep the Law of Moses and if they do, he promises them prosperity. The word prospers in the scripture is linked to Leviticus 25:18-19 which states that all who “do them, and ye shall dwell in the land in safety. And the land shall yield her fruit, and ye shall eat your fill, and dwell therein in safety”. Leviticus is adding to what is taught by teaching that they kept the Law of Moses because the righteous believed in prosperity that would come through obedience.
An example of obedience from the virtuous law-abiding people is found in the story of Sherem. Sherem dwells among the Nephites and taught contrary to the doctrine of the coming of Christ. Sherem being wicked believed in the Law of Moses as stated that he believed in the scriptures and to what they taught. However, the concept of Christ was difficult for him to grasp and he sought for a sign and received it from Heaven. When he came and gained back strength, he knew on the marrow that he would die. He knew that he would die because the Law of Moses commanded that he should die. In order to seek forgiveness of his sins, he acted upon that Law of Moses by receiving death by stoning. The scriptures it states, “he that blasphemeth the name of the Lord, he shall surely be put to death, and all the congregation shall certainly stone him”. As a man that believed in the Law of Moses followed that Law to death even though he did not at first believe in the Law of Moses like the Nephites did with the coming of Christ attached to it.
Another example that the of the separation of the righteous and the wicked in the Book of Mormon is with the story of Zemnarihah. The people began to be very wicked by putting off the Law of Moses, despite the prophecy of the coming of Christ in about 20 years. In the land robbers who sought to kill, steal, and break all forms of the Law of Moses walked the earth. After an abhorrent battle in which the righteous captured Zemnarihah, the leader of the robbers, the scriptures specifically state that the Nephites hung Zemnarihah from a tree. This interesting detail was put in the Book of Mormon to teach that they were following the Law of Moses with exactness. As recorded in Deuteronomy Chapter 21 verses 22 and 23 state:
And if a man has committed a sin worthy of death, and he be to be put to death, and thou hang him on a tree: His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God;) that thy land be not defiled, which the Lord thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.
This passage of scripture additionally explains why the righteous cut the tree down as it was due to the fact that they could not let him hang all night. The righteous took time to follow the rules while those that were wicked ignored the laws.
The Nephites however should not get all the credit for upholding the Law of Moses and understanding it. The Lamanites played critical roles with the Law of Moses in the Book of Mormon, for example, with the story of Samuel the Lamanite. During this point of the Book of Mormon, the tide began to change between the Nephites and the Lamanites that the Nephites were considered more wicked than the Lamanites. For the Lamanites did, “observe strictly to keep the commandments of God, according to the law of Moses”. The Lamanites learned and followed these laws with the exactness that were taught from the scriptures.
Another paragon of the faithfulness of the Lamanites is that even when the Nephites began to recede in honoring the Law of Moses, the “Lamanites who were converted unto the true faith; and they would not depart from it, for they were firm and steadfast, and immovable, willing with all diligence to keep the commandments of the Lord”. This shows that the Lamanites knew the Law of Moses and that throughout their history, despite struggling to believe in Christ at times that separated them from the righteous, they followed the Law of Moses.
The Law of Moses was, in fact, emblematic of the law of Christ. Jarom cites this stating that the “laws of the land were exceedingly strict” and that they, “observed to keep the law of Moses and the Sabbath day holy unto the Lord. And they profaned not; neither did they blaspheme”. This Law was in fact in effect until the coming of Christ where Christ came and said, “Behold, I say unto you that the law is fulfilled that was given unto Moses. Behold, I am he that gave the law, therefore, the law in me is fulfilled, for I have come to fulfill the law; therefore it hath an end”. This caused great marveling among the spiritual people that the Law they have been living for years is now being changed in a blink of an eye to a higher law. However, this teaching was more accepted in the American continent than in Jerusalem as the righteous people already understood the scriptures that this law will one day be fulfilled. Nevertheless, the teaching of the Law of Moses took time to leave the culture of the people as it was not until the 59th year after the birth of Christ that finally states that, they did not walk any more after the performances and ordinances of the Law of Moses, but they did walk after the commandments which they had received from their Lord and their God”. The quote illustrates that because the influences of the Law of Moses affected the righteous people in all aspects of their life is shown in a long adjustment time. The wicked who rebelled against the Law of Moses accepted the consequences of their actions.
Synthesis/Conclusion
While the Law of Moses is not as applicable to life today, it had a major impact on the lives of those in the Book of Mormon. The Law of Moses influenced the culture, trials, and daily life of both the righteous and the wicked. Those who choose to follow or not follow the Law of Moses had to suffer consequences for that choice. Knowing that the Law of Moses played such a major role to the righteous is important to help the reader of the Book of Mormon better understand the context and why things are put in this divinely given book. The Book of Mormon delineated a line between the righteous and the wicked through showing who is obedient to the law of God, or at their present time the Law of Moses.
Theological Interpretation
The Law of Moses is not fully appreciated in the Book of Mormon as it should be in our day today. Each sentence in the Book of Mormon is there to teach us despite our laziness that may occur of reading over why it is needed to state that Zemnarihah was hanged to why the laws were strict in the land. They were divinely put there to show that the righteous obey the law that they had with exactness. That no matter what trials or obstacles will come our way if we trust in God, He will lead, guide, protect, and bless us beyond our comprehension. We should, as we read the scriptures now, realize that although the promises found in the Book of Mormon mostly refer to the Law of Moses, that it was a commandment of God for them. Just like them, we have specific commandments of God for our day and age and if we abide by them, we are promised the same as them, to be blessed and prosper in all things.
The other important note to take from this insight of the Law of Moses is that we need to embrace the changes. There have been many new changes in the Church policy as of late which can often be a little weird for the traditionalist of the faith. However, the Nephites showed that they knew more was to come and that they needed to put their hope and trust in Christ despite not fully understanding everything. The righteous in the Book of Mormon taught us that this is a church of revelation and changes may occur, but we need to make sure we are anchored to Christ who is at the center of it all.
