greater promises and blessings

He Lives-Simon Dewey

I continue to marvel at the goodness of God, how He knows my needs and directs my paths. I am a blessed daughter of God and hope He directs my path somewhere warm and sunny. After only a few weeks of nice weather, fall has arrived with a chill in the air. My bones feel it. How can I see this as a blessing? I am grateful to live in a community, where crime is minimal and the people are friendly. 

Anyway........The purpose of the Law of Moses was to prepare the people to accept Jesus Christ. Since the people would not or could not understand the whole thing, they had to start somewhere. Take for instance the incident with the snakes biting everyone. All they had to do was look at the erected standard. Many refused and died. This was a type of Jesus. We need to look to Jesus' example. Many people today refuse. This is called "stiffnecked"


"Yet the Lord God saw that his people were a stiffnecked people, and he appointed unto them a law, even the law of Moses. And many signs, and wonders,and types, and shadows showed He unto them, concerning His coming; and also holy prophets spake unto them concerning His coming; and yet they hardened their hearts, and understood not that the law of Moses availeth nothing except it were through the atonement of His blood." Mosiah 3:14-15

Some of the Israelites thought that the law of Moses in itself brought salvation. However, the prophets taught that salvation did not come by the law of Moses but from God.

"And now ye have said that salvation cometh by the law of Moses. I say unto you that it is expedient that ye should keep the law of Moses as yet; but I say unto you, that the time shall come when it shall no more be expedient to keep the law of Moses. And moreover, I say unto you, that salvation doth not come by the law alone; and were it not for the atonement, which God himself shall make for the sins and iniquities of his people, that they must unavoidably perish, notwithstanding the law of Moses. And now I say unto you that it was expedient that there should be a law given to the children of Israel, yea, even a very strict law; for they were a stiffnecked people, quick to do iniquity, and slow to remember the Lord their God; Therefor there was a law given them, yea, a law of performances and of ordinances, a law which they were to observe strictly from day to day, to keep them in remembrance of God and their duty towards Him. But behold, I say unto you, that all these things were types of things to come. And now, did they understand the law? I say unto you Nay, they did not all understand the law; and this because of the hardness of their hearts; for they understood not that there could not any man be saved except it were through the redemption of God. For behold, did not Moses prophesy unto them concerning the coming of the Messiah, and that God should redeem his people: Yea, and even all the prophets who have prophesied ever since the world began--have they not spoken more or less concerning these things: Have they not said that God himself should come down among the children of men, and take upon him the form of man, and go forth in mighty power upon the face of the earth? Yea, and have they not said also that he should bring to pass the resurrection of the dead, and that He Himself, should be oppressed and afflicted?"  Mosiah 13:27-35

"Therefore, it is expedient that there should be a great and last sacrifice; and then shall there be, or it is expedient there should be, a stop to the shedding of blood; then shall the law of Moses be fulfilled; yea, it shall be all fulfilled, every jot and tittle, and none shall have passed away. And behold, this is the whole meaning of the law, every whit pointing to that great and last sacrifice; and that great and last sacrifice will be the Son of God, yea, infinite and eternal." Alma 34:13-14

The animal sacrifices were to show them the sacrifice that Jesus would make. When He came to the Earth, Jesus mad the ultimate sacrifice. After His resurrection, He visited the remnant of the House of Israel living in America, where He said, "...for behold, by me redemption cometh, and in me is the law of Moses fulfilled." 3 Nephi 9:17

"And as many as have received me, to them have I given to become the sons of God; and even so will I to as many as shall believe on my name, for behold, by my redemption cometh, and in me is the law of Moses fulfilled. I am the light and the life of the world I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. And ye shall offer up unto me no more the shedding of blood; yea, your sacrifices and your burnt offerings shall be done away, for I will accept none of your sacrifices and your burnt offerings. And ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit. And whoso cometh unto them with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, him will I baptize with fire and with the Holy Ghost even as the Lamanites, because of their faith in me at the time of their conversion, were baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost, and they knew it not." 3 Nephi 9:17-20

Since the purpose of the law of Moses was to prepare the people to accept Jesus and Jesus had fulfilled His mission, the time for sacrifice by the shedding of blood was ended. This however did not nullify the commandments.

"Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets. I am not come to destroy but to fulfill; for verily I say unto you, one hot nor one tittle hath not passed away from the law, but in me it hath all been fulfilled. And behold, I have given you the law and the commandments of my Father , that ye shall believe in me, and that ye shall repent of your sins, and come unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit. Behold, ye have the commandments before you, and the law is fulfilled." 3 Nephi 12:17-19

We are to continue living the commandments, since they are eternal in nature.

"And it came to pass that when Jesus had said these words he perceived that there were some among them who marveled, and wondered what he would concerning the law of Moses; for they understood not the saying that old things had passed away, and that all things had become new. And he said unto them: Marvel not that I said unto you that old things had passed away, and that all things had become new. Behold, I say unto you that the law is fulfilled that was given unto Moses. Behold, I am he that gave the law, and I am he who covenanted with my people Israel; therefore, the law in me is fulfilled, for I have come to fulfill the law; therefor it hath an end. Behold, I do not destroy the prophets, for as many as have not been fulfilled in me, verily I say unto you shall all be fulfilled. And because I said unto you that old things have passed away, I do not destroy that which hath been spoken concerning things which are to come. For behold, the covenant which I have made with my people is not all fulfilled; but the law which was given unto Moses hath an end in me. Behold, I am the law, and the light. Look unto me, and endure to the end, and ye shall live; for unto him that endureth to the end will I give eternal life. Behold, I have given unto you the commandments; therefore keep my commandments. And this is the law and the prophets, for they truly testified of me." 3 Nephi 15:2-10

Only the law of Moses was fulfilled. The old commandments were still in force. Additionally, Jesus gave new commandments with greater promises and blessings.