History of Sacrifices and the Law of Moses among the Nephites--
References to the Books of Nephi, Jacob, Mosiah and Alma--The
Testimony of Jesus regarding the Law of Moses.
From the Bible we turn to the Book of Mormon, with a view to discover
to what extent the law of sacrifice, as a type of the offering up of
the promised Messiah, was observed among that branch of the house of
Israel which God planted on this continent. In perusing the pages of
this sacred record, we shall find several important facts and ideas,
in connection with this subject, presented very prominently by the
ancient Nephite historians: among them--
First, that the law of Moses, with all its rites, ordinances, and
sacrifices, was strictly observed by the faithful Nephites from the
time of their arrival on the promised land, until it was fulfilled in
Christ, and by his command ceased to be observed.
Second, that when the Nephites brought any of the Lamanites to the
knowledge and worship of the true God, they taught them to observe
this law.
Third, that those who apostatized from the Nephites, as a general
thing, ceased to observe this law.
Fourth, that the true import of the law of Moses, and of its
ceremonies and sacrifices, as typical of the atonement yet to be made
by our Lord and Savior, was thoroughly taught by the Priesthood among
that people, and very generally understood by them.
Fifth, that associated with the observance of this law, there were
continued admonitions given that salvation was in Christ and not in
the law, which was but the shadow and type of that of which he was the
prototype and reality.
Sixth, that temples were erected of the same pattern as that of
Solomon at Jerusalem, evidently for the reason that they were to be
used for the same purposes.
Seventh, that the Gospel was preached in connection with the law, and
churches were established and organized according to the Gospel
requirements, and that the higher Priesthood, although not fully
organized in all its parts, ministered to the Nephites as well as the
lesser.
Eighth, it appears indubitable from the two records, the Bible and the
Book of Mormon, that the intent and true meaning of the law of Moses,
of its sacrifices, etc., were far better understood and comprehended
by the Nephites than by the Jews. But in this connection, it must not
be forgotten, that a great many most plain and precious things, as the
Book of Mormon states, have been taken from the Bible, through the
ignorance of uninspired translators or the design and cunning of
wicked men.
As might naturally be expected, we find that Lehi, like his
forefathers of the Mosaic age, offered sacrifices to the Lord during
his journeyings in the wilderness. These sacrifices were occasions of
thanksgiving and praise to God. As examples, we note the occasion of
the safe return of Lehi's sons from Jerusalem with the records, when,
we are told by Nephi, their parents "did rejoice exceedingly, and did
offer sacrifice and burnt offerings unto the Lord; and they gave
thanks unto the God of Israel. And after they had given thanks unto
the God of Israel, my father, Lehi, took the records which were
engraven upon the plates of brass, and he did search them from the
beginning."--1 Nephi, v, 9, 10.
Another occasion was when Nephi and his brethren again returned from
the Holy City, bringing with them Ishmael and his family. Of this
Nephi writes: "After I and my brethren, and all the house of Ishmael,
had come down unto the tent of my father, they did give thanks unto
the Lord their God; and they did offer sacrifice and burnt offerings
unto him."--1 Nephi, vii, 22.
After the arrival of the colony on the promised land and the death of
Lehi, his sons and their families divided into two communities, or
nationalities; the one righteous and Godfearing, the other rebellious
and debased. Owing to the contentious and quarrelsome disposition of
the latter, who recognized Laman, Lehi's eldest son, as their head,
the portion who sought to serve the Lord, for the sake of peace and
security moved some distance to the northward. Nephi was their leader,
and of them he records:
"And all those who were with me, did take upon them to call themselves
the people of Nephi. And we did observe to keep the judgments, and the
statutes, and the commandments of the Lord in all things, according to
the law of Moses. And the Lord was with us: and we did prosper
exceedingly."--2 Nephi, v, 9--11.
One of the first things that the Nephites did on their arrival at
their new home was to build a temple. They could not keep the
judgments, the commandments, and the statutes of the Lord in all
things, according to the law of Moses, unless they did so; and
necessarily it was fashioned after the one at Jerusalem, for it was to
be used for the same purposes; in it the same ordinances were to be
performed, the same sacrifices were to be offered. Nephi writes:
"And I, Nephi, did build a temple: and I did construct it after the
manner of the temple of Solomon, save it were not built of so many
precious things; for they were not to be found upon the land;
wherefore, it could not be built like unto Solomon's temple. But the
manner of the construction was like unto the temple of Solomon; and
the workmanship thereof was exceeding fine."--2 Nephi, v, 16.
Thus the fulfilling of the Divine commandments was provided for; a
place was erected where the law of Moses could be carried out, and the
sacrifices be offered which formed so important a part of that code.
The Nephites were not left by their Priesthood in ignorance of the
intent and symbolism of these ceremonies. They were not unmeaning,
burdensome, spiritless performances to them. Nephi and his successors
were particularly careful in explaining that these ordinances, like
all other rites of the Church of God, had their value in their
association with or being directly typical of the great, infinite
sacrifice of atonement to be offered up by the Lamb of God in His own
person. Nephi informs us:
"Behold, my soul delighteth in proving unto my people the truth of the
coining of Christ: for, for this end hath the law of Moses been given;
and all things which have been given of God from the beginning of the
world, unto man, are the typifying of him."--2 Nephi, xi, 4.
And a little later he writes:
"And notwithstanding we believe in Christ, we keep the law of Moses,
and look forward with steadfastness unto Christ, until the law shall
be fulfilled; for, for this end was the law given; wherefore the law
hath become dead unto us, and we are made alive in Christ, because of
our faith; yet we keep the law because of the commandments; and we
talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy
of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children
may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins.
Wherefore, we speak concerning the law, that our children may know the
deadness of the law; and they, by knowing the deadness of the law, may
look forward to the life which is in Christ, and know for what end the
law was given. And after the law is fulfilled in Christ, that they
need not harden their hearts against him, when the law ought to be
done away."--2 Nephi, xxv, 24-27.
Which agrees with the statement of Paul: "Wherefore the law was our
schoolmaster, to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by
faith."
So firm a foundation having been laid for the faith of the Nephite
people, we find that in every period of their history they retained
their reverence for the law of Moses, though disputations sometimes
arose, by reason of iniquity, with regard to its symbolism or its
saving quality. The apostates, who separated themselves from the
Church, occasionally fell into the grievous error ef exalting the law
above the Gospel, and, whilst maintaining its divine origin, they
ignored its typical value and denied that it was a preparatory system
leading to a higher, holier and more perfect law; they refused to
recognize it as a schoolmaster to bring them to Christ. The first of
these apostacies occurred in the days of Jacob, the brother of Nephi.
With regard to the people in general, he writes:
"Behold, they believed in Christ and worshipped the Father in his
name, and also we worship the Father in his name. And for this intent
we keep the law of Moses, it pointing our souls to him; and for this
cause it is sanctified unto us for righteousness, even as it was
accounted unto Abraham in the wilderness, to be obedient unto the
commandments of God in offering up his son Isaac, which is a
similitude of God and his only begotten Son."--Jacob, iv, 5.
But while the majority of the Nephites fully recognized these saving
truths, there arose a man named Sherem, who disputed and denied that
the law pointed the souls of men to Christ, as the great Propitiator
for sin and the Redeemer of the world.
This Sherem declared unto the people that there should be no Christ,
and his flatteries and sophistries led away many people. Of him and
his doings Jacob writes:
"And it came to pass that he came unto me; and on this wise did he
speak unto me, saying: Brother Jacob, I have sought much opportunity
that I might speak unto you: for I have heard and also know, that thou
goest about much, preaching that which you call the gospel, or the
doctrine of Christ; and ye have led away much of this people, that
they pervert the right way of God, and keep not the law of Moses,
which is the right way: and convert the law of Moses into the worship
of a being, which ye say shall come many hundred years hence. And now
behold, I, Sherem, declare unto you, that this is blasphemy; for no
man knoweth of such things; for he cannot tell of things to come. And
after this manner did Sherem contend against me. But behold, the Lord
God poured in his Spirit into my soul, insomuch that I did confound
him in all his words. And I said unto him, Deniest thou the Christ who
should come? And he said, If there should be a Christ, I would not
deny him; but I know that there is no Christ, neither has been, nor
ever will be. And I said unto him, Believest thou the scriptures? And
he said, Yea. And I said unto him, Then ye do not understand them; for
they truly testify of Christ. Behold, I say unto you, that none of the
prophets have written, nor prophesied, save they have spoken
concerning this Christ. And this is not all: it has been made manifest
unto me, for I have heard and seen and it also has been made manifest
unto me by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, I know, if there
should be no atonement made, all mankind must be lost."--Jacob, vii,
6-12.
Somewhat similar was the argument that took place between the martyr
Abinadi and the apostate priests of the iniquitous Noah, king of the
land of Lehi-Nephi. They officiated in the Temple, observed the
outward forms of the Mosaic law, but revelled in licentiousness,
covetousness, gluttony and all manner of iniquity. To them was Abinadi
sent to warn them and their king of the results of their mutual wrong
doing. In the account of this mission of Abinadi we read that he said:
"Ye have not applied your hearts to understanding; therefore, ye have
not been wise. Therefore, What teach ye this people? And they said, We
teach the law of Moses. And again he said unto them, If ye teach the
law of Moses why do ye not keep it? Why do ye set your hearts upon
riches? Why do ye commit whoredoms and spend your strength with
harlots, yea, and cause this people to commit sin, that the Lord has
cause to send me to prophesy against this people, yea, even a great
evil against this people? Know ye not that I speak the truth? Yea, ye
know that I speak the truth; and you ought to tremble before God. And
it shall come to pass that ye shall be smitten for your iniquities:
for ye have said that ye teach the law of Moses. And what know ye
concerning the law of Moses? Does salvation come by the law of Moses?
What say ye? And they answered and said, that salvation did come by
the law of Moses. But now Abinadi said unto them, I know if ye keep
the commandments of God ye shall be saved; yea, if ye keep the
commandments which the Lord delivered unto Moses in the mount of
Sinai."--Mos., xii, 27-33.
He then rehearsed to them the commandments; after which he again
inquired:
"Have ye taught this people that they should observe to do all these
things? for to keep these commandments? I say unto you nay; for if ye
had, the Lord would not have caused me to come forth and to prophesy
evil concerning this people. 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
stiff-necked people; quick to do iniquity, and slow to remember the
Lord their God; therefore 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?"--Mos., xiii, 25-33.
At this time the righteous Nephites in the land of Zarahemla were
keeping the law of Moses strictly, so far as its outward ordinances
were concerned, and understandingly with regard to its symbolism and
similitudes. When the obedient Nephites were led out of the land of
Nephi by Mosiah, they found in the land, afterwards called Zarahemla,
a people who proved to be a branch of the house of Israel, but who,
owing to the fact that they had no records nor scriptures, had
corrupted their language, failed to observe the law of Moses, and had
so far fallen that they actually denied the existence of God. Mosiah
and the Nephites amalgamated with this people, taught them their
language, instructed them in the worship of God and built a temple in
that land, which indeed they made their permanent home. Mosiah had a
son called Benjamin, who ruled in righteousness all the days of his
long life. Shortly before his death he instructed his son Mosiah to
gather the people to the temple, that he might give them a charge and
nominate his successor. It is written:
"After Mosiah had done as his father had commanded him, and had made a
proclamation throughout all the land, that the people gathered
themselves together throughout all the land, that they might go up to
the temple to hear the words which king Benjamin should speak unto
them. And there were a great number, even so many that they did not
number them; for they had multiplied exceedingly, and waxed great in
the land. And they also took of the firstlings of their flocks, that
they might offer sacrifice and burnt offerings, according to the law
of Moses."--Mos., ii, 1-3.
Here we observe that the law in relation to sacrifices and burnt
offerings was still faithfully observed, although nearly five hundred
years had passed since Lehi left Jerusalem; for the colony which he
led started on their eventful journey six hundred years before the
birth of Christ, whilst this gathering took place one hundred and
twenty-five years before that same most important appearing.
During the days that the Judges ruled the Nephites the righteous
portion of that people continued to observe the requirements of this
law. We will simply give two quotations from the Book of Alma on this
point, though the references are numerous. The first is:
"Yea, and they did keep the law of Moses; for it was expedient that
they should keep the law of Moses as yet, for it was not all
fulfilled. But notwithstanding the law of Moses, they did look forward
to the coming of Christ, considering that the law of Moses was a type
of his coming, and believing that they must keep those outward
performances, until the time that he should be revealed unto them. Now
they did not suppose that salvation came by the law of Moses; but the
law of Moses did serve to strengthen their faith in Christ; and thus
they did retain a hope through faith, unto eternal salvation, relying
upon the spirit of prophecy, which spake of those things to
come."--Alma, xxv, 15, 16.
With this the words of Paul, when speaking on this subject, precisely
agree: "But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up
unto the faith, which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law
was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be
justified by faith."--Gal., iii, 23, 24.
The second quotation is:
"Therefore it is expedient that there should be a great and last
sacrifice; and then shall there be, or it is expedient that 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, xxxiv, 13, 14.
But some of those who apostatized from the Nephites and organized
churches of their own ceased to keep this law. Such a sect were the
Zoramites, of whom it is written:
"Now the Zoramites were dissenters from the Nephites; therefore they
had the word of God preached unto them. But they had fallen into great
errors, for they would not observe to keep the commandments of God,
and his statutes, according to the law of Moses; neither would they
observe the performances of the church, to continue in prayer and
supplication to God daily, that they might not enter into temptation;
yea, in fine, they did pervert the ways of the Lord in very many
instances."--Alma, xxxi, 8-11.
Shortly after the appearance of the signs that betokened the birth of
the Savior at Bethlehem, there arose a few among the Nephites who
endeavored "to prove by the Scriptures that it was no more expedient
to observe the law of Moses. Now in this thing they did err, having
not understood the Scriptures. But it came to pass that they soon
became converted, and were convinced of the error which they were in,
for it was made known unto them that the law was not yet
fulfilled."--3 Nephi, i, 24, 25.
After His resurrection, Jesus, in His ministrations in the midst of
the Nephites, perceiving that they wondered regarding the fulfilment
of the law of Moses, said unto the listening multitude, "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
fulfil the law; therefore 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 hath 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."--3 Nephi, xv, 4-8.