Nephites and the Law of Moses

Reading the Book of Mormon it is easy to forget that the Nephites were living the Law of Moses up until the coming of the Savior.  The Nephite writers mentioned keeping the law at various points in the text, but it was clearly not a focus for them as it was for the Jews at the time Jesus came to Palestine.  What we do see is that the Nephite prophets understood that it was the Giver of the law and not the law itself which was of most importance.  In most instances where the law was mentioned, the prophets focused on its meaning as it pertains to the Savior.  Nephi wrote, “My soul delighteth in proving unto my people the truth of the coming of Christ; for, for this end hath the law of Moses been given” (2 Nephi 11:4).  He also said, “Notwithstanding we believe in Christ, we keep the law of Moses, and look forward with steadfastness unto Christ, until the law shall be fulfilled” (2 Nephi 25:24).  Nephi’s brother Jacob similarly wrote, “And for this intent we keep the law of Moses, in pointing our souls to [Christ]” (Jacob 4:5).  Jarom wrote of the prophets in his day that taught “the law of Moses, and the intent for which it was given; persuading them to look forward unto the Messiah” (Jarom 1:11).  When the angel visited King Benjamin he said succinctly, “The law of Moses availeth nothing except it were through the atonement of his blood” (Mosiah 3:15).  After so many Lamanites converted with the preaching of the sons of Mosiah, they did “keep the law of Moses” and “did look forward to the coming of Christ, considering that the law of Moses was a type of his coming…. The law of Moses did serve to strengthen their faith in Christ” (Alma 25:15-16).  I think this Nephite focus on the Savior can teach us a lot about how we should view the temporal commandments that we receive today.  The world will typically describe the Church based upon the physical laws that the members abide by, but to us these should be seen only as small sacrifices that point us to the Savior.  Of course we keep the commandments, but we should define ourselves based upon faith in the Savior, not particular commandments that we follow.