Statutes, Judgments, and Commandments

Nephi recorded this about his people after their departure from the Lamanites: “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” (2 Nephi 5:10).  This combination of statutes, judgments, and commandments is seen throughout many passages in the Book of Mormon.  Mormon described the reign of King Mosiah this way: “And it came to pass that king Mosiah did walk in the ways of the Lord, and did observe his judgments and his statutes, and did keep his commandments in all things whatsoever he commanded him” (Mosiah 6:6).  The angel spoke to Alma and referred to “the statutes, and judgments, and commandments which he has given unto his people” (Alma 8:17).  The people of Ammon “did walk in the ways of the Lord, and did observe to keep his commandments and his statutes” (Alma 25:14).  Their sons learned to do the same: “yea, they do observe to keep his statutes, and his judgments, and his commandments continually” (Alma 58:40).  Helaman, the son of Helaman, “did observe to keep the statutes, and the judgments, and the commandments of God; and he did do that which was right in the sight of God continually” (Helaman 3:20). Samuel the Lamanite described other Lamanites who did “observe to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments according to the law of Moses” (Helaman 15:5).    Even Laman and Lemuel spoke of these items when they described the Jews in Jerusalem, “And we know that the people who were in the land of Jerusalem were a righteous people; for they kept the statutes and judgments of the Lord, and all his commandments, according to the law of Moses” (1 Nephi 17:22).  Clearly following these three items—the statutes, judgments, and commandments of the Lord—were very important to the Nephites. 

               For us, these three items all sort of sounds like they are describing the same thing.  It appears to be specific references to aspects of the law of Moses that were different parts of keeping the requirements of the Lord.  John Welch wrote about the nuanced difference between them in the corresponding Hebrew words, suggesting that “several words to express different semantic aspects and subtle nuances of our word ‘law.’”  What is important I believe is that the Nephites were very careful and committed to following the full requirements of the law of Moses.  Though the Book of Mormon generally doesn’t discuss in detail the Nephites’ observance of the law, it is clear that they were committed to it and did their best to be fully obedient to the Lord’s requirements in the law.  We of course don’t have all the same requirements today, but remembering their devotion to obeying fully the Lord’s law can be an inspiration for us.  Even after the law was fulfilled, the Lord quoted Malachi’s words for the Nephites and for us: “Remember ye the law of Moses, my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments” (3 Nephi 25:4).  We can remember the diligence of those who followed the statutes and judgments and commandments, be grateful we don’t have the same requirements, and then commit ourselves more fully to following the Lord’s commandments for us today.