They Sought it Not by Faith

Paul wrote this to the Romans: “What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith. But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law” (Romans 9:30-32). In other words, the Gentiles who became righteous did so not because they followed the law of Moses but because they had faith in Jesus Christ. The Israelites, on the other hand, did not become truly righteous because they only performed the ordinances of the law without faith in the Savior. The works became the ends unto themselves instead of pointing them to the Son of God. The converted Lamanites in the Book of Mormon showed how the law was supposed to lead them to Christ: “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 25:15-16). They understand that it was necessary to keep the law, but they also knew that the end of the law was not simply obedience to works but to lead them to faith in Christ. As Jacob explained, “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 commands of God in offering up his son Isaac, which is a similitude of God and his Only Begotten Son” (Jacob 4:5). His grandson Jarom similarly explained, “The prophets, and the priests, and the teachers, did labor diligently, exhorting with all long-suffering the people to diligence; teaching the law of Moses, and the intent for which it was given; persuading them to look forward unto the Messiah, and believe in him to come as though he already was” (Jarom 1:11). The law of Moses was meant to bring the Lord’s people unto faith in Him, and many in the Savior’s day tragically missed the whole purpose of the performances they devoted their lives to following.

                President Ballard explained how this teaching applies to us in our day: “It is only through the infinite Atonement of Jesus Christ that people can overcome the consequences of bad choices. Thus Nephi teaches us that it is ultimately by the grace of Christ that we are saved even after all that we can do (see 2 Ne. 25:23). No matter how hard we work, no matter how much we obey, no matter how many good things we do in this life, it would not be enough were it not for Jesus Christ and His loving grace. On our own we cannot earn the kingdom of God—no matter what we do. Unfortunately, there are some within the Church who have become so preoccupied with performing good works that they forget that those works—as good as they may be—are hollow unless they are accompanied by a complete dependence on Christ.” Like it was supposed to be for the Israelites before the Savior fulfilled the law of Moses, so too are we meant to keep the commandments with our eye pointed to the Savior. All of the “works” that are required of us are meant to help us see Him. We fast not to just go hungry but to gain spiritual power through Jesus Christ and overcome our own wickedness. We pay tithing not just to check off a box for sacrifice but because we want to be able to worship the Savior in His house. We have the Word of Wisdom not so that we can argue amongst ourselves over the acceptability of caffeine and meat but so that we can “find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge” as we come unto the Savior (Doctrine and Covenants 89:19). We are commanded to keep the Sabbath Day holy not so that we can follow a precise list of things to do and not to do but so that we can draw near unto Him. Everything we are asked to do in the Church is to help us come unto the Savior. He taught the Prophet Joseph Smith: “Wherefore, verily I say unto you that all things unto me are spiritual, and not at any time have I given unto you a law which was temporal; neither any man, nor the children of men; neither Adam, your father, whom I created” (Doctrine and Covenants 29:34). All commandments are spiritual in the sense that they are meant to bring us unto the Savior and be saved. We must never become so focused on the performances of the law in our day that we keep the requirements without seeking Him in faith.