ENTRY 29 THE PATTERN OF MOSES

The Pattern of Moses

God works in patterns among the children of men upon the earth. 

He works in One Eternal Round.  This means that the patterns are the same for everyone.  One of God’s qualities is Justice and therefore the same law is required of each soul.  Another of God’s qualities is also Mercy and therefore the law provides relief for the innocent, the untaught and the humble.  Another of God’s qualities is patience and therefore he is not quick to condemn.  He is swift to forgive. 

We can have faith in God because of these qualities.  He is no respecter of persons.  He gives liberally to all.  The same blessings are available to any soul who would seek a favor from the hand of God.  The same test is required of any soul who would desire to receive God’s glory.  The purity available through the Atonement of Jesus Christ is freely offered to anyone who would desire to receive.  The conditions upon which that Atonement is received in one person’s life are the same conditions it is received in any other person’s life.

The most valuable patterns we can study are those in which the Lord had a working hand in the lives of the people.  By studying those patterns, we can learn how others received or rejected God in their lives.  We can learn from their experience, knowing that if we do the same as they did, we will have the same results.  We receive the same results because God is Just and Merciful. 

There is one pattern that is particularly well suited to our day and age.  That pattern is the story of the people of Moses. The pattern of Moses was intended to provide a model for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  The following is a list of scriptures that demonstrate that we are meant to understand how the people of Moses succeeded and how they failed.  God has shown through The Book of Mormon and through the Doctrine and Covenants that we are to consider ourselves as if we are the People of Moses.

(1 Nephi 4:15) A righteous man seeks to obtain plates that contain engravings with the Law of Moses.

(1 Nephi 5:15) This man read the engravings, recognizing that his people were being led out of captivity just as the people of Moses.

(1 Nephi 17:22) The wicked believe that keeping the statutes and judgments according to the Law of Moses is sufficient to be righteous.

(1 Nephi 22:20-21) However, Moses was provided as a pattern like unto the Holy One of Israel.

(2 Nephi 25:24-30) Keeping the Law of Moses is for the purpose of drawing our attention to the Savior.  By doing all things that Christ would ask of us, we keep the right way and believe in Christ and deny Him not.

(Mosiah 3:13-15) Christ comes that they might receive a remission of their sins, but their pride (stiffnecks) prevented them from receiving this.  The “lower law” provided a shadow or type to restore their attention back to the coming of Christ.

(Mosiah 12:27-36) The wicked priests claim to teach the Law of Moses.  However, they interpret the law in such a way as to justify their sins.  They deny the true source of salvation, which is Christ.

(Alma 29:3) Keeping the Law of Moses with the correct understanding of its fulfillment brings peace to the people.

(Alma 33:18-20) Those who did not harden their hearts looked to the type set up by Moses and lived, receiving healing the Son of God who fulfilled the Law.

(Alma 34:7) Other prophets appealed unto the story of Moses to prove the truth of Christ.

(Alma 34:13-14)  The whole point of Moses and the law delivered through him was to point to the infinite and eternal sacrifice of the Son of God.

(Alma 36:2, 28) A father counseled his son to remember the deliverance of the people of Moses because this provided the pattern by which he too was delivered.

(Alma 45:18-19) This father was received up to Christ just as Moses had been.

(Helaman 13:1) Membership in a group did not provide a guaranteed privilege of success.  Rather it was those who strictly observed the commandments of God that were freed from wickedness.

(3 Nephi 9:15-16)  The fulfillment of the Law of Moses is Jesus Christ the Son of God who will come to those who will receive Him and to these is the law fulfilled making them also sons of God.

(3 Nephi 15:2-10) Christ witnessed that he fulfilled the law of Moses saying that it is by “looking unto Him” that we receive life.

(3 Nephi 25:4) This pattern is renewed in our time and age.

(4 Nephi 1:12) The commandments given directly by their Lord and God supersede all other laws.

(Ether 12:11) Our willingness to do God’s Will (Faith), provides God the opportunity to teach us higher laws.

In the Book of Mormon, from beginning to end, the story of Moses is used as a pattern to teach.  After reviewing the verses above, notice how the same pattern has been fulfilled in our time:

 Joseph Smith seeks to obtain plates that contain engravings with the Law of God given to ancient forefathers.  He reads the engravings, recognizing that his people can be led out of captivity just as the people of Moses. The wicked believed that keeping the statutes and judgments according to the New Testament is sufficient to be righteous.  However, the Book of Mormon was provided as a pattern like unto the Holy One of Israel.  Keeping the Law delivered through Joseph Smith is for the purpose of drawing our attention to the Savior.  By doing all things that Christ would ask of us, we keep the right way and believe in Christ and deny Him not.  Christ comes that they might receive a remission of their sins, but our pride (stiffnecks) prevented us from receiving this.  We insisted that the law delivered through the New Testament was the correct pattern and reinterpreted the Book of Mormon according to that pattern.  We set up a latter day church but it was modeled after the New Testament church.  Thus the people rejected the higher law that was offered, in the hardness of our hearts, we are left with the “lower law” which provides a shadow or type to restore our attention back to the coming of Christ. The priests claim to teach the Law as explained to us in the Book of Mormon.  However, they interpret the law in such a way as to justify sins.  They deny the true source of salvation, which is Christ. Keeping the Law as taught through Joseph Smith with the correct understanding of its fulfillment brings peace to the people. Those who will not harden their hearts look to the type set up in the Latter-days.  They can find a new life, receiving healing from the Son of God who fulfills the Law.  Joseph Smith appealed unto the story of Moses to prove the truth of Christ.  The whole point of Moses and the law delivered through him was to point to the infinite and eternal sacrifice of the Son of God.  Those who have witnessed the Savior in person have counseled us to remember the deliverance of the people of Moses because this provided the pattern by which he too was delivered. We can be received up to Christ just as Moses had been. Membership in a group does not provide a guaranteed privilege of success.  Rather it is those who strictly observed the commandments of God that were freed from wickedness.  The fulfillment of the covenant of the Book of Mormon is Jesus Christ the Son of God who will come to those who will receive Him and to these is the law fulfilled making them also sons of God.  Christ witnessed that he fulfilled the law, saying that it is by “looking unto Him” that we receive life. This pattern is renewed in our time and our own personal life.  The commandments given directly by the Lord our God supersede all other laws. Our willingness to do God’s Will (Faith), provides God the opportunity to teach us higher laws.

So we can see that we are exactly like the people of Moses.  We are wandering in the wilderness.  When we finally begin to look and recognize the standard that has been raised up before us, then we can receive healing from our afflictions in this wilderness.