The story of Moses leading the children of Israel out of Egypt and
towards the Promised Land is one of the most well known stories in all of
history. Many religions have not only received
the account of Moses as a part of their religious heritage, but they have also incorporated
the Law of Moses into the fabric of their beliefs. This story is particularly compelling because
of the direct interaction God had with man.
With an understanding that God works in One Eternal Round and that God
is Just and Merciful, we can observe how God interacts with one group of people
and have an expectation that if God were to interact with any other group of
people, it would be in a like manner. We
can find the patterns found in the Old Testament and liken the patterns unto those
who seek for God.
The Story of Joseph Smith establishing the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints is viewed as no less spectacular and miraculous as the story
of ancient Israel, at least among the believing members of the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints. We would
say that the modern day equivalent of Moses has occurred right here in our home
land. This was a parallel that was made from the beginning days of The
Church. From the beginning Joseph Smith
was viewed as a prophet like unto Moses.
“But, behold, verily, verily, I say unto thee, no one shall be
appointed to receive commandments and revelations in this church excepting my
servant Joseph Smith, Jun, for he receiveth them even as Moses.” (D&C 28:2)
“And again, the duty of the president of the office of the High
Priesthood is to preside over the whole, church, and to be like unto Moses – Behold, here is wisdom; yea, to be a
seer, a revelator, a translator, and a prophet, having all the gifts of God
which he bestows upon the head of the church.” (D&C 107:91-92).
The Book of Mormon also speaks about one like unto Moses, who will be
raised up to do no other work save that which the Lord would command him.
“And I will give unto him a commandment that he shall do none other
work, save the work which I shall command him.
And I will make him great in mine eyes; for he shall do my work. And he
shall be great like unto Moses, whom I have said I would raise up unto you,
to deliver my people, O house of Israel.” (2 Nephi 3:9-10)
There is no other candidate who has been proposed to be the fulfillment
of these verses in the Book of Mormon. Joseph
Smith has almost always been accepted among the Mormons as the one who has
fulfilled this. Especially compelling is
the description by Joseph of Egypt who prophecies that this individual will be
called after his (Joseph of Egypt’s) name and after the name of his father
(Joseph, Senior). The work that he
(Joseph who shares a name with his father and with the ancient Joseph) will
bring forward will be the words of the Lord unto the children of Joseph (of
Egypt) in the “latter days”. (2 NE 3:14)
It is said that this Joseph would not just bring the words forward but also
convince them of the truthfulness of the words of God that have already come
forth among them. It is generally understood that Joseph Smith provided the
fulfillment of these verses through the publication of the Book of Mormon, a
book of revelations (Doctrine and Covenants) and even a re-reading of the Bible.
Comparing Moses and Joseph is a useful comparison for believers and
non-believers alike. For if you believe
the Book of Mormon is what it says it is; then you believe that the analogies
between Moses and Joseph are appropriate and valuable. This is because the Book of Mormon and
Doctrine and Covenants states that they are comparable. However, if you believe that the Book of
Mormon is not what it says it is and you believe that Joseph may have made it
all up; then you would believe that within these references Joseph Smith was
comparing himself to Moses. Under this
viewpoint, Joseph is making the claim of comparison for himself. Therefore
the comparison is still appropriate and valuable. After all, Joseph is asking us to use the
standard of Moses to measure him by.
Whether true prophet or whether false prophet, he is setting the standard
by which he is to be measured. That
standard is Moses. Why not measure him
according to the standard that he asked of us?
There would not have been a “Moses” if there had not been a nation of
people to be called out of Egypt. We
call that nation the Children of Israel, although they referred to themselves
by their ancestral lines of heritage. These are the Twelve Tribes of Israel. Within the Mormon community there is
something called the Patriarchal Blessing.
This is a blessing or a prayer announced over the head of a member of
the religion in which a revelation is pronounced regarding the life of the
individual. Within each of these
Patriarchal Blessings, a lineage or heritage is declared to confirm the
individual as a member of one of these Tribes of Israel. This latter day practice alone is sufficient
to show that as “Mormons” we already have accepted the comparison between
ourselves and the Children of Israel. We
claim to be the Children of Israel. Why
not measure our endeavors according to the standard that we have claimed for
ourselves?
Perhaps the most significant event of comparison for the Children of
Israel in ancient times compared to modern times is the events of Mount
Sinai.
Moses prayed on Mount Sinai and experienced the glory of God (Moses
3:1-6).
Joseph prayed within the Sacred Grove and experienced the glory of God (Joseph
Smith History 1:14-16).
Moses inquired directly of the Lord (Exodus 33:18-20).
Joseph inquired directly of the Lord (Joseph Smith History 1:18).
Moses tried to prepare the people to receive the same visitation with
the Lord as he received (Exodus 19:11).
Joseph tried to prepare the people to receive the same visitation with
the Lord as he received (Lectures on Faith: Lecture 6).
Some others were able to do the same as Moses and see the living God
(Exodus 24:9-11).
Some others were able to do the same as Joseph and see the living God
(D&C 110:1-10)
Moses came down from the mountain with the higher law written on stone
tablets (Exodus 32:15-16). Joseph came down
from Cumorah with the higher law sealed in gold plates (D&C 93:1).
When God tried the patience of the people of Moses, the people turned back
to the false religion they knew from the tradition of Egypt (Exodus 32:1-6).
When God tried the patience of the people of Joseph, the people in
Kirtland turned back to the false religion they knew from their traditions of
the Bible (D&C 84:57).
Moses wanted all the people to have the same relationship with the Lord
that he had (Numbers 11:29).
Joseph wanted all the people to have the same relationship with the
Lord that he had (Lectures on Faith 7:13).The people did not want a real relationship with God and wanted to hide behind Moses and place him between them and God (Exodus 20:18-21).
The people wanted to hide behind Joseph and place him between them and God (Joseph
Smith Papers: Relief Society Minute Book, page 51).
The people of Moses rejected the higher law and were left with a lesser
law written on a different set of tablets (Exodus 34:1-4).
The people of Joseph rejected the higher law and were left with a
lesser law from only the unsealed portion of the plates (2 NE 27:8).
The people would not trust God to deliver them into a covenanted land;
therefore Moses was informed by God that the people would be driven into the
wilderness for three to four generations (Numbers 14).
The people would not trust God to deliver them upon a covenanted land;
therefore Joseph was informed by God that the people would be driven into the
wilderness for three to four generations (D&C 124:46-50).
Moses provided a tabernacle which would offer a symbolic testimony of
how the people could return into the presence of God (Exodus 29:43-46) (D&C 124:38).
Joseph provided a temple which would offer a symbolic testimony of how
the people could return into the presence of God (D&C 124:31-34).
Moses was taken from the people (Deuteronomy 34:1-8).
Joseph was taken from the people (D&C 135).
The children of ancient Israel could not be healed because they would
not look to the Lord (Numbers 21).
The people of Joseph could not be healed because they would not look to
the Lord (D&C 86:1-3).
They who received an inheritance from the Israelites remained in a
blinded condition thinking that their leaders, their ordinances, their laws
were the source of their redemption (2 Thessalonians 2:11).
They who received an inheritance from the church in Nauvoo remain in a
blinded condition thinking that their leaders, their ordinances, their laws make
them an exalted people before God (2 NE 27:1, 5).
The Twelve Tribes of Israel, having rejected the true mission of Moses,
did not receive another like him in his place (Deuteronomy 34:10).
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, having rejected the
true mission of Joseph, did not receive another like him in his place (D&C
28:7).
Therefore the ancient Israelites could not recognize the Lord when He
came among them (John 9:39-41).
Therefore what would happen to the modern Israelites should the Lord
attempt to minister to them?
No comments:
Post a Comment