Regarding the Law of Moses... There is a well documented and explained but seldom seen or understood message in the Book of Mormon and Bible regarding the law of Moses. It relates directly to the "saved by works vs saved by grace" question in a very contraversial way for most Mormons which is why I believe they struggle to see it.
The Law of Moses didn't actually begin with Moses. God didn't decide that the system given to adam and his posterity, (including Abraham, Israel, Enoch, Noah, etc), wasn't working and to change the program 2500 years later when Moses arrived on the scene. And, He didn't change the program again 1,400-1500 years later when Jesus arrived on the scene. You have to look at the entire history as a single cohesive unchanging framework. What was required for salvation for Adam was the same for Enos, and for Nephi and Jesus, and you and me. It never changed.This is easy to understand when you read the scriptures that tell us that we never could be saved by the Law of Moses. Not only can you not be saved by the law, but "by the law MEN ARE CUT OFF".2 Nephi 2:5
"And men are instructed sufficiently that they know good from evil. And the law is given unto men. And by the law no flesh is justified; for by the law men are cut off. Yea, by the temporal law they were cut off; and also, by the spiritual law they perish from that which is good, and become miserable forever."
How is it that "by the law men are cut off"?It is because without the law, there is no sin.1 John 3:4-5
4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
Alma 42:17
17 Now, how could a man repent except he should sin? How could he sin if there was no law? How could there be a law save there was a punishment?
2 Nephi 2:13
13 And if ye shall say there is no law, ye shall also say there is no sin…
Romans 7:8-9
8 But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.
9 For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.
Romans 5:13
13 (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed (assigned ) when there is no law.
Alma 42:21
21 And if there was no law given, if men sinned what could justice do, or mercy either, for they would have no claim upon the creature?
Romans 3:20
20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
Romans 4:15
15 Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.
1 Corinthians 15:56
56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
You see, the BoM and Bible both call out the direct connection between the law and sin. Where there is no law, there is no sin.This connection is so strong that it is impossible to be under the law and not be condemned by the law. For this reason, the law is called a curse.Galatians 3:10,13
10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
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13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
Nehemiah 10:29
29 They clave to their brethren, their nobles, and entered into a curse, and into an oath, to walk in God’s law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the Lord our Lord, and his judgments and his statutes;
Acts 15:10
(The Law is) a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
Moroni 8:24
24 Behold, my son, this thing ought not to be; for repentance is unto them that are under condemnation and under the curse of a broken law.
Acts 13:39
39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.
Galatians 2:16
16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
Galatians 3:21-22
21 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.
22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
Romans 3:20
20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
James 2:10
10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
When Adam was in the garden, he was not under the curse. He was like a little child and was told to learn from his own experience to distinguish good from evil. He left that counsel when Satan told him that he was naked and to hide himself from God. Adam did not learn from his own experience, he learned from Satan who told him good from evil.Little children are also innocent in the beginning...Why is the law given?1 Timothy 1:9-10
9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
10 For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for men stealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;
Galatians 3:19
19 Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.
The Children of Israel were without the law when they followed Moses out of Egypt. And, without the law they could not sin. Moses tried to give them the fulness of the Gospel which if they would have accepted, they could have entirely bypassed 1400-1500 years of living under the law. But, they were not ready to accept it. So, Moses took away the fulness of the Gospel and replaced it with the law.Romans 7:8-9
9 For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.
This is the path that most of us take, through the law. There are some who receive what is given and are never placed under the law. They are "raised without sin to salvation".But those who go through the law, like myself, suffer the curse of the law. We are or were the sinners, and we remain sinners until the law completes its essential role or mission in our lives. The first role or purpose of the law is to cause the wicked to live as if they were righteous. It doesn't make them righteous because it never changes their hearts. It just tries to keep them in line through the threat of punishment.Alma 42:18-20
18 Now, there was a punishment affixed, and a just law given, which brought remorse of conscience unto man.
19 Now, if there was no law given—if a man murdered he should die—would he be afraid he would die if he should murder?
20 And also, if there was no law given against sin men would not be afraid to sin.
The law is needed by the wicked because without the law, the wicked would do evil. The righteous do not need the threat of punishment to be righteous because they ARE righteous without it. This is a major difference between the wicked and the righteous. The righteous are good for goodness sake, the wicked act like the righteous whenever the law is looking and they might get caught and only because of outside influences. Their hearts are wicked which is why they need the law to keep them in line. And because they are wicked, they are sinners even when they keep the law. The fact that they are under the law is proof enough that they are sinners because the law is not given to a righteous person. Laws are only given when people need them because they transgress as Galatians 3:19 stated above. We see this today in our own government how laws are not created until they are needed because someone is doing something they shouldn't be doing.This brings us to the end of the law that was questioned by MasterBlaster and Megaroll in the quotes at the beggining of this post. When the law is fulfilled it is done away, or rather when the law is no longer needed, it is done away.We can't understand why it would no longer be needed without understanding why it was given. Again, it was given because people desired evil in their hearts. It is then taken away when we experience the mighty change of heart such that we no longer desire evil, but desire to do good continually. We see an example of this after King Benjamin's address:Mosiah 4-5
Mosiah 4:2-3,5:2
2 And they had viewed themselves in their own carnal state, even less than the dust of the earth. And they all cried aloud with one voice, saying: O have mercy, and apply the atoning blood of Christ that we may receive forgiveness of our sins, and our hearts may be purified; for we believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who created heaven and earth, and all things; who shall come down among the children of men.
3 And it came to pass that after they had spoken these words the Spirit of the Lord came upon them, and they were filled with joy, having received a remission of their sins, and having peace of conscience, because of the exceeding faith which they had in Jesus Christ who should come, according to the words which king Benjamin had spoken unto them.
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1 And now, it came to pass that when king Benjamin had thus spoken to his people, he sent among them, desiring to know of his people if they believed the words which he had spoken unto them.
2 And they all cried with one voice, saying: Yea, we believe all the words which thou hast spoken unto us; and also, we know of their surety and truth, because of the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent, which has wrought a mighty change in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually.
At this magic moment is when we truly repent. All of the supposed or pretended repentance we do before this moment where we stop doing something but haven't truly changed our hearts to desire good, is all dead works and will not bring the promised spirit. Until this moment, we still need the law because our hearts are evil and our desires are toward evil and the threat of punishment from the law is what keeps us in line. We teach repentance from dead works if we are not teaching the mighty change of heart and to give up all our sins and desire good. Giving up some of our sins is not good enough. You cannot enter in at the gate through a partial repentance. It's all or nothing. And, repentance has nothing to do with obeying the law. There are millions of people who obey the law but haven't repented or experienced the mighty change of heart. This is why it is so hard for some people to find the gate.When we truly enter in at the gate by giving up all our sins and our desire to do evil, through true and complete repentance, then and only then will God fulfill His promise to give us the Holy Ghost. Here is the promise:2 Nephi 31
17 Wherefore, do the things which I have told you I have seen that your Lord and your Redeemer should do; for, for this cause have they been shown unto me, that ye might know the gate by which ye should enter. For the gate by which ye should enter is repentance and baptism by water; and then cometh a remission of your sins by fire and by the Holy Ghost.
18 And then are ye in this strait and narrow path which leads to eternal life; yea, ye have entered in by the gate; ye have done according to the commandments of the Father and the Son; and ye have received the Holy Ghost, which witnesses of the Father and the Son, unto the fulfilling of the promise which he hath made, that if ye entered in by the way ye should receive.
The moment you receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost is the moment that you receive the remission of your sins... It is the moment we are truly converted. Jesus explained this while talking about the Lamanites who were baptized with fire and the Holy Ghost at the time of their conversion.3 Nephi 9
20 And ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit. And whoso cometh unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, him will I baptize with fire and with the Holy Ghost, even as the Lamanites, because of their faith in me at the time of their conversion, were baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost, and they knew it not.
Off Topic: This story is interesting if you want to look into it more closely, it happened in Hel. 5. What is odd to most Mormons is that the Lamanites' sins were forgiven and they received the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost when they were converted even though they were not yet baptized and had not had hands laid on the heads to receive the Holy Ghost. This is one of many examples. There are actually more examples in the scriptures of people receiving the remission of sins and the Gift of the Holy Ghost before baptism and the laying on of hands.The reception of the Holy Ghost is key, because if you have not met the requirements then God will not bestow the blessing of the remission of our sins or the gift of the Holy Ghost. Remember that you cannot be under the law without being condemned by the law as a sinner? You cannot receive the Holy Ghost without the remission of your sins and you cannot receive the remission of your sins while you are still under the law.Jesus came to redeem or deliver us who were under the law. This is when the law is done away. It is done away because it is no longer needed. You cannot receive the Holy Ghost while being under the law.Gal. 4:4-5
4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
Galatians 3:10,13
13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
3 Nephi 12:46-47
46 Therefore those things which were of old time, which were under the law, in me are all fulfilled.
47 Old things are done away, and all things have become new.
Gal. 3:23-25
23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster, (the law).
Romans 8:2
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
Heb. 7:11-12
11 If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?
12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.
There is a big IF statement. That IF statement applies today just as much as it did under Moses. Here is the IF statement:Gal. 5:18
18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
IF you are not led of the Spirit, ye are still under the law. And if under the law, then condemned as an unforgiven sinner.When the law is removed and done away, it is done away individually, one person at a time, based on that person's repentance. It was not done away for the entire unrepentant world who are still under the law.Remember that without a law there can be no sin.Alma 42:17
17 Now, how could a man repent except he should sin? How could he sin if there was no law? How could there be a law save there was a punishment?
2 Nephi 2:13
13 And if ye shall say there is no law, ye shall also say there is no sin…
Romans 7:8-9
8 But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.
9 For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.
Romans 5:13
13 (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed (assigned ) when there is no law.
Alma 42:21
21 And if there was no law given, if men sinned what could justice do, or mercy either, for they would have no claim upon the creature?
Romans 4:15
15 Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.
The wicked or the sick are called to repentance, not the righteous because they are whole. Little children are whole and so are they that are without the law.Moroni 8:22-24, 10
8 Listen to the words of Christ, your Redeemer, your Lord and your God. Behold, I came into the world not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance; the whole need no physician, but they that are sick; wherefore, little children are whole, for they are not capable of committing sin; wherefore the curse of Adam is taken from them in me, that it hath no power over them; and the law of circumcision is done away in me.
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22 For behold that all little children are alive in Christ, and also all they that are without the law. For the power of redemption cometh on all them that have no law; wherefore, he that is not condemned, or he that is under no condemnation, cannot repent; and unto such baptism availeth nothing—
23 But it is mockery before God, denying the mercies of Christ, and the power of his Holy Spirit, and putting trust in dead works.
24 Behold, my son, this thing ought not to be; for repentance is unto them that are under condemnation and under the curse of a broken law.
The Law only applies to those who are under it, not to those who are free from the law such that the law is done away.Romans 3:19
19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law:
Romans 6:14-15
14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
2 Nephi 9:25
25 Wherefore, he has given a law; and where there is no law given there is no punishment; and where there is no punishment there is no condemnation; and where there is no condemnation the mercies of the Holy One of Israel have claim upon them, because of the atonement; for they are delivered by the power of him.
This concept was so important to understand that Paul went out of his way to explain it in detail to the Romans comparing it to the law of adultery showing that when a wife was bound by the law to not commit adultery as long as her husband was alive, but when he was dead, the law was removed so that she could marry another man without committing sdultery. Then he compared this to how we are delivered by Christ from the law so that it no longer applied to us.Romans 7:1-4
1 Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?
2 For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.
3 So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.
4 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.
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6 But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.
Examples:Leviticus 11:2-7 - The Law was given - Under the law, the Lord instructed the people regarding what animals, fish, birds, and insects they could eat and could not eat.Acts 10:10-15 - The Law was removed - One day while Peter was praying, waiting for others to prepare a meal, he had a vision in which the Lord told him that the law regarding what meat to eat was removed and he could eat all meats.Romans 14:2-3,14-18 - Paul teaches that whether you eat or not eat meat, you do it to the Lord and so are blessed. "Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died." Christ died so that we could do good. If doing good means eating meat then eat meat. If doing good means not eating meat, then don't eat it. This is why Christ died, so that we could learn from our own experience to distinguish good from evil like Adam in the Garden, while remaining in the presence of God, (The Holy Ghost). Paul also says that some keep the sabbath day holy by treating it differently than other days and some keep all days holy treating the Sabbath equal with all other days, and both do it unto the Lord and both are blessed equally by the Lord for doing good. This is what it means when the law is removed.When we are saved or redeemed, we are made whole and no longer under the curse of a broken law. The law is removed from us, so we are brought back into God's presence (the Holy Ghost) and we again exist like Adam in the garden of Eden before the fall. This is what it means to be redeemed from the fall. We are again like little children and without the law, like little children, we cannot sin.John 3:6-10
6 Whosoever abideth in him (Christ) sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.
7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
Moroni 7:6-11
6 For behold, God hath said a man being evil cannot do that which is good; for if he offereth a gift, or prayeth unto God, except he shall do it with real intent it profiteth him nothing.
7 For behold, it is not counted unto him for righteousness.
8 For behold, if a man being evil giveth a gift, he doeth it grudgingly; wherefore it is counted unto him the same as if he had retained the gift; wherefore he is counted evil before God.
9 And likewise also is it counted evil unto a man, if he shall pray and not with real intent of heart; yea, and it profiteth him nothing, for God receiveth none such.
10 Wherefore, a man being evil cannot do that which is good; neither will he give a good gift.
11 For behold, a bitter fountain cannot bring forth good water; neither can a good fountain bring forth bitter water; wherefore, a man being a servant of the devil cannot follow Christ; and if he follow Christ he cannot be a servant of the devil.
The goal is not and never has been to keep the law perfectly. If we attempt to save ourselves by obedience to the law, then we are fallen from grace and Christ has become of no effect in our lives. We do not gain the spirit by obedience to the law, but by faith in Christ.Galatians 5
4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
Romans 4:4-5
4 Now to him that worketh (according to the law) is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
5 But to him that worketh not (according to the law), but believeth on him that JUSTIFY the UNGODLY, his faith is counted for righteousness.
Gal. 3:1-3
1 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?
2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
Jarom 1:4
4 And there are many among us who have many revelations, for they are not all stiffnecked. And as many as are not stiffnecked and have faith, have communion with the Holy Spirit, which maketh manifest unto the children of men, according to their faith.
Now, what if we "sin" or do evil after we have repented? What if we turn away from righteousness back to our sin?Ether 2:15
15 And the brother of Jared repented of the evil which he had done, and did call upon the name of the Lord for his brethren who were with him. And the Lord said unto him: I will forgive thee and thy brethren of their sins; but thou shalt not sin any more, for ye shall remember that my Spirit will not always strive with man; wherefore, if ye will sin until ye are fully ripe ye shall be cut off from the presence of the Lord. And these are my thoughts upon the land which I shall give you for your inheritance; for it shall be a land choice above all other lands.
The spirit will strive with us teaching us to do good. It doesn't leave us. It remains our constant companion. But, if we refuse to listen to the spirit again and again, it will eventually give up on us and stop striving with us. IF we sin until we are FULLY ripe, then we will be cut off from the presence of the Lord. You can "sin" or do evil and remain in the Lord's presence until you are FULLY ripe. This is because the law was removed. But, the Lord also explained,2 Nephi 31:14
14 But, behold, my beloved brethren, thus came the voice of the Son unto me, saying: After ye have repented of your sins, and witnessed unto the Father that ye are willing to keep my commandments, by the baptism of water, and have received the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost, and can speak with a new tongue, yea, even with the tongue of angels, and after this should deny me, it would have been better for you that ye had not known me.
This happens after we have become so wicked that Satan has full reign over our hearts. It happens when we unrepent so must that our hearts are turned back completely to desire evil. Then we are ripe for destruction.2 Nephi 26:11
11 For the Spirit of the Lord will not always strive with man. And when the Spirit ceaseth to strive with man then cometh speedy destruction, and this grieveth my soul.
We see this happen with the Jaradites who were all utterly destroyed...Ether 15:19
19 But behold, the Spirit of the Lord had ceased striving with them, and Satan had full power over the hearts of the people; for they were given up unto the hardness of their hearts, and the blindness of their minds that they might be destroyed; wherefore they went again to battle.
Therefore, repent and become as a little child... without the law, or ye can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God.3 nephi 11
38 And again I say unto you, ye must repent, and be baptized in my name, and become as a little child, or ye can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God.
39 Verily, verily, I say unto you, that this is my doctrine, and whoso buildeth upon this buildeth upon my rock, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against them.
3 Nephi 9
22 Therefore, whoso repenteth and cometh unto me as a little child, him will I receive, for of such is the kingdom of God. Behold, for such I have laid down my life, and have taken it up again; therefore repent, and come unto me ye ends of the earth, and be saved.
