“Ye Have the Commandments Before You”

W. Cleon Skousen

The commandments of the original gospel were given unto Adam and these have never been suspended or replaced. However, when the Israelites worshiped the golden calf in the days of Moses we are told that the Lord added the carnal commandments. This often referred to as the law of Moses. It was really a pattern of rituals and commandments that were added to the original gospel to help the Israelites gain the rhythm of obedience necessary to remain worthy to bring forth the Son of God in the meridian of time.

As Paul told the Galatians: "Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ that we might be justified by faith."45 Nevertheless God said he despised this carnal or schoolmaster law. Paul says it was "added" because of the sins and stubborn disobedience of the Israelites. The Lord told Isaiah that all of these tedious ceremonies and rituals were a burden to the Lord which he hated.46 In verse 19 Jesus says he has fulfilled the purpose of the carnal commandments or the law of Moses and therefore they can now go back to the original gospel principles given to Adam and ignore the tedious requirements given to Moses after the incident of the golden calf.

Treasures from the Book of Mormon

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