“They Loved Murder and Would Drink the Blood of Beasts”

D. Kelly Ogden, Andrew C. Skinner

The bloodthirsty Lamanites had obviously lost a knowledge of and desire to keep the law of Moses, which prohibited the consumption of blood, teaching instead that the life of the flesh is in the blood (Genesis 9:4; Leviticus 17:11) and thus pointing to the ultimate sacrifice of the Messiah who shed his blood. Perhaps it is against this very backdrop of the blood-drinking Lamanites that the Nephite prophets, priesthood leaders, and teachers purposely taught the law of Moses with diligence and persuaded the people to “look forward unto the Messiah, and believe in him … as though he already was [come].” The Nephites were to look forward with perfect faith, just as we today are to look backward with perfect faith to the coming of Christ in the flesh. The requirements of faith are the same. The actual time of the Lord’s coming, in a way, is irrelevant. What is not irrelevant is that he truly did come.

“They Loved Murder and Would Drink the Blood of Beasts”

The bloodthirsty Lamanites had obviously lost a knowledge of and desire to keep the law of Moses, which prohibited the consumption of blood, teaching instead that the life of the flesh is in the blood (Genesis 9:4; Leviticus 17:11) and thus pointing to the ultimate sacrifice of the Messiah who shed his blood. Perhaps it is against this very backdrop of the blood-drinking Lamanites that the Nephite prophets, priesthood leaders, and teachers purposely taught the law of Moses with diligence and persuaded the people to “look forward unto the Messiah, and believe in him … as though he already was [come].” The Nephites were to look forward with perfect faith, just as we today are to look backward with perfect faith to the coming of Christ in the flesh. The requirements of faith are the same. The actual time of the Lord’s coming, in a way, is irrelevant. What is not irrelevant is that he truly did come.

Verse by Verse: The Book of Mormon: Vol. 1

References