Everything connected with the lesser law pointed to the higher law, or in other words it pointed to Christ and his gospel.
Each Mosaic performance was so arranged and so set up that it was a type and a shadow of what was to be. Their sacrifices were performed in similitude of the coming sacrifice of their Messiah; the rituals out of which they gained forgiveness of sins were tokens of what was to be in the life of Him whose atonement made forgiveness possible; their every act, every ordinance, every performance-all that they did-pointed the hearts and minds of believing worshippers forward to Jesus Christ and him crucified.
All this was understood by those among them who were faithful and true; the rebellious and slothful were like their modern counterparts, unbelieving, nonconforming, unsaved. (Bruce R. McConkie, Promised Messiah, p. 416.)