40 Years in the Wilderness

I have had a feeling or impression for many years that the outward rules and commandments of the Church are in a way like the Law of Moses in the Book of Mormon. This isn't an exact comparison since Christ has already come but I think it fits. Like the Law of Moses, we keep the 'check list' as it were until the time comes that we are told by the prophets to modify our position. We can move ahead a follow Christ more fully but we also continue to do those things that are intended to point us to Christ. Sometimes these things are a little strange but many aspects of the Law of Moses were strange.

I have noted down the following verses. Sometimes I will substitute phrases like, "outward commandments' or 'outward rules' in place of the Law of Moses in these verses. I believe, as these verses say, that everything the Church does points us toward Christ.

It sometimes feels, to me, like we the Church stepped back a pace a hundred years ago and began to teach 'school master' teachings to help our ancestors prepare to come unto Christ. Maybe we have been wandering, figuratively speaking, 40 years in the wilderness. I have noted that talking of Christ has increase dramatically over my life time.

Here are the verses:

> Alma 25:16 Now they did not suppose that salvation came by the law of Moses;
> but the law of Moses did serve to strengthen their faith in Christ; and thus
> they did retain a hope through faith, unto eternal salvation, relying upon
> the spirit of prophecy, which spake of those things to come.
>
> Alma 25:15 Yea, and they did keep the law of Moses; for it was expedient
> that they should keep the law of Moses as yet, for it was not all fulfilled.
> But notwithstanding the law of Moses, they did look forward to the coming of
> Christ, considering that the law of Moses was a type of his coming, and
> believing that they must keep those outward performances until the time that
> he should be revealed unto them.
>
> 2 N 25:24 And, notwithstanding we believe in Christ, we keep the law of
> Moses, and look forward with steadfastness unto Christ, until the law shall
> be fulfilled
>
> Jacob 4:5 And for this intent we keep the law of Moses, it pointing our
> souls to him; and for this cause it is sanctified unto us for righteousness,
> even as it was accounted unto Abraham in the wilderness to be obedient unto
> the commands of God in offering up his son Isaac, which is a similitude of
> God and his Only Begotten Son.
>
> Jarom 1:11 Wherefore, the prophets, and the priests, and the teachers, did
> labor diligently, exhorting with all long-suffering the people to diligence;
> teaching the law of Moses, and the intent for which it was given; persuading
> them to look forward unto the Messiah, and believe in him to come as though
> he already was.
>
> 3 Nephi 15:2 And it came to pass that when Jesus had said these words he
> perceived that there were some among them who marveled, and wondered what he
> would concerning the law of Moses; for they understood not the saying that
> old things had passed away, and that all things had become new.

It seems very reasonable to me that Christ would have His Church move forward at pace commensurate to the spirtual level of main body of saints. Introducing higher laws too soon would not be in the best interest of the Church's progress in the last days. The Lord clearly explains in Jacob 5:

[65] And as they begin to grow ye shall clear away the branches which bring forth bitter fruit, according to the strength of the good and the size thereof; and ye shall not clear away the bad thereof all at once, lest the roots thereof should be too strong for the graft, and the graft thereof shall perish, and I lose the trees of my vineyard.

[66] For it grieveth me that I should lose the trees of my vineyard; wherefore ye shall clear away the bad according as the good shall grow, that the root and the top may be equal in strength, until the good shall overcome the bad, and the bad be hewn down and cast into the fire, that they cumber not the ground of my vineyard; and thus will I sweep away the bad out of my vineyard....[73] And there began to be the natural fruit again in the vineyard; and the natural branches began to grow and thrive exceedingly; and the wild branches began to be plucked off and to be cast away; and they did keep the root and the top thereof equal, according to the strength thereof.

As we become more righteous, the time will come when greater things will become the standard. As always, these laws will probably be introduced slowly at first.