The Law of Moses in the Book of Mormon
“…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….” (Alma 25:15)
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In my own personal studying of the Book of Mormon, I came across an event that caught my attention. This event is recorded as follows;
"And it came to pass that after they had ended the ceremony, that they returned to the land of Nephi, rejoicing, because their wives and their children were not slain; and they told Gideon what they had done to the king." (Mosiah 19:24) 145 BC - 122 BC
What ceremony are they talking about?
To understand what is going on we must read starting from Mosiah 19:9-24 .
Why would these fathers and husbands, take the time, and perform a ceremony before they returned to their wives and their children?
What ceremony would be more important than returning quickly rejoicing that their wives and children were still alive?
At this time, 145 BC -122 BC, they were still living under the Law of Moses. Therefore, it was only expedient that they give thanks to God for sparing their wives and their children.
To me it makes common sense that that ceremony was a thank offering as recorded in other places in the scriptures.
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“And it came to pass that he built an altar of stones, and made an offering unto the Lord, and gave thanks unto the Lord our God.” (1 Nephi 2:7) Note: (Exodus 20:24)
“And it came to pass that they did rejoice exceedingly, and did offer sacrifice and burnt offerings unto the Lord; and they gave thanks unto the God of Israel.” (1 Nephi 5:9)
“… they did give thanks unto the Lord their God; and they did offer sacrifice and burnt offerings unto him.” (1 Nephi 7:22)
"And he repaired the altar of the Lord, and sacrificed…thank offerings….” (2 Chronicles 33:16)
“…bring sacrifices and thank offerings… And the congregation brought in sacrifices and thank offerings….” (2 Chronicles 29:31)
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Other various scriptures referring to the Nephites having and keeping the Law of Moses are as follows:
600 BC
1 Nephi 4:15-16
1 Nephi 5:9 Note: Exodus 10:25
1 Nephi 16:32
1 Nephi 17:22-23
1 Nephi 19:23-24
2 Nephi 1:16
2 Nephi 1:18
2 Nephi 2:5-10
2 Nephi 2:17
2 Nephi 3:12
2 Nephi 3:17
2 Nephi 4:2, 15
570 BC
2 Nephi 5:10
2 Nephi 8:4
2 Nephi 8:7
2 Nephi 9:17
2 Nephi 9:25-26
2 Nephi 9:46
2 Nephi 11:2-3
2 Nephi 11:4
2 Nephi 15:24
2 Nephi 16-24
550 BC
2 Nephi 25:24-25
2 Nephi 25:28
2 Nephi 25:30
2 Nephi 26-27
2 Nephi 30:1
Jacob 4:5-6
Jacob 7:7
400 BC
Jarom 1:5
Jarom 1:11
124 BC
Mosiah 2:3
Mosiah 2:22
Mosiah 2:33
Mosiah 3:14
Mosiah 3:15
Mosiah 6:6
Mosiah 12:28-32
Mosiah 12:33-13:25
Mosiah 13:27
Mosiah 16:14
Mosiah 29:11
Mosiah 29:15
Mosiah 29:26-28
Mosiah 29:41
Alma 1:14
Alma 1:15
Alma 1:16-18
Alma 1:21
Alma 1:32-33
Alma 2:1
Alma 2:3
Alma 9:8-13
Alma 10:13-14
Alma 10:26-28
Alma 11:1-3
Alma 14:2, 5
Alma 14:20
Alma 15:17
Alma 15:13, 18
80 BC
Alma 25:14-15
74 BC
Alma 25:16
Alma 27:9
Alma 30:3
Alma 30:12
Alma 31:9
Alma 34:11
Alma 34:12
Alma 34:13
Alma 34:14
Alma 34:16
Alma 41:14
Alma 42:17
Alma 42:18-23
Alma 51:2-5
62 BC
Alma 60:33
Alma 62:9-10
39 BC
Helaman 2:10
Helaman 3:37
23 BC
Helaman 5:3
Helaman 6:31
20 BC
Helaman 8:2-3
Helaman 8:11-15
6 BC
Helaman 13:1
Helaman 15:5
1 AD
3 Nephi 1:24-25
29 AD
3 Nephi 4:28
3 Nephi 5:5
3 Nephi 6:14
3 Nephi 6:26
3 Nephi 6:27-29
34 AD
3 Nephi 9:17
3 Nephi 15:2-10
3 Nephi 25:4
100 AD
4 Nephi 1:12
322 AD
Ether 12:11
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Source and Additional Information
The Law of Moses, by Dr. John L. Lund