“Lesson 12: Exodus 21–24; 31–34,” Old Testament Instructor’s Guide, Religion 301–2 (1994), 23–24

“Exodus 21–24; 31–34,” Old Testament Instructor’s Guide, 23–24

Exodus 21–24; 31–34

Scripture Content Outline	Supplementary Study Sources
Exodus 21–23; 24:3–8. Laws Were Revealed to Govern Israel	Religion 301 student manual, 12-2 through 12-13; 12-26. TPJS, p. 252. Did Moses have authority in civil and religious matters? JC, p. 96. Who was designated for the priestly service before the appointment of the Levites? (see Numbers 8:5–19). MF, pp. 192–94. How important is the law of restitution? (see Exodus 22:1–13). Joseph Fielding Smith, Answers to Gospel Questions, 4:33–35. Why were “witches” condemned in ancient Israel? (see Exodus 22:18). Joseph F. Smith, Anthon Lund, and Charles W. Penrose, in Messages of the First Presidency, 4:270–71. Who speaks for God?
Exodus 24:1–2, 9–18; 31:18; 32–34. The Celestial Law Was Rejected by Israel and a Lesser Law Was Subsequently Given Chosen leaders of Israel saw a celestial vision (see Exodus 24:1–2, 9–11). In a series of visitations, the Lord revealed to Moses the laws and covenants for Israel (see Exodus 24:12–18; 31:18; 32:15–16; 34:10–28; see also JST, Exodus 34:14; Acts 7:53). Many in Israel rebelled and worshiped a golden calf idol (see Exodus 32:1–6; Acts 7:39–41). Moses acted as a mediator for his people (see Exodus 32:7–14, 17–35; 33; 34:29–35; JST, Exodus 32:12, 14, 35; 33:20–23). A second law, “after the law of a carnal commandment” (JST, Exodus 34:2), was revealed through Moses and established in place of the first law (see Exodus 34:1–9; JST, Exodus 34:1–2).	Religion 301 student manual, 12-1; 12-17 through 12-25. Matthew 22:36–40. What are the fundamental principles upon which the Mosaic law was established? Galatians 3:19, 24. How did Paul characterize the law of Moses? Why was it given? Hebrews 10:1, 9–12. What does the Mosaic law represent? (see also Mosiah 16:4–15). 2 Nephi 25:24–25. What was the purpose of the law? (see also Mosiah 13:30). 3 Nephi 15:4–5. Who revealed the law to Israel? (see also JST, Exodus 34:14). D&C 84:23–25. Why were the children of Israel not permitted to have the higher law? What were they given in its place? D&C 84:26–27. What was included in the preparatory gospel? (see also Galatians 3:19). TPJS, p. 60. What was the Mosaic law added to? TPJS, p. 276. How did the Savior magnify and honor the law of Moses?
Exodus 31:12–17. The Sabbath Was Established to Be a Sign to the World of Israel’s Covenant	Exodus 20:11. Why was the Sabbath set apart? Isaiah 58:13–14. How can the Sabbath be a delight? D&C 59:9–13. What is the purpose of the Sabbath? DBY, pp. 164–73. Counsel is given concerning the Sabbath day. GD, pp. 244–47. How should we keep the Sabbath day? Mark E. Petersen, in CR, Apr. 1975, pp. 71–72. What special strength can come from Sabbath keeping? Spencer W. Kimball, “The Sabbath—A Delight,”Ensign, Jan. 1978, pp. 2–5. What are President Kimball’s suggestions for Sabbath worship?

Scripture Content Outline

Supplementary Study Sources

Exodus 21–23; 24:3–8. Laws Were Revealed to Govern Israel

Religion 301 student manual, 12-2 through 12-13; 12-26.

TPJS, p. 252. Did Moses have authority in civil and religious matters?

JC, p. 96. Who was designated for the priestly service before the appointment of the Levites? (see Numbers 8:5–19).

MF, pp. 192–94. How important is the law of restitution? (see Exodus 22:1–13).

Joseph Fielding Smith, Answers to Gospel Questions, 4:33–35. Why were “witches” condemned in ancient Israel? (see Exodus 22:18).

Joseph F. Smith, Anthon Lund, and Charles W. Penrose, in Messages of the First Presidency, 4:270–71. Who speaks for God?

Exodus 24:1–2, 9–18; 31:18; 32–34. The Celestial Law Was Rejected by Israel and a Lesser Law Was Subsequently Given
1. Chosen leaders of Israel saw a celestial vision (see Exodus 24:1–2, 9–11).
2. In a series of visitations, the Lord revealed to Moses the laws and covenants for Israel (see Exodus 24:12–18; 31:18; 32:15–16; 34:10–28; see also JST, Exodus 34:14; Acts 7:53).
3. Many in Israel rebelled and worshiped a golden calf idol (see Exodus 32:1–6; Acts 7:39–41).
4. Moses acted as a mediator for his people (see Exodus 32:7–14, 17–35; 33; 34:29–35; JST, Exodus 32:12, 14, 35; 33:20–23).
5. A second law, “after the law of a carnal commandment” (JST, Exodus 34:2), was revealed through Moses and established in place of the first law (see Exodus 34:1–9; JST, Exodus 34:1–2).

Religion 301 student manual, 12-1; 12-17 through 12-25.

Matthew 22:36–40. What are the fundamental principles upon which the Mosaic law was established?

Galatians 3:19, 24. How did Paul characterize the law of Moses? Why was it given?

Hebrews 10:1, 9–12. What does the Mosaic law represent? (see also Mosiah 16:4–15).

2 Nephi 25:24–25. What was the purpose of the law? (see also Mosiah 13:30).

3 Nephi 15:4–5. Who revealed the law to Israel? (see also JST, Exodus 34:14).

D&C 84:23–25. Why were the children of Israel not permitted to have the higher law? What were they given in its place?

D&C 84:26–27. What was included in the preparatory gospel? (see also Galatians 3:19).

TPJS, p. 60. What was the Mosaic law added to?

TPJS, p. 276. How did the Savior magnify and honor the law of Moses?

Exodus 31:12–17. The Sabbath Was Established to Be a Sign to the World of Israel’s Covenant

Exodus 20:11. Why was the Sabbath set apart?

Isaiah 58:13–14. How can the Sabbath be a delight?

D&C 59:9–13. What is the purpose of the Sabbath?

DBY, pp. 164–73. Counsel is given concerning the Sabbath day.

GD, pp. 244–47. How should we keep the Sabbath day?

Mark E. Petersen, in CR, Apr. 1975, pp. 71–72. What special strength can come from Sabbath keeping?

Spencer W. Kimball, “The Sabbath—A Delight,”Ensign, Jan. 1978, pp. 2–5. What are President Kimball’s suggestions for Sabbath worship?

Some Suggestions for Presentation

You are not expected to teach everything in the scripture content outline. Select those concepts you feel will be most helpful to your students.

Laws Given to Israel (Section A)

The children of Israel had lived in bondage and apostasy for many years in Egypt and were without any system of laws of their own. Also, they had been limited in their religious practices. It was necessary, therefore, to restore not only religious truth and direction but also a civil law to govern them. Their civil law was established by revelation and administered according to righteous principles by those who held the priesthood. The Prophet Joseph Smith described the inspired functioning of civil and religious laws (see Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 232). Use transparency 12 to review the laws given to Israel. The Lord promised that obedience to his laws would bring his aid and blessings (see Exodus 23:20–25), including the obtaining of the promised land (see Exodus 23:26–33).

Ordinances for the civil and religious governance of Israel are recorded in Leviticus and Deuteronomy. The scripture content outlines treat these ordinances in the lessons on those books. Additional help may be found by consulting the Religion 301 student manual for those books.

Other laws and ordinances that were given to Israel are found in Leviticus 11–15; 17:10–16; 18–20; 24:17–22; 25; Deuteronomy 12–25.

The Law of Moses: A Preparatory Gospel (Section B)

There is a marked difference between the revelation Moses was given the first time he received the tables of stone and the revelation he was given when he received the tables the second time. The first revelation was of the higher, or celestial, laws and ordinances; and the second was of the lesser law, or the “law of Moses” (Daniel 9:13). The Joseph Smith Translation clarifies these differences:

“And the Lord said unto Moses, Hew thee two other tables of stone, like unto the first, and I will write upon them also, the words of the law, according as they were written at the first on the tables which thou brakest; but it shall not be according to the first, for I will take away the priesthood out of their midst; therefore my holy order, and the ordinances thereof, shall not go before them; for my presence shall not go up in their midst, lest I destroy them.

“But I will give unto them the law as at the first, but it shall be after the law of a carnal commandment; for I have sworn in my wrath, that they shall not enter into my presence, into my rest, in the days of their pilgrimage. Therefore do as I have commanded thee, and be ready in the morning, and come up in the morning unto mount Sinai.” (JST, Exodus 34:1–2.)

In Doctrine and Covenants 84:24–27 the Lord summarized the substance of the Mosaic law that was revealed to Israel.

Because the word lesser is used to describe the priesthood under which the law of Moses was administered, some erroneously assume that the law itself is lesser than the gospel in every way. The Apostle Paul, however, described the law of Moses as something added to the fundamentals of the gospel (see Galatians 3:19). The part added is the law of carnal commandments, that is, commandments to help the people in controlling the flesh. Abinadi taught that the law was given to Israel to “keep them in remembrance of God and their duty towards him” (Mosiah 13:30; see also Alma 25:15–16).

Transparency 13, which compares the lesser and the higher laws, could be used to show the relationship between the two.

Exaltation can come only through the doctrines and ordinances of the Melchizedek Priesthood. The Aaronic Priesthood and the accompanying law of Moses can not bring the people to perfection (see Hebrews 10:1). It was a dreadful misfortune that Israel did not prove worthy, making it necessary for the Lord to take the Melchizedek Priesthood from them.