“Exodus 34: The Lesser Law,” Old Testament Seminary Student Study Guide (2002), 55–56
“Exodus 34,” Old Testament Seminary Student Study Guide, 55–56
The Lesser Law
At Mount Sinai Moses received laws, commandments, ordinances, and covenants from the Lord that were written on stone tablets. When Moses came down from Sinai and saw the children of Israel worshiping the golden calf, he threw the tablets on the ground and broke them (see Exodus 32:15–19). The Israelites had not proved worthy to receive all that was written on them.
We may also lose great blessings if we are disobedient. The Lord was patient with the children of Israel, however, and gave them opportunities to repent and return to Him. Because the Lord desires to help us, He frequently gives additional or new, more strict commandments that allow us the opportunity to repent and eventually receive the full blessings He desires to give us. Exodus 34 records additional commandments the Lord gave to the disobedient children of Israel.
Studying the Scriptures
Do activities A and B as you study Exodus 34.
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Get Help from the Joseph Smith Translation
Read the Joseph Smith Translation for Exodus 34:1–2 and write about how the second set of tablets was different from the first.
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Why Were They Different?
Read Mosiah 13:29–30 and Doctrine and Covenants 84:19–27 and write about why the second set of tablets was different from the first.