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.
Then newly converted Lamanites also kept the Law of Moses, which was still not yet fulfilled. But unlike the Jews of Christ’s day, and perhaps even the Jews in Lehi’s days back in Jerusalem, they new that the Law was dead without Christ. They knew the entire purpose of the Law was to turn their hearts and minds to Christ and his future Atonement in behalf of all men.
Nephi, speaking to his hard hearted and stiff necked brethren made these things simple and perfectly clear in a way that is beautiful and unmistakable;
23 For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.
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.
25 For, for this end was the law given; wherefore the law hath become dead unto us, and we are made alive in Christ because of our faith; yet we keep the law because of the commandments.
26 And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins.
27 Wherefore, we speak concerning the law that our children may know the deadness of the law; and they, by knowing the deadness of the law, may look forward unto that life which is in Christ, and know for what end the law was given. And after the law is fulfilled in Christ, that they need not harden their hearts against him when the law ought to be done away.
Wow. Something I had never noticed. That Nephi apparently saw that his Jewish brethren in the day of Christ would have a hard time making the transition from the Law of Moses to a higher law when it would be fulfilled.
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