Law of Moses

Christ’s sacrifice ended the law of sacrifice by the shedding of blood.  God’s forgiveness and blessing can only be obtained by accepting the blood of Jesus Christ and in no other way. Certain mitzvot Jews may observe may be more due to tradition than specific commandment.  However, while animal sacrifice is no more, Latter-day Saint (LDS) Christians do observe many other parts of the Law of Moses. 

Firstly, LDS Christians strive to observe the 10 Commandments given by God to Moses in Mount Horeb. While circumcision and observing New Moons and Sabbaths identified you as Jewish, Christ taught that being honest, chaste, virtuous, and doing good to all men identified you as Christian and satisfied the purposes of the Law (Law of Christ).  

As part of keeping the 10 Commandments, LDS observe the Sabbath. However, instead of Saturday, most Christians observe the Sabbath on Sunday which commemorates Christ’s  resurrection on the “Lord’s Day” or the first day of the week. Keeping the Sabbath restores perspective by putting God first in your life.  

Many LDS Christian’s in the US observe the practice of male circumcision.  This is more a cultural and medical practice and not proscribed by thr LDS Church.  Nevertheless, male circumcision is commonly practiced in the US and Europe for cultural and hygienic purposes.

LDS Christians build and worship God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost in holy temples.  The purpose of temple worship is to dedicate, devote and consecrate one’s life to the service of the God of Israel. 

A big part of observing the Law of Moses involved the celebration of 3 yearly festivals. LDS observe the 3 Jewish Feasts in a related but modified manner: 

1 Passover/Unleavened Bread (Pesach)- Jesus Chriat reapplied the emblems of the passover meal, in instituting the Lord’s Supper or Eucharist.  Christ taught that His body is the passover lamb and that only by accepting and partaking of His flesh and blood can we be forgiven, blessed, and saved. 

2. Pentecost/Weeks/First Fruits (Shavuot)-  The Jewish observance of this feast involved giving to the priests tithes and offering. Instead of paying tithes and offerings only once a year, LDS generally pay their tithes and offering weekly or monthly.  However, like ancient Israel, LDS particupate in a yearly tithing settlement where we appear before common judge of Israel (Bishop) and make a self-accounting. 

3. Tabernacles/Ingathering (Sukkot)- Jews observe this feast by constructing a hut in their yards and dining and even sleeping in them for an entire week. LDS preserve a camping/readiness culture through yearly father-and-son’s campouts, scouting, girl’s camp, and food storage.   These observances commemorate the past, provide correct perspective, and preserve a culture of preparedness among God’s people for the future.  A preparedness culture enables God’s people to be ready to “flee Babylon” and gather if called at any time and endure any coming tribulation or judgement. 

Are there any other Law of Moses mitzvot that LDS generally observe?  Are there other  mitzvot LDS maybe should observe but don’t?