Sunday, October 21, 2012

Soft Sunday Sounds: Two laws.

So yeah, I'm aware I originally said this would be a weekly Sunday endeavor of Soft Sunday Sounds (you all get that reference right?). But you know, even as I typed it I thought, fat chance. Consistency is not in my nature. Sorry dudes.

However, I have some things to say today. If you're all on the same Sunday School schedule as me you had a lesson on "Old things are done away, and all things have become new". In my class, this essentially became a discussion of the Law of Moses and the "higher law". Which, ps, are there any scripture references actually calling it the higher law? I feel like I have seen at least one, but I can't remember what it is.

So. Step 1. This is not a post of knowledge. This is a post of confusion. I do not know the answers, I am not even close to knowing the answers. I only know that my questions are not yet satisfied in the answers I have so far received in my life.

I once took a wonderful class on Judaism and the Gospel by a fantastic professor at BYU. I learned a lot about Judaism, the Law of Moses, and how it relates to the Gospel as practiced by Latter-day Saints. I promptly forgot much of it. (Except for the hilarious things he said, because I have an amazing memory for hilarity. *it hangeth on the Jewish Christmas tree* was one of my favorites.) I do, however, remember that I began to consider the relationship between these two laws as I never had. And ever since then, Sunday School lessons on the topic have been a bit excruciating for me in their simplicity. (Not half as bad as faith versus works lessons, I have literally had to walk out of the room during those lessons. Any comments may come out as condescending venom, which isn't so conducive to the spirit.)

Here are some things I do know about these two laws. 

1. They were both created and given by Christ in His eternal knowledge and understanding of what was necessary at the time.
2. Those under the Mosaic Law were still told to "love their neighbor" (Lev. 19:18) This is not a New Testament phenomenon. I will be honest in saying when I saw this in Leviticus I was flabbergasted. I felt like I had been taught all my life that this was a deeply New Testament and later idea, that any time prior to this it was an eye for an eye.

Here are some things I wonder. 
1. If there is any parallel to the difference in the physical trials of pioneers to the deeply internal trials of today. Especially after reading this scripture

But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house
of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law
in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and 
will be their God, and they shall be my people. 
Jeremiah 31:33

2. How these laws are the same. 
3. How these laws are different. 
4. Why?


In other news:
1. My hair looks bombin' today. 
2. I love subbing at Fremont (everyone cross their fingers that dear Mrs. Saunders really does retire next year and I get her job)
3. I am almost 24. 
4. I have officially bought nearly 20 books total in less than one month spanning over three excursions. None of which initially included the buying of anything at all. 

3 comments:

Patti said...

Lynette,
I love you.
That is all.

Anonymous said...

24, young and beautiful :)

Tim said...

I don't know if you got your answer to this but the Bible Dictionary's entry for Law of Moses helps a little. It was more about ceremonies and rituals and carnal commands.