Post No. 4  Reading Time: 8 minutes.

The Gift of Self-Government

As a historian, an orator, a leader, a statesman, a legislator, a patriot, and a man, Moses stands pre-eminent. But no mere genius could have made          him the originator of sound jurisprudence—the great teacher of     monotheism and sound morality—except he had also been a              prophet of God, supernaturally guided and aided in his work. –Funk and Wagnall                                                                            

America: a Judeo-Christian Nation

Destructive criticism of the Bible, with its companion process of downgrading biblical personalities, has been engaged in over the years. Because of its apparent scholarship this criticism has led many believers astray, destroying their faith.

Such was the case in the early days of the Prophet Joseph Smith. Widespread religious revivals created confusion about God’s nature. To restore Christ’s original church, accurate knowledge of God had to first be reestablished.

Recent scientific research supports elements of the biblical account, with modern scripture from Joseph Smith aligning with descriptions of the Israelite experience in Egypt. The Bible recounts Moses leading the Israelites to the promised land with demonstrations of divine intervention.

Research also indicates that ancient societies possessed advanced knowledge and skills. Craftsmen received training and often belonged to guilds. Artistic practices existed and earlier cultures displayed significant levels of refinement.

In another evidence that the gospel came down from Adam, many of the moral laws taught by Moses were already practiced by Egyptians of his time, showing that these principles predate both Moses and the Christian Church. Archaeological evidence also suggests that such laws have existed since the earliest civilizations.

Moses, born in 1393 BC and living for 120 years, was rescued as an infant from a royal decree by Pharaoh’s daughter’s maid and raised by the princess after being nursed by his own mother. He was educated in the wisdom of the Egyptians, who were then unsurpassed in civilization and learning by any people in the world.

A military leader, a well-educated man, and a prophet without parallel, Moses walked and talked with the Lord repeatedly. He was shown the mysteries of the heavens and much of creation. He received laws from God beyond any other ancient man of whom we have record. His work had both ancient and modern significance.

Moses learned about astronomy through divine power, asking God about this earth and its people. In reply, God told Moses, “Worlds without number have I created . . . This is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.”

A unique prophet, Moses regularly communicated with God and was entrusted with divine laws and insights. He was raised up by the Almighty for the express purpose of releasing Israel from bondage. However, the Israelites were so apostate and steeped in the traditions of the Egyptians that they would not heed his guidance.

Despite his Egyptian education and upbringing by Pharaoh’s daughter, Moses remained committed to his Hebrew identity. In the words of the apostle Paul, “By faith he forsook Egypt.” His life is a study in obedience to the divine will.  

The Bible states that Moses killed an Egyptian who was attacking a Hebrew but provides no further details. Historian Eusebius adds that this occurred during a court plot to assassinate Moses, and he killed his attacker in self-defense.

No one can worship God intelligently without an accurate understanding of the nature of the Deity. It is a lack of such knowledge that leads to the proliferation of creeds and false religious traditions.

God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ appear to Joseph Smith.

These are the foundational reasons for the appearance of God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ to Joseph Smith in 1820. It was on this occasion that Joseph Smith discovered that indeed they are in human form, and that the scripture was correct in saying that man was made in the image and likeness of God.

Joseph Smith heard their voices and received their counsel. As he gazed upon them, he could see plainly two heavenly Personages, and he knew for a fact that they were as separate and distinct as any two other persons, each one an individual by himself.

It was at that moment, for the first time in many centuries, that a mortal being knew what God looked like, and heard his spoken words. It was only with this sure knowledge that Joseph Smith was able to proceed with his great assignment.

In the account of Moses, the narrative states that the Ten Commandments were inscribed on stone tablets by the finger of the Lord. These commandments are described as forming a foundational part of both civil and religious legal traditions. While similar principles appear in other biblical texts addressing specific issues, the Ten Commandments are generally considered the foundation for all proper human conduct.

Among thousands of citations supporting the ideas of the Founding Fathers, 916 were key, with 34% from the Bible—mostly Deuteronomy, also known as the Book of God’s Law. Citations ranged across works by historians, philosophers, and Enlightenment thinkers, but their core principles were consistently anchored in the Bible.

In their discovery, the Founding Fathers viewed biblical governance and Anglo-Saxon traditions as key influences for the American Constitution. Seeing this nation as the place where the remnants would begin to gather, they saw in their interpretation of scripture a divine plan for America; and they saw themselves as divinely appointed servants of the Almighty in restoring the sacred law given to Moses. All throughout their writings is the expressed anticipation that these events will take place in their day.

Their deep understanding of the Bible stemmed from their college educations, as all major American institutions then required students to study the Bible regardless of their major. At King’s College in New York, for example, John Jay, at the age of 14, was taught by Samuel Johnson, an Anglican minister, who used the New Testament for his text. For Johnson, almost every aspect of the college curriculum was aimed at turning out devout and virtuous young men.

Years later, upon the passing of his wife, Sarah, at the age of 45, an ardent American patriot who was perhaps more vocal than her reserved husband as she contributed to the creation of the new nation in many ways, John Jay led their five children “into an adjoining room, and with a firm voice but glistening eye, read to them the 15^th chapter of Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, thus leading their thoughts to that day when the lifeless but beloved form they had just left would rise to glory and immortality.” Ten years older than his wife, Sarah had provided the light and the life in the Jay household.

In summary, the account of Moses is one of the earliest recorded instances of a leader being chosen to receive, document, and implement a significant set of laws. By the time these laws influenced America’s Founding Fathers, they had adopted the belief that these ancient statutes were the fundamental principles for all law, justice, and legal administration.

Attesting to their relevance, James Madison, a coauthor of the Constitution, wrote, “We have staked the whole future of all of our political institutions upon the capacity of each and all of us to govern ourselves, to control ourselves, and to sustain ourselves, according to the Ten Commandments of God.” Madison believed that reverence for higher principles, regard for others, and respect for property inspires adherence to a moral code that transcends civil and criminal regulations.

In 1836, Moses, in the capacity of a ministering angel, conferred the keys of gathering upon the Prophet Joseph Smith, and these were subsequently passed to each successive leader in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. One significant aspect of Moses’ life was his direct association with the Almighty. The Savior affirmed Moses’ prophetic role, and Moses, in turn, bore testimony of the Savior. The Savior is regarded as God, while Moses is recognized as one of his prominent prophets.  

SUMMARY

Big Idea

Moses was a divinely guided leader whose reception and implementation of God’s laws not only shaped ancient Israel but also profoundly influenced the moral and legal foundations of American self-government.

Key Points

Modern criticism has challenged biblical figures like Moses, yet his influence remains foundational for law and morality.

Moses was uniquely qualified, being educated, a leader, and a prophet who communicated directly with God.

The biblical narrative, supported by scientific research and ancient records, affirms Moses’ role in lawgiving and morality.

Joseph Smith’s experience is linked as a restoration of true knowledge of God, paralleling Moses’ role as a prophet.

The Ten Commandments are a core foundation for both civil and religious law, influencing subsequent societies.

The Founding Fathers of America drew deeply from biblical law, especially Deuteronomy, when forming the Constitution and their vision for the nation.

Biblical study was central to early American education, with figures like John Jay exemplifying the integration of scripture and civic virtue.

Moses’ legacy continued in American religious and civic life, with key LDS teachings linking his prophetic role to modern prophets. James Madison and other Founders stressed that self-governance depends on adherence to the spiritual and ethical standards rooted in the Ten Commandments.