Lesson – Leviticus The Law

Leviticus 11:3, 7 (Divided foot, but not cloven, chew cud)

Leviticus 11:9-10 (Must have fins and scales)

Leviticus 11:18 (No eagles)

Leviticus 11:21-23 (No insects except locusts, crickets, grasshoppers)

Leviticus 11:12 (Bottom-dwellers)

Leviticus 11:3 (Divided foot, chew cud)

Law of Moses Principle #1: Sacrifice In this case, the literal sacrifice of animals. What is the overall symbolism? (this should be easy) Let’s talk specifics For each type of offering, answer: 1.What is used in the offering? 2.What is the purpose of the offering? 3.When is the offering administered? 4.How can we make a similar offering today?

Offerings 1.Burnt Offering – Commitment to God 2.Peace Offering – The direction of your life is acceptable to God 3.Sin Offering – Forgiveness for human weakness and mistakes 4.Trespass Offering – Forgiveness for specific sins 5.Meal or Meat Offering – All you have comes from God 6.Heave Offering – Service to God

Principle #2: Cleanliness Why does it matter what foods they eat? There were some health applications, but that isn’t the real reason. The Lord used this as a teaching tool. From the Manual: “People may forget or neglect prayer, exercise, work, or worship, but they seldom forget to eat. By voluntarily abstaining from certain foods or by cooking them in a special way, obedient Israelites made a daily, personal commitment to their faith. A formal choice was made, generating quiet self-discipline. Strength came from living such a law, and vision came from understanding it. Furthermore, what we eat (embrace) or do not eat (separate ourselves from) can symbolically remind us to remain pure and keep our spirits, like our bodies, free from contamination.” What types of daily choices are we forced to make to show our dedication and obedience?

Principle #3: Separation Leviticus 20:23-26 What did they separate? – Clean and unclean animals – They could not intermarry or even intermingle with other nations – They could not let their animals intermingle as well. Again, this is an outward physical sign of a spiritual conviction/truth. The Lord literally separated them, we must separate ourselves spiritually.

Elder Quentin L Cook “Separating evil from our lives has become even more essential since our homes are wired to bring much of what the Lord has condemned into our own living rooms if we are not vigilant. One of the most difficult challenges in our lives is to be in the world but not of the world (see John 15:19). Gospel doctrine makes it clear that we must live in this world to achieve our eternal destination. We must be tried and tested and found worthy of a greater kingdom (see 2 Ne. 2:11; D&C 101:78). We must do as Abraham did when he pitched his tent and built “an altar unto the Lord” (Gen. 13:18) and not do as Lot did when he “pitched his tent toward Sodom” (Gen. 13:12).”

Principle #4: Remembrance Leviticus 23 What are some of the events? – Sabbath – Feast of the Passover, of Unleavened Bread, of Pentecost, of Trumpets, of the Day of Atonement, of Tabernacles What events do we celebrate to help us remember? Our events are not nearly as ritualistic, so many struggle to remember correctly.

The Outward Sign Remember, all of these laws are preparatory. They are outward signs of inward conviction. Sometimes we need to prepare just by going through the actions, before we fully understand the principles. This is faith, the first principle of the Gospel

Notebook Ideas What are some of the clean and unclean things you must separate in your life? What are some examples of specific rituals or laws you follow that are good, but you may not understand why yet? What kind of offerings can you give to the Lord, personally, to show your dedication and willingness to serve Him?