Books of Short Stories
The Law of Moses

The Law of Moses; Foundation of the Western World, is an overview of the origins and applications of the laws that are the foundation of four religions of the western civilization. Each of these religions bases its doctrine and teachings upon the revelations given to Moses as recorded in the first five books of the Old Testament. Each religion accepts the history of the creation as told in Genesis as God created the heavens and the earth and all that in them are. God’s relationship to man is clearly defined in this first book as is the relationship between man and woman and between man and man. This first book outlines the beginning of the races with the genealogy and geography of the times. As we trace the posterity of these early people we find that the people of the book are all descendants of Shem, or Shemites. In modern times only a portion of these people are now referred to as Semites. Semites are usually limited to the descendants of Ishmael and Israel, who were a son and grandson of Abraham although Abraham had other offspring. Only the Jews among the children of Israel are considered Semites although Judah was only one among twelve. The races making up the western world are all descendants of Abraham and are people of the book, i.e., the Bible. Moses received by revelation the Performances and Ordinances of the Law of Moses as the religious practices of the children of Israel. He also received the Statutes and Judgments of the Law of Moses as the political laws for the children of Israel. Both sets of laws were founded upon the principles enumerated in the Ten Commandments. Each of the four religions treated in this publication accept that Moses was a prophet of God and did indeed receive these laws from Him.

This publication compares the original law with the law as developed over the years and centuries by the different religions beginning with the family and Patriarchal Order of Abraham and later added upon by the representative national government of the Children of Israel as necessitated by the increase in population. As the influence of the prophets declined the governments became more dependent upon the arm of flesh with the concept of the divine right of kings being introduced during the time of Samuel and Saul. Later as the people became wise in their own eyes, reason replaced the dependence upon God and the era of the schoolmen or scholars became dominant.

Two other concepts altered the direction of the western world, restoration and reformation. The advent of Jesus Christ was to the Christians a restoration of the religious principles but the Christian political kingdoms were based upon the divine right of kings. The political nature eventually led to the American founding. The Muslim religion and empire were based upon reformation and was the fountain of scientific and moral progress during the era of the Christian Dark Ages.

The LDS people were part of the political reformation of the Christians but the religious organization was based upon restoration. Although different in their operation, the total separation of church and state has always resulted in degeneration, annihilation or dispersion.

George Washington declared in his farewell address that "Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, Religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim tribute to Patriotism, who should labour to subvert these two great Pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of Men and citizens. The mere politician, equally with the pious man ought to respect and to cherish them. A volume could not trace all their connection with private and public facility. Let it simply be asked where is the security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obligation deserts the oaths, which are instruments of investigation in the Courts of Justice? And let us with caution indulge the supposition, that morality cam be maintained without religion."

From this we see that the performances and ordinances and the statues and judgments of a nation cannot be separated in principle but only in their operation. The modern age religion based upon the reason of man must be by definition completely merged into one and operated by the same human institutions. Reason and force flowing from the same fountain soon abolishes any distinction between the two.