The Old Testament Exodus and the Restoration Exodus

In the Old Testament, the exodus led by the prophet Moses can compare and contrast with the exodus of the restoration. I find it a blessing to have the examples of both these stories to give one strength and faith to press forward. These stories teaches everyone a lesson of sacrifice, charity, and love for the Lord. They do differ in certain aspects like the children of Israel taking forty years to reach the promise land. In contrast, the pioneers of the restoration took about two year (1846-1848) to reach their destination, Utah, modern promise land. The Old Testament landmark is similar if not identical to the landmark of the restoration exodus. For example, New York is the modern place what Egypt was. The persecution the Mormons where receiving, along with threats of killing, compare to the Egyptians slaying and working the Israelites to death in Labor. Once pharaoh granted Moses permission to set the people free, the Israelites were led by Moses into the wilderness, just as Brigham Young – modern day Moses – the Saints across the Missouri. Like the Old Testament, pioneers crossed the Rocky Mountains, what would have been Mount Sinai for the Israelites. Afterwards, both parties of the exodus where face with crossing across bodies of waters; the Israelites crossed the Jordan River and the pioneers crossed the Utah lake as well as the Mississippi river. When reaching the their “promise land,” this was just ahead of the bodies of waters for both parties. The exodus in the Old Testament is foreshadowing of the coming of Christ. Moses receive the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai where as the law of the church was given in Ohio. I believe the exodus of the restoration to foreshadow the second coming of Christ. All of us will be required to face much tribulation, trial, pain, suffering. All this must come to pass in order to builds us stronger and prepares for our greatest gift of all – eternal life with our Father in Heaven. I especially like the fact how the Old Testament exodus can be applied in a symbolic way to our dispensation. Egypt represents our modern world. Many may not see that the worldly things of this earth – drugs, violence, killings, etc. - are holding the hearts of men captive. Those victims surrounded by such destructions suffer through it all. Physical bondage of the Israelites is like being spiritually bonded. If we do not repent of our sins, then we cannot progress spiritually and the Holy Ghost cannot be with us. Moses is a figure representing Christ, who is fighting for our cause. Christ sacrificed his life for the children of men, so that all of us could be redeemed and perfect ourselves through his atonement. In order to reach the Celestial Kingdom, where God reigns, we must walk through baptismal waters of the red sea, be given the pillar of fire through the Holy Ghost; walk through the Lord’s temple. After our exodus through the wilderness, Christ will come and reign for one thousand years and afterwards, the great judgment day will come. The veil be taken away and all children of God will be judged according to their works.