Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] Speaker A: All right, Dawn, I'm going to need your help. So I'm going to give you this flashlight, and I want you to shine it on this little cow right here.
And the great thing about this is that as dawn shines the flashlight on my little cow, it projects a shadow. Now, this is significant because the shadow, while it doesn't look exactly like my cow, because my cow has spots and it has an eye, and the shadow doesn't have any of that. You can tell that it's similar to the cow, and it extends far beyond the cow. It's actually a type of the cow. It's a shadow of the cow. It's very similar to the cow.
And this idea of types, shadows, and similitudes is all over in the Scriptures, and it's found in Moses chapter one. And so Don's going to teach us about this phenomenon today. And this was the easiest way for me to think about how we use this idea of shadows. It's not exactly like the object. Very similar to the object. It doesn't match up with all of the things, but it's so closely related to it. And Don's going to teach us who in Moses chapter one is a shadow, a type, or a similitude. I of Jesus Christ.
[00:00:59] Speaker B: I love that illustration. Thank you very much.
[00:01:01] Speaker A: Hey, thank you. It's the way my brain works.
[00:01:04] Speaker B: And down the road, we're going to talk more about types and shadows. We're actually going to look at several examples of Moses being a type and shadow of Jesus. Or if it's easier, we'll say a symbol.
The scriptures use the word similitude. Similitude means similar. So Moses was similar to Jesus Christ.
So let's start by looking at the word Moses. In the Hebrew, it's pronounced Moshe. I'm including two lexical works here. Two lexical works. And this one says probably it's an Egyptian word meaning child or son. This other one said maybe from the Hebrew to draw out. Or it's Egyptian meaning child.
Moses, the name appears 767 times in the Old Testament. He's a prominent figure in the Bible.
He's also found in other scriptural works.
[00:01:57] Speaker A: Okay. This is a great definition, though, to draw out. When you think of him being drawn out of the Nile River, I love the Hebrew.
[00:02:03] Speaker B: That's where they got it.
[00:02:04] Speaker A: Yeah, I like that name. That's great.
[00:02:06] Speaker B: So I'm going to show you something. I'm going to focus on child or son and show you something that I think is just fascinating. In the book of Moses, Behold, thou art my son. Notice this. How many times the Lord calls Moses son and you say, we got it the first time. Why this repetition? I think it's a word play.
[00:02:26] Speaker A: What do you mean?
[00:02:27] Speaker B: I think it's a little. He's emphasizing. And remember, Moses was raised in an Egyptian culture and with Egyptians. So I think it's a word play on the meaning of Moses.
[00:02:41] Speaker A: Do you think it could also be. I'm just thinking out loud. But he was raised by Egyptians, but he came from Hebrew. Parent.
[00:02:47] Speaker B: Yes.
[00:02:47] Speaker A: Do you think maybe there was confusion about who does he belong to? And God sets this right here. He's like, no, don't even worry about what you have been told about yourself. Let me tell you what I believe. You're my son.
[00:02:57] Speaker B: Yes. Yes.
[00:02:58] Speaker A: And God's just owning him. I love it because I think sometimes in the world Satan loves to confuse who we are.
[00:03:03] Speaker B: Yes, he does.
[00:03:03] Speaker A: And sometimes. And I love how our past prophet, President Nelson, wanted us to not buy into this idea of defining who we are or giving ourselves labels. And he said, the only label that matters is child of God.
[00:03:15] Speaker B: I love it. In the next passage, you said that at a perfect time. Oh, God. Notice the next passage. So notice. Look at verse six. I have a work for thee, Moses, my son.
[00:03:25] Speaker A: There it is.
[00:03:26] Speaker B: And thou art in the similitude. Or you're similar to mine only begotten. Now notice that. Mine only begotten. Only begotten and only begotten.
That's the similar word family as my son.
[00:03:42] Speaker A: It is.
[00:03:42] Speaker B: So we have this intermix of the mortal. Moses, my son and Jehovah only begotten. But let's see what we can learn from these three verses. Thou art in the similitude of mine only begotten. And then we're going to find out exactly. Precisely. Who is mine only begotten. My only begotten is and shall be the Savior. The Savior is full of grace and truth.
Now we're going to jump down. Notice this is verse six. Let's go to verse 13.
Then it came to pass that Moses looked upon Satan and said, who art thou? Behold, Moses knows who I am. And he's using this to keep Satan back. I am a son of God.
[00:04:30] Speaker A: Yes.
[00:04:30] Speaker B: Remember how many times the Lord said, my son, I'm a son of God in the similitude or similar of his only begotten. And then Moses says, where's your glory?
And would you look at the last verse?
[00:04:43] Speaker A: Yes. Get thee hence, Satan. Deceive me not. For God said unto me Thou art after the similitude of mine only begotten.
And it's interesting in this because Satan, earlier in the verse above, in verse 12, he calls him son of man, like he's trying to like, diminish who he is. Like, you're nothing.
[00:05:00] Speaker B: I love it.
[00:05:00] Speaker A: Son of man. And here's Moses knowing, well, wait a minute, I was told. I think sometimes we forget that as children of God, who we are. And Satan, he wins way too often.
[00:05:10] Speaker B: He does.
[00:05:10] Speaker A: And for Moses to stand his ground and go, wait a minute, know who I am and how beautiful. But I think this is powerful for him to say in the similitude of his only begotten. Yeah, that's a powerful shadow.
[00:05:20] Speaker B: And I love the way when he tells Satan to get hints and then he explains this. Get hints because God said, thou art in this, Moses, you are in the similitude of my only begotten.
Now would you please read Elder Holland?
[00:05:37] Speaker A: Yes. Under the heading Old Testament Similitudes. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland has written, Jehovah used an abundance of archetypes and symbols. Indeed, these have always been a conspicuous characteristic of the Lord's instruction to his children. Examples of those figures, especially prefigurations of Christ, are present throughout the pre Messianic record. In no ministry did he use similitudes more than in that of Moses. Moses, like Isaac, Joseph and so many others in the Old Testament, was himself a prophetic symbol of the Christ who was to come.
[00:06:08] Speaker B: Moses was a living, breathing symbol. And I just love where he says a prophetic symbol of Christ. And we can learn more about Christ through studying Moses.
[00:06:20] Speaker A: Wow. I'm just writing so many notes, Don.
[00:06:21] Speaker B: So what I've got, Sister hall, are several comparisons. Okay, I'll read Moses. And if you don't mind reading the Jesus Christ.
The king of Egypt sought to kill him at birth.
[00:06:34] Speaker A: King Herod sought to kill him when he was an infant.
[00:06:36] Speaker B: Moses born under extraordinary circumstances.
[00:06:39] Speaker A: Jesus was born under extraordinary circumstances.
[00:06:42] Speaker B: Moses came out of Egypt.
[00:06:43] Speaker A: Jesus came out of Egypt.
[00:06:45] Speaker B: Moses fasted for 40 days and 40 nights.
[00:06:47] Speaker A: And Jesus fasted for 40 days and 40 Nights.
[00:06:50] Speaker B: Moses is called a similitude of mine Only begotten.
[00:06:53] Speaker A: And Jesus is the only begotten Moses.
[00:06:56] Speaker B: On top a mountain. The devil demanded that Moses worship him. But Moses cited the commandment to worship God only.
[00:07:05] Speaker A: Jesus atop a mountain. The devil demanded that Jesus worship him. But Jesus cited the commandment to worship God only.
[00:07:12] Speaker B: Moses served as mediator between God and Israel.
[00:07:15] Speaker A: Jesus serves as the one mediator. And he is the only mediator between God and men.
[00:07:20] Speaker B: Moses divided the sea and Jesus Christ calmed the sea.
Moses was assisted by 12 tribal heads or leaders and 70 elders.
[00:07:29] Speaker A: Jesus Christ was assisted by 12 apostles and 70 elders.
[00:07:33] Speaker B: Moses was sent from God.
[00:07:35] Speaker A: The Father hath sent Jesus.
[00:07:37] Speaker B: Moses miraculously provided food for the people.
[00:07:40] Speaker A: Jesus Christ miraculously provided food for the people.
[00:07:43] Speaker B: Moses delivered Israel out of Egypt and from bondage.
[00:07:46] Speaker A: And Jesus Christ delivers humans from the bondage of sin and death.
[00:07:50] Speaker B: Moses was the king of Jeshurun and.
[00:07:53] Speaker A: Jesus Christ is the king.
[00:07:54] Speaker B: Moses was a teacher.
[00:07:56] Speaker A: Jesus Christ is the teacher. Moses was a prophet and Jesus Christ is the prophet.
[00:08:00] Speaker B: Moses was a lawgiver.
[00:08:02] Speaker A: Jesus Christ is the lawgiver.
[00:08:04] Speaker B: Moses performed signs and wonders and Jesus.
[00:08:06] Speaker A: Christ many other signs. Truly did. Jesus.
[00:08:09] Speaker B: Moses pled as an intercessor with the Lord to spare Israel.
[00:08:14] Speaker A: Jesus Christ pleads as an intercessor with the Lord to spare us. These are so good.
[00:08:18] Speaker B: According to a Jewish historian, Moses was taken from earth in a cloud.
[00:08:24] Speaker A: Jesus Christ was taken from earth in a cloud.
[00:08:26] Speaker B: Moses appeared to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery in the Kirtland Temple.
[00:08:30] Speaker A: And Jesus Christ appeared to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery in the Kirtland temple.
[00:08:35] Speaker B: Do you have a favorite? I can go back or one that just kind of strikes you?
[00:08:39] Speaker A: I love the one where Moses provided food for the people in the wilderness and Jesus Christ provided food. I like food. So there you go.
[00:08:46] Speaker B: I do too. I do too.
[00:08:47] Speaker A: I just thought that similarity was one that I've overlooked so many times, and I hadn't considered that they both provided and nourished their people, not just physically either, but spiritually. And so I love that connection with food. What about you? Do you have a favorite?
[00:08:59] Speaker B: I think I like the fact that Jehovah appeared to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery, Section 110. And then a little later, they had a vision of Moses. Both of them are in this temple with the prophet and Sarah. Joseph. I'm just astounded and I feel so blessed.
[00:09:18] Speaker A: Well, these are very helpful. What a great thing to be able to teach on Sunday. This connection of types and shadows between Christ and Moses. That's powerful, powerful teaching right there. Well, dawn, thank you for teaching us this. This is a really great thing to know and what a great teaching tool for anyone who has to teach this Sunday in any level of class. I had not realized that Moses had the most types and shadows of any prophet in the Scriptures. So very cool. Use this, study it this week and keep looking for types and shadows and similitudes in the Scriptures because they're everywhere. Shalom and goodbye, Sam.
