Tuesday, January 3, 2023

Lowell L. Bennion on the Importance of the Old Testament

  

The Old Testament is the foundation of much that is best in our Christian civilization.

 

A. Christ knew it thoroughly and quoted it frequently.

B. It is referred to with appreciation throughout the New Testament.

C. Christianity includes the finest in the Old Testament, as is evident from the retention of the Old Testament as part of the Christian Bible.

D. Latter-day Saints, especially through the Book of Mormon and modern revelation, having additional and strong ties with both the Old Testament and the house of Israel.

E. Much of our moral legal code has come to us through the Old Testament law.

F. The Old Testament concept of obedience to law, which was encouraged in Western Civilization, helped to lay the foundation for the rise of both experimental science and modern industry, both of which are based on a type of obedience to principle and to law.

G. Much of our worship and great music is inspired of the Psalms and the Prophets. (Oratorios, such as Handel’s Messiah and Mendelssohn’s Elijah, are based essentially on Old Testament texts.)

H. The very language of the Bible has played a large role in the development of modern languages and literature among the common peoples. (High German, for example, received great impetus through Martin Luther’s fine translation of the Bible into German.) The King James Bible translation of 1611 has affected the English language tremendously and for good. (Lowell L. Bennion, “Lesson One: Teaching Helps,” in Roy A. Welker, Spiritual Values of the Old Testament: M Man-Gleaner Course of Study 1961-62 [Salt Lake City: L.D.S. Department of Education, 1961], 13-14)