29 And now I say unto you that it was expedient that there should be a law given to the children of Israel, yea, even a very strict law; for they were a stiffnecked people, quick to do iniquity, and slow to remember the Lord their God;
30 Therefore there was a law given them, yea, a law of performances and of ordinances, a law which they were to observe strictly from day to day, to keep them in remembrance of God and their duty towards him.
31 But behold, I say unto you, that all these things were types of things to come.
32 And now, did they understand the law? I say unto you, Nay, they did not all understand the law; and this because of the hardness of their hearts; for they understood not that there could not any man be saved except it were through the redemption of God.

Even though we live in the dispensation of the fullness of times, little has changed among God’s chosen people. We are still stiff-necked, quick to do iniquity and slow to remember God. God recognizes this and so gives us regular opportunities to perform and participate in ordinances to stir us to remembrance.

But there is also always the same danger that overcame ancient Israel. We can never lose sight of the fact that all of the modern day ordinances are likewise types intended to point us to Christ. If we forget that he is at the center of all that we do, then we are no better off than ancient Israel

The Church as a whole will never again apostize and lose sight of the savior. He is the living head of it today. But individually, we can lose sight of him because of our stiff-neckedness. We can become fixated on rules and forget about our ruler. We can rely more on ritual performance than on the merits, mercy, and grace of the one who atoned for us. This is a danger that has always been present among those who strive to keep God’s commandments.