The Israelites had been a stiffnecked people and the law was designed to help them to look to Christ as if He had already come (see Mosiah 3:13–15). The law of Moses was a schoolmaster to bring people to Christ and to strengthen their faith (see Galatians 3:24–25; Alma 25:15–16). It was to help them to look forward to the coming of Christ (see Jacob 4:5; Jarom 1:11). Salvation did not come by the law but through the Atonement of Christ (see Mosiah 13:27–28). It was taught merely as a shadow of things to come (see Mosiah 16:14–15). The law of Moses was fulfilled through and in the Lord Jesus Christ (see 3 Nephi 9:17; 15:4–8).