God chose Israel to be his own people, that, by adhering closely to his commandments, they might be to the world an illustration of the beauty of character, the moral power, and the virtue that might be attained through fearing and honoring him. He desired also to reveal through them the advantages that would come to those who, as his true sons and daughters, would walk in harmony with the principles of his law. In his dealing with men, God has often demonstrated that through the virtue obtained by obedience to the laws of heaven, human beings may gain a beauty of character that will fit them to be laborers together with him.

Gud udvalgte Israel til at være sit eget folk, så at de ved omhyggeligt at adlyde hans bud kunne for verden være en illustration på den karakters ynde, den moralske kraft og den dyd, som kan opnås ved at frygte og ære ham. Han ønskede også ved dem at åbenbare de fordele, der ville tilfalde dem, der som hans sande sønner og døtre ville vandre i harmoni med hans lovs principper. I sin måde at behandle mennesker på har Gud ofte vist, at ved den dyd, der opnås ved lydighed mod himmelens love, kan mennesker få en karakters ynde, som vil gøre dem egnede til at være arbejdere sammen med ham.