The underlying purpose or doctrine of the law of Moses was not being done away with-there was still the need to come unto Christ and partake of the Atonement. The means or procedures by which men embraced the eternal gospel were all that were being changed. “The covenant which I have made with my people is not all fulfilled,” the Savior reminded them. The covenant he was referring to was the eternal gospel, the new and everlasting covenant-those unchanging principles of salvation.
President Harold B. Lee stated: “Keep in mind that the principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ are divine. Nobody changes the principles and doctrines of the Church except the Lord by revelation. But methods change as the inspired direction comes to those who preside at a given time. If you will analyze all that is being done and the changes that are taking place, you will realize that the fundamental doctrines of the Church are not changing. The only changes are in the methods of teaching that doctrine to meet the circumstances of our time. You may be sure that your brethren who preside are praying most earnestly, and we do not move until we have the assurance, so far as lies within our power, that what we do has the seal of divine approval.” (“God’s Kingdom-A Kingdom of Order,” Ensign, January 1971, p. 10)