Genesis 5; Moses 6
Read CFM Intro
Moses 6:5
Book of Remembrance
President Spencer W. Kimball regarded personal journals as valuable legacies for our children and children’s children:
“You are unique, and there may be incidents in your experience that are more noble and praiseworthy in their way than those recorded in any other life. There may be a flash of illumination here and a story of faithfulness there; you should truthfully record your real self and not what other people may see in you.
“What could you do better for your children and your children’s children than to record the story of your life, your triumphs over adversity, your recovery after a fall, your progress when all seemed black, your rejoicing when you had finally achieved? …
“Get a notebook, … a journal that will last through all time, and maybe the angels may quote from it for eternity.” (“The Angels May Quote from It,” New Era, Oct. 1975, 5).
Language of Adam
Bruce R. McConkie“ The Adamic language was the original language spoken by Adam and Eve… It was a pure and undefiled language, enabling them to express clearly and perfectly all truths, both temporal and spiritual.”
Joseph Fielding Smith “The language of Adam was a perfect language. It was given to Adam by revelation, and through it he was able to converse with God and record sacred things.”
Moses 6:7 Priesthood has always been
The Prophet Joseph Smith taught: “The Priesthood was first given to Adam; he obtained the First Presidency, and held the keys of it from generation to generation. He obtained it in the Creation, before the world was formed. … The Priesthood is an everlasting principle, and existed with God from eternity, and will to eternity, without beginning of days or end of years.”
Moses 6:8-22..
A genealogy was kept
These genealogies provide scaffolding for all the subsequent events in Genesis, Moses, and even Matthew. Lists of births and parentage, going back to Adam and Eve, who go back to God, remind us we are each sons and daughters of God, blessed with an unbroken line of royal heritage. The repetitive recounting of patriarchal parentage and birth is a testament to the importance of every family, every birth, and the uninterrupted continuity of our family trees.
the ancients lived many hundreds of years... after the flood that decreased to under 200 years
Read Moses 6:23 they were preachers of righteousness and called men to repent
Read Moses 6:15 - Satan had great dominion in the land
Read Moses 6:26-27 calling of Enoch from God and condition of the people turned away from God
Read Moses 6:31 - did not feel capable, why me? We all feel that way (I am young (65) the people hate me)
Elder Neal A. Maxwell taught that “feeling unworthy, unready, and uncertain about what we can contribute, when so called, is different from questioning the call itself.”[2] In Enoch’s “honest questions . . . there was a sense of unpreparedness but not an unwillingness. . . . [God] needs our meekness . . . in order to part the curtains of our understanding.”[3]Thus, as Sheri L. Dew explained, before Enoch could receive his vision of eternity, he needed to receive “a new vision of himself.”[4]
Read Moses 6:32-34 what the lord will do for Enoch...
“Thou shalt Abide in Me and I in you, therefore Walk with Me” Follow Me
When the Lord called Enoch to journey through the land and testify of Him, Enoch hesitated. He was just a lad, slow of speech. How could he walk that path in his condition? He was blinded by what was broken in him. The Lord’s answer to what hindered him was simple and immediate: “Walk with me.” Like Enoch, we must remember that the One who was bruised and broken for us will allow mortality to do its work in us, but He doesn’t ask us to face those challenges alone. No matter the heaviness of our story or the current course of our path, He will invite us to walk with Him. Emily Belle Freeman,
Every call to serve the Lord is an invitation to walk with Him, especially in the work of salvation and exaltation
Moses 6:35-36 Moses receives vision (definition of a seer)
[A] seer is a revelator and a prophet also; and a gift which is greater can no man have. . . . But a seer can know of things which are past, and also of things which are to come, and by them shall all things be revealed, or, rather, shall secret things be made manifest, and hidden things shall come to light, and things which are not known shall be made known by them, and also things shall be made known by them which otherwise could not be known.”
37: Enoch went forth to teach
39: no man laid hands on him, fear came to them, heard he walked with God
Read Moses 6:47-53 Read - teach children - plan of salvation
Read Moses 5:56-60
6:59. “by reason of transgression cometh the fall, 6:59. “born again
6:59. “cleansed by blood
6:60. “by the water ye keep the commandment; by the Spirit ye are justified; and by the blood ye are sanctified.
How We See Ourselves (Moses 6:31–34)
It is interesting to see what Enoch was focused on when he was first called. He said to the Lord, “Why is it that I have found favor in thy sight, and am but a lad, and all the people hate me; for I am slow of speech; wherefore am I thy servant?” (Moses 6:31). Enoch saw his inadequacies and weaknesses, causing him to focus on how people might receive him—what they might say or do to him.
So often, isn’t that what we focus on in ourselves—our imperfectness? The Lord saw something different in Enoch, and He also sees our potential and wants us to see that too. The Lord’s message to Enoch was, in essence, “Don’t focus on yourself; focus on Me.” He said, “Open thy mouth, and it shall be filled, and I will give thee utterance” (Moses 6:32). And the Lord came through! Later Enoch’s words were so powerful, people trembled in his presence. Mountains literally moved. Rivers obeyed. Has any mere mortal ever spoken with so much power? (see Moses 6:47; 7:13). So, with humility and Enoch-like faith, we too can go to Christ with our weaknesses and imperfections, and He will turn them into strengths (see Ether 12:27).
How We See Christ (Moses 6:63)
After helping Enoch see that He wasn’t alone, the Lord wanted Enoch to see something else. “All things have their likeness,” He said, “and all things are created and made to bear record of me” (Moses 6:63; see also 2 Nephi 11:4).
This insight can change how we see in at least two ways. First, learning to see Jesus Christ in all things will turn our minds and hearts to Him. As we experience the wonders of this world, we see Him in the hope of a sunrise. We see Him in the never-ending waves of the ocean. We see Him in the majesty of a mountain. We see Him in the innumerable stars above and in the life-sustaining earth below. We see Him in trees and flowers, in rocks and rivers, in every living thing. All of these teach us of His love and power. And yes, seeing Christ in everything can bring us great joy.
But there is something more. Certainly, if all things bear record of Him, we too must bear record of Him. We can bear record of Christ by making Him the center of everything we teach, especially in His Church. We can testify of who He is and what He has done for us. We can tell others about His example and what He is like—after all, He is the greatest person to have ever lived, and His life is the greatest life ever lived. We can help others feel His power, mercy, and influence and turn to Him. And when we help others see Christ, we feel great joy (see Doctrine and Covenants 18:13).
Saturday, February 21, 2026
Saturday, January 17, 2026
Thursday, January 8, 2026
Genesis 1–2; Moses 2–3; Abraham 4–5
Genesis 1–2; Moses 2–3; Abraham 4–5
(Copied from Old Testament Scripture Helps)
When studying the Creation, it is important to keep in mind that the scriptures do not provide details about how or when the earth was created. But they do testify of why the earth was created and who the Creator was. The Creation is an essential part of Heavenly Father’s plan of salvation. Because of the Creation, we are able to come to the earth, receive a physical body, exercise our agency, and experience joy as we create eternal relationships.
President Russell M. Nelson taught: “I testify that the earth and all life upon it are of divine origin. The Creation did not happen by chance. … It is God who made us and not we ourselves. We are His people! The Creation itself testifies of a Creator. We cannot disregard the divine in the Creation. Without our grateful awareness of God’s hand in the Creation, we would be just as oblivious to our provider as are goldfish swimming in a bowl.”
The Lord has promised that the day will come when the specific details concerning the Creation of this earth will be revealed.
Using our measurement of time, we do not know how long it took God to create the earth. President Russell M. Nelson explained: “The physical Creation itself was staged through ordered periods of time. In Genesis and Moses, those periods are called days. But in the book of Abraham, each period is referred to as a time. Whether termed a day, a time, or an age, each phase was a period between two identifiable events—a division of eternity.”
Genesis 1:1–2; Moses 2:1–2; Abraham 4:1–2
A belief of traditional Christianity is that God created all things ex nihilo, which means “out of nothing.” Speaking about the earth’s Creation, the Prophet Joseph Smith taught that to “create … does not mean to create out of nothing; it means to organize, the same as a man would organize materials and build a ship.” Abraham’s Creation account teaches us that Jesus Christ organized the earth out of preexisting “materials.” Abraham’s account also uses the phrase “empty and desolate” to describe the earth in its earliest stages, rather than “without form, and void.”
Genesis 1:26; Moses 2:26; Abraham 4:1–31
The phrase “Let us make man in our image” suggests that God did not work alone in the Creation process. The book of Moses clarifies that Heavenly Father was speaking to Jesus Christ in this verse. From Abraham’s account and other prophetic sources, we have reason to believe that others may have assisted Jesus Christ with the Creation.
Genesis 1:26–27; Moses 2:26–27; Abraham 4:26–27
President Thomas S. Monson taught: “God our Father has ears with which to hear our prayers. He has eyes with which to see our actions. He has a mouth with which to speak to us. He has a heart with which to feel compassion and love. He is real. He is living. We are his children, made in his image. We look like him, and he looks like us.” As children of God, we have the potential to become like Him. In “The Family: A Proclamation to the World,” we read: “All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny.”
President Lorenzo Snow taught: “We were born in the image of God our Father; he begat us like unto himself. There is the nature of deity in the composition of our spiritual organization; in our spiritual birth our Father transmitted to us the capabilities, powers and faculties which he himself possessed, as much so as the child on its mother’s bosom possesses, although in an undeveloped state, the faculties, powers and susceptibilities of its parent.”
Genesis 1:28; Moses 2:28; Abraham 4:28
In “The Family: A Proclamation to the World,” the First Presidency and the Twelve Apostles wrote, “The first commandment that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife. We declare that God’s commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force. We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife.”
Genesis 1:28–30; Moses 2:28–30; Abraham 4:28–30
As children of God created in His image, men and women hold a unique position among God’s creations. To have dominion means to “rule over.” Part of our dominion over God’s creations involves being responsible for them as good stewards. Elder Marcus B. Nash taught, “Life on this earth is both a blessing and a responsibility. The Lord declares, ‘Behold, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air, and that which cometh of the earth, is ordained for the use of man for food and for raiment, and that he might have in abundance’ (Doctrine and Covenants 49:19). However, because the earth and all on it are the ‘workmanship of [His] hand’ (Doctrine and Covenants 29:25), it all belongs to Him. As temporary inhabitants of this earth, we are stewards—not owners. As such, we are accountable to God—the owner—for what we do with His creation.”
Genesis 2:1–3; Moses 3:1–3; Abraham 5:1–3
The Lord resting on the seventh day provides a pattern for us to follow. To Moses, He commanded, “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, … For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.” To rest on the Sabbath does not mean do nothing. In the Creation account, the Lord taught that He “sanctified” the seventh day. The Hebrew word translated “sanctified” means “made holy” or “consecrated” or “belong[ing] to God.” Elder David A. Bednar taught: “The Sabbath is God’s day, a sacred time set apart to remember and worship the Father in the name of His Son, to participate in priesthood ordinances, and to receive and renew sacred covenants. … On His holy day, our thoughts, actions, and demeanor are signs we give to God and an indicator of our love for Him.”
(Copied from Old Testament Scripture Helps)
When studying the Creation, it is important to keep in mind that the scriptures do not provide details about how or when the earth was created. But they do testify of why the earth was created and who the Creator was. The Creation is an essential part of Heavenly Father’s plan of salvation. Because of the Creation, we are able to come to the earth, receive a physical body, exercise our agency, and experience joy as we create eternal relationships.
President Russell M. Nelson taught: “I testify that the earth and all life upon it are of divine origin. The Creation did not happen by chance. … It is God who made us and not we ourselves. We are His people! The Creation itself testifies of a Creator. We cannot disregard the divine in the Creation. Without our grateful awareness of God’s hand in the Creation, we would be just as oblivious to our provider as are goldfish swimming in a bowl.”
The Lord has promised that the day will come when the specific details concerning the Creation of this earth will be revealed.
Using our measurement of time, we do not know how long it took God to create the earth. President Russell M. Nelson explained: “The physical Creation itself was staged through ordered periods of time. In Genesis and Moses, those periods are called days. But in the book of Abraham, each period is referred to as a time. Whether termed a day, a time, or an age, each phase was a period between two identifiable events—a division of eternity.”
Genesis 1:1–2; Moses 2:1–2; Abraham 4:1–2
A belief of traditional Christianity is that God created all things ex nihilo, which means “out of nothing.” Speaking about the earth’s Creation, the Prophet Joseph Smith taught that to “create … does not mean to create out of nothing; it means to organize, the same as a man would organize materials and build a ship.” Abraham’s Creation account teaches us that Jesus Christ organized the earth out of preexisting “materials.” Abraham’s account also uses the phrase “empty and desolate” to describe the earth in its earliest stages, rather than “without form, and void.”
Genesis 1:26; Moses 2:26; Abraham 4:1–31
The phrase “Let us make man in our image” suggests that God did not work alone in the Creation process. The book of Moses clarifies that Heavenly Father was speaking to Jesus Christ in this verse. From Abraham’s account and other prophetic sources, we have reason to believe that others may have assisted Jesus Christ with the Creation.
Genesis 1:26–27; Moses 2:26–27; Abraham 4:26–27
President Thomas S. Monson taught: “God our Father has ears with which to hear our prayers. He has eyes with which to see our actions. He has a mouth with which to speak to us. He has a heart with which to feel compassion and love. He is real. He is living. We are his children, made in his image. We look like him, and he looks like us.” As children of God, we have the potential to become like Him. In “The Family: A Proclamation to the World,” we read: “All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny.”
President Lorenzo Snow taught: “We were born in the image of God our Father; he begat us like unto himself. There is the nature of deity in the composition of our spiritual organization; in our spiritual birth our Father transmitted to us the capabilities, powers and faculties which he himself possessed, as much so as the child on its mother’s bosom possesses, although in an undeveloped state, the faculties, powers and susceptibilities of its parent.”
Genesis 1:28; Moses 2:28; Abraham 4:28
In “The Family: A Proclamation to the World,” the First Presidency and the Twelve Apostles wrote, “The first commandment that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife. We declare that God’s commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force. We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife.”
Genesis 1:28–30; Moses 2:28–30; Abraham 4:28–30
As children of God created in His image, men and women hold a unique position among God’s creations. To have dominion means to “rule over.” Part of our dominion over God’s creations involves being responsible for them as good stewards. Elder Marcus B. Nash taught, “Life on this earth is both a blessing and a responsibility. The Lord declares, ‘Behold, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air, and that which cometh of the earth, is ordained for the use of man for food and for raiment, and that he might have in abundance’ (Doctrine and Covenants 49:19). However, because the earth and all on it are the ‘workmanship of [His] hand’ (Doctrine and Covenants 29:25), it all belongs to Him. As temporary inhabitants of this earth, we are stewards—not owners. As such, we are accountable to God—the owner—for what we do with His creation.”
Genesis 2:1–3; Moses 3:1–3; Abraham 5:1–3
The Lord resting on the seventh day provides a pattern for us to follow. To Moses, He commanded, “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, … For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.” To rest on the Sabbath does not mean do nothing. In the Creation account, the Lord taught that He “sanctified” the seventh day. The Hebrew word translated “sanctified” means “made holy” or “consecrated” or “belong[ing] to God.” Elder David A. Bednar taught: “The Sabbath is God’s day, a sacred time set apart to remember and worship the Father in the name of His Son, to participate in priesthood ordinances, and to receive and renew sacred covenants. … On His holy day, our thoughts, actions, and demeanor are signs we give to God and an indicator of our love for Him.”
Moses 1, Abraham 3
“This Is My Work and My Glory”
Moses 1, Abraham 3
THE BOOK OF MOSES was given to Joseph Smith by direct revelation between June 1830 and February 1831 while he was working on Genesis 1-6. Moses 1 takes place after the burning bush and before leading children of Israel out of bondage. Moses 1 begins with Moses being “caught up” in a high mountain and beholding the glory of God face to face (resembles ascension texts wherein a prophet ascends into the presence of God and receives a divine commission)
READ: Moses 1:4,6, Moses 1:25-26
We are Gods children, he knows us and has a work for us to do!
We all know we are children of God, but how do we put it in our heart?
Why is it important to know we are children of God?
President Russell M. Nelson taught: My dear friends, you are literally spirit children of God. … I fear that you may have heard this truth so often that it sounds more like a slogan than divine truth. And yet, the way you think about who you really are affects almost every decision you will ever make. (“Choices for Eternity” [worldwide devotional for young adults, May 15, 2022], broadcasts.ChurchofJesusChrist.org)
In Moses 8 - Moses beheld the earth and all creation and then the spirit withdrew (9) and Moses was left “unto himself” and in (10) he learns “I know that man is nothing, which thing I never had supposed”
God’s Glory - man is nothing compared to God and His Glory - the stage is set for Satan to come on the scene.
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, while serving in the First Presidency, taught: This is a paradox of man: compared to God, man is nothing; yet we are everything to God. … Brothers and sisters, the most powerful Being in the universe is the Father of your spirit. He knows you. He loves you with a perfect love. … God sees you not only as a mortal being on a small planet who lives for a brief season—He sees you as His child. He sees you as the being you are capable and designed to become. He wants you to know that you matter to Him. (“You Matter to Him,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2011, 20, 22)
How can understanding my true identity bring greater purpose to my life?
Read: Moses 1:12-18
We learn about Satan and his tactics and how to judge.
Read: Moses 1: 21-22
As Moses was faithful to God, he received further light and knowledge.
Read Moses 1:24-25
While our Heavenly Father consistently and lovingly reminds us that we are His children, the adversary will always try to label us by our weaknesses. But Moses had already learned that he was more than a “son of man.” He declared to Satan: “Who art thou? For behold, I am a son of God.” Similarly, when we are confronted with the challenges of mortality or when we feel like anyone is trying to label us by our weaknesses, we need to stand strong in the knowledge of who we truly are. We must seek validation vertically, not horizontally. And as we do, we too can boldly proclaim, “I am a child of God.” Brik V. Eyre, “Know Who You Really Are,” October 2025 General Conference
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, drawing on this story from Moses, gave the following advice for when we are tempted after spiritual experiences, “I wish to encourage every one of you today regarding opposition that so often comes after enlightened decisions have been made, after moments of revelation and conviction have given us a peace and an assurance we thought we would never lose…Don't panic and retreat. Don't lose your confidence. Don't forget how you once felt. Don't distrust the experience you had. That tenacity is what saved Moses when the adversary confronted him, and it is what will save you…Yes, there are cautions and considerations to make, but once there has been genuine illumination, beware the temptation to retreat from a good thing. If it was right when you prayed about it and trusted it and lived for it, it is right now. Don't give up when the pressure mounts.”
In 27-28 The Lord shows Moses his creations.
Read Moses 1: 31-33 and 37-39
Immortality means to live forever as a resurrected being. “Eternal life, or exaltation, is to become like God and live in His presence eternally as families”
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, the of the First Presidency, shared additional ways Heavenly Father brings to pass our immortality and eternal life. [Heavenly Father] has given us the gospel and the Church of Jesus Christ. He has given us the plan of redemption, the plan of salvation, even the plan of happiness. … He has given us the priceless gift of the Holy Ghost. … He has given us 24/7 access to Him through prayers of faith and supplications of real intent. He has given us modern-day apostles and prophets, who reveal the word of God in our day. … He has restored His Church. … He has given us the holy scriptures—His written word to us. He has given myriad tools of modern technology to help us in our walk of discipleship. … Why has our Heavenly Father given us so much help? Because He loves us. And because, as He said of Himself, “This is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man” (Moses 1:39). (“Our Father, Our Mentor,” Ensign, June 2016, 5) And in verse 40 The Lord command Moses to write these things and in 41 He tells Moses why.
Read Moses 1:41
THE BOOK OF ABRAHAM
In 1835, Joseph Smith and other church members purchased Egyptian papyri, which Joseph taught contained writings of Abraham. From these papyri, he produced the Book of Abraham. The process may have involved: translating the papyri directly receiving revelation, or a combination of both The exact method Joseph used is not fully documented.
In the first part of the chapter, Abraham is shown through the Urim and Thummim about stars and planets and their organization and some of them govern others….. which will set the stage of premortal spirits, in different stages of light, some progressing faster than others, having more light, becoming closer to God “noble and great” Just as their are different magnitudes of stars and planets, spirits progress and different rates too.
Ponder the following invitation from Sister Wendy W. Nelson: “Imagine the effect on your life right now if you were permitted to watch 10 minutes of your premortal life” (“Hope of Israel,”)
Read Abraham 3:19, 21-23
And the Lord continues to teach Abraham about the plan of salvation.
Read Abraham 1:24-28
Statement by Elder Steven R. Bangerter. (You could also watch a portion of his talk “Foreordained to Serve” Before you were born, God appointed each of you to fulfill specific missions during your mortal life upon the earth. If you remain worthy, the blessings of that premortal decree will enable you to have all kinds of opportunities in this life, including opportunities to serve in the Church and to participate in the most important work happening on the earth today: the gathering of Israel. Those premortal promises and blessings are called your foreordination. “The doctrine of foreordination applies to all members of the Church” [Topics and Questions, “Foreordination,” Gospel Library]. Foreordination does not guarantee that you will receive certain callings or responsibilities. These blessings and opportunities come in this life as a result of your righteous exercise of agency, just as your foreordination in your premortal life came as a result of righteousness. (“Foreordained to Serve,” Liahona, May 2024, 57)
Abraham 3 answered foundational questions about why we are here and who we were before.
General Authority Quote “God’s ultimate goal for us is to help us become like Him and to live eternally with our families.” — Russell M. Nelson
We existed as spirits before mortality and were known by God. Each person is a beloved spirit child of Heavenly Parents with eternal potential. We were foreordained for a purpose..our agency determines if we will fulfill that purpose.
Discussion Questions
How does knowing your divine origin affect how you treat yourself? Labels? How might this doctrine change how we view people who struggle or make repeated mistakes? What does it mean to you personally that God knows you individually?
“You are not a mortal being having a spiritual experience. You are a spiritual being having a mortal experience.” — Dieter F. Uchtdorf
“Foreordination is not a guarantee of final outcome but an opportunity to serve.” — Dallin H. Oaks
Jesus Christ Was Chosen as Savior in the Premortal Council Satan Opposes God’s Plan and Seeks Control
Why was preserving agency essential to God’s plan?
How does Christ’s willingness to say “Here am I” influence your discipleship?
What can we learn from Moses response to Satan?
“The plan of salvation is centered on the atonement of Jesus Christ.” — Jeffrey R. Holland
“The adversary is clever, but he is not powerful unless we give him power.” — James E. Faust
A Personal Plan of Salvation God sent Jesus Christ, His only Son in the flesh, to lay down His life for every one of us. This He did because He loves us and designed a plan for each of us to return home to Him. But this is not a blanket, catchall, hit-or-miss sort of plan. It is personal, set forth by a loving Heavenly Father, who knows our hearts, our names, and what He needs us to do. Why do we believe that? Because we are taught it in the holy scriptures. Moses repeatedly heard Heavenly Father speak the words “Moses, my son.” Abraham learned he was a child of God, chosen for his mission even before he was born. By the hand of God, Esther was placed in a position of influence to save her people. And God trusted a young woman, a servant, to testify of a living prophet so Naaman could be healed. I especially love that good man, short in stature, who climbed a tree to see Jesus. The Savior knew he was there, stopped, looked up into the branches, and spoke these words: “Zacchaeus, … come down” (Luke 19:5). And we cannot forget the 14-year-old who went into a grove of trees and learned how personal the plan really is: “[Joseph,] this is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!” (Joseph Smith—History 1:17). Brothers and sisters, we are the focus of Heavenly Father’s plan and the reason for our Savior’s mission. Each of us, individually, is Their work and Their glory. Michael T. Ringwood, “For God So Loved Us,” April 2022 General Conference
THE BOOK OF MOSES was given to Joseph Smith by direct revelation between June 1830 and February 1831 while he was working on Genesis 1-6. Moses 1 takes place after the burning bush and before leading children of Israel out of bondage. Moses 1 begins with Moses being “caught up” in a high mountain and beholding the glory of God face to face (resembles ascension texts wherein a prophet ascends into the presence of God and receives a divine commission)
READ: Moses 1:4,6, Moses 1:25-26
We are Gods children, he knows us and has a work for us to do!
We all know we are children of God, but how do we put it in our heart?
Why is it important to know we are children of God?
President Russell M. Nelson taught: My dear friends, you are literally spirit children of God. … I fear that you may have heard this truth so often that it sounds more like a slogan than divine truth. And yet, the way you think about who you really are affects almost every decision you will ever make. (“Choices for Eternity” [worldwide devotional for young adults, May 15, 2022], broadcasts.ChurchofJesusChrist.org)
In Moses 8 - Moses beheld the earth and all creation and then the spirit withdrew (9) and Moses was left “unto himself” and in (10) he learns “I know that man is nothing, which thing I never had supposed”
God’s Glory - man is nothing compared to God and His Glory - the stage is set for Satan to come on the scene.
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, while serving in the First Presidency, taught: This is a paradox of man: compared to God, man is nothing; yet we are everything to God. … Brothers and sisters, the most powerful Being in the universe is the Father of your spirit. He knows you. He loves you with a perfect love. … God sees you not only as a mortal being on a small planet who lives for a brief season—He sees you as His child. He sees you as the being you are capable and designed to become. He wants you to know that you matter to Him. (“You Matter to Him,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2011, 20, 22)
How can understanding my true identity bring greater purpose to my life?
Read: Moses 1:12-18
We learn about Satan and his tactics and how to judge.
Read: Moses 1: 21-22
As Moses was faithful to God, he received further light and knowledge.
Read Moses 1:24-25
While our Heavenly Father consistently and lovingly reminds us that we are His children, the adversary will always try to label us by our weaknesses. But Moses had already learned that he was more than a “son of man.” He declared to Satan: “Who art thou? For behold, I am a son of God.” Similarly, when we are confronted with the challenges of mortality or when we feel like anyone is trying to label us by our weaknesses, we need to stand strong in the knowledge of who we truly are. We must seek validation vertically, not horizontally. And as we do, we too can boldly proclaim, “I am a child of God.” Brik V. Eyre, “Know Who You Really Are,” October 2025 General Conference
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, drawing on this story from Moses, gave the following advice for when we are tempted after spiritual experiences, “I wish to encourage every one of you today regarding opposition that so often comes after enlightened decisions have been made, after moments of revelation and conviction have given us a peace and an assurance we thought we would never lose…Don't panic and retreat. Don't lose your confidence. Don't forget how you once felt. Don't distrust the experience you had. That tenacity is what saved Moses when the adversary confronted him, and it is what will save you…Yes, there are cautions and considerations to make, but once there has been genuine illumination, beware the temptation to retreat from a good thing. If it was right when you prayed about it and trusted it and lived for it, it is right now. Don't give up when the pressure mounts.”
In 27-28 The Lord shows Moses his creations.
Read Moses 1: 31-33 and 37-39
Immortality means to live forever as a resurrected being. “Eternal life, or exaltation, is to become like God and live in His presence eternally as families”
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, the of the First Presidency, shared additional ways Heavenly Father brings to pass our immortality and eternal life. [Heavenly Father] has given us the gospel and the Church of Jesus Christ. He has given us the plan of redemption, the plan of salvation, even the plan of happiness. … He has given us the priceless gift of the Holy Ghost. … He has given us 24/7 access to Him through prayers of faith and supplications of real intent. He has given us modern-day apostles and prophets, who reveal the word of God in our day. … He has restored His Church. … He has given us the holy scriptures—His written word to us. He has given myriad tools of modern technology to help us in our walk of discipleship. … Why has our Heavenly Father given us so much help? Because He loves us. And because, as He said of Himself, “This is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man” (Moses 1:39). (“Our Father, Our Mentor,” Ensign, June 2016, 5) And in verse 40 The Lord command Moses to write these things and in 41 He tells Moses why.
Read Moses 1:41
THE BOOK OF ABRAHAM
In 1835, Joseph Smith and other church members purchased Egyptian papyri, which Joseph taught contained writings of Abraham. From these papyri, he produced the Book of Abraham. The process may have involved: translating the papyri directly receiving revelation, or a combination of both The exact method Joseph used is not fully documented.
In the first part of the chapter, Abraham is shown through the Urim and Thummim about stars and planets and their organization and some of them govern others….. which will set the stage of premortal spirits, in different stages of light, some progressing faster than others, having more light, becoming closer to God “noble and great” Just as their are different magnitudes of stars and planets, spirits progress and different rates too.
Ponder the following invitation from Sister Wendy W. Nelson: “Imagine the effect on your life right now if you were permitted to watch 10 minutes of your premortal life” (“Hope of Israel,”)
Read Abraham 3:19, 21-23
And the Lord continues to teach Abraham about the plan of salvation.
Read Abraham 1:24-28
Statement by Elder Steven R. Bangerter. (You could also watch a portion of his talk “Foreordained to Serve” Before you were born, God appointed each of you to fulfill specific missions during your mortal life upon the earth. If you remain worthy, the blessings of that premortal decree will enable you to have all kinds of opportunities in this life, including opportunities to serve in the Church and to participate in the most important work happening on the earth today: the gathering of Israel. Those premortal promises and blessings are called your foreordination. “The doctrine of foreordination applies to all members of the Church” [Topics and Questions, “Foreordination,” Gospel Library]. Foreordination does not guarantee that you will receive certain callings or responsibilities. These blessings and opportunities come in this life as a result of your righteous exercise of agency, just as your foreordination in your premortal life came as a result of righteousness. (“Foreordained to Serve,” Liahona, May 2024, 57)
Abraham 3 answered foundational questions about why we are here and who we were before.
General Authority Quote “God’s ultimate goal for us is to help us become like Him and to live eternally with our families.” — Russell M. Nelson
We existed as spirits before mortality and were known by God. Each person is a beloved spirit child of Heavenly Parents with eternal potential. We were foreordained for a purpose..our agency determines if we will fulfill that purpose.
Discussion Questions
How does knowing your divine origin affect how you treat yourself? Labels? How might this doctrine change how we view people who struggle or make repeated mistakes? What does it mean to you personally that God knows you individually?
“You are not a mortal being having a spiritual experience. You are a spiritual being having a mortal experience.” — Dieter F. Uchtdorf
“Foreordination is not a guarantee of final outcome but an opportunity to serve.” — Dallin H. Oaks
Jesus Christ Was Chosen as Savior in the Premortal Council Satan Opposes God’s Plan and Seeks Control
Why was preserving agency essential to God’s plan?
How does Christ’s willingness to say “Here am I” influence your discipleship?
What can we learn from Moses response to Satan?
“The plan of salvation is centered on the atonement of Jesus Christ.” — Jeffrey R. Holland
“The adversary is clever, but he is not powerful unless we give him power.” — James E. Faust
A Personal Plan of Salvation God sent Jesus Christ, His only Son in the flesh, to lay down His life for every one of us. This He did because He loves us and designed a plan for each of us to return home to Him. But this is not a blanket, catchall, hit-or-miss sort of plan. It is personal, set forth by a loving Heavenly Father, who knows our hearts, our names, and what He needs us to do. Why do we believe that? Because we are taught it in the holy scriptures. Moses repeatedly heard Heavenly Father speak the words “Moses, my son.” Abraham learned he was a child of God, chosen for his mission even before he was born. By the hand of God, Esther was placed in a position of influence to save her people. And God trusted a young woman, a servant, to testify of a living prophet so Naaman could be healed. I especially love that good man, short in stature, who climbed a tree to see Jesus. The Savior knew he was there, stopped, looked up into the branches, and spoke these words: “Zacchaeus, … come down” (Luke 19:5). And we cannot forget the 14-year-old who went into a grove of trees and learned how personal the plan really is: “[Joseph,] this is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!” (Joseph Smith—History 1:17). Brothers and sisters, we are the focus of Heavenly Father’s plan and the reason for our Savior’s mission. Each of us, individually, is Their work and Their glory. Michael T. Ringwood, “For God So Loved Us,” April 2022 General Conference
Friday, December 26, 2025
Bible Covenants
Explanation of the Abrahamic, Mosaic, and Davidic covenants, emphasizing how they fit together in God’s long-term plan of salvation.
⸻ 1. Abrahamic Covenant (Everlasting & Central)
From an LDS perspective, the Abrahamic Covenant is the foundational, everlasting covenant that undergirds all others. What God Promised Abraham God made sacred promises to Abraham that included: 1. Posterity Abraham would have countless descendants—both literal and spiritual. 2. Land (Inheritance) His descendants would inherit a promised land (Canaan), symbolizing eternal inheritance. 3. Priesthood Abraham received the priesthood, and it would continue through his lineage. 4. Blessings to All Nations Through Abraham’s seed, all the families of the earth would be blessed—fulfilled ultimately through Jesus Christ and the spreading of the gospel.
LDS Emphasis • LDS members believe they are adopted into the house of Israel through baptism and temple covenants. • Patriarchal blessings declare lineage in Israel, tying individuals personally to this covenant. • The Abrahamic covenant continues today through temple ordinances, eternal families, and missionary work.
📖 Key LDS scriptures: • Genesis 12, 15, 17 • Abraham 2 (Pearl of Great Price) • Book of Mormon (e.g., 1 Nephi 15)
⸻ 2. Mosaic Covenant (Preparatory & Conditional)
The Mosaic Covenant was given to Israel after the Abrahamic Covenant, through Moses.
What It Included • The Law of Moses: commandments, rituals, sacrifices, and strict observances • Conditional promises: blessings for obedience, consequences for disobedience • National covenant: governed Israel as a people
LDS Understanding • The Mosaic Covenant was temporary and preparatory, designed to: • Teach obedience • Point Israel toward Christ through symbols and sacrifices • It did not replace the Abrahamic Covenant; it was added to help Israel live it. • With Christ’s atonement, the Law of Moses was fulfilled, and believers returned to the higher law of the gospel.
📖 LDS scripture emphasis: • Mosiah 13–16 (Book of Mormon) • Alma 25:15 • 3 Nephi 15 (Christ declares the law fulfilled)
⸻ 3. Davidic Covenant (Kingship & Messianic Promise)
The Davidic Covenant concerns God’s promises to King David regarding Israel’s throne.
What God Promised David • His lineage would continue • His kingdom would be established • A future eternal King would come from his line
LDS Perspective • The covenant is ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ, not in perpetual earthly kingship. • Christ is the rightful heir to David’s throne—King of Kings. • Earthly kingship failed when Israel disobeyed, but the messianic promise remained intact.
📖 LDS focus: • 2 Samuel 7 • Isaiah 9:6–7 • Luke 1:32–33 • Book of Mormon prophecies of Christ as the eternal king
⸻ 1. Abrahamic Covenant (Everlasting & Central)
From an LDS perspective, the Abrahamic Covenant is the foundational, everlasting covenant that undergirds all others. What God Promised Abraham God made sacred promises to Abraham that included: 1. Posterity Abraham would have countless descendants—both literal and spiritual. 2. Land (Inheritance) His descendants would inherit a promised land (Canaan), symbolizing eternal inheritance. 3. Priesthood Abraham received the priesthood, and it would continue through his lineage. 4. Blessings to All Nations Through Abraham’s seed, all the families of the earth would be blessed—fulfilled ultimately through Jesus Christ and the spreading of the gospel.
LDS Emphasis • LDS members believe they are adopted into the house of Israel through baptism and temple covenants. • Patriarchal blessings declare lineage in Israel, tying individuals personally to this covenant. • The Abrahamic covenant continues today through temple ordinances, eternal families, and missionary work.
📖 Key LDS scriptures: • Genesis 12, 15, 17 • Abraham 2 (Pearl of Great Price) • Book of Mormon (e.g., 1 Nephi 15)
⸻ 2. Mosaic Covenant (Preparatory & Conditional)
The Mosaic Covenant was given to Israel after the Abrahamic Covenant, through Moses.
What It Included • The Law of Moses: commandments, rituals, sacrifices, and strict observances • Conditional promises: blessings for obedience, consequences for disobedience • National covenant: governed Israel as a people
LDS Understanding • The Mosaic Covenant was temporary and preparatory, designed to: • Teach obedience • Point Israel toward Christ through symbols and sacrifices • It did not replace the Abrahamic Covenant; it was added to help Israel live it. • With Christ’s atonement, the Law of Moses was fulfilled, and believers returned to the higher law of the gospel.
📖 LDS scripture emphasis: • Mosiah 13–16 (Book of Mormon) • Alma 25:15 • 3 Nephi 15 (Christ declares the law fulfilled)
⸻ 3. Davidic Covenant (Kingship & Messianic Promise)
The Davidic Covenant concerns God’s promises to King David regarding Israel’s throne.
What God Promised David • His lineage would continue • His kingdom would be established • A future eternal King would come from his line
LDS Perspective • The covenant is ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ, not in perpetual earthly kingship. • Christ is the rightful heir to David’s throne—King of Kings. • Earthly kingship failed when Israel disobeyed, but the messianic promise remained intact.
📖 LDS focus: • 2 Samuel 7 • Isaiah 9:6–7 • Luke 1:32–33 • Book of Mormon prophecies of Christ as the eternal king
Sunday, December 21, 2025
Come to know God and Jesus Christ in the Old Testament through the guide of the Holy Ghost
2 Corinthians 5:17
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
John 16:13
13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
John 14:26
26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
As we study the Old Testament with the spirit of the Holy Ghost to guide us in truth and teach all things, we can become new creatures in Christ. Draw near unto him and He will draw near unto you. Pray that the Spirit will guide you to find and focus on passages, stories, and prophecies that will bring you closer to Jesus Christ.
CHAPTER 53
Isaiah speaks about the Messiah—His humiliation and sufferings are described—He makes His soul an offering for sin and makes intercession for the transgressors—Compare Mosiah 14.
1 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?
2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.
3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4 ¶ Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.
9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.
10 ¶ Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.
11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
President M. Russell Ballard said: “It is not by chance or coincidence that we have the Bible today. Righteous individuals were prompted by the Spirit to record both the sacred things they saw and the inspired words they heard and spoke. Other devoted people were prompted to protect and preserve these records” As you study, pray that you will receive a message that will guide you or someone you love to bring you closer to Christ.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
-
“This Is My Work and My Glory” Moses 1, Abraham 3 THE BOOK OF MOSES was given to Joseph Smith by direct revelation between June 1830 and...
-
Explanation of the Abrahamic, Mosaic, and Davidic covenants, emphasizing how they fit together in God’s long-term plan of salvation. ⸻ 1....
