Genesis 5
READ Chapter 5 Overview
-Who has read this chapter?
-How would you describe the plot of chapter 5?
-What is book mentioned in verse 1?
This listing is not of first sons but rather the Patriarchal Order of the first approximately 1500-1600 years.
SEE Joseph Smith’s Changes to the Ages of the Patriarchs in Genesis 5 …in Additional Resources
When Adam was about to die he summoned these individuals (except Noah and his sons who had not been born yet) to a counsel at Adam-ondi-Ahman where he blessed them. They represented nine generations of faithful leaders.
Moses 6 The Beginning of the Story of Enoch
-Who was Enoch?
READ Enoch
-So what were the conditions like in the time of Enoch?
-What were the two divisions of the people?
(This goes back to the visions of Moses)
1. The Children of God
READ Moses 6: 8, 68
2.The Children of men
READ Moses 6: 15
-What did Satan’s dominion bring?
-Why? (because of secret works, seeking for power.)
-What group or band of men does this bring to mind?
CHAPTER 5 OVERVIEW The generations of Adam are Adam, Seth, Enos, Cainan, Mahalaleel, Jared, Enoch (who walked with God), Methuselah, Lamech, and Noah (who begat Shem, Ham, and Japheth).
Enoch: A little over five hundred years after the birth of Seth, according to Adam’s book of remembrance, Enoch, of Seth’s line, was called to become a great prophet-missionary-reformer. His ministry was needed, for the followers of the line and cult of Cain had become numerous, and violence was rampant already in the fifth generation after Cain
Moses 6:8, Now this prophecy Adam spake, as he was moved upon by the Holy Ghost, and a genealogy was kept of the children of God. And this was the book of the generations of Adam, saying: In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him;
68 Behold, thou art one in me, a son of God; and thus may all become my sons. Amen.
Moses 6:15 And the children of men were numerous upon all the face of the land. And in those days Satan had great dominion among men, and raged in their hearts; and from thenceforth came wars and bloodshed; and a man’s hand was against his own brother, in administering death, because of secret works, seeking for power.
OT4 SS Lesson: Jan 17-23 Genesis 5; Moses 6 “Teach These Things Freely unto Your Children”
This is obvious a condition/group we read about in the BofM as well:
READ Ether 8:23
-Who is Ether writing to?
-Did Enoch have scriptures to refer to?
READ Moses 6:5
-Was this book of remembrance scripture?
READ D&C 68:2-4
READ Elder Bruce R. McConkie said the following about the book of remembrance…in Add’l Resources
-Did these Patriarchs speak the will of the Lord?
-Why is this book the one we want to be “linked in” to?
READ D&C 85:9
SUMMARY Moses 6:26–39
The Lord calls us to do His work despite our inadequacies.
Ether 8:23 Wherefore, O ye Gentiles, it is wisdom in God that these things should be shown unto you, that thereby ye may repent of your sins, and suffer not that these murderous combinations shall get above you, which are built up to get power and gain—and the work, yea, even the work of destruction come upon you, yea, even the sword of the justice of the Eternal God shall fall upon you, to your overthrow and destruction if ye shall suffer these things to be.
Moses 6:5 And a book of remembrance was kept, in the which was recorded, in the language of Adam, for it was given unto as many as called upon God to write by the spirit of inspiration;
D&C 68:2 And, behold, and lo, this is an ensample unto all those who were ordained unto this priesthood, whose mission is appointed unto them to go forth—
3 And this is the ensample unto them, that they shall speak as they are moved upon by the Holy Ghost.
4 And whatsoever they shall speak when moved upon by the Holy Ghost shall be scripture, shall be the will of the Lord, shall be the mind of the Lord, shall be the word of the Lord, shall be the voice of the Lord, and the power of God unto salvation.
D&C 85:9 And all they who are not found written in the book of remembrance shall find none inheritance in that day, but they shall be cut asunder, and their portion shall be appointed them among unbelievers, where are wailing and gnashing of teeth.
SUMMARY Moses 6:26–47
SEE Some Important Principles, Doctrines and Events
The Lord calls us to do His work despite our inadequacies.
As Enoch traveled around the land we read that the “Spirit of God descended and abode with him, and he heard a voice from Heaven.
-What did the Lord say about the hearts, ears, and eyes of the people.
-What was the decree that the people must heed? Vs 29-30
-What was Enoch called to do?
-What was Enoch’s enthusiastic response?
-Why were the people offended when he taught repentance?
-Why did they keep listening? Curious?
-What reasons did Enoch offer as to why it shouldn’t be him? V31
-What was the Lord’s response? Vs 32-33
-What did the Lord tell Enoch about the mountains and rivers? v34
-What are we to learn about Enoch’s washing of his eyes v35
-What was Enoch blessed to feel, hear, and see that the people could not? v36
-Why? What did this do for Enoch?
-As a result what did the people call Enoch.
QUESTION Have you ever felt inadequate when given a calling?
What lesson do we learn from Enoch’s experience?
READ Thomas S. Monson “Whom the Lord calls, the Lord qualifies.”
-Has the Lord helped you in your callings? How might your ears, eyes and heart been opened?
Moses 6:26–47: Enoch’s Call and Work
Some Important Principles, Doctrines, and Events
1. Those who are humble and willing can succeed in the service of God, in spite of their feelings of inadequacy (see Moses 6:26–32).
2. We should obey the counsel of God more than the counsel of other people (see Moses 6:27–28, 43–44).
3. A “seer” is a prophet who is blessed by the Spirit to see things not visible to the natural eye (see Moses 6:35–36).
4. The wicked often take offense at the words of the prophets (see Moses 6:37–47).
President Thomas S. Monson taught: “Some of you may be shy by nature or consider yourselves inadequate to respond affirmatively to a calling. Remember that this work is not yours and mine alone. It is the Lord’s work, and when we are on the Lord’s errand, we are entitled to the Lord’s help. Remember that whom the Lord calls, the Lord qualifies” (“Duty Calls,” Ensign, May 1996, 44).
Moses 6:37-39 A wild man cometh
So Enoch accepted his calling and went forth to preach.
-Was he respected by the people?
-What were their feelings about him? What was he called?
-Was he attacked by the people? Why?
Moses 6:43–47. Counsel from the Lord
-What question did Enoch ask the people?
READ Moses 6:43
-What were the people doing?
-Whose council are we following?
READ Jacob 4:8, 10
-How can we do better?
Moses 6:48–56: Enoch Preached the Plan of Salvation
READ Some Important Principles, Doctrines, and Events
-What are the doctrines and principles missionaries teach?
-How do these doctrines and principles differ from what
Enoch taught?
-Which principles are similar? Why? Which are different? Why?
Faith, repentance, baptism, and receiving the Holy Ghost prepare us to return to God.
Moses 6:43 And Enoch continued his speech, saying: The Lord which spake with me, the same is the God of heaven, and he is my God, and your God, and ye are my brethren, and why counsel ye yourselves, and deny the God of heaven?
Jacob 4:8 Behold, great and marvelous are the works of the Lord. How unsearchable are the depths of the mysteries of him; and it is impossible that man should find out all his ways. And no man knoweth of his ways save it be revealed unto him; wherefore, brethren, despise not the revelations of God.
10 Wherefore, brethren, seek not to counsel the Lord, but to take counsel from his hand. For behold, ye yourselves know that he counseleth in wisdom, and in justice, and in great mercy, over all his works.
Some Important Principles, Doctrines, and Events
1. Because of the Fall and our own sins, we are “shut out” from the presence of God (see Moses 6:48–49).
2. Those who repent and are baptized will receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. If they endure in faith to the end, they will obtain salvation through the Atonement of Jesus Christ ( Moses 6:50–52).
3. Because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, all children are born innocent (see Moses 6:53–54).
4. God allows His children the freedom to sin. In this way we experience the opposition that comes through temptation and we learn the bitterness of sin and its consequences (see Moses 6:55).
5. Moral agency (the freedom to act for good or evil) is a gift from God to all mankind (see Moses 6:56).
Moses 6:48–56. Because of the Fall
READ 6:48-56 in Add’l Resources
READ President Ezra Taft Benson
-Why is the Fall important to the plan of salvation?
-What did Adam ask the Lord about baptism? 53
Moses 6:54–55. “They Are Whole”
Little Children, the Fall, and Infant Baptism
TAKE THE QUIZ on Infant Baptism…in Add’l Resources
-These verses testify of the mercy and power of Jesus Christ.
In Moses 6:51–63 we learn of gospel truths that the Lord taught to Adam and asked him to teach to future generations.
READ Moses 6:57. “Teach It unto Your Children”
-How do you teach your children the Gospel?
-What do you think parents should do when a child does not want to be taught or when a child rebels against what is taught.
READ Moses 6:59–60. Physical and Spiritual Birth
Consider being Born into the World and Born Again into the Kingdom of Heaven.Find in Moses 6:59 the three elements (water, blood, and spirit) that fall under each heading and explain the part each element plays in the birth process.
READ Blood and Spirit…in Add’l Resources
READ Moses 6:63 All things have their likeness
-How do all things bear record of the Savior?
President Ezra Taft Benson “No one adequately and properly knows why he needs Christ until he understands and accepts the doctrine of the Fall and its effect upon all mankind ” ( “The Book of Mormon and the D&C,” Ensign, May 1987).
Moses 6:57 Wherefore teach it unto your children, that all men, everywhere, must repent, or they can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God, for no unclean thing can dwell there, or dwell in his presence; for, in the language of Adam, Man of Holiness is his name, and the name of his Only Begotten is the Son of Man, even Jesus Christ, a righteous Judge, who shall come in the meridian of time.
Moses 6:59 That by reason of transgression cometh the fall, which fall bringeth death, and inasmuch as ye were born into the world by water, and blood, and the spirit, which I have made, and so became of dust a living soul, even so ye must be born again into the kingdom of heaven, of water, and of the Spirit, and be cleansed by blood, even the blood of mine Only Begotten; that ye might be sanctified from all sin, and enjoy the words of eternal life in this world, and eternal life in the world to come, even immortal glory;
60 For by the water ye keep the commandment; by the Spirit ye are justified, and by the blood ye are sanctified;
Moses 6:63 And behold, all things have their likeness, and all things are created and made to bear record of me, both things which are temporal, and things which are spiritual; things which are in the heavens above, and things which are on the earth, and things which are in the earth, and things which are under the earth, both above and beneath: all things bear record of me.
READ Moses 6:67-68. The Plan of Salvation
-Moses 6:48–62 gives details of the plan of salvation, vs 63–66 teach how we learn about and participate in the plan, and vs 67–68 tell us about the ultimate destiny of those who follow the plan.
Moses 6:67 And thou art after the order of him who was without beginning of days or end of years, from all eternity to all eternity.
68 Behold, thou art one in me, a son of God; and thus may all become my sons. Amen.
My Thoughts: These two chapters provide essential testimony to the greatness of God, the Importance and Necessity of the Fall, and His loving kindness in providing us a way to know and follow His path, culminating with His atonement.
We learn about the Patriarch of the Old Testament that received, lived and taught the Gospel, often at times of fierce opposition. Because of the wickedness of man, Satan had great power. Still the power of the Word of God, preached by His faithful disciples, convinced many to repent. The prophet Enoch,whose life we study, although reluctant at first to accept his calling because of his perceived weaknesses, became a great missionary (or wild man as some of the early listeners described him), and an exemplary prophet to his and future generations. We will learn more about Enoch in future lessons.
At some time in the future, when we are fulfilling all of current assignments the Lord will make available additional writings of the ancients.
Late last year when we were talking about Winter Quarters I mentioned getting my picture taken with
President McKay. At the time I couldn’t find it, My sister Nancy was compiling pictures from my Mother’s
300 journals (scrapbooks) and found it. I have included it on the right. You can tell that Pres.McKay is
amazed at the size of those ears. I was seven in that picture taken at the dedication of the Mormon
Pioneer Memorial Bridge over the Missouri River near Winter Quarters.
I am sorry we missed our In Person lesson today. We would have talked about the creation and the
comment by God that said at the end of the sixth day He looked over all that He had created and said
“It was good,” and then rested. I am sure that His definition of rest differed from much of our definitions.
The second point was Neal A. Maxwell’s comment on the Plan of Our Father in Heaven “It is “extremely
important to get straight what happened in that premortal council. It was not an unstructured meeting,
nor was it a discussion between plans, nor an idea-producing session, as to how to formulate the plan
for salvation and carry it out. Our Father’s plan was known, and the actual question put was whom the
Father should send to carry out the plan” (Deposition of a Disciple [1976],
This lesson ends with Enoch being told he is a Son of God. What better goal could we have than to walk
faithfully and become sons and daughters of God.
It is my hope and prayer that we will do this. I wish you good health, peace and shelter from the storms.
Greg
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Joseph Smith’s Changes to the Ages of the Patriarchs in Genesis 5
“A Witness for the Restoration” Essays in Honor of Robert J. Matthews, Kent P. Jackson and Andrew C. Skinner, Editors
Patriarch Age in Bible JST Years in Bible JST Age in Bible JST Years Adam’s
at birth change lived after change at death change added Corresponding
of son birth of son age
Adam 130 Same 800 870 930 1000 +70 130
Seth 105 Same 807 876 912 981 +69 235
Enos 90 Same 815 850 905 940 +35 325
Cainan 70 117 840 Same 910 957 +47 395
Mahalaleel 65 115 830 Same 895 945 +50 460
Jared 162 Same 800 Same 962 Same None 622
Enoch 65 Same 300 1 N.A 430 2 N.A. +65 687
Methuselah 187 218 782 None 969 1000 +31 874
Lamech 182 Same 595 Same 777 Same None Deceased before Noah was born
1 This number denotes the years to Enoch’s translation, not death.
2 This number denotes the age of Enoch at the time of translation, not death.
Only one of the changes to the ages of the Patriarchs is in the current Book of Moses, but there is a JST change that occurs with the age of Enoch that is in Moses. Enoch’s age when he was translated is given in the Bible as 365 years, but the JST uses that number to indicate how long Zion existed: “And all the days of Zion, in the days of Enoch, were three hundred and sixty-five years” (Moses 7:68). We know from the text that Enoch established Zion after Methuselah was born and that he was sixty-five years old at Methuselah’s birth. Thus Enoch would have been at least 430 years old when he was translated, in agreement with the OT1 change at Moses 8:1 in the Pearl of Great Price.
An early Latter-day Saint source may reflect Joseph Smith’s teaching on the age of Adam. Edward Stevenson (1820–97), an early Church member, pioneer, and member of the First Council of the Seventy, wrote the following in his autobiography in the context of a sermon by Joseph Smith about Adam and his priesthood. Adam “was within 6 month of 1000 years old, which is one day with the Lord’s time thus fulfilling the Lords decree in the day thou eatest of the fruit of that tree thou shalt surely die and he did 6 months before the day was out.” In the context of the Saints’ 1839 expulsion from Missouri, Stevenson wrote: “Father Adam began his work and finished what was to be done in his time living to be 1000 years old with the exception of about 6 months. Truly the bible gives Methuselah the credit of being the oldest but the Prophet Joseph had it revealed to him otherwise, it is only an error of Man in translating the record.” Edward Stevenson, The Life and History of Elder Edward Stevenson, 155, photocopy, L. Tom Perry Special Collections, Harold B. Lee Library, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah; original manuscript in Church Archives, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah;
The teachings of Enoch cover some seven major categories and embrace some information found nowhere else in scripture. He dealt with (1) the fall of man and its results; (2) the nature of salvation and the means of achieving it; (3) sin, as seen in the evils of his times, in contrast to the righteousness of the godly who were his followers; (4) the cause, purpose, and effects of the anticipated flood of Noah; (5) the scope of Satan’s triumph and the resultant sorrows of God; (6) the first advent of the Messiah; (7) the second advent of the Messiah and his peaceful, millennial reign. The details of his Gospel concepts are worth careful study and attention. Mention of this great man is also found in the New Testament (Jude 14, 15; Hebrews 11:5) and in the Doctrine and Covenants. (See D&C 1:24-25)” (Rasmussen, Introduction to the Old Testament)
Old Testament Chronology Chart from September 1980 Ensign
Later in the book of Moses, the Lord revealed Himself to Enoch. Once again a prophet is called to accomplish a great task: to call a very wicked people to repentance and establish Zion. Enoch clearly felt overwhelmed at his call: “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). Once again, that prophet was prepared for his mission through a vision of the “spirits that God had created” (Moses 6:36). As with Moses, an account of the Lord’s creations helped Enoch more fully understand who the Lord was and who Enoch was (a son of God). Interestingly, as Enoch began his ministry among a people who seem to have lost their knowledge of God, the first thing he taught, after revealing the very existence of God, was the Creation. He taught them: “The heavens he made; the earth is his footstool; and the foundation thereof is his. Behold, he laid it, an host of men hath he brought in upon the face thereof” (Moses 6:44). Michael A. Goodman, “The Creation: An Introduction to Our Relationship to God,” Religious Educator 8, no. 3 (2007): 15–29.
Elder Bruce R. McConkie said the following about the book of remembrance mentioned in Moses 6:5: “From the beginning, the Lord provided a language and gave men the power to read and write. … The thing which they first wrote, and which of all their writings was of the most worth unto them, was a Book of Remembrance, a book in which they recorded what the Lord had revealed about himself, about his coming, and about the plan of salvation, which plan would have force and validity because of his atonement. This was the beginning of the Holy Scriptures” (The Promised Messiah: The First Coming of Christ [1978], 86; see also Moses 6:46).
Moses 6:1–47
Elder Bruce R. McConkie said the following about the book of remembrance mentioned in Moses 6:5: “From the beginning, the Lord provided a language and gave men the power to read and write. … The thing which they first wrote, and which of all their writings was of the most worth unto them, was a Book of Remembrance, a book in which they recorded what the Lord had revealed about himself, about his coming, and about the plan of salvation, which plan would have force and validity because of his atonement. This was the beginning of the Holy Scriptures” (The Promised Messiah: The First Coming of Christ [1978], 86; see also Moses 6:46).
QUIZ- - Concerning Infant Baptism: Which are true and which are false?
1.Children are subject to the Fall of Adam and Eve.
2. Children are capable of committing sin before the age of eight.
3. Children would be damned without the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
4.Children who die before reaching the age of accountability are saved in the celestial kingdom.
Moses 6:48 And he said unto them: Because that Adam fell, we are; and by his fall came death; and we are made partakers of misery and woe.
49 Behold Satan hath come among the children of men, and tempteth them to worship him; and men have become carnal, sensual, and devilish, and are shut out from the presence of God.
50 But God hath made known unto our fathers that all men must repent.
51 And he called upon our father Adam by his own voice, saying: I am God; I made the world, and men before they were in the flesh.
52 And he also said unto him: If thou wilt turn unto me, and hearken unto my voice, and believe, and repent of all thy transgressions, and be baptized, even in water, in the name of mine Only Begotten Son, who is full of grace and truth, which is Jesus Christ, the only name which shall be given under heaven, whereby salvation shall come unto the children of men, ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, asking all things in his name, and whatsoever ye shall ask, it shall be given you.
53 And our father Adam spake unto the Lord, and said: Why is it that men must repent and be baptized in water? And the Lord said unto Adam: Behold I have forgiven thee thy transgression in the Garden of Eden.
54 Hence came the saying abroad among the people, that the Son of God hath atoned for original guilt, wherein the sins of the parents cannot be answered upon the heads of the children, for they are whole from the foundation of the world.
55 And the Lord spake unto Adam, saying: Inasmuch as thy children are conceived in sin, even so when they begin to grow up, sin conceiveth in their hearts, and they taste the bitter, that they may know to prize the good.
56 And it is given unto them to know good from evil; wherefore they are agents unto themselves, and I have given unto you another law and commandment.
Blood, and Spirit
Elder Bruce R. McConkie explained:
“Two births are essential to salvation. Man cannot be saved without birth into mortality, nor can he return to his heavenly home without a birth into the realm of the Spirit. … The elements present in a mortal birth and in a spiritual birth are the same. They are water, blood, and spirit. Thus every mortal birth is a heaven-given reminder to prepare for the second birth. …
“In every mortal birth the child is immersed in water in the mother’s womb. At the appointed time the spirit enters the body, and blood always flows in the veins of the new person. Otherwise, without each of these, there is no life, no birth, no mortality.
“In every birth into the kingdom of heaven, the newborn babe in Christ is immersed in water, he receives the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands, and the blood of Christ cleanses him from all sin. Otherwise, without each of these, there is no Spirit-birth, no newness of life, no hope of eternal life. …
“… These elements were again present in [Christ’s] death. He sweat great drops of blood in Gethsemane as he took upon himself the sins of all men on conditions of repentance. This same agony and suffering recurred on the cross. It was then that he permitted his spirit to leave his body, and it was then that blood and water gushed from his riven side” (A New Witness, 288–89).