Genesis 4-11

OK, where to start...This reading assignment covers a large hunk of history.  So, let's break it down into some bite-size morsels.
*Adam and Eve in the lone and dreary world
*Cain and Abel
*Enoch
*Noah


Adam and Eve were driven out of the garden.  They could hear the voice of the Lord, but were no longer privileged to "see" him.  I couldn't help but think of the void this left in their lives and hearts.  Adam and Eve were taught the gospel.  They were taught to offer sacrifices of the firstlings of the flock.  Adam at first did not understand.  Later he learned that this was done in similitude of the sacrifice of the Savior.  We learn that Adam was taught the plan of salvation, and that he was baptized in accordance to this plan, by water and by fire (the gift of the Holy Ghost).  Adam rejoices in the gospel and states in verse 10:

And in that day Adam blessed God and was ^afilled, and began to ^bprophesy concerning all the families of the earth, saying: Blessed be the name of God, for because of my ^ctransgression my ^deyes are opened, and in this life I shall have ^ejoy, and again in the ^fflesh I shall see God.

 He could have the privilege of seeing God again, by embracing the gospel through repentance and baptism.  In Moses 6:64-68 we read:

64 And it came to pass, when the Lord had spoken with Adam, our father, that Adam cried unto the Lord, and he was ^acaught away by the Spirit of the Lord, and was carried down into the water, and was laid under the ^bwater, and was brought forth out of the water.

  65 And thus he was baptized, and the Spirit of God descended upon him, and thus he was ^aborn of the Spirit, and became quickened in the ^binner man.

  66 And he heard a voice out of heaven, saying: Thou art baptized with ^afire, and with the Holy Ghost. This is the ^brecord of the Father, and the Son, from henceforth and forever;

  67 And thou art after the ^aorder of him who was without beginning of days or end of years, from all eternity to all eternity.

  68 Behold, thou art ^aone in me, a son of God; and thus may all become my ^bsons. Amen.

 We can all become sons and daughters of God by following these same steps.  Satan, of course, would not have us believe these things that were taught.  In Moses 5:13, we read:

13 And ^aSatan came among them, saying: I am also a son of God; and he commanded them, saying: ^bBelieve it not; and they believed it not, and they ^cloved Satan more than God. And men began from that time forth to be ^dcarnal, sensual, and devilish.
The account of Moses then gives us a powerful polar comparison of a believer and a non-believer.  Cain loved Satan more than God.  He did not believe the words of his parents or the Lord.  He heeded to the temptations of Satan and offered an inappropriate sacrifice to the Lord.  He eventually covenants with Satan and eventually kills his brother Abel.  Enoch, on the other hand, is taught of his fathers and believes the words of the Lord.  He is called of the Lord to preach repentance to the people. He is blessed with great power as a result of his faith.  He teaches them the gospel of Christ and eventually is taken up with his entire city to the presence of the Lord.  The Lord covenants with Enoch that his posterity will be preserved through Noah.

Noah is a righteous man.  There are many similarities between the days of Noah and the latter-days.  There are also many similarities between Noah and Jesus Christ.  I was struck by the thought that only Noah's family survived destruction.  They were allowed to live.  That is also true of Christ's family.  Only those that become his sons and daughters through repentance, baptism, and the reception of the Holy Ghost will be granted eternal life.  Can you think of any other examples?

Genesis 3-The Fall

Wow.  There is a lot here.  And there is a lot of other scriptures to supplement this chapter in Genesis.  Take a gander at Moses chapter 4.  It surprised me however, how similar the two accounts were.  I highly recommend looking up "The Fall of Adam" in the bible dictionary.  I especially liked the scripture references listed at the very end.  As was mentioned in the manual, the events of the Fall are covered well in the Genesis account, but the why's and wherefore's are best found in the Book of Mormon. 

A few things that stood out to me:
*  Although Satan deceived Eve, he did tell her one truth.  By partaking of the fruit she would become like the gods--knowing good and evil.  We came to this earth to become like our Father in Heaven.  Adam and Eve are well on their way.  They've received bodies and now they have acquired this godlike characteristic--being able to understand the difference between good and evil.  (steps one and two--check!)
*  Eve was deceived by Satan and partook of the fruit with the intent to act contrary to divine command.  She was in the transgression.  Adam was not deceived--he chose to deliberately do as Eve desired and carry out the purposes of God.
*  Once they had transgressed, they had an immense sense of guilt--they recognized their own spiritual nakedness (or unworthiness to stand before God) and hid themselves.  If they hadn't figured it out on their own--Satan was more than willing to point out their "nakedness" for them.  He is such a creep. 

And we are off!

Thanks to all that came to our little gathering this morning.  It was fun as always!  Now that we have adequately introduced ourselves to the topic of the year, we are ready to dive right in!  So let's get started.  Our first assignment is to read Genesis 1-2.  You will recognize these passages.  They will be familiar to you.  My assignment to you is to compare the Genesis account to the Moses account.  Then just for fun, go to the temple and see how all three accounts stack up.  Are they the same?  Are they different?  What's different about it?  Why do you think that is?  Then come back here and let me know what's on your mind.  Ready, set, go!