Genesis 17

As the Lord again renews His covenant with Abraham, He says -

"...I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.
2 And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly."  (Old Testament | Genesis 17:1 - 2)

Adding -

"As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations."  (Old Testament | Genesis 17:4)

And then the Lord instructs -

"Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.
6 And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee.
7 And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee."  (Old Testament | Genesis 17:5 - 7)

And then of Abraham's wife -

"God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be.
16 And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her."  (Old Testament | Genesis 17:15 - 16)

It becomes apparent that many times, as the Lord makes a covenant with man, in a sense it becomes a beginning or rebirth and a new name is given.  We see this with Abraham's grandson as a covenant is made with Jacob, his name is changed to Israel.  We see this also in the Book of Mormon as king Benjamin gives his people a new name as they enter into a covenant with the Lord.

We too take on a new name when we are baptized where we covenant weekly that we -

"...are willing to take upon them the name of thy Son..."  (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 20:77)

And many times a sign, symbol, or token is given to remind us of this new and everlasting covenant.  With this covenant made with Abraham and his seed the Lord instructs -

"This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised.
11 And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you.
12 And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed."  (Old Testament | Genesis 17:10 - 12)

This token was to be a reminder of this covenant the Lord made with Abraham and his posterity.  Not only just for this covenant, but we learn in the JST that also that -

"....I will establish a covenant of circumcision with thee, and it shall be my covenant between me and thee, and thy seed after thee, in their generations; that thou mayest know for ever that children are not accountable before me until they are eight years old." JST - Genesis 17:11)

It is apparent that there was much mockery and false practices being done in the days of Abraham where we learn in the JST that many people -

"...have turned from the commandment, and taken unto themselves the washing of children, and the blood of sprinkling..."  (JST - Genesis 17:6)

Genesis 15

On more than one occasion, the Lord reminds Abraham of the covenant He has made with him.  The Lord again reminds Abraham in a vision -

"...Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward."  (Old Testament | Genesis 15:1)

But even though Abraham is faithful in righteousness, you can sense that the promises made concerning his posterity (an exceeding great reward) must be on his mind all the time.  He seems to be struggling with what he should do to solve the situation.  Thus he approaches the Lord -

"...Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus?
3 And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir."  (Old Testament | Genesis 15:2 - 3)

I assume that present customs or laws of the day would allow Eliezer's son to be considered Abraham's posterity.  But the Lord answers -

"...This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.
5 And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.
6 And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness."  (Old Testament | Genesis 15:4 - 6)

I think Abraham did the right thing trying to propose a solution.  But also, in so many ways, we must demonstrate faith waiting patiently on the Lord for his promised blessings to be fulfilled according to His will and His timing.  This may even include fulfillment after this life for we also learn that there was more to this vision than recorded in Genesis for in the JST of the bible -


"...Abram said, Lord God, how wilt thou give me this land for an everlasting inheritance?
10 And the Lord said, Though thou wast dead, yet am I not able to give it thee [is anything impossible with God]? 
11 And if thou shalt die, yet thou shalt possess it [as a resurrected being when the earth becomes our celestial planet— see D& C 130: 9– 11], for the day cometh, that the Son of man [Jesus Christ] shall live; but how can he live if he be not dead? he must first be quickened [resurrected].
12 And it came to pass, that Abram looked forth and saw the days of the Son of man [Abraham saw the mortal ministry of Christ in vision], and was glad, and his soul found rest, and he believed in the Lord [he had faith in Jesus Christ]; and the Lord counted it unto him for righteousness."  (JST - Genesis 15:9 - 12 including bracketed comments from Ridges, David J. - The Old Testament Made Easier - Part 1)

To sad that the bible does not reflect that Abraham had a vision of the days of the Son of Man.

Genesis 14

Briefly in the Old Testament, we hear about Melchizedek where -

"...Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.
19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:
20 And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all."  (Old Testament | Genesis 14:18 - 20)

There is very little more mentioned in the Bible except where David (Psalms) and Paul (Hebrews) spoke concerning an order after Melchizedek.

It is in the Joseph Smith Translation (JST) of the Bible in and in modern revelation that we learn a great deal more concerning this great man.  First, it is helpful to understand that -

“Melchi” means “king,” and “zedek” means “righteousness.”  (Ridges, David J. (2008-05-21). The Old Testament Made Easier - Part 1)

Thus, referring to Melchizedek, we know he was called such because he was a king of righteousness.  We learn in the JST that (I have intentionally included bracketed comments by David J Ridges) -

"And Melchizedek, king of Salem, brought forth bread and wine; and he break bread and blest it; and he blest the wine, he being the priest of the most high God,
18 And he gave  to Abram, and he blessed him, and said, Blessed Abram, thou art a man of the most high God, possessor of heaven and of earth;
19 And blessed is the name of the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thine hand.
20 And Abram gave him tithes of all he had taken [all he had added to his wealth, as a result of winning the battle and rescuing lot].
21 And the king of Sodom said to Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself.
22 And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lifted up my hand unto the Lord, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth.
23 And have sworn [covenanted] that I will not take of thee from a thread even to a shoe-latchet, and that I will not take anything that is thine, (lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich;)
24 Save only that which the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men which went with me, Aner, Eschol, and Mamre; let them take their portion.
25 And Melchizedek lifted up his voice and blessed Abram.
26 Now Melchizedek was a man of faith, who wrought righteousness [who did works of righteousness]; and when a child he feared God, and stopped the mouths of lions, and quenched the violence of fire.
27 And thus, having been approved of God, he was ordained an high priest after the order of the covenant which God made with Enoch,
28 It being after the order of the son of God [it is the same priesthood that Jesus Christ holds]; which order [priesthood] came, not by man [not man-made], nor the will of man; neither by father nor mother; neither by beginning of days nor end of years [the priesthood is an eternal power]; but of God;
29 And it was delivered unto men by the calling of his [Christ’s] own voice [men do not take it upon themselves, rather, must be properly called and ordained], according to his own will, unto as many as believed on his name [in other words, the high priesthood is part of the full gospel of Jesus Christ].
30 For God having sworn unto [covenanted with] Enoch and unto his seed [posterity] with an oath by himself [as is the case with the “Oath and Covenant of the Priesthood, “detailed in D& C 84: 33– 41]; that every one being ordained after this order [the Melchizedek Priesthood] and calling should have power, by faith, to break mountains, to divide the seas, to dry up waters, to turn them out of their course;
31 To put at defiance the armies of nations, to divide the earth, to break every band, to stand in the presence of God; to do all things according to his will, according to his command, subdue principalities and powers; and this by the will of the Son of God which was from before the foundation of the world [who became the Redeemer in the premortal realm].
32 And men [such as Enoch] having this faith, coming up unto this order of God [having attained the office of high priest in the Melchizedek Priesthood], were translated and taken up into heaven.
33 And now, Melchizedek was a priest of this order [a high priest]; therefore he obtained peace in Salem, and was called the Prince of peace.
34 And his people wrought righteousness [became righteous, as shown by their good works], and obtained heaven, and sought for the city of Enoch which God had before taken, separating it from the earth [taking it up to heaven], having reserved it unto the latter days, or the end of the world [the time of the Second Coming, when it will return to earth to join Zion, the New Jerusalem— see Moses 7: 62– 63];
35 And hath said, and sworn with an oath [covenanted and promised], that the heavens and the earth should come together [perhaps a reference to the fact that the Church in heaven will join the Church on earth at the time of the Second Coming and Millennium— see D& C 65: 6]; and the sons of God should be tried so as by fire.
36 And this Melchizedek, having thus established righteousness, was called the king of heaven by his people, or, in other words, the King of peace [he was a “type” of Christ].
37 And he lifted up his voice, and he blessed Abram, being the high priest, and the keeper of the storehouse of God;
38 Him whom God had appointed to receive tithes for the poor.
39 Wherefore [this is why], Abram paid unto him tithes of all that he had, of all the riches which he possessed, which God had given him more than that which he had need.
40 And it came to pass, that God blessed Abram, and gave unto him riches, and honor, and lands for an everlasting possession [the earth will become the celestial kingdom for the worthy Saints who have lived on it (see D& C 130: 9– 11); thus, Abraham and those who enter faithfully into the Abrahamic covenant will literally have it for “an everlasting possession”]; according to the covenant which he had made [the Abrahamic covenant], and according to the blessing wherewith Melchizedek had blessed him. (JST Genesis 14:17 - 40)

There is much said in these verses.  One being that in verses 30 and 31 the power of the high priesthood is described, but I note the condition "...to do all things according to his will, according to his command, subdue principalities and powers; and this by the will of the Son of God..." because it is His order. 

Some believe that the named "righteous king" (Melchizedek) was truly Shem, son of Noah.  This seems to make sense to me because of Abraham's allegiance to this king.  I even note that in modern day we learn that -

"Abraham received the priesthood from Melchizedek, who received it through the lineage of his fathers, even till Noah;"  (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 84:14)

We here little after these verses in Genesis about Melchizedek.  In verse 34, we possibly learn why in that Melchizedek and the kingdom of Salem may have joined the City of Enoch or Zion.

Genesis 14

After Abraham had freed Lot from his captive kings and enemies to the Sodomites -

"...the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself.
22 And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift[ed] up mine hand unto the LORD, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth,
23 That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich..."  (Old Testament | Genesis 14:21 - 23)

I may be assuming a little to much with what Abraham said, but it appears to me that Abraham understood the great wickedness in Sodom.  He didn't want to be held obligated in any manner to such a wicked kingdom.

As we liken the scriptures to ourselves, we could see the same in business or in politics where businesses are politics are corrupt in some manner contrary to our personal values.  I think Abraham is teaching us to be careful in those businesses or politicians that may hang financial or political leverage over our heads.

I am reminded of Paul's counsel -

"Abstain from all appearance of evil."  (New Testament | 1 Thessalonians 5:22)

Genesis 13

As Abraham and Lot separated, where Lot had chosen the more fertile lands of Jordan, as part of what we consider the Abrahamic covenant -

"...the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward:

15 For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.
16 And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered.
17 Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee."  (Old Testament | Genesis 13:14 - 17)

Obviously, "thy seed as the dust of the earth" would suggest much more than we presently know are his posterity.  With this covenant we learn more from the JST of the Bible of these verses -

"And remember the covenant which I make with thee; for it shall be an everlasting covenant; and thou shalt remember the days of Enoch thy father;
15 For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.
16 And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered."  (JST - Genesis 13:14 - 16) 

This covenant was a new and everlasting covenant given to Abraham, but is was not necessarily new to others for this same covenant was given to Enoch.  It was a new and everlasting covenant given to Adam, Noah, and all faithful members to the Church that enter into such sacred covenants.

Genesis 12

Because of the faithfulness of Abraham(Abram), the Lord promised -

"...I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
3

And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed."  (Old Testament | Genesis 12:2 - 3)

This seems to be an initial brief summary of the Abrahamic covenent.  More will be said in later blogs.

I believe the most signficant parts of this covenant is that first, I believe the covenant of a great nation extends beyond death. We know that his posterity is the "House of Israel".  This nation or family will exist throughout the eternities.  This is the family of exaltation.

Second is that "in thee" or in other words, his posterity would all families be blessed.  There is no question that the greatest blessing of his see is the Redeemer of all mankind.  But also the responsibility of faithful members of the Church and the priesthood in the latter days to bring tidings, ordinances, and the same covenants to bless and seal all families on earth.

Genesis 11

As the generations our posterity of Noah began to expand and grow, the Lord commanded them to begin to set out to fill the as Noah and his sons were commanded to multiply and replenish the earth.  I believe the intent was for families to spread out in small family communities.  But power and might seemed to come only as the people gathered in much larger communities and cities.  This seems the case with wicked Nimrod and the people of Babel.

There are only a few scriptures in the Old Testament concerning the Tower of Babel. One I find significant was as the disobedient began to gather in the city of Babel that -

"..they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them throughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter.
4 And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth."  (Old Testament | Genesis 11:3 - 4)

With Nimrod, as I believe, being the fourth generation from Noah, obviously this people were more than familiar and feared another great flood.  Knowing that the people were destroyed with the flood because they were disobedient to God, this people, in great pride, thought to gain power higher than God, preserving themselves from a flood.  Even to the point of avoiding to take on the name of God, but suggesting that they could establish their own name over deity.  Sounds like great mockery to me.

Though there is little in Genesis, I would like to include the writings of Josephus -

1. Now the sons of Noah were three,— Shem, Japhet, and Ham, born one hundred years before the Deluge [the Flood]. These first of all [immediately following the Flood] descended from the mountains [where the ark landed] into the plains, and fixed their habitation there; and persuaded others who were greatly afraid of the lower grounds on account of the flood, and so were very loath to come down from the higher places, to venture to follow their examples. Now the plain in which they first dwelt was called Shinar. God also commanded them to send colonies abroad, for the thorough peopling of the earth, that they might not raise seditions among themselves, but might cultivate a great part of the earth, and enjoy its fruits after a plentiful manner. But they were so ill instructed that they did not obey God; for which reason they fell into calamities, and were made sensible, by experience, of what sin they had been guilty: for when they flourished with a numerous youth, God admonished them again to send out colonies; but they, imagining the prosperity they enjoyed was not derived from the favor of God, but supposing that their own power was the proper cause of the plentiful condition they were in, did not obey him. Nay, they added to this their disobedience to the Divine will, the suspicion that they were therefore ordered to send out separate colonies, that, being divided asunder, they might the more easily be Oppressed.

2. Now it was Nimrod who excited them to such an affront and contempt of God. He was the grandson of Ham, the son of Noah, a bold man, and of great strength of hand. He persuaded them not to ascribe it to God, as if it was through his means they were happy, but to believe that it was their own courage which procured that happiness. He also gradually changed the government into tyranny, seeing no other way of turning men from the fear of God, but to bring them into a constant dependence on his power. He also said he would be revenged on God, if he should have a mind to drown the world again; for that he would build a tower too high for the waters to be able to reach! and that he would avenge himself on God for destroying their forefathers!

3. Now the multitude were very ready to follow the determination of Nimrod, and to esteem it a piece of cowardice to submit to God; and they built a tower, neither sparing any pains, nor being in any degree negligent about the work: and, by reason of the multitude of hands employed in it, it grew very high, sooner than any one could expect; but the thickness of it was so great, and it was so strongly built, that thereby its great height seemed, upon the view, to be less than it really was. It was built of burnt brick, cemented together with mortar, made of bitumen, that it might not be liable to admit water. When God saw that they acted so madly, he did not resolve to destroy them utterly, since they were not grown wiser by the destruction of the former sinners; but he caused a tumult among them, by producing in them divers [different, various] languages, and causing that, through the multitude of those languages, they should not be able to understand one another. The place wherein they built the tower is now called Babylon because of the confusion of that language which they readily understood before; for the Hebrews mean by the word Babel, confusion. The Sibyl also makes mention of this tower, and of the confusion of the language, when she says thus: “When all men were of one language, some of them built a high tower, as if they would thereby ascend up to heaven, but the gods sent storms of wind and overthrew the tower, and gave every one his peculiar language; and for this reason it was that the city was called Babylon” (Josephus, Flavius, Antiquities of the Jews, Book 1, chapter 4, verses 1– 3).

Thus the Lord scattered the people as per his original commandment by confounding the language.

Genesis 10

As it is generally obvious, the Bible is generally a record of the posterity of Abraham or being a little bit more specific, through his grandson, Jacob.  Thus Moses has a distinct interest in this ancestry line as he records the posterity of Noah.

As Moses, records the offspring of Shem, he specifically notes -

"These are the sons of Ham, after their families, after their tongues, in their countries, and in their nations.
21 ¶ Unto Shem also, the father of all the children of Eber, the brother of Japheth the elder, even to him were children born."  (Old Testament | Genesis 10:20 - 21)

David J. Ridges explained -

"Some Bible scholars believe that “Hebrew” is a form of the word “Eber.” See Bible Dictionary, under “Hebrew.” Whatever the case, Abraham is a direct descendant of Eber, and was the first man in the Bible to be referred to as a “Hebrew” (see Genesis 14: 13). The Hebrews, well-known in the Bible, are direct descendants of Abraham. For example, the children of Israel are often referred to as “Hebrews” (see Genesis 41: 12, where Joseph in Egypt is referred to as “an Hebrew.”  (Ridges, David J. (2008-05-21). The Old Testament Made Easier - Part 1

 

Genesis 9

Sometimes as I continue to study, I find new scriptures that support previous blogs.  I blogged last Friday concerning the curse on the land that Lamech suggested that Noah would relieve them of.  As I read the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible, it reads that after the flood, Noah said -

"I will call on the name of the Lord, that he will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake, for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; and he will not again smite any more every thing living, as he hath done, while the earth remaineth;
7 And, that seed-time and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night, may not cease with man.  (JST Genesis 9:5-7)

It appears to me that the curse of the ground would be far less after the flood than what may have been previously.

And then after the flood, much like He had with Adam, the Lord commanded -

Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth.
2 And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hand are they delivered.
3 Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.
4 But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.
5 And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man's brother will I require the life of man.
6 Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man."  (Old Testament | Genesis 9:1 - 6)

For a better understanding, the Joseph Smith Translation reads -

"But, the blood of all flesh which I have given you for meat, shall be shed upon the ground [in other words, the animals are to be bled before being cooked and eaten], which taketh life thereof, and the blood ye shall not eat.
11 And surely, blood shall not be shed, only [except] for meat [food], to save your lives [to sustain your lives— compare to D& C 49: 18 and 59: 18– 20]; and the blood of every beast will I require at your hands [you are accountable for how you handle your “dominion” over the creatures of the earth].
12 And whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed [the law of capital punishment]; for man shall not shed the blood of man [in other words, “thou shalt not kill”— compare with Exodus 20: 13].
13 For a commandment I give, that every man’s brother shall preserve the life of man [we are to assist and protect each other], for in mine own image have I made man [man is in a different category than all of God’s other creations; people are expected to exercise the virtues of God in their relationships with each other]. (JST Genesis 9:10-13, with inserted comments from David J. Ridges)

I specifically noted the Prophets translation - "blood shall not be shed, only for meat, to save your lives; and the blood of every beast will I require at your hands".  This suggests to me that we will be held accountable when "killing" animals just for sport or inother words, the desire to kill.

Genesis 7

It is spoken much that Adam and Eve are the parents of all mankind.  We know the by modern revelation that he assisted in the creation of the earth.  Obviously then, Noah and his wife are also the parents of all mankind from his day.  I would assume then that he also had a great part in the creation of the earth.  In fact, his family was the only ones to survive the baptism of the earth.

Of that baptism, we read that -

"...all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened.
12 And the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nights."  (Old Testament | Genesis 7:11 - 12)

And later after the entire earth was covered where -

"...the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth; and all the high hills, that were under the whole heaven, were covered.
20 Fifteen cubits upward did the waters prevail; and the mountains were covered."  (Old Testament | Genesis 7:19 - 20)

That -

"The fountains also of the deep and the windows of heaven were stopped, and the rain from heaven was restrained..."  (Old Testament | Genesis 8:2)

Some have wondered how it could rain so heavily that it would flood the earth and how could the atmosphere handle so much water before and afterwards.  In my opinion, the rain had little to do with it.  I believe the "fountains of the great deep" is the answer.  There is no question in my mind that if the core of the earth oceans was raised significantly, there would easily be sufficient water to cover the earth.  As that core would later again settle, the earth higher places would become exposed.  Depending on at what point the core was to settle would change the entire surface of exposed land.

Genesis 6

This morning, I read two quotes that I would like to add to my blog last Friday -

“The first ordinance instituted for the cleansing of the earth, was that of immersion in water; it was buried in the liquid element, and all things sinful upon the face of the earth were washed away. As it came forth from the ocean floor, like the new-born child, it was innocent; it rose to newness of life. It was its second birth from the womb of mighty waters— a new world issuing from the ruins of the old, clothed with all the innocence of this first creation” (Orson Pratt, in Journal of Discourses, Vol. 1, page 333).

And -

“The earth, in its present condition and situation, is not a fit habitation for the sanctified; but it abides the law of its creation, has been baptized with water, will be baptized by fire [at the Second Coming] and the Holy Ghost, and by-and-by will be prepared for the faithful to dwell upon” (Brigham Young, in Journal of Discourses, Vol. 8, page 83).

This doctrine would follow some of my thoughts concerning the earth being cursed without baptism.

Many have wondered why the Lord would have his very creations of flesh be destroyed by the flood.  The first answer may be -

"...GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually."  (Old Testament | Genesis 6:5)

I don't think that causing death was the issue.  It is well established that if we will not repent, we must suffer the punishment related to the sin.  This is the law of Justice.  God loves his children!  Maybe death was somewhat an act of love because these would not repent and would have to suffer more.

Second answer is related to the first.  These people would not repent!  The Lord said of Noah -

"My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years."  (Old Testament | Genesis 6:3)

This would suggest that Noah preached for 120 years.  I think that was adequate time for the people to repent.   And if the people would not repent in 120 years, they are never going to repent.

It is interesting that some did repent as Enoch saw -

"...the Holy Ghost fell on many, and they were caught up by the powers of heaven into Zion."  (Pearl of Great Price | Moses 7:27)

Thus only the wicked remained on the earth other than Noah and seven of his family.  Thus to protect Noah's offspring from being raised in such wicked surroundings, the wicked was destroyed.

Genesis 5

As I was reading this morning, there was two verses that caught my attention -

"Lamech lived an hundred eighty and two years, and begat a son:
29 And he called his name Noah, saying, This same shall comfort us concerning our work and toil of our hands, because of the ground which the LORD hath cursed."  (Old Testament | Genesis 5:28 - 29)

My thoughts immediately questioned..."how would Noah comfort us concerning our work and toil of our hand, because of the ground which the Lord cursed?"

I went to the Pearl of Great Price and found that in the days of Methusaleh which probably would be in the days of Lamech and Noah -

"...there came forth a great famine into the land, and the Lord cursed the earth with a sore curse, and many of the inhabitants thereof died."  (Pearl of Great Price | Moses 8:4)

This famine may have been the "curse" that was referred to by Lamech.  But my thoughts are also that before the earth was flooded or baptized, we know the ground was cursed for Adam's sake.  Maybe because of the baptism of the earth, that curse was somewhat lifted and the flood may have made the ground more fertile and easier to work with that previously.  We know that baptism bringeth about a remission of sins...maybe a remission of the curse.

Just a thought.

Genesis 4

I know I have blogged about this before but it has been on my mind much of the morning.  In Genesis we read that -

"...Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.

3 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.
4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:
5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell."  (Old Testament | Genesis 4:2 - 5)

The world would read this and complain that God was "unfair".  That surely Cain's offering of his occupation should be as good as Abel's.  The world always justifies their philosophy and reasoning with fairness.  They do not understand that one of the purposes of this life is that it is unfair.  That is why there is "opposition in all things" for Lehi taught his posterity -

"For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not so, my first-born in the wilderness, righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad..."  (Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 2:11)

Over my life, the one thing I have learned and witnessed is that life is not fair.  What is important is that in a world of unfairness, the Lord said -

"...we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them..."  (Pearl of Great Price | Abraham 3:25)

The commandment given to Abel and Cain had nothing to do with occupations, but a symbolic sacrifice of the atonement of Jesus Christ.  Abel complied, but Satan tempted Cain to justify his sacrifice with was a totally mockery of the intent of the law for the Lord -

"...gave unto them commandments, that they should worship the Lord their God, and should offer the firstlings of their flocks, for an offering unto the Lord. And Adam was obedient unto the commandments of the Lord.
6 And after many days an angel of the Lord appeared unto Adam, saying: Why dost thou offer sacrifices unto the Lord? And Adam said unto him: I know not, save the Lord commanded me.
7 And then the angel spake, saying: This thing is a similitude of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten of the Father, which is full of grace and truth."  (Pearl of Great Price | Moses 5:5 - 7)

We see this mockery much today, as the world makes a mockery by following the false doctrine of Satan.  A mockery is taking that which is sacred and spinning it according to their own perception of fairness and the doctrine of men.  We see this in regards to other sacred commandments such as marriage between and man and a woman.

It was because Cain mocked the Lord that his countenance fell and he rebelled against righteousness.

Genesis 3

We find that upon both Adam and Eve eating of the fruit of knowledge of good and evil -

"...the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons."  (Old Testament | Genesis 3:7)

Though I believe both Adam and Eve were intelligent and had a understanding that they had the capacity and agency to choose ongoing life in the garden or life outside the garden, obviously they had not experienced life outside the garden therefore they may have lacked what I would consider wisdom.  Yet at the same time it is apparent that they had not necessarily possessed some sensual or physical feelings or desires.  And I might add, that in there present state, there understanding of good and evel or oppositions in all things was limited.

Somehow, by partaking of this fruit, they were taken to a higher level or a fulness of mortality.  Thus we read that their eyes were opened (more knowledge) and they recognized the physical characteristics of each and a knew found desires of appetites, passions, etc.  Thus in my mind, this sewed fig leaves of coverage is symbollic that Adam and Eve had become more like heavenly parents with a greater understanding and recognition of good and evil, the nature of opposites, and appetites and passions.

There is something else related to this higher understanding (eyes being opened), even feelings of being ashamed and guilt.  As they were both confronted by the Lord, first Adam as asked -

"....Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?
12 And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat."  (Old Testament | Genesis 3:11 - 12)

One of the god-like principles we have to learn in this life accountability in order to learn repentance.  Adam acting much like a small child that is found guilty wants to blame others.  His initial reaction is to blame Eve...but then you can tell he is beginning to learn accountability as he says "I did eat".

Eve is much the same as she responds -

"...The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat."  (Old Testament | Genesis 3:13)

I note one of the values of the Young Women is "choice and accountability".  As we learn to take responsibility for our actions, we begin to learn humility in order to repent and experience the grace of God.

 

Genesis 1

As we read the Book of Genesis concerning Adam being placed in the garden, the Lord -

 "...the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:
17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die."  (Old Testament | Genesis 2:16 - 17)

But by modern revelation, we learn that the Lord really said -

"....Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat,
17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it, nevertheless, thou mayest choose for thyself, for it is given unto thee; but, remember that I forbid it, for in the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die."  (Pearl of Great Price | Moses 3:16 - 17)

The adding of that "thou mayest choose of thyself" is significant.  I believe that Adam and Eve were more intelligent than many people give their and their understanding of the earth and consequences was much greater than many think.  I believe they somewhat understood (with no experience) what life was like outside the garden.  I appreciate the teachings of Joseph Fielding Smith where he taught -

“Just why the Lord would say to Adam that he forbade him to partake of the fruit of that tree is not made clear in the Bible account, but in the original as it comes to us in the Book of Moses it is made definitely clear. It is that the Lord said to Adam that if he wished to remain as he was in the garden, then he was not to eat the fruit, but if he desired to eat it and partake of death he was at liberty to do so. So really it was not in the true sense a transgression of a divine commandment. Adam made the wise decision, in fact the only decision he could make” (Answers to Gospel Questions, Vol. 4, page 81).

In my mind, it was given to Adam and Eve the option or agency to remain in the garden with the present conditions or or choose great opportunity that would also come with challenges and opposition in all things.

Genesis 1

When I blogged about Abraham 4 in November, I mentioned that it was apparent in Abraham's record that there was a great deal of planning and preparation before the actual creation of the world.  As I am now reading Moses's account in the Old Testament, I noticed that before the animals were to be placed on the earth, he planned -

"Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.
12 And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good."  (Old Testament | Genesis 1:11 - 12)

And then -

"Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.
21 And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good.
22 And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth."  (Old Testament | Genesis 1:20 - 22)

Obviously, food or plant life must have been placed on the earth for seal life to "fill" the waters and fowls to "multiply" on the earth.  It becomes apparent to me that long before man was to be placed on the earth, there was a progressive process to sustain mankind.  It seems apparent to me that long before Adam was placed on the earth, the earth, through a natural process, was being filled with all sorts of plant and animal life.  Each of these so called "days" must have been a sufficient time period to begin to fill the earth.  To me, it seems apparent that there was far more life on the earth outside of the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve were placed therein.

Genesis 1

Having completed the readings and blogging on the Pearl of Great Price, I am now turning my focus to the Old Testament.  In the books of Moses and Abraham in the Pearl of Great Price, much of the focus was much on the creation and early history also found in the Book of Genesis.  Thus I am again going to study much the same topic in Genesis as in these other records.  My first thought this morning is the ongoing attempt by many to discredit or undermine the truth of the creation taught in Genesis.

I admit that many find the religious history of Genesis may seem "made up" and not per scientific theories.  My response is first that we have no idea how long the creation took, how long was the time period or "day", or even if these "days" or time periods was exactly the same.   The Old Testament Gospel Doctrine Teacher’s Manual, page 11, states -

“The length of time required for the Creation is not known.” Speaking of the “six days” required for creating the earth, President Brigham Young said that it “is a mere term, but it matters not whether it took six days, six months, six years, or six thousand years. The creation occupied certain periods of time. We are not authorized to say what the duration of these days was whether Moses penned these words as we have them, or whether the translators of the Bible have given the words their intended meaning. However, God created the world."

The second thought I have is more according to my personal faith where the Lord said -
"Yea, verily I say unto you, in that day when the Lord shall come, he shall reveal all things—
33 Things which have passed, and hidden things which no man knew, things of the earth, by which it was made, and the purpose and the end thereof—
34 Things most precious, things that are above, and things that are beneath, things that are in the earth, and upon the earth, and in heaven."  (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 101:32 - 34)

I believe the day is not far away where we will learn and understand these things.

 

Articles of Faith

As I read the letter sent to John Wentworth, I was touched by a few comments by the Prophet Joseph Smith in this brief history of the rise of the Church.  As he described the experience with the initial visit of Moroni, he wrote -

“I was also informed concerning the aboriginal inhabitants of this country and shown who they were, and from whence they came; a brief sketch of their origin, progress, civilization, laws, governments, of their righteousness and iniquity, and the blessings of God being finally withdrawn from them as a people, was made known unto me; I was also told where were deposited some plates on which were engraven an abridgment of the records of the ancient Prophets that had existed on this continent..."

So from the initial visit of Moroni, the Prophet learned a great deal about the people and the record he would eventually translate.  His mother commented that the Prophet could describe even how this people dressed.  In my mind, this would suggest that this instruction was as much visionary as verbal.

The Prophet also commented which I don't believe was necessarily noted in his own history that -

"...After having received many visits from the angels of God unfolding the majesty and glory of the events that should transpire in the last days, on the morning of the 22nd of September, AD 1827, the angel of the Lord delivered the records into my hands."

This would suggest to me that the Prophet received much more instruction and maybe even other visions from other messengers other than Moroni during this period.

One more powerful thought.  The Prophet wrote considerably in this letter of the tribulations, injustices, and persecution of the saints that had taken place to this point (see the letter).  But in conclusion the Prophet with all power of a true prophet of God declared -

“Our missionaries are going forth to different nations, and in Germany, Palestine, New Holland, Australia, the East Indies, and other places, the Standard of Truth has been erected; no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done."

I know this is true.

Articles of Faith

Included in a letter to John Wentworth, and editor of the Chicago Democrat, were thirteen articles of faith concerning the doctrine of the Church related to religious issues that were common amongst many churches of the day.  One of those articles was -

"5 We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof."  (Pearl of Great Price | Articles of Faith 1:5)

I believe the fact that man must be called of God, "by prophecy" was a bold belief in those days.  The question is "what is prophecy"?  In my mind, prophecy would be inspiration or revelation that would only come throught the Holy Ghost.  As the Lord taught concerning prophecy -

"Yea, behold, I will tell you in your mind and in your heart, by the Holy Ghost, which shall come upon you and which shall dwell in your heart.
3 Now, behold, this is the spirit of revelation..."  (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 8:2 - 3)

Elder Bruce R. McConkie explained that  -

"...The inspired utterances of prophets are called prophecy. These declarations may pertain to the past, present, or future. New truths or unknown events may be revealed in them, or they may contain expressions which confirm and give added witness to truths already revealed and testified to by other prophets. In their most dramatic form they are declarations of things to come, things which no mortal power could have made manifest.

 

Prophecy is the announcement of something that has been revealed to a prophet; it always comes by the power of the Holy Ghost. The scriptures are recorded prophecy. Peter gave this inspired rule for their interpretation: "Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." (2 Pet. 1:20-21.) Prophecy is thus a gift of the Spirit (D. & C. 46:22), and wo unto him, the Lord says, who denies the spirit of prophecy. (D. & C. 11:25.)

 

Belief in and the manifestations of the spirit of prophecy are two of the great evidences of the divinity of the great latter-day work in which the saints are engaged. "We believe in the gift of ... prophecy" (Seventh Article of Faith), and every legal administrator in the Church who preaches the gospel or administers gospel ordinances must be called of God "by prophecy" (Fifth Article of Faith), meaning that the call must come by revelation from the Holy Ghost.

 

Every member of the Church — acting in submission to the laws and system which the Lord has ordained — is expected to have the gift of prophecy. It is by this gift that a testimony of the truth comes. "Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts," Paul exhorted, "but rather that ye may prophesy. ... He that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace. For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted. And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints .... Wherefore brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues." (1 Cor. 14.) (Mormon Doctrine, Bruce R. McConkie)

I would also add that in my mind, prophecy, or callings coming by "prophets" would also qualify as callings coming by the authority of priesthood keys.  I believe that when callings are extended by virtue of priesthood keys constitutes "prophecy".

Joseph Smith - History 1

After Oliver Cowdery began assisting the translation of the Book of Mormon as a scribe for the Prophet, the Prophet Joseph Smith records that -

"...we on a certain day went into the woods to pray and inquire of the Lord respecting baptism for the remission of sins, that we found mentioned in the translation of the plates."  (Pearl of Great Price | JS-History 1:68)

And thus -

"...While we were thus employed, praying and calling upon the Lord, a messenger from heaven descended in a cloud of light, and having laid his hands upon us, he ordained us, saying:
69 Upon you my fellow servants, in the name of Messiah, I confer the Priesthood of Aaron, which holds the keys of the ministering of angels, and of the gospel of repentance, and of baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; and this shall never be taken again from the earth until the sons of Levi do offer again an offering unto the Lord in righteousness."  (Pearl of Great Price | JS-History 1:68 - 69) (See D&C 13)

After conferring the Priesthood of Aaron upon both brethren -

"He said this Aaronic Priesthood had not the power of laying on hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost, but that this should be conferred on us hereafter; and he commanded us to go and be baptized, and gave us directions that I should baptize Oliver Cowdery, and that afterwards he should baptize me.
71 Accordingly we went and were baptized. I baptized him first, and afterwards he baptized me—after which I laid my hands upon his head and ordained him to the Aaronic Priesthood, and afterwards he laid his hands on me and ordained me to the same Priesthood—for so we were commanded."  (Pearl of Great Price | JS-History 1:70 - 71)

It appears that authority by receiving the priesthood was essential to act in the name of God.  After having been baptized constituted a change of status which upon they were ordained to the priesthood or in other words, received an essential ordinance. 

The Prophet adds -

"The messenger who visited us on this occasion and conferred this Priesthood upon us, said that his name was John, the same that is called John the Baptist in the New Testament, and that he acted under the direction of Peter, James and John, who held the keys of the Priesthood of Melchizedek, which Priesthood, he said, would in due time be conferred on us..."  (Pearl of Great Price | JS-History 1:72)

As the messenger conferred the priesthood, he used the word "until" in "until the sons of Levi".  The word "until" may have had a slight different meaning than in our present day.  It is interesting that in Oliver's account, the messenger used the word "that".  We find similar references in scripture where the Savior said that -

"...he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness."  (Book of Mormon | 3 Nephi 24:3)

As well as -

"...he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness. Let us, therefore, as a church and a people, and as Latter-day Saints, offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness..."  (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 128:24)

This would suggest the this priesthood then would never be taken from the earth.