Moses 1: Abraham 3
As a prologue to the creation account in Genesis, the restored words in Moses 1 serve as an essential introduction to the full book of Genesis, and, indeed, to the entire Bible. This prologue reveals the setting, background, and context for all the words, deeds, and purposes of God. It provides crucial understanding of the nature of God—that human beings were created in the image and likeness of God and that Moses could see God “face to face” and talk with him (Moses 1:2). It discloses the origin of man and God’s love for his children: “Behold, thou art my son” (Moses 1:4). It exposes the reality of Satan and his role in God’s plan (Moses 1:20–22). It also establishes the need for a Savior and Redeemer, who, as Moses learned, is called the “Only Begotten” (Moses 1:6), and introduces the functions of the Holy Ghost (Moses 1:24). All of this leads to an understanding of the work and the glory of God and his grand plan for his children (Moses 1:39), providing eternal purpose and meaning to life.
Without these plain and precious truths revealed in Moses 1, we are hard pressed to understand the drama that begins in Genesis and continues to our day. For as we enter mortality, as Nibley observes, we find ourselves in the position of someone who arrives late to a play and must leave early, and so never sees the beginning or the end, but while there is actually ushered onto the stage to play a brief part.55 The restored prologue in Moses 1 tells us what the drama is all about and points the way for us to prepare for that immortality and eternal life which God has prepared for his children. A Prologue to Genesis - E. Douglas Clark
Seminary Manual
Moses was an Israelite (a member of God’s covenant people), or a Hebrew, but he was adopted by a royal Egyptian family (see Exodus 2:5–10; Acts 7:20–21). Eventually he had to flee from Pharaoh and leave those who raised him (see Exodus 2:11–15; Acts 7:23–29).
Moses needed to be transfigured in order to stand
in the physical presence of God. Transfiguration is a temporary change in appearance and nature that must take place so that a mortal can endure the physical presence and glory of heavenly beings (see Guide to the Scriptures, “Transfiguration”
The book of Moses is the Joseph Smith Translation of Genesis 1:1 through Genesis 6:13. As you study this book, you will gain a greater understanding of your identity and purpose as a child of God. You will also learn the crucial doctrines of the Creation, the Fall, and the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I
The book of Moses is the Prophet Joseph Smith’s inspired translation of selections from the writings of Moses. It contains “the words of God, which he spake unto Moses” (Moses 1:1) and commanded Moses to record (see Moses 1:40; 2:1). However, “because of wickedness” (Moses 1:23), many of the words and plain and precious truths he recorded were obscured or lost and are thus not preserved in the book of Genesis as it has come to us (see Moses 1:41; 1 Nephi 13:26–28). Consequently, the Lord promised to raise up another prophet in the latter days to restore Moses’s words so “they shall be had again among the children of men” (Moses 1:41; see also 2 Nephi 3:5–11; Joseph Smith Translation, Genesis 50:26–33 [in the Bible appendix]). In fulfillment of that promise, the Lord revealed the writings of Moses to the Prophet Joseph Smith.
We do not know exactly when Moses received the revelations recorded in the book of Moses or where he was when he recorded them. However, we know the experiences recorded in Moses 1 occurred after Moses encountered the burning bush (see Moses 1:17; see also Exodus 3:1–4:17) but before he returned to Egypt to deliver the children of Israel from bondage (see Moses 1:25–26).
The writings contained in the book of Moses were revealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith as he was working on his inspired translation, or revision, of the King James Version of the Bible between June 1830 and February 1831 (see the chapter summaries for Moses 1–8).
Come Follow Me:
As children of God, we have a divine destiny.
Moses 1:1-10, 37-39
The book of Abraham is an inspired translation of
the writings of Abraham and is scripture. By studying this book you can draw strength from Abraham’s example of living righteously while surrounded by wickedness. You will also learn about the blessings and responsibilities you can inherit as the posterity,
or seed, of Abraham. In addition, studying this book will provide you with a greater understanding of your premortal existence as a spirit son or daughter of God
The introduction to the book of Abraham states that is is “a Translation of some ancient Records that have fallen into our hands from the catecombs of Egypt. The writings of Abraham while he was in Egypt, called the Book of Abraham, written by his own hand, upon papyrus.” Abraham was born in Ur of the Chaldees
in approximately 2000 B.C. In obedience to the Lord’s commands, he traveled from Ur to Haran, and then to Canaan, to Egypt, and back to Canaan—the land the Lord promised to give to Abraham’s seed.
We do not know when Abraham recorded the writings in the book of Abraham. However, it appears they were originally written while he was in Egypt, though the papyri may be the transcription of a much later date. The Prophet Joseph Smith became aware of these writings in 1835, when a man named Michael Chandler brought four Egyptian mummies and several papyrus scrolls of ancient Egyptian writings to Kirtland, Ohio. Members of the Church purchased the mummies and rolls of papyrus. The Prophet translated some of the writings and began publishing excerpts of the book of Abraham in a Church publication called Times and Seasons beginning in March 1842
at Nauvoo, Illinois.
Before Abraham went to Egypt, the Lord spoke with him by both the Urim and Thummim and face to face and instructed him about stars and planets. The Lord told Abraham to declare what he learned to the people in Egypt. The Lord also showed Abraham many other things, including the Council in Heaven and Heavenly Father’s selection of Jesus Christ to be the Savior of the world.
You were chosen or foreordained in the premortal life to fulfill certain responsibilities on the earth:
“In the premortal spirit world, God appointed certain spirits to fulfill specific missions during their mortal lives. This is called foreordination. . . .
“The doctrine of foreordination applies to all members of the Church, not just to the Savior and His prophets. Before the creation of the earth, faithful women were given certain responsibilities and faithful men were foreordained to certain priesthood duties. Although you do not remember that time, you surely agreed to fulfill significant tasks in the service of your Father” (True to the Faith: A Gospel Reference [2004], 69–70).
The greatness of these spirits was due to their willingness to be obedient to Heavenly Father and follow Jesus Christ in their premortal life.
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf taught, “Much of the confusion we experience in this life comes from simply not understanding who we are” (“The Reflection in the Water” [Church Educational System fireside for young adults, Nov. 1, 2009], ChurchofJesusChrist.org). Heavenly Father knows this, and so does Satan. God’s first message to Moses included the truths “thou art my son” and “thou art in the similitude of mine Only Begotten” (Moses 1:4, 6). In contrast, Satan addressed Moses as just a “son of man” (Moses 1:12).
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf taught this doctrine when he said:
“You are something divine—more beautiful and glorious than you can possibly imagine. This knowledge changes everything. It changes your present. It can change your future. And it can change the world. . . .
“Because of the revealed word of a merciful God, . . . you have felt the eternal glory of that divine spirit within you.You are no ordinary beings, my beloved young friends all around the world.You are glorious and eternal. . . .
“It is my prayer and blessing that when you look at your reflection, you will be able to see beyond imperfections and self-doubts and recognize who you truly are: glorious sons and daughters of the Almighty God” (“The Reflection in the Water” [Church Educational System fireside for young adults, Nov. 1, 2009]; LDS.org).
We can resist Satan’s influence.
Moses 1:12-23
Moses used his previous spiritual experience with God to detect Satan’s deception. From this example, we can learn the following principle: We can resist Satan’s deceptions as we remember our previous spiritual experiences and have faith in them.You may want to write this principle in your scriptures.
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught how we can demonstrate faith during difficult experiences: “In moments of fear or doubt or troubling times, hold the ground you have already won, even if that ground is limited. . . . When those moments come and issues surface, the resolution of which is not immediately forthcoming, hold fast to what you already know and stand strong until additional knowledge comes. . . . The size of your faith or the degree of your knowledge is not the issue—it is the integrity you demonstrate toward the faith you do have and the truth you already know” (“Lord, I Believe,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2013, 93–94).
Moses 1 clearly shows, powerful spiritual experiences do not exempt us from temptation. In fact, one of Satan’s tactics is to tempt us to doubt those experiences or what we learned from them.
Don’t doubt what has been revealed to you.
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland taught this about Moses’s experience in Moses 1: “Moses’ message to you today is: Don’t let your guard down. Don’t assume that a great revelation, some marvelous, illuminating moment, the opening of an inspired path, is the end of it. … Once there has been 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. Certainly don’t give in to that being who is bent on the destruction of your happiness. Face your doubts. Master your fears. ‘Cast not away therefore your confidence’ [Hebrews 10:35].
Abraham 3:22-28
Remember, this test began in our premortal life, or our “first estate.” The scriptures refer to our choosing, as spirits, to be obedient to God’s commandments and follow His plan as keeping our first estate. Read Abraham 3:26, looking for the blessing Heavenly Father planned to give to each of His spirit children who kept their first estate.
To “be added upon” (Abraham 3:26) means that those who chose to follow Heavenly Father’s plan in the premortal life were given the opportunity to receive a physical body. Those who rebelled against Heavenly Father’s plan and did not keep their first estate would neither receive a physical body nor have the opportunity to attain any kingdom of glory.
The second estate refers to the time between our mortal birth and the Final Judgment. To keep our second estate, we must accept and live the gospel of Jesus Christ, including obeying all that Heavenly Father commands us to do.
