January 3–9

Genesis 1–2; Moses 2–3; Abraham 4–5

“In the Beginning God Created the Heaven and the Earth”

Even if you have read about the Creation before, there is always more to learn from the scriptures. Pray for guidance from the Holy Ghost to help you find new understanding.

Record Your Impressions

Because the world around us is so beautiful and majestic, it is hard to imagine the earth when it was “without form, and void,” “empty and desolate” (Genesis 1:2; Abraham 4:2). One thing the Creation story teaches us is that God can make something magnificent out of something unorganized. That’s helpful to remember when life seems chaotic. Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are Creators, and Their creative work with us is not finished. They can make light shine in dark moments in our lives. They can form solid ground in the midst of life’s stormy seas. They can command the elements, and if we obey Their word like the elements did, They can transform us into the beautiful creations we were meant to be. That’s part of what it means to be created in God’s image, after His likeness (see Genesis 1:26). We have the potential to become like Him: exalted, glorified, celestial beings.

For an overview of the book of Genesis, see “Genesis” in the Bible Dictionary.

Ideas for Personal Scripture Study

Genesis 1:1–25; Moses 2:1–25; Abraham 4:1–25

Under the direction of Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ created the earth.

Elder D. Todd Christofferson said, “Whatever the details of the creation process, we know that it was not accidental but that it was directed by God the Father and implemented by Jesus Christ” (“Why Marriage, Why Family,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2015, 51). While there’s a lot we don’t know about exactly how the world was created, ponder what you learn about the Creation from what God has revealed in Genesis 1:1–25; Moses 2:1–25; and Abraham 4:1–25. What do you notice in these accounts that is similar? What do you notice that is different? What thoughts do you have about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ as you read about the Creation?

See also Doctrine and Covenants 101:32–34.

Creation, by Joan Hibbert Durtschi

Genesis 1:27–28; 2:18–25; Moses 3:18, 21–25; Abraham 5:14–19

Marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God.

“Adam and Eve were joined together in marriage for time and for all eternity by the power of [the] everlasting priesthood” (Russell M. Nelson, “Lessons from Eve,” Ensign, Nov. 1987, 87). Why is this truth important to know? Ponder this as you read Genesis 1:27–28; 2:18–25; Moses 3:18, 21–25; and Abraham 5:14–19. If you would like to learn more about marriage within God’s plan, read and ponder the resources listed below. What do these resources prompt you to do to improve your marriage or to prepare for marriage in the future?

See also Matthew 19:4–6; 1 Corinthians 11:11; Linda K. Burton, “We’ll Ascend Together,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2015, 29–32; “The Family: A Proclamation to the World,” ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

Genesis 2:2–3; Moses 3:2–3; Abraham 5:2–3

God blessed and sanctified the Sabbath day.

God made the Sabbath day holy, and He asks us to keep it holy. Elder David A. Bednar taught, “The Sabbath is God’s time, a sacred time specifically set apart for worshipping Him and for receiving and remembering His great and precious promises” (“Exceeding Great and Precious Promises,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2017, 92). How could you use this statement and Genesis 2:2–3; Moses 3:2–3; or Abraham 5:2–3 to explain to someone why you choose to honor the Sabbath day? How has the Lord blessed you for keeping His day holy?

See also Isaiah 58:13–14; Doctrine and Covenants 59:9–13; “The Sabbath Is a Delight” (video), ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

Ideas for Family Scripture Study and Home Evening

Genesis 1:1–25; Moses 2:1–25; Abraham 4:1–25.How can you make learning about the Creation fun for your family? You could take your family on a search outside for the kinds of things that were made during each period of the Creation story, such as stars, trees, or animals. You might also show pictures of things created in each period and invite family members to put the pictures in order after reading one of the accounts of the Creation together. What do these creations teach us about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ?

Genesis 1; Moses 2; Abraham 4.One way to approach the Creation story is to invite your family to find how many times in Genesis 1 or Moses 2 God calls the things that he made “good.” What does this suggest about how we should treat God’s creations—including ourselves? What do we learn from the way these events are worded in Abraham 4?

Genesis 1:26–27; Moses 2:26–27; Abraham 4:26–27.Why is it important to know that we were created in God’s image? How does it affect the way we feel about ourselves, others, and God?

If you have small children, you might want to read together Moses 2:27 and play a simple game: Show a picture that depicts Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, such as picture 90 in the Gospel Art Book (2009), and ask family members to take turns pointing to a part of Heavenly Father’s or Jesus’s body. Then the other family members could point to that same part on their bodies.

Genesis 1:28; Moses 2:28; Abraham 4:28.“God’s commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force” (“The Family: A Proclamation to the World,” ChurchofJesusChrist.org). Family members could role-play how to explain our beliefs about this commandment to those who do not know this truth or who believe differently.

Genesis 1:28; Moses 2:28; Abraham 4:28.What does it mean to “have dominion … over every living thing that moveth upon the earth”? (see also Doctrine and Covenants 59:16–21). How can our family fulfill our responsibility to care for the earth?

For more ideas for teaching children, see this week’s outline in Come, Follow Me—For Primary.

Suggested song: “My Heavenly Father Loves Me,” Children’s Songbook, 228–29.

Improving Our Teaching

Apply the scriptures to our lives. After reading a passage of scripture, invite family members to apply it to their lives. For instance, how does Moses 3:1–3 apply to our observance of the Sabbath each week? (See Teaching in the Savior’s Way, 21.)

The Creation, by Annie Henrie Nader