Lesson 15

Moses 5:12–59 (Genesis 4)

Prepare to Learn

Prepare your mind and heart to learn. Showing love and respect for the Lord, for other people, and for the word of God helps you prepare to learn through the Holy Ghost. As you study the scriptures, consider what you can do to show love and respect for God’s word.

Begin your study with prayer.

Confessing our sins can be difficult to do, especially when we need to confess them to a priesthood leader. Sister Linda S. Reeves, former counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency, shared two examples of missionaries who had not confessed their sins and therefore had not fully repented. Listen for the blessings that await those who do not hide their sins but truly repent. You can read the text for this video here: Linda S. Reeves, “The Great Plan of Redemption,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2016, 89.

Influences for Good or for Evil

Who are some of the most influential people in your life?

Every day we encounter voices or influences that prompt us to do good and others that entice us toward temptation and sin. As you study Moses 5:12–59, look for the consequences experienced when some choose to follow the Lord’s influence, as well as the consequences experienced when some choose to follow Satan.

Adam and Eve’s Children

After Adam and Eve learned about Heavenly Father’s plan of salvation and the Atonement of Jesus Christ, they taught their children these truths (see Moses 5:12). We read in Moses 5:13 that Satan “came among” the children of Adam and Eve and sought to influence them.

Read verse 13, looking for what happened when some chose to follow Satan rather than believe the words of their parents.

The Lord’s Invitation

The words carnal and sensual refer to being preoccupied with worldliness and with gratifying physical desires, lusts, and pleasures. Devilish means to be influenced by the devil.

Read Moses 5:14, looking for what the Lord “called upon” all of Adam and Eve’s children to do.

What principle can we identify from this verse about how the Lord invites us to repent?

Promptings of the Holy Ghost

One principle we can identify from Moses 5:14 is that the Lord calls on us to repent through the promptings of the Holy Ghost.

The Holy Ghost prompts us to repent by encouraging us to have thoughts and feelings that invite us to change.

Take a moment to ponder any thoughts or feelings you might have about changes the Lord would have you make in your life.

Choices

Some people choose to believe in Jesus Christ and repent of their sins, and others do not. Read Moses 5:15, looking for what will happen to those who choose to repent and what will happen to those who do not.

What principle can we learn from verse 15 concerning what will happen if we choose to believe in Jesus Christ and repent of our sins?

Consequences

One principle we can learn from Moses 5:15 is that if we believe in Jesus Christ and repent of our sins, we will be saved. Consider marking the words in Moses 5:15 that teach this truth. Notice that those who choose not to believe in Jesus Christ and repent of their sins will be “damned.” Just as a dam stops the flow of water, failure to repent will block our spiritual progress.

Cain’s Offering

Cain and Abel, by Robert T. Barrett

After Adam and Eve had had many sons and daughters (see Moses 5:12), they had two more sons. We read in Moses 5:16–17 that Cain, who raised crops, did not “hearken,” or listen, to the Lord (verse 16). Abel took care of sheep and chose to obey the Lord. God had commanded Adam and Eve and their children to offer animal sacrifices to help them prepare to understand the sacrifice and Atonement of Jesus Christ.

Read Moses 5:18–21, looking for why Cain made “an offering unto the Lord” (verse 18) and how the Lord responded to this offering.

An Unacceptable Offering

How does knowing that Cain made an offering unto the Lord in obedience to Satan help you understand why the Lord did not “respect,” or accept, Cain’s sacrifice (verse 21)?

The following statement by the Prophet Joseph Smith (1805–44) provides an explanation:

“Salvation could not come to the world without the mediation of Jesus Christ. …

“By faith in this atonement or plan of redemption, Abel offered to God a sacrifice that was accepted, which was the firstlings of the flock. Cain offered of the fruit of the ground, and was not accepted, because he could not do it in faith; he … could not exercise faith contrary to the plan of heaven. … As the sacrifice was instituted for a type by which man was to discern the great Sacrifice which God had prepared, to offer a sacrifice contrary to that, no faith could be exercised” (Joseph Smith, Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith [2007], 48).

Quiz 1

1. Based on Moses 5:18–21 and the preceding statement by the Prophet Joseph Smith, why didn’t the Lord accept Cain’s offering? Please select all that apply.

   1. Cain obeyed Satan’s command to make an offering.

   2. Cain loved Satan more than God.

   3. Cain had rebelled by making an offering that did not symbolize the blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

   4. Cain put forth his best effort to please God and obey Him.

The Lord’s Warnings

Moses 5:22–25 contains the Lord’s warning to Cain concerning the consequences of his choices. Read the Lord’s warning recorded in verse 23. You may want to mark the word if wherever it appears in this verse.

Using what you have learned from verse 23, how would you complete the following statement of principle?

If we hearken to the Lord’s warnings, then .

The Blessings of Hearkening

You may have identified a principle similar to the following based on what is taught in Moses 5:23: If we hearken to the Lord’s warnings, then we can avoid sin and the consequences of sin.

1. Answer at least one of the following questions:

• How does the Lord warn us? Make a list.

• When has heeding one of the Lord’s warnings helped you to avoid sin and its consequences? (Be sure not to share anything too personal, including past transgressions.)

Secret Plans

Cain and Abel, by Robert T. Barrett

The word “Perdition” in Moses 5:24 means “lost.” If Cain chose not to repent, he would lose the blessings that were being offered to him.

We read in Moses 5:26–31 that Cain rejected the Lord’s warning. Instead, Cain conspired with Satan and made secret plans to do evil.

Read Moses 5:32–33, looking for what Cain did and how he felt about what he had done.

Cain’s Actions—“Not Hid from the Lord”

Moses 5:34–37 tells us that the Lord knew what Cain had done and that the Lord held Cain accountable for his actions.

Read Moses 5:38–39, looking for Cain’s response when he found out that he would be punished. In your scriptures, you may want to mark the phrase “these things are not hid from the Lord” (verse 39). We cannot hide our sins from God.

A Demonstration of God’s Love

We read in Moses 5:42–59 that some of Cain’s descendants also chose wickedness and “would not hearken unto [the Lord’s] voice” (verse 57). They also suffered the consequences of their sins.

Read Moses 5:58 to see how God reached out to His children and demonstrated His love for them.

A Question to Consider—What Will You Do?

The following truths were identified in this lesson:

• The Lord calls on us to repent through the promptings of the Holy Ghost.

• If we believe in Jesus Christ and repent of our sins, we will be saved.

• If we hearken to the Lord’s warnings, then we can avoid sin and the consequences of sin.

As you apply gospel truths in your life, you will receive the promised blessings. You will also gain a deeper understanding and testimony of the doctrine or principle you applied. Take time to consider what specific actions you will take to apply these lessons in your life. Remember to follow any promptings you may receive from the Holy Ghost inviting you to repent.

Doctrinal Mastery Review: Proverbs 3:5–6

Proverbs 3:5–6 is a doctrinal mastery passage. If you have not marked it in your scriptures in a distinctive way, consider doing so now. This will help you locate it more easily. Read Proverbs 3:5–6 several times to become familiar with it.

After you have read this doctrinal mastery passage several times, try to write the passage down on a piece of paper from memory. Look at the verses only if you do not remember what words come next. Here are the first few words to help you get started: “Trust in the Lord …”

Answer Key

Quiz 1: (1) a, b, c