Unit 3: Day 4

Moses 7

Introduction

The prophet Enoch led the people of God and established the city of Zion upon the principles of righteousness. Enoch was blessed to see a vision of the earth’s history from his own day to the Millennium. He learned in a profound way of Heavenly Father’s love for His children. He also foresaw the first and second comings of the Savior, the eventual restoration of the gospel, the gathering of Israel, and the return of the city of Zion upon the earth.

Moses 7:1–21

Enoch establishes the city of Zion upon principles of righteousness

If possible, place a bowl full of water in front of you. The bowl represents the world we live in. Next, sprinkle ground black pepper all over the water. The pepper represents the wicked influences in the world. (If these items are not available to you, simply picture them in your mind.)

Like us, the prophet Enoch lived in a world full of wickedness. In Moses 7:1–12, Enoch preached the gospel and testified that he had talked to the Lord face to face. The Lord showed Enoch a vision of the groups of people he was called to teach. The Lord commanded Enoch to call these people to repentance and to baptize them so they could become the people of God.

Add a drop or two of liquid soap to the center of the bowl of water. Notice that the pepper moves to the edges of the bowl.

Read Moses 7:13–17, looking for ways in which the faith of Enoch and his people was similar to the soap you added to the water. You may want to mark what you find.

Did you notice that because of Enoch’s faith, the enemies of God’s people fled and stood afar off? The Lord then came and dwelt with His people.

Read Moses 7:18, a scripture mastery passage, and look for what the Lord called His people and why He gave them that name. (You may want to mark this passage in a distinctive way so you can locate it in the future.)

The phrase “there was no poor among them” means that the people cared for one another both temporally and spiritually.

Using Moses 7:18 as a guide, complete the following principle: The Lord’s people will be called Zion when they are , , and .

1. Answer two or more of the following questions in your scripture study journal:

   1. What do you think it means to be of one heart and one mind? When have you felt that you were of one heart and one mind with other members of the Church?

   2. In your experience, how does living righteously help members of the Church feel unified?

   3. When have you cared for another member of the Church? What effect did that have on you?

   4. How have members of the Church cared for you? What feelings do you have for them?

2. In your scripture study journal, write a goal about what you will do to apply the principle you identified in Moses 7:18 in your life.

In Moses 7:19–21 we learn that Enoch built a city called Zion. Enoch saw in a vision that the city would eventually be taken up to heaven because of the righteousness of his people. This means that Enoch and his people were translated—their bodies were changed so that they would not experience pain or death until the time of their resurrection.

Scripture Mastery—Moses 7:18

3. Read Moses 7:18 again. Try to memorize this verse and then recite it from memory to a family member or friend. Write a few sentences in your scripture study journal about what you can do to be more united with your family and with your ward or branch.

Moses 7:22–40

Enoch sees that Satan laughs and God weeps over the wicked

Think of a time in your life when you felt like you were alone or no one cared about you. Look for a principle as you continue to study Moses 7 that can help you when you have these feelings.

Read Moses 7:23–26, looking for what Enoch saw in vision. You may want to mark what Enoch learned about Satan.

Read Moses 7:27–28, looking for what Enoch saw would happen after the city of Zion was translated.

4. Answer the following questions in your scripture study journal:

   1. What did God do when He saw the wickedness of the people who remained on the earth?

   2. What does this teach us about God’s character?

Read Moses 7:29–31, looking for how Enoch responded when he saw the Lord weep. Consider marking the question Enoch asked the Lord.

To illustrate what Enoch said about the Lord’s creations in verse 30, draw dots all over a piece of paper. Imagine that these dots represent a few of the many worlds God has created. Place the tip of your pen or pencil on one of the dots. This can represent the earth and those who live on it.

What did Enoch say about the Lord in verse 30? In the scriptures, the word bosom is often used to refer to a person’s chest, where deep emotions are felt. The phrase “thy bosom is there” in verse 30 indicates God’s love for His children. One truth we learn from Moses 7:29–31 is that God has created worlds without number, yet He weeps for His children and cares about us as individuals.

5. Answer the following question in your scripture study journal: When have you had an experience that helped you know God is aware of and cares for you?

Read Moses 7:32–40, looking for why our Heavenly Father feels sorrow.

Based on what you learned from verses 32–40, complete the following truth: Heavenly Father feels sorrow when .

Ponder how this knowledge can influence you to live righteously.

Moses 7:41–69

The Lord comforts Enoch by teaching him about the plan of salvation

Have you ever felt tired of being surrounded by evil influences and temptations?

Read Moses 7:41–44, looking for how Enoch felt when he learned about the wickedness of God’s children. You may want to mark Enoch’s expression in verse 41. You may also want to mark what the Lord told Enoch in verse 44.

Read Moses 7:45–47, looking for what the Lord showed Enoch to comfort him. Why do you think Enoch’s soul would rejoice upon seeing a vision of the Savior?

In Moses 7:48–53 we learn that Enoch wept again when he heard the earth mourn because of the wickedness of the people. Enoch prayed and asked God to have mercy upon Noah and his descendants. The Lord promised Enoch that He would never again flood the earth. The Lord also promised that He would “call upon the children of Noah,” which means that He would invite them to accept the gospel. The Lord also taught Enoch that those who build their lives upon the Savior will never fall.

Read Moses 7:54, looking for the question Enoch asked about the time in which Jesus Christ would live.

The phrase “shall the earth rest” in verse 54 refers to the hope that when Jesus Christ was born, wickedness would be taken from the earth and the righteous would dwell in peace and safety.

In Moses 7:55–59 we learn that Enoch saw that the Savior would be crucified. He wept and again asked when the earth would rest. After seeing Jesus Christ ascend into heaven, he asked whether the Lord would return to the earth.

Read Moses 7:60–61, looking for the answer the Lord gave to Enoch. Notice what the Lord said the world would be like before the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

The Lord promised that He would preserve His people in the last days. The word preserve indicates that the Lord will save His people—those who follow Jesus Christ and keep His commandments—both physically and spiritually from the wickedness of the world. Read Moses 7:62, looking for two ways the Lord will preserve His people.

How is this similar to what the Lord did for His people during Enoch’s day (see Moses 7:13–17)?

It is important to know that even though the city of Zion will be built in the last days, not everyone needs to be in the city to be preserved. Zion will also be created in the stakes of the Church throughout the world.

After quoting Moses 7:62, President Ezra Taft Benson explained: “The Lord promised, therefore, that righteousness would come from heaven and truth out of the earth. We have seen the marvelous fulfillment of that prophecy in our generation. The Book of Mormon has come forth out of the earth, filled with truth, serving as the very ‘keystone of our religion’ (see Introduction to the Book of Mormon). God has also sent down righteousness from heaven. The Father Himself appeared with His Son to the Prophet Joseph Smith. The angel Moroni, John the Baptist, Peter, James, and numerous other angels were directed by heaven to restore the necessary powers to the kingdom. Further, the Prophet Joseph Smith received revelation after revelation from the heavens during those first critical years of the Church’s growth. These revelations have been preserved for us in the Doctrine and Covenants” (“The Gift of Modern Revelation,” Ensign, Nov. 1986, 79–80).

This helps us understand that the phrase “righteousness will I send down out of heaven” (Moses 7:62) refers to such things as the appearance of God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ; the appearance of angels; revelation; and the bestowal of priesthood keys and power. The phrase “truth will I send forth out of the earth” (Moses 7:62) refers to things such as the Book of Mormon and other sacred texts (such as the book of Abraham) and other sacred documents that would come forth in the latter days as part of the restoration of all things. According to Moses 7:62, God will use the Book of Mormon to gather His elect in the latter days. Ponder how you have been blessed by the Book of Mormon and how you have been gathered from the world.

In Moses 7:63–66 we learn that when the Savior comes again, Enoch and his city will return to earth and meet the city of Zion, or New Jerusalem, which will be built in the last days. When the Savior comes again, all wickedness will be removed from the earth and the earth will rest.

Read Moses 7:67–69, and mark what effect the Lord’s vision had on Enoch and what happened to the city of Zion.

6. Write the following at the bottom of today’s assignments in your scripture study journal:

   I have studied Moses 7 and completed this lesson on (date).

   Additional questions, thoughts, and insights I would like to share with my teacher: