Moses 1:24–42

Moses Learned More about the Work of God

Moses 1:24. The Holy Ghost Was on the Earth in Old Testament Times

From the time of Adam, the Holy Ghost has been on the earth inspiring and testifying to God’s children. President Joseph Fielding Smith (1876–1972) said: “The fact is all the prophets had the Holy Ghost. They were led and directed by him. And without this power they would not have been prophets. Peter said that prophecy itself ‘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 Peter 1:21]. The Book of Moses, which is the original and perfect record of a part of Genesis, speaks of the Holy Ghost; so do the Nephite prophets, including those who lived in the era before Christ” (Doctrines of Salvation, comp. Bruce R. McConkie [1954], 1:46–47).

Moses 1:35–38. “There Are Many Worlds”

President Brigham Young (1801–77) said: “How many earths are there? I observed this morning that you may take the particles of matter composing this earth, and if they could be enumerated they would only be a beginning to the number of the creations of God; and they are continually coming into existence, and undergoing changes and passing through the same experience that we are passing through” (“Remarks,” Deseret News, Aug. 24, 1870, 343).

Moses 1:35–39. Jesus Christ Redeemed All of God’s Creations

President Marion G. Romney (1897–1988) of the First Presidency taught:

“Jesus Christ, in the sense of being its Creator and Redeemer, is the Lord of the whole universe. Except for his mortal ministry accomplished on this earth, his service and relationship to other worlds and their inhabitants are the same as his service and relationship to this earth and its inhabitants. …

“… In short, Jesus Christ, through whom God created the universe, was chosen to put into operation throughout the universe Elohim’s great plan ‘to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man’—the gospel of Jesus Christ—the only way whereby man can obtain eternal life” (“Jesus Christ: Lord of the Universe,” Improvement Era, Nov. 1968, 46, 48; see also D&C 76:19–24).

Moses 1:39. Immortality and Eternal Life

Elder Bruce R. McConkie (1915–85) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles wrote: “Immortality is to live forever in the resurrected state with body and spirit inseparably connected” (Mormon Doctrine, 2nd ed. [1966], 376). All of God’s children who obtain mortal bodies will eventually be resurrected and obtain immortal physical bodies (see 1 Corinthians 15:22).

President Joseph Fielding Smith said: “Eternal life is to have the kind of life that God has. All those who become servants will have immortality, but they who become sons and daughters of God will have the additional gift of eternal life, which is the greatest gift of God” (Doctrines of Salvation, comp. Bruce R. McConkie [1955], 2:8). President Spencer W. Kimball (1895–1985) taught that “eternal life is to gain exaltation in the highest heaven” (“An Eternal Hope in Christ,” Ensign, Nov. 1978, 72).

Moses 1:39. The Unselfishness of God

After quoting Moses 1:39, President Marion G. Romney said: “Hence, we see the complete unselfishness of our Father in Heaven. His whole work and glory is to bring eternal life and happiness to his children. Should not our whole purpose in this life, therefore, be made up of righteous service one to another? If not, how can we ever hope to be as he is?” (“Living Welfare Principles,” Ensign, Nov. 1981, 93).

Moses 1:40–41. Moses Was Assigned to Write about This Earth

In addition to his calling to free the children of Israel from Egyptian bondage, Moses was given the assignment to write about the events that occurred from the Creation of the earth until the final days of his own mission. The first five books of the Bible contain the writings of Moses. However, some of the truths Moses recorded in those five books were removed from the Bible by wicked men who altered the biblical text (see 1 Nephi 13:24–28; Moses 1:23). By revelation, the Prophet Joseph Smith restored many truths that were lost (see 2 Nephi 3:6–15; Moses 1:41).