Moses 6:48–68

Enoch’s Teachings

Moses 6:48–56: Enoch Preached the Plan of Salvation

Video presentation—“The Plan of Salvation”

You may want to show all or part of the video “The Plan of Salvation” (10:39) to help students understand how knowledge of Heavenly Father’s plan helps us understand our purpose on earth. In this video, President Boyd K. Packer of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles likens the plan of salvation to a three-act play. If you want to show only a portion of this video, play the video from time code 1:40 to time code 6:00. This video is available on LDS.org.

Some Important Principles, Doctrines, and Events

Because of the Fall and our own sins, we are “shut out” from the presence of God (see Moses 6:48–49; see also Mosiah 16:3–4; Ether 3:2).
Those who repent and are baptized will receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. If they endure in faith to the end, they will obtain salvation through the Atonement of Jesus Christ (see Moses 6:50–52; see also 2 Nephi 31:10–20; Articles of Faith 1:3–4).
Because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, all children are born innocent (see Moses 6:53–54; Mosiah 3:16; see also Moroni 8:8; D&C 29:46; 93:38; Articles of Faith 1:2).
God allows His children the freedom to sin. In this way we experience the opposition that comes through temptation and we learn the bitterness of sin and its consequences (see Moses 6:55; see also 2 Nephi 2:10, 15–16; D&C 29:39).
Moral agency (the freedom to act for good or evil) is a gift from God to all mankind (see Moses 6:56; see also 2 Nephi 2:27; Helaman 14:30; D&C 101:78).

Suggestions for Teaching

Moses 6:43–52. Teaching the Gospel to Others

Invite students to list (or invite a missionary or returned missionary to share about) the doctrines and principles of the plan of salvation that missionaries teach those who are investigating the Church. Compare the principles we teach today to the principles Enoch taught in Moses 6:43–52. Which principles are similar? Why? Which are different? Why?

Moses 6:48–56. Because of the Fall

Display the following statement by President Ezra Taft Benson (1899–1994), and ask a student to read it aloud:

“No one adequately and properly knows why he needs Christ until he understands and accepts the doctrine of the Fall and its effect upon all mankind ” (Ezra Taft Benson, “The Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants,” Ensign, May 1987, 85; italics added).

Write the following on the board, and invite students to complete the phrase using the ideas in Moses 6:48–50, 55–56:

Because of the Fall, .

Ask students to share why the Fall is important in the plan of salvation. Then ask students how they would answer Adam’s question, quoted by Enoch, in verse 53.

Moses 6:54–55. “They Are Whole”

Show pictures of a small baby or invite a parent to bring a small baby to class. Write the following statements on the board and ask if each is true or false, and why. (Statements 2 and 3 are false.)

Children are subject to the Fall of Adam and Eve.
Children under the age of eight must repent and be baptized.
Children are capable of committing sin before the age of eight.
Children would be damned without the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
Children who die before reaching the age of accountability are saved in the celestial kingdom.

Ask students to identify phrases from Moses 6:54–55; Moroni 8:8–13, 19–20; and Doctrine and Covenants 137:10 that show the above statements to be true or false. Testify of the mercy and power of Jesus Christ.

Moses 6:55. “That They May Know to Prize the Good”

Ask students to think about lessons they have learned from their mistakes. Invite two students to take turns reading Moses 6:55 and Doctrine and Covenants 105:9–10 aloud. Discuss how life would be different if we were not allowed to experience the bitterness of sin and its consequences.

Note: Be sure students understand that it is not necessary to commit sin in order to learn about the consequences of sin. The Savior learned about the consequences of sin by taking upon Himself the sins of the world (see Alma 7:11–13). Like the Savior, we must resist temptation and strive to obey all of God’s commandments.

Moses 6:56. “Agents unto Themselves”

Give a student the choice of selecting one of two items to eat, one delicious and the other distasteful, that you have hidden in two small bags or boxes. Gradually explain to the student about each item until she or he makes a choice. Then show the student the two items, and ask how he or she feels about his or her decision. Ask a student to read Moses 6:56 aloud. Explain the relationship of knowledge and agency to accountability.

Moses 6:57–68: Enoch Saw That Adam and Eve Were Baptized

Some Important Principles, Doctrines, and Events

The Lord has commanded parents to teach their children to repent (see Moses 6:57–58; see also D&C 68:25).
The three elements of water, blood, and spirit are involved in the birth of each child. Likewise, those who are spiritually “born again” must enter into the kingdom of heaven by water (baptism by immersion), by the Spirit (the gift of the Holy Ghost), and by the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ (see Moses 6:59–60; see also John 3:3–5; Mosiah 27:25; Alma 36:17–24; D&C 5:16).
The Holy Ghost comforts, teaches, enlivens, and testifies of truth (see Moses 6:61; see also John 14:26; Ether 12:41; D&C 11:12–13).
All things, both temporal and spiritual, have been created to symbolically teach and testify of Jesus Christ and His gospel (see Moses 6:63; see also 2 Nephi 11:4).
Adam was baptized by water and received the gift of the Holy Ghost. He was carried down into and brought up out of the water by the Spirit of the Lord (see Moses 6:64–66).
All who follow the plan of salvation can become exalted sons and daughters of God (see Moses 6:68; see also Mosiah 5:7; 27:24–27; Moroni 7:48; D&C 25:1; 39:4; 76:50–59).

Suggestions for Teaching

Moses 6:57. “Teach It unto Your Children”

Ask a student to read Moses 6:15, 57 aloud, and then invite students to share about ways they plan to teach their children. Discuss various kinds of family teaching situations, including what students think parents should do when a child does not want to be taught or when a child rebels against what is taught.

Video presentation—“Proclamation Series: Children”

You may want to show the video “Proclamation Series: Children” (1:56) to help students understand why parents are commanded to teach their children to learn by faith, repent, and follow the Lord’s commandments. This video is available on LDS.org.

Moses 6:59–61. Physical and Spiritual Birth

Write two headings on the board: Born into the World and Born Again into the Kingdom of Heaven. Ask students to find in Moses 6:59 the three elements (water, blood, and spirit) that fall under each heading and to explain the part each element plays in the birth process. Display and ask a few students to take turns reading aloud the statement by Elder Bruce R. McConkie in the commentary under “Moses 6:59. Water, Blood, and Spirit” in the student manual. Discuss the statement with the class.

Moses 6:62–63. “All Things Have Their Likeness”

Ask a student to read Moses 6:63 aloud. Then ask students to give examples of things “in the heavens,” “on the earth,” “in the earth,” or “under the earth,” and invite them to share how they think these things symbolically “bear record” of Christ. For example, the planets witness the “handiwork” of God (D&C 104:14; see also Alma 30:44), and seeds that are planted in the ground and then sprout into life bear record of Christ’s Resurrection (see John 12:23–24; 1 Corinthians 15:35–38).

Moses 6:68. The Plan of Salvation

Explain to students that Moses 6:48–62 gives details of the plan of salvation, verses 63–66 teach how we learn about and participate in the plan, and verses 67–68 tell us about the ultimate destiny of those who follow the plan. Ask several students to take turns reading verses 48–68 aloud. Invite students to explain the plan of salvation based on what they read.