Moses 6: 26-36

 

Why did Enoch feel overwhelmed, and how did the Lord’s words give him courage?

"26 And it came to pass that Enoch journeyed in the land, among the people; and as he journeyed, the Spirit of God descended out of heaven, and abode upon him.

27 And he heard a voice from heaven, saying: Enoch, my son, prophesy unto this people, and say unto them—Repent, for thus saith the Lord: I am angry with this people, and my fierce anger is kindled against them; for their hearts have waxed hard, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes cannot see afar off;

28 And for these many generations, ever since the day that I created them, have they gone astray, and have denied me, and have sought their own counsels in the dark; and in their own abominations have they devised murder, and have not kept the commandments, which I gave unto their father, Adam.

29 Wherefore, they have foresworn themselves, and, by their oaths, they have brought upon themselves death; and a hell I have prepared for them, if they repent not;

30 And this is a decree, which I have sent forth in the beginning of the world, from my own mouth, from the foundation thereof, and by the mouths of my servants, thy fathers, have I decreed it, even as it shall be sent forth in the world, unto the ends thereof.

31 And when Enoch had heard these words, he bowed himself to the earth, before the Lord, and spake before the Lord, saying: Why is it that I have found favor in thy sight, and am but a lad, and all the people hate me; for I am slow of speech; wherefore am I thy servant?

32 And the Lord said unto Enoch: Go forth and do as I have commanded thee, and no man shall pierce thee. Open thy mouth, and it shall be filled, and I will give thee utterance, for all flesh is in my hands, and I will do as seemeth me good.

33 Say unto this people: Choose ye this day, to serve the Lord God who made you.

34 Behold my Spirit is upon you, wherefore all thy words will I justify; and the mountains shall flee before you, and the rivers shall turn from their course; and thou shalt abide in me, and I in you; therefore walk with me.

35 And the Lord spake unto Enoch, and said unto him: Anoint thine eyes with clay, and wash them, and thou shalt see. And he did so.

36 And he beheld the spirits that God had created; and he beheld also things which were not visible to the natural eye; and from thenceforth came the saying abroad in the land: A seer hath the Lord raised up unto his people." (Moses 6: 26-36)

And here's the beginning part of the commentary entitled: "God calls me to do His work despite my weaknesses." :

"If you ever feel overwhelmed with what the Lord has called you to do, you aren’t alone. Even Enoch felt that way when the Lord called him to be a prophet. As you read Moses 6:26–36, look for why Enoch felt overwhelmed and what the Lord said to give him courage."

Enoch felt overwhelmed because he was but a young man, and all the people hate him; for  he was slow of speech. To give him courage, the Lord said to him:

• "Go forth and do as I have commanded thee, and no man shall pierce thee. Open thy mouth, and it shall be filled, and I will give thee utterance, for all flesh is in my hands, and I will do as seemeth me good."

• "Say unto this people: Choose ye this day, to serve the Lord God who made you."

• "Behold my Spirit is upon you, wherefore all thy words will I justify; and the mountains shall flee before you, and the rivers shall turn from their course; and thou shalt abide in me, and I in you; therefore walk with me."

• "Anoint thine eyes with clay, and wash them, and thou shalt see."

Despite feeling overwhelmed because of his weakness, Enoch did the work God gave him. And the Lord blessed him with courage and more--he saw how the promises given to him by God was fulfilled as he did his part. 

God also calls me to do His work despite my weaknesses. And He gives me courage and more blessings when I do my part to magnify my calling.

Moses 6:26–36

 

What are the effects of sin? How does it limit our ability to see, feel, and hear the things of God?

"26 And it came to pass that Enoch journeyed in the land, among the people; and as he journeyed, the Spirit of God descended out of heaven, and abode upon him.

27 And he heard a voice from heaven, saying: Enoch, my son, prophesy unto this people, and say unto them—Repent, for thus saith the Lord: I am angry with this people, and my fierce anger is kindled against them; for their hearts have waxed hard, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes cannot see afar off;

28 And for these many generations, ever since the day that I created them, have they gone astray, and have denied me, and have sought their own counsels in the dark; and in their own abominations have they devised murder, and have not kept the commandments, which I gave unto their father, Adam.

29 Wherefore, they have foresworn themselves, and, by their oaths, they have brought upon themselves death; and a hell I have prepared for them, if they repent not;

30 And this is a decree, which I have sent forth in the beginning of the world, from my own mouth, from the foundation thereof, and by the mouths of my servants, thy fathers, have I decreed it, even as it shall be sent forth in the world, unto the ends thereof.

31 And when Enoch had heard these words, he bowed himself to the earth, before the Lord, and spake before the Lord, saying: Why is it that I have found favor in thy sight, and am but a lad, and all the people hate me; for I am slow of speech; wherefore am I thy servant?

32 And the Lord said unto Enoch: Go forth and do as I have commanded thee, and no man shall pierce thee. Open thy mouth, and it shall be filled, and I will give thee utterance, for all flesh is in my hands, and I will do as seemeth me good.

33 Say unto this people: Choose ye this day, to serve the Lord God who made you.

34 Behold my Spirit is upon you, wherefore all thy words will I justify; and the mountains shall flee before you, and the rivers shall turn from their course; and thou shalt abide in me, and I in you; therefore walk with me.

35 And the Lord spake unto Enoch, and said unto him: Anoint thine eyes with clay, and wash them, and thou shalt see. And he did so.

36 And he beheld the spirits that God had created; and he beheld also things which were not visible to the natural eye; and from thenceforth came the saying abroad in the land: A seer hath the Lord raised up unto his people." (Moses 6:26–36)

And here's the commentary entitled: "Sin limits my ability to see, feel, and hear the things of God." :

"As you study Moses 6:26–36, what do you learn about the effects of sin? How have you seen these effects? What attributes did Enoch have that helped him overcome these effects? How did God bless him as a result?"

Hearts waxing hard, ears getting dull of hearing, and eyes not able to see afar off—these are the effects of sin according to Moses 6:26–36.

When we sin, we offend the spirit of the Lord so that it stops abiding in us. When the spirit is not with us, it's difficult to see, feel, and hear the things of God because we are left alone with our natural tendency to be carnal and devilish. I have seen these effects in others as well as myself. I don't like those effects in myself because they only bring me pain and sorrow, while seeing, feeling, and hearing the things of God bring me true happiness and joy. 

Enoch was humble, obedient, and he had the Spirit of the Lord. These attributes have helped him overcome the effects of sin. God blessed him with the ability to behold the spirits that God has created as a result. 

Genesis 5:24; Moses 6:15, 21; Moses 6:50–52; Moses 6:7

What are some of the precious things that you have learned from your parents while growing up?

"24 And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him." (Genesis 5:24)

"15 And the children of men were numerous upon all the face of the land. And in those days Satan had great dominion among men, and raged in their hearts; and from thenceforth came wars and bloodshed; and a man’s hand was against his own brother, in administering death, because of secret works, seeking for power.

21 And Jared lived one hundred and sixty-two years, and begat Enoch; and Jared lived, after he begat Enoch, eight hundred years, and begat sons and daughters. And Jared taught Enoch in all the ways of God." (Moses 6:15, 21)

"50 But God hath made known unto our fathers that all men must repent.

51 And he called upon our father Adam by his own voice, saying: I am God; I made the world, and men before they were in the flesh.

52 And he also said unto him: If thou wilt turn unto me, and hearken unto my voice, and believe, and repent of all thy transgressions, and be baptized, even in water, in the name of mine Only Begotten Son, who is full of grace and truth, which is Jesus Christ, the only name which shall be given under heaven, whereby salvation shall come unto the children of men, ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, asking all things in his name, and whatsoever ye shall ask, it shall be given you." (Moses 6:50–52)

"7 Now this same Priesthood, which was in the beginning, shall be in the end of the world also." (Moses 6:7)

And here's the introductory commentary for this week's reading assignment: "January 26–February 1: “Teach These Things Freely unto Your Children” Genesis 5; Moses 6 :

"Most of Genesis 5 is a list of the generations between Adam and Eve and Noah. We read a lot of names, but we don’t learn much about them. Then we read this intriguing but unexplained line: “And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him” (Genesis 5:24). Surely there’s a story behind that verse! But without further explanation, the list of generations resumes.

Thankfully, Moses 6 reveals the details of Enoch’s story—and it’s quite a story. We learn of Enoch’s humility, his insecurities, the potential God saw in him, and the great work he performed as God’s prophet. We also get a clearer picture of the family of Adam and Eve as it progressed through the generations. We read of Satan’s “great dominion” but also of parents who taught children “the ways of God” (Moses 6:15, 21). Especially precious is what we learn about the doctrine these parents taught: faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism, and receiving the Holy Ghost (see Moses 6:50–52). That doctrine, like the priesthood that accompanies it, “was in the beginning [and] shall be in the end of the world also” (Moses 6:7)."

Faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism, and receiving the Holy Ghost are doctrines that I learned myself since I was a kid from my own parents and from my teachers in the Church, as well as the talks I would listen to and my own personal study of the gospel. I keep learning them again and again as I grow up. And my knowledge, understanding, application of them, and the impact they are making in my life have been growing as well.