Old Testament, Lesson 1 – “This is My Work and My Glory”
[Compiled by Maren Hardy Hale, January 3, 2009, Pleasant View 1st Ward Gospel Doctrine Class]


INTRODUCTION

Last week in our introduction to the Old Testament. We learned that:

1. It teaches the existence of a personal God,
2. That the earth and all things upon it are provided for man’s benefit, but that man must obey divine law to secure the blessings he desires,
3. and that the OT provides a witness of the Son of God, the great Jehovah.

The study of the Old Testament should strengthen our testimony of the Savior and our commitment to live His gospel.

QUOTE #1:

President Gordon B. Hinckley: “I hope that for you [studying the scriptures] will become something far more enjoyable than a duty; rather, it will become a love affair with the word of God. I promise you that as you read, your minds will be enlightened and your spirits will be lifted.” (Ensign, May 1995, p. 99)

Yesterday, the Church News (Jan. 2, 2010) had an article on the importance of keeping a Journal – saying that it will foster progress. As we read the scriptures we will benefit greatly if we record the goals and spiritual experiences that fill our minds.

Bishop Allen has suggested to us in the past to keep a scripture journal.

QUOTE #2:

President Spencer W. Kimball: “We renew our appeal for the keeping of individual histories and accounts of sacred experience in our lives – answered prayers, inspiration from the Lord, administration in our behalf, a record of the special times and events of our lives… I promise you that if you will keep your journals and records they will indeed be a source of great inspiration to you, each other, your children, your grandchildren, and other throughout the generations.” (The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, p. 349)


This year’s course also includes the books of Moses and Abraham from the Pearl of Great Price.

We may not all understand the source for the Book of Moses?

Robert J. Matthews: “The most direct definition that I could give in answer to the question ‘What is the Book of Moses?’ is to say that it consists of the first 8 chapters of Genesis of Joseph Smith’s translation of the Bible, which was for many years called the Inspired Version but is now more properly named the Joseph Smith Translation.

“Since the Book of Moses has been published separately in the Pearl of Great Price, and since the Church is not the publisher of the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible, the historical connection between the Book of Moses and the translation of the Bible has eluded most Latter-day Saints. However, the original manuscript of Joseph Smith’s translation leaves no doubt on the matter that as far as the Book of Moses goes the two are the same.” (Robert L. Millet and Kent P. Jackson, eds., Studies in Scripture, Vol. 2: The Pearl of Great Price, p 25)

Moses 1 is a vision that Moses received approximately 3,000 years ago. This vision was revealed to Joseph Smith, the Prophet, in June, 1830. The subsequent chapters, the writings of Moses, were revealed at different times during the year 1830.

In Moses Chapter 1, Jehovah, the premortal Jesus Christ and the God of the Old Testament, appeared to Moses in a vision. He is one with His Father in purpose and represents Him in power and authority. His words are those of the Father, and sometimes in Moses He speaks in the first person for the Father.

BODY

We are Children of God

Moses 1 helps us answer 3 important questions:

◦ Who are we?
◦ How can we overcome the influence of the adversary?
◦ What is God’s work and glory?

SCRIPTURE: Moses 1:1-11
1. The words of God, which he spake unto Moses at a time when Moses was caught up in an exceedingly high mountain,

2. And he saw God face to face, and he talked with him, and the glory of God was upon Moses; therefore Moses could endure his presence.

3. Behold, I am the Lord God Almighty, and Endless is my name; for I am without beginning of days or end of years; and is not this endless?

4. And, behold, thou art my son; wherefore look, and I will show thee the workmanship of mine hands; but not all, for my works are without end, and also my words, for they never cease.

5. Wherefore, no man can behold all my works, except he behold all my glory; and no man can behold all my glory, and afterwards remain in the flesh on the earth.

6. And I have a work for thee, Moses, my son; and thou art in the similitude of mine Only Begotten; and mine Only Begotten is and shall be the Savior, for he is full of grace and truth; but there is no God beside me, and all things are present with me, for I know them all.

7. And now, behold, this one thing I show unto thee, Moses, my son, for thou are in the world, and now I show it unto thee.

8. And it came to pass that Moses looked and beheld the world upon which he was created; and Moses beheld the world and the ends thereof, and all the children of men which are, and which were created; of the same he greatly marveled and wondered.

9. And the presence of God withdrew from Moses, that his glory was not upon Moses; and Moses was left unto himself. And as he was left unto himself, he fell unto the earth.

10. And it came to pass that it was for the space of many hours before Moses did again receive his natural strength like unto man; and he said unto himself: Now, for this cause I know that man is nothing, which thing I never had supposed.

11. But now mine own eyes have beheld God; but not my natural, but my spiritual eyes, for my natural eyes could not have beheld; for I should have withered and died in his presence; but his glory was upon me; and I beheld his face, for I was transfigured before him.

QUESTION: What did Moses learn about God? [He is eternal, He created worlds without ends]

QUESTION: What did Moses learn about himself? [He was created in the similitude of the Savior, he became humbled and knew he was nothing]

QUESTION: What difference can it make in our lives to know that we are created in the similitude of the Savior? [We are children of our Father in Heaven. We are like him and can become more like him]

I am not aware of another religion that shares this simple truth with us! Like Moses, our spirits came from the great Creator. As part of the same mortal family, we are also sons and daughters of the Lord God Almighty. We are also created in his image.

If we, indeed, are literal spirit children of the great Creator, the Eternal Father, we have implanted within us the seeds of great eternal potential, even to become like Him. Knowing this great potential should give us cause to have hope and a powerful desire to live our lives worthily.

QUOTE #3:

Elder Dallin H. Oaks: "Consider the power of the idea taught in our beloved song 'I Am a Child of God.' . . . Here is the answer to one of life's great questions, 'Who am I?' I am a child of God with a spirit lineage to heavenly parents. That parentage defines our eternal potential. That powerful idea is a potent antidepressant. It can strengthen each of us to make righteous choices and to seek the best that is within us. Establish in the mind of a . . . person the powerful idea that he or she is a child of God, and you have given self-respect and motivation to move against the problems of life." (Ensign, Nov 1995, p25)

There is nothing more important we can recognize on the earth than that we are children of God. I was reminded of an experience of our oldest Son, Forrest.
While serving on his mission in Milan, Italy, He passed a period of time that was unfruitful. Forrest and his companion came up with the idea to do some “guitar tracting.” Forrest had an old guitar we had sent him, and he and his companion learned a few hymns they could sing together.
Forrest says: “After passing nearly 4 months without getting in a single door, our first night of “guitar tracting” went something like this…we would buzz the outside intercom for someone to let us in. When they would inevitably ask, ‘who is it?’, rather than go through our regular shpiel of ‘Hey, we’re missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and we have a special message to share with you today about how families can be together forever,’ we instead said, ‘Hello, we’re missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and we would like to come in and sing you a few songs…. I have my guitar with me…. Would that be alright?’
“….. BUZZZZZZZ…. The front door made that beautiful sound we rarely heard as missionaries in that area, someone letting us inside the building!! We made our way up to the apartment (we would always start at the top of an apartment building and work our way down) and were greeted and ushered inside the apartment. Without any hesitation, we introduced ourselves, and extracted the guitar from its case.
“Our new friends looked on intently, smiling all the while, as we would start into ‘I Am a Child of God.’ After finishing the song (often receiving some modest applause), we would ask, ‘What did you think about that song? How did it make you feel?’ We would then take the opportunity to discuss the verses of the song with them and proceed to touch on all the points of a first discussion!! After making a follow-up appointment for another discussion, we would leave the apartment and proceed down a flight of stairs and repeat the process all over again.
“My companion and I went from teaching 1 or 2 first discussions a month in that area to well over 30!! Many people would ask us to write down the words of the song for them, which we would gladly do inside the front cover of a Book of Mormon. Point is…this song had a profound effect on many people I came in contact with. This song speaks of simple truths that were easy and natural for people to hear, understand, and know to be true.” (Forrest Hardy Hale)
In Moses 1:9-11, Moses learns that man is nothing.
◦ In previous verses, Moses communed with God and learned his importance and eternal potential.
◦ After the presence of God withdrew from him Moses said, “Now for this
cause I know that man is nothing.”

QUESTION: How can both concepts be true? [We have within us the seeds of eternal potential, but we can achieve nothing without dependence on God.]

QUOTE: #4

President Harold B. Lee: “It is a wonderful thing for us in our younger years to remember what old age brings. Chauncey Depew, a United States Congressman, was asked on his ninetieth birthday about his philosophy of life. He replied that when he was a young man his greatest ambition had been to display his intelligence, but the older he grew the greater was his anxiety to conceal his ignorance. It was indeed the beginning of learning when Moses said, after the great and soul-stirring revelation of the personality of God, ‘Now, for this cause I know that man is nothing, which thing I never had supposed.’ (Moses 1:10). That was in the beginning of his wisdom.” (Stand Ye in Holy Places, p. 198-199)

We Can Resist Satan’s Temptations

SCRIPTURE: Moses 1:12-15

12. And it came to pass that when Moses had said these words, behold, Satan came tempting him saying: Moses, son of man, worship me.

13. And it came to pass that Moses looked upon Satan and said: Who art thou? For behold, I am a son of God, in the similitude of his only Begotten; and where is thy glory that I should worship thee?

14. For behold, I could not look upon God, except his glory should come upon me, and I were transfigured before him. But I can look upon thee in the natural man. Is it not so, surely?

15. Blessed be the name of my God, for his Spirit hath not altogether withdrawn from me, or else where is thy glory, for it is darkness unto me? And I can judge between thee and God; for God said unto me: Worship God, for him only shalt thou serve.

Here Satan commands Moses to worship him.

QUESTION: Why did Satan refer to Moses as “son of man”? [He is trying to influence the thinking of Moses. The Lord had referred to Moses as “son of God,” – a reference to his spiritual nature and divine potential. Satan wanted man to believe that he was no greater than any other creature.]

Satan takes a similar approach with us. He seeks to make the teachings of men more appealing than the light of truth. When we accept those teachings, we deny the fact that God is the father of our spirits.

EXPERIENCE:

A few days ago, I spoke on the phone to a relative. She said her son, who had recently divorced his wife, had told her that he no longer thought he believed in God. This young man has a 2-year-old daughter and is a returned missionary.

He had found the teachings of men more appealing than the light of truth. He believed that drugs would enhance his happiness. He believed that liquor would relax him. He believed that being free meant not being tied to a marriage. He believed that fun was the goal and work is only a means to acquire fun.

He was conflicted during his trip at Christmastime when he picked his daughter up from his former wife for the day. His wife seemed more beautiful to him, peaceful, and content. He felt conflicted upon learning that she is dating a returned missionary who is very much in love with her. He mentioned to his mother that he wanted to go and talk with the stake patriarch about God.

This young man was experiencing the lure of Satan’s appeal to have fun as his goal in contrast to his wife’s peaceful nature that spoke of obedience and freedom from sin. He had spent all his time listening to the voice of men and no time listening to the voice of God. (Maren Hardy Hale)

QUOTE #5: Elder Bruce R. McConkie addressed how we worship Satan.

Elder Bruce R. McConkie: “One of Satan’s greatest sins, as he works his nefarious schemes among men, is to get them ‘to worship him.’ (Moses 1:12; 6:49). His success in this venture is phenomenal. As the god of this world, he has the support and, though they may not consciously realize it, the adoration and worship of all those who live after the manner of the world. God our Father is worshipped in and through compliance with his commandments and in no other way. The same is true of Satan.” (Mormon Doctrine, p. 193)

QUESTION: How did Moses respond when Satan called him “Son of Man’? [He spoke up for truth and said, “Who art though? For behold, I am a son of God, in the similitude of his Only Begotten.” (Moses 1:13)

Our strong testimonies, that we are sons and daughters of God, help us to resist temptation.

4 times Moses told Satan to depart

SCRIPTURE: Moses 1:16-21

16. Get thee hence, Satan; deceive me not; for God said unto me: Thou art after the similitude of mine Only Begotten.

17. And he also gave me commandments when he called unto me out of the burning bush, saying: Call upon God in the name of mine Only Begotten, and worship me.

18. And again Moses said: I will not cease to call upon God, I have other things to inquire of him: for his glory has been upon me, wherefore I can judge between him and thee. Depart hence, Satan.

19. And now, when Moses had said these words, Satan cried with a loud voice, and ranted upon the earth, and commanded, saying: I am the Only Begotten, worship me.

20. And it came to pass that Moses began to fear exceedingly; and as he began to fear, he saw the bitterness of hell. Nevertheless, calling upon God, he received strength, and he commanded, saying: Depart from me, Satan, for this one God only will I worship, which is the God of glory.

21. And now Satan began to tremble, and the earth shook; and Moses received strength, and called upon God, saying: In the name of the Only Begotten, depart hence, Satan.

This teaches us that temptation may not flee from us when resisting it just once. It may come back to haunt us again. We must be prepared, be vigilant, and keep our lives in order so that we will not be worn down by temptation.

EXAMPLE: I know I have felt I have moved away from and beyond a former temptation, only to find that years later, it has revisited me. I’ve learned that if we fortify ourselves with prayer, scripture study, good habits, self control, obedience, and good works we can resist that temptation again. (Maren Hardy Hale)

Alexander Pope wrote:

Sin is a monster of so frightful mien
As to be hated needs but to be seen;
Yet, seen too oft, familiar with his face,
We first endure, then pity, then embrace.

We read in verse 18: I will not cease to call upon God, I have other things to inquire of him: for his glory has been upon me, wherefore I can judge between him and thee.

We learn hear that Moses has a relationship with God. He has felt the Spirit and he doesn’t feel it with Satan.

QUOTE #6:

President Hugh B. Brown: “I say to each and every one present, you will be equal to any temptation that may come to you provided you meet it with firmness when it first appears. I repeat, no man goes to hell in a single jump. Be careful with the first appearance of evil.” (Abundant Life, p. 73) [“Avoid the very presence of evil!”]

We need to develop a relationship with the Savior and our Father in Heaven that can support and sustain us. This relationship brings us the fullest measure of happiness. We need to nurture it daily through obedience, prayer, study, and good works.

QUESTION: How did Moses get Satan to leave? [“Moses…called upon God, saying: In the name of the Only Begotten, depart hence, Satan.” (Moses 1:21)]

Brigham young tells us how prayer strengthens us to resist temptation:

QUOTE #7

President Brigham Young: “It matters not whether you or I feel like praying, when the time comes to pray, pray. If we do not feel like it, we should pray till we do.
“If the Devil says you cannot pray when you are angry, tell him it is none of his business, and pray until that species of insanity is dispelled and serenity is restored to the mind.” (Discourses of Brigham Young, p 44-45)

The Work and Glory of God

After Satan departed, Moses again beheld the glory of God and was shown another vision of the earth and its inhabitants.

Moses asked in verse 30: “Tell me, I pray thee, why these things are so, and by what thou madest them?”

God answered in verses 31-32 that he made these things for his own wise purpose, and that by His Only Begotten has he created them.

The Lord expands on His answer in verse 33, “And worlds without number have I created; and I also created them for mine own purpose; and by the Son I created them, which is mine Only Begotten.”

President Joseph Fielding Smith: “Not only was this earth planned as an architect plans his building but its entire destiny and the destiny of its inhabitants was considered and known to the great Architect, before its foundation stones were laid. Our Eternal Father was not experimenting when this world came into existence. It did not come by chance. It is not the first of his creations. Millions upon millions of worlds such as this had rolled into existence before our earth was born. Every step taken was according to the divine plan, and that plan was an eternal one, which had been followed in the construction of other worlds without number unto man. In other worlds the plan of salvation had been given. Here we are enacting familiar scenes; scenes which are new to all mortal men, but which are well known to the Father and also to the Son.” (The Way to Perfection, pp. 35-36)

After touching on the vast expanse of His creations, the Lord states that he would only give Moses an account of the earth (Moses 1:35). He continues by stating that “there is no end” to his works (Moses 1:38).

I love the Hymn by William W. Phelps, “If You Could Hie to Kolob”

3. The works of God continue,
And worlds and lives abound;
Improvement and progression
Have one eternal round.
There is no end to matter;
There is no end to space;
There is no end to spirit;
There is no end to race.

4. There is no end to virtue;
There is no end to might;
There is no end to wisdom;
There is no end to light.
There is no end to union;
There is no end to youth;
There is no end to priesthood;
There is no end to truth.

5. There is no end to glory;
There is no end to love;
There is no end to being;
There is no death above.
(Repeated)

The Lord more fully answers Moses in verse 39.

SCRIPTURE: Moses 1:39

“For behold, this is my work and my glory – to bring to pass the immorality and eternal life of man.”

QUOTE #8:

President David O. McKay: “What is the end and purpose of religion, swaying the lives of men the centuries through? The Latter-day Saints answer in the words of the Lord revealed through the Prophet Joseph that the end and purpose of true religion, which is the work of God, is’…to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man’.” (Gospel Ideals, p 357)

President James E. Faust tells us about immortality and eternal life and how we may receive them:

QUOTE #9

President James E. Faust: “There is a distinction between immortality, or eternal existence, and eternal life, which is to have a place in the presence of God. Through the grace of Jesus Christ, immortality comes to all…, just or unjust, righteous or wicked. However, eternal life is ‘the greatest of all the gifts of God’ (D&C 14:7). We obtain this great gift, according to the Lord, ‘if you keep my commandments and endure to the end.’ If we so endure, the promise is, ‘you shall have eternal life.’ (D&C 14:7).” (Conference Report, October 1988, p. 14)

QUOTE #10

Elder Neal A. Maxwell: “Fortunately, God is preoccupied with His children. We (and what we may become) are His work and glory (Moses 1:39). All that He does is for our benefit (2 Nephi 26:24). As George MacDonald said of God, “He lays no plans irrespective of His children. Worlds and suns and planets…are but a ‘portion of His workshops and tools for bringing out of righteous men and women to fill His house of love’.” (Meek and Lowly, p. 12)

President Gordon B. Hinckley tells us of our role in this great work:

QUOTE:

President Gordon B. Hinckley: “`We are here to assist our Father in His work and His glory, ‘to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man’ (Moses 1:39). Your obligation is as serious in your sphere of responsibility as is my obligation in my sphere. No calling in this church is small or of little consequence. All of us in the pursuit of our duty touch the lives of others. To each of us in our respective responsibilities the Lord has said: … ‘In doing these things thou wilt do the greatest good unto thy fellow beings, and wilt promote the glory of him who is your Lord’ (D&C 81:4)” (Conference Report, Apr. 1995, 94)

CONCLUSION

President Harold B. Lee: "Again and again has been repeated the statement that the home is the basis of a righteous life. With new and badly needed emphasis on the 'how,' we must not lose sight of the 'why' we are so engaged. The priesthood programs operate in support of the home; the auxiliary programs render valuable assistance. Wise regional leadership can help us to do our share in attaining God's overarching purpose, 'to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.' (Moses 1:39)
“Both the revelations of God and the learning of men tell us how crucial the home is in shaping the individual's total life experience. Running through all this is the urgency of impressing the importance of better teaching and greater parental responsibility in the home. Much of what we do organizationally, then, is scaffolding, as we seek to build the individual, and we must not mistake the scaffolding for the soul." (Stand Ye In Holy Places, p.309)

I pray that we will make our homes a place:
of prayer,
of teaching,
of learning,
of obedience,
of responsibility,
of service,
of faith.
of love,
– a place where the Spirit may dwell.
We are children of God, we can overcome the influence of the Adversary, and have the potential to become like our Father and Heaven and Jesus Christ.


References: Moses 1, Old Testament Gospel Doctrine Teacher’s Manual, Robert J. Matthews quote, Bob Beardall,’s GD Lesson, January 2, 2010 Church News, Forrest Hardy Hale’s experience, Maren Hardy Hale’s experiences, and Conference Reports (Ensign).