Emily’s
Lesson Notes for Come Follow Me January 12–18: “In the Beginning God Created the
Heaven and the Earth” Genesis 1–2; Moses 2–3; Abraham 4–5
My
inspiration and testimony:
Genesis 1 is our origin story, our back story, the start of
humanity as we know it and where we ben begin to learn about God too. In the
Bible, it starts with “In the beginning…” but there is more to the story. We
believe that we (all human souls) existed long before the creation of this
world. I feel that I (my soul) existed before and will continue on long long
after death. That belief is grounded in scriptures that are tied closely to
Genesis 1 and are part of this lesson. We are blessed with Devine truths from the
Bible that go hand in hand with scriptures restored as part of The Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (for this lesson that’s Moses 1-2 and Abraham
3-4 among others). These are the sources that tell us what happened before the
creation and critically WHY. It’s impossible to overstate the importance of
this knowledge! WHY did God create the world? WHY did He make our bodies look
like His and His Only Begotten Son OUR SAVIOR? And WHY do we need to always
strive to live in unity with other people and God? The answers are in the
creation story. And that sets the backdrop for reading the rest of the Bible
that chronicles God’s dealings with His children throughout history. It can
also be a foundation for seeing how God deals with us personally in our own
lives.
I.
We
can gain valuable lessons from all the scripture sources we are blessed with.
a.
There
are different translations of the Bible that can all contribute truth and
insights in our study of the scriptures.
i.
New guidance in the General Handbook of the Church of Jesus Christ:
“Generally, members should use a preferred or Church-published edition of the
Bible in Church classes and meetings. Other Bible translations may also be
used. Some individuals may benefit from translations that are doctrinally clear
and also easier to understand.”
List of options for different reading
levels
ii.
What
about when we see differences between the versions? Each version so valuable
because they give us a different way to think about the same thing. We can
learn something from each one! And reading more versions can give us even more
in common with neighbours who may read a different version to the King James
Bible (KJB).
b.
Restoration
scripture gives us more light to help us see the truths and principles God is teaching
in His scriptures.
i.
Restoration
scriptures include Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, Pearl of Great
Price, General Conference. We can learn more about the same truths in these
different scripture sources that are each written from a little bit different
perspective or context. We are so blessed with so much of the word of God.
c.
Personal
revelation is key to understanding all truth.
i.
In
our scripture study, including the Bible (traditional scripture) and
restoration scripture, we rely on prayerful personal revelation for true
understanding. If there are differences between the scripture sources, the Holy
Spirit, literally a member of the God Head, can come into our hearts and minds
to help us learn the lesson that is needed for us right now.
II.
First,
the creation story
a.
Come Follow Me pg. 11 about reading the books in the Old
Testament it says, “In most Christian versions of the Old Testament, the books
are organized differently from how they were arranged when they were first
compiled into one collection. So while the Hebrew Bible groups the books into
three categories—the law, prophets, and writings—most Christian Bibles arrange
the books into four categories: law (Genesis–Deuteronomy), history
(Joshua–Esther), poetic books (Job–Song of Solomon), and prophets
(Isaiah–Malachi).”
So, no matter the version
of the Bible, the creation story is always first. There is something critical
about the creation story that God wants us to know that is important for understanding
what follows.
b. What is the same between each of the creation stories in Genesis 1, Moses 2 and Abraham 4?
|
What is the same? |
|
|
Verse 1 |
heaven and earth |
|
Verse 2 |
earth was void |
|
Verses 3-5 |
divided light and
darkness; Day and Night |
|
Verses 6-8 |
firmament and water in
Heaven; 2nd day |
|
Verses 9-10 |
divided land and water;
Earth and Seas |
|
Verses 11-13 |
plants giving seed and
fruit after their kind; 3rd day |
|
Verses 14-19 |
lights; son, moon, stars;
4th day |
|
Verse 20-25 |
animals and birds
multiplying more after their kind; 5th day |
Have you ever been moved by a beautiful experience in nature? When have you felt the Spirit while enjoying God’s creations? Have you ever felt loved, humbled or inspired by the notion that God created all this for you?
c.
What
is different between Genesis 1, Moses 2 and Abraham 4 (or what does the
restoration scripture add)?
|
What is different? (especially verses 1
and 21) |
|||
|
|
Genesis 1 |
Moses 2 |
Abraham 4 |
|
Context (what comes
before?) |
No context. Creation is
the beginning. |
Moses 1: Moses speaks face to face
with God, and then Satan. God calls Moses “My son”. Moses’s body (and eyes)
are changed so he can see God showing him the whole world and all the souls
on it. God tells him He made worlds without number. Why? Moses 1:39 – for our immortality, eternal life. |
Abraham 3: Abraham speaks face to
face with God. He calls him “My son”. Abraham’s eyes are changed so he can
see God showing him all the souls in pre-earth life. God tells him how They
planned to make the world. Why? Abraham 3:24-25 – to give us a chance
to prove we will obey. |
|
Perspective |
Third person – Genesis is
traditionally attributed to Moses |
First person – God speaking directly to
Moses |
Third person – God speaking directly to
Abraham |
|
Subject + Verb |
God created God said God made |
I, God, created I, God, said I, God, made |
the Gods organized and
formed they (the Gods) said the Gods ordered the Gods organized the Gods prepared |
|
Evaluation |
God saw that it was good. |
I, God, saw that all
things which I had made were good. |
The Gods saw that they
were obeyed, and that their plan was good. |
|
|
|
|
|
d.
We
are responsible for looking after God’s creations.
i.
Genesis
1:26 says “let them have dominion over [the creations]”. How do we interpret
that? Dominion or dominate has a negative or overpowering connotation for us, but
here are some other restoration scriptures that can help us understand better
what God expects of us.
·
D&C
59:18-20 – The creations should make us happy, should be useful for us (for
food, clothing, taste, smell, to strengthen our body), and should not be used
to excess or by extortion.
·
D&C
104:13-17 – We are to be stewards of the creations that belong to God, and they
are to be managed in His way to help balance the poor and rich.
·
Verse
17 “For the earth is full, and there is enough and to spare”
In my research on
sustainable eating, I have learned some interesting statistics on this point.
There are currently about 8 billion people on the planet and we are producing
enough food to feed 10 billion, but 3 billion people are not getting good
nutrition (including people who don’t can’t enough food at all, people who
can’t get enough nutritious food, people who don’t know what food is most
nutritious for them and people who are overeating). On top failing to get good
food to everyone, the food system is also wasteful and unsustainable in its
current form; about one third of all food is lost or wasted and agriculture is
responsible for pushing the planet past 6 of 9 established boundaries (for
example climate change, water pollution, soil erosion, etc.). But God says
there is enough. He has prepared all things for us, and we need to make changes
and choices to be better stewards. My research is looking at how we can do this
across the whole Island of Ireland, but we can all think about how we can be
better within our personal lives.
III.
I
am created in the image of God and His Only Begotten.
a.
Beautiful Savior arranged by Rob Gardner (from the children’s songbook) (https://youtu.be/pyny2jDPfcU?si=tto1PoQeoGqvr6QZ)
Lyrics:
1. Fair is the sunshine,
Fairer the moonlight
And all the stars in
heav’n above;
Jesus shines brighter,
Jesus shines purer
And brings to all the
world his love.
2. Fair are the meadows,
Fairer the woodlands,
Robed in the flowers of
blooming spring;
Jesus is fairer,
Jesus is purer.
He makes the sorrowing
spirit sing.
3. Beautiful Savior!
Lord of the nations!
Son of God and Son of
Man!
Thee will I honor,
praise, and give glory,
Give praise and glory
evermore!
Evermore!
b.
Come Follow Me pg. 26 points out that verses 26-27 of
Genesis 1, Moses 2 and Abraham 4 tells us we were created after the “likeness”
or “image” of God. “Why is it important to you to know the truths in these
verses? For example, how do these truths affect the way you see yourself,
others, and God?”
What did we just learn
about the creation of the plants and animals? – That they multiplied and
brought forth seed after their kind. So what kind of people are we? We are
God’s people! And the rest of the Bible and all the scriptures are the
story of God’s dealings with His people throughout time.
c.
Moses
2:26 specifically names the Only Begotten as being present during this creation
of humans and Moses 1:6 explains that we are “in the similitude of mine Only
Begotten; and mine Only Begotten is and shall be the Savior”. This is teaching
2 key points to the prophet Moses; 1. our bodies are made after the pattern of
God and His Son who have bodies, and 2. the Son of God is our Savior from the
beginning.
i.
These
lessons were also taught to the first prophets of our other restoration
scriptures too in Joseph Smith’s first vision (JSH 1:17) and Lehi’s first vision (1Ne 1:8-9). These principles are so
foundational that they needed to be taught first. Everything else, especially
what we will soon learn about the fall and the Atonement of Jesus Christ will
build on these points.
IV.
Words
from the Hebrew Bible can add insights on the creation of male and female
humans and the central doctrine of unity or “being one”.
a.
Dr. Rebekah Call (Hebrew Bible scholar teaching at
Utah State University) shared alternative translations on the Follow Him Podcase (hosted by Brother John Bytheway and
Dr. Hank Smith). (Sister Call shared many more than could be included so I
highly recommend listening to the original conversation and watching out for
her upcoming book.)
i.
Key
insights about the creation of humanity and the importance of unity.
·
Gen 1:26 the word “man” is a translation of the word “adam” which will become the
name Adam, but is not used here in the name form. It could be translated as “human”
or “humanity”. Male and female are not mentioned yet so this could be
interpreted as one being with both. Gen 1:27 “him” is the pronoun for
him (male) or it, so we can assume it is still referring to humanity as a
whole. Gen 2:21-22 “rib” is not an anatomical term, but instead relates
to construction. It could be translated as “a beam” or “a flank” like the flank
or side of a mountain. So, this could be saying that God divided the human into
male and female as he did when he was doing other “dividing” works in creation
(divided light from darkness, divided water from last, divided and organized
the plants and animals). And then verse 24 teaches us that the man and woman
must come back together in marriage to be one.
·
We
believe the marriage sealing unites a man and a woman together with God.
Numerous other scriptures highlight the importance of unity way beyond
marriage. We need to strive for unity, love, connection, fellowship,
togetherness with everyone around us and with God. In Matt 22:36-39 Jesus Christ teaches that we are to
1. Love god and 2. Love our neighbour. If we distil these commandments, that is
the definition of unity, of “being one”.
·
1
Cor 1:10 “be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together”
·
D&C
38:27 “be one; and if ye are not one ye are not mine.”
·
John
17:21-23 God and the Son are the example of perfect unity.
·
3
Ne. 11:28-30 “this is my doctrine, that [disputations, contention and anger]
should be done away.”
·
Moses
7:18 Zion “were of one heart and one mind”. They were so united together and
with God that they could no longer be separated from His presence and He took
them up. – This will be part of our next
lesson.
·
What
is one thing you can do in the next 2 weeks to create more unity with someone?
