Seeing More than Names

Day sixty-two

I don't know why, but today I woke up knowing that it would be a good day.  Nothing has really changed, I still have lots to do and the pile just gets bigger and bigger, but I just know that it will all work out.  It is nice to know that when the Lord asks a lot of me that He will also comfort and support me when I am feeling overwhelmed.  So once again, a prayer full of gratitude for answering my prayers and for giving me the opportunities to serve.  And a request to keep holding me up until the work is done.

Today I am studying Genesis Chapter 5.  A study of this chapter also leads you to D&C 107 and Moses 6-8.

These verses are the genealogy of Adam to Noah, which at first seems to be a bit boring, but it is more than just a list of names when you go to D&C 107.  Here in verse 40 we learn that "The order of this priesthood [Patriarchal Priesthood] was confirmed to be handed down from father to son..."  The genealogy is then repeated in verses 41-52, and repetition usually means something is important. Pres. Joseph Fielding Smith stated: "Today the patriarchal order does not determine the organization of the Church as it did in earlier times, but in the celestial kingdom "the patriarchal order will be the order of government and rule" (McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, p. 559).  From a list of names to a glimpse into the celestial kingdom, I love the way the Lord teaches.

Back to Genesis 5:18-24.  There are only 6 verses talking about Enoch in this chapter, but when you go to Moses 6-8, there are 116 verses helping us to understand the greatness of this prophet.  The teachings of Enoch cover some seven major categories and embrace some information found nowhere else in scripture. He dealt with (1) the fall of man and its results; (2) the nature of salvation and the means of achieving it; (3) sin, as seen in the evils of his times, in contrast to the righteousness of the godly who were his followers; (4) the cause, purpose, and effects of the anticipated flood of Noah; (5) the scope of Satan’s triumph and the resultant sorrows of God; (6) the first advent of the Messiah; (7) the second advent of the Messiah and his peaceful, millennial reign.  (Rasmussen, Introduction to the Old Testament, 1:24–25.) 

Through Enoch we are introduced to the building up of Zion and translation. 

Zion: Even with the evils of his time, Enoch was successful in building up a righteous culture called "Zion", meaning, 'the pure in heart.' (Moses 7:18).  What does that mean to us?  Today we are counseled to build up Zion wherever we live, even in these times of wickedness. Knowing that Enoch was able to create a Zion culture, gives me hope that it can be done again.  It took Enoch over 300 years to prepare his people, I don't have that long, but I can do my part to the best of my ability during the time I do have.  Living among people who are of one mind and heart with the will of God,  sounds worth working for.

Translation:  Translated beings: persons who are changed so that they do not experience pain or death until their resurrection to immortality (Guide to the Scriptures).  In Enoch's case the whole city was taken into the heavens without experiencing death.  There are more instances of people being translated throughout the scriptures, including before the flood.  The key to this is that only the righteous can be translated.  This motivates me to live my life in such a way that if necessary, I could be translated.  I am still here, so it's obvious that I am still working on it!

To top off the awesomeness of Genesis Chapter 5 we are introduced to Noah in the last verse.  I am looking forward to getting to know this prophet better.  There are some great lessons to learn in his story.

Well what looked like it might have been a boring study session with little to offer turned into the opportunity to learn about the priesthood and the celestial kingdom, Enoch the prophet, his teachings, Zion, translation, and a teaser on Noah. What a great chance to see how the Lord teaches us (building on precepts) and how all the words in the scriptures are important.  I definitely got filled today!