Genesis 4 - 11

places to study with the chapters in Genesis:

BD: Adam, Eve, Cain, Abel, Offerings, Noah, Enoch

thoughts for pondering:
this week we are covering Cain and Able, the prophet and city of Enoch, and Noah.

as i have thought about these events and people, i have pondered things like:

1. personal definitions of what an offering is?
2. what are we currently offering?
3. what do we need to be offering, how do we offer?
4. why has the Father through His Son commanded all people at all times to make offering to Them?
5. why and how are some offerings accepted and others not?
6. are ours accepted?
7. can we make offerings that don't change us, that don't sanctify us?

1. what was the city and the people of Enoch offering?
2. how do our offerings sanctify us?
3. can the members of the Church in our day become like the members in Enoch's day?
4. how, why?
5. what needs to be different with the Saints today in order to become as the Saints in Enoch's day?
6. how will that change come about?

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Noah was preaching and teaching and prophesying for many years. Enoch testified and prophesied about the Flood.

1. how did things get so bad amongst the members in Noah's day that the Lord would flood them?
2. what are the things you are doing in your life that are "not a big deal" when the prophet asked you to do something - we find the energy and motivation to do big, hard things. but when it is small things to do things more obedient, we struggle.
3. so where do you need to tighten things up to be more trustworthy for the Lord?
4. are we okay with the details of the things the Lord asks of us?
5. Noah had to gather and live with and care for 2 of every animal in that ark. stinky, loud, crowded, dirty....are we okay to deal with the hard realities of following? what's the other option if we're not?

1. why was flooding the earth a necessity?
2. are we like Hem who has miracles upon miracles happen in their lives, but who never lets these experiences change WHO and WHAT he is?
3. do we go through the motions but never let the moments shape us?

Earth's Baptism

Orson Pratt declared:
“The first ordinance instituted for the cleansing of the earth, was that of immersion in water; it was buried in the liquid element, and all things sinful upon the face of the earth were washed away. As it came forth from the ocean floor, like the newborn child, it was innocent; it rose to newness of life. It was its second birth from the womb of mighty waters—a new world issuing from the ruins of the old, clothed with all the innocence of this first creation.” (In Smith, Answers to Gospel Questions, 4:20.)

“The earth, in its present condition and situation, is not a fit habitation for the sanctified; but it abides the law of its creation, has been baptized with water, will be baptized by fire and the Holy Ghost, and by-and-by will be prepared for the faithful to dwell upon” (Brigham Young, in Smith, Answers to Gospel Questions, 4:20).

Your Path Today

This chronology of the patriarchs teaches several things. For example, Shem In these eleven chapters of Genesis, which cover the lives of the ancient patriarchs, almost one-third of the total history of mankind is summarized in a brief manner. Obviously, such a limited treatment must omit many details that would be of great benefit to us. When Moses wrote this history, however, he shared with us one of the most remarkable contrasts in the history of the world. From the time of the Fall the people of the world began moving in two opposite directions.

One group followed the teachings of Adam and Eve and continually strived for increasing righteousness and perfection. The other group yielded to the deceitful enticings of Satan and his servants and moved deeper and deeper into depravity and wickedness.

Both these divergent paths were followed to their ultimate ends. Under Enoch’s direction, a whole society became so perfect that God took it to Himself, and for the next seven hundred years those who qualified themselves were likewise translated into that remarkable city of Enoch. The other group moved downward as surely as Enoch’s city moved upward. Finally they reached such depths of wickedness that it was a blessing for them to be destroyed.

Why is this pattern of significance to you? Because we are in a period of history when the same dramatic contrast and division is taking place, ponder these questions:

1. Jesus taught that the situation in the days of Noah was going to be repeated once more in history. When is that repetition to take place, and what are the implications of that repetition? How does Nephi’s vision relate to this teaching?
2. Zion provided the escape for those who were righteous before the Flood. How will the Saints of the latter days be saved from the coming judgments?
3. What are the conditions for bringing the promise of delivery upon ourselves?

HOLY AMAZING THOUGHTS!!!!

“I prophesy to you, in the name of the Lord, that when the Latter-day Saints have prepared themselves through righteousness to redeem Zion, they will accomplish that work, and God will go with them. No power will then be able to prevent them from accomplishing that work; for the Lord has said it shall be done, and it will be done in the due time of the Lord, when the people are prepared for it. But when shall I be prepared to go there? Not while I have in my heart the love of this world more than the love of God. Not while I am possessed of that selfishness and greed that would induce me to cling to the world or my possessions in it, at the sacrifice of principle or truth. But when I am ready to say, ‘Father, all that I have, myself included, is Thine; my time, my substance, everything that I possess is on the altar, to be used freely, agreeable to Thy holy will, and not my will, but Thine, be done,’ then perhaps I will be prepared to go and help to redeem Zion.” (Joseph F. Smith, in Millennial Star, 18 June 1894, pp. 385–86.)

“When we conclude to make a Zion we will make it, and this work commences in the heart of each person. When the father of a family wishes to make a Zion in his own house, he must take the lead in this good work, which it is impossible for him to do unless he himself possesses the spirit of Zion. Before he can produce the work of sanctification in his family, he must sanctify himself, and by this means God can help him to sanctify his family. . . . My spiritual enjoyment must be obtained by my own life, but it would add much to the comfort of the community, and to my happiness, as one with them, if every man and woman would live their religion, and enjoy the light and glory of the Gospel for themselves, be passive, humble and faithful; rejoice continually before the Lord, attend to the business they are called to do, and be sure never to do anything wrong.

“All would then be peace, joy, and tranquility, in our streets and in our houses. Litigation would cease, there would be no difficulties before the High Council and Bishops’ Courts, and courts, turmoil, and strife would not be known. “Then we would have Zion, for all would be pure in heart.” (Young, Discourses of Brigham Young, pp. 118–19.)

“The only limitation on you and me is within ourselves.”
(Marion G. Romney, in Conference Report, Apr. 1966, pp. 100–101.)