Abraham 1b, Facsimile 1

Abraham 1; Facsimile 1 – to be discussed January 7
Day 1: Read (review) Abraham 1:1-4; D&C 132:28-32
1. How did Abraham find greater happiness, peace and rest?



2. What made Abraham a “rightful heir”?



3. Read D&C 132:28-32. How did Abraham receive all things?



Day 2: Read Abraham 1:5-11
4. Using Abraham 1:5, from what two things did Abraham say his fathers had turned?



5. List what Abraham’s fathers’ hearts had turned to.



6. For what reason were the three daughters of Onitah sacrificed on the altar?



BONUS: Review Moses 5:5-7. What was the human sacrifice made by the false priests a corruption or counterfeit of?



Day 3: Read Abraham 1:12-15, 30
7. According to Abraham 1:30, who might one of the idolatrous priests have been, who sought to kill Abraham?



8. Why do you think the false priests wanted Abraham dead? (See again Abraham 1:4-6.)



9. What did Abraham do as he lay on the altar expecting he would die? With what was he filled? Who stood by him?



Day 4: Study Facsimile 1; read Bible Dictionary entry, “Angels”
10. Look at figures 5, 6, 7, and 8, representing various idolatrous gods. If you had to guess, what might each head resemble?





11. How is “The Angel of the Lord” depicted in Facsimile 1? Read the Bible Dictionary entry, “Angels,” paragraphs one and two. What kind of a being might Abraham’s angel have been?



12. What does the representation of the idolatrous god of Pharaoh (figure 9) look like? In what is he “swimming”?



Day 5: Read Abraham 1:16-19
13. Read Abraham 1:16 with footnote a. Whether the angel addressed Abraham as “Abram” or
“Abraham,” he clearly spoke for (or actually was) Jehovah, and came in answer to Abraham’s prayer. Why was Abraham delivered from death?



14. Why did the Lord promise to “visit” the idolatrous nation? Was this a good visit?



15. List promises the Lord made to Abraham.





Day 6: Read Abraham 1:20-25
16. Why did the Lord destroy the altar on Potiphar’s Hill?


17. From whom were the Pharaohs of Egypt descended? Did they have legitimate claim to the priesthood of God? Why or why not?



18. Who first settled the land of Egypt? What kind of government did the Egyptians practice?



Day 7: Read Abraham 1:26-31
19. What did the pharaohs embrace instead of the true priesthood?



20. How did the famine in Chaldea affect Abraham’s family?



21. What kinds of records did Abraham possess?

Introduction to The Book of Abraham

Introduction to The Book of Abraham – to be discussed December 10
Day 1: Read the Bible Dictionary entry, “Abraham”
1. What does “Abraham” mean? What does “Abram” mean? What do these names tell you about the man?



2. Where was Abraham born? Who was his father?



3. List three things we learn about Abraham from latter-day revelation.





Day 2: Read Genesis 11:10-32; Bible Dictionary entry, “Eber”
4. From which of Noah’s sons was Abraham descended?



5. Read the Bible Dictionary entry, “Eber.” What group of people derives their identity from this patriarch?



6. Draw a simple diagram to illustrate the family of Terah as explained in Genesis 11:26-29. Where did Abram’s extended family go after leaving Ur?







Day 3: Read D&C 84:6-17; Bible Dictionary entry, “Midian”
7. From whom did Moses receive the Melchizedek priesthood? Read Exodus 3:1 and Bible Dictionary entry, “Midian.” Who was Midian?



8. From whom did Abraham receive the priesthood?



9. In what way(s) is the priesthood eternal?



Day 4: Read the paragraph titled “The Book of Abraham” from the Introductory Note at the beginning of the Pearl of Great Price (after the Title Page); read also the head note to the Book of Abraham (p.29)
10. In what year did Joseph Smith obtain the papyri from which he translated The Book of Abraham?

11. Where and when were the prophet’s translations from the papyri originally published?



12. Where was Abraham when he recorded these writings?



Day 5: Read Abraham 1:1; Bible Dictionary entries, “Ur” and “Chaldea,” Acts 7:1-4
13. Abram originally lived in Ur of the Chaldees. Look up “Ur” in the Bible Dictionary. What does “Ur” mean? Using your vast knowledge of Hebrew, what is the plural of Ur? (Hint: look at the entry in the BD following Ur.)



14. Where was the land of the Chaldeans? Find the two possible locations of Ur on map 9 in your Bible Appendix (map 2 in the 1979 edition).



15. Read Acts 7:1-4. Why did Abram want to move?



Day 6: Read Abraham 1:2; Helaman 8:16-19
16. Read the footnote for Abraham 1:2a; also read Helaman 8:16-19. How did Abram know there was greater happiness available?



17. From Abraham 1:2, list what Abram sought.





18. What did Abram receive because of his righteous desires?



Day 7: Read Abraham 1:3-4; Alma 13:13-19; Bible Dictionary entry, "Firstborn"
19. Read Alma 13:13-19. List three things you learned about Melchizedek from this passage.




20. Read the Bible Dictionary entry, “Firstborn.” Who did Abraham reference as the first to receive the priesthood on this earth? What is the birthright of the firstborn? Does one have to be born first to receive it?




21. Why did Abraham seek priesthood ordination so fervently?

Moses 8

Moses 8 Study Guide – to be discussed December 3
Day 1: Read Moses 8:1-4; Helaman 11:4
1. How many years did Enoch live before he was translated and taken up with Zion? Do you think Enoch’s mission ended at that time?



2. Give one definite reason and one possible reason Methuselah was not taken up with Zion.



3. Read Helaman 11:4. Why does the Lord allow famines?



Day 2: Read Moses 8:5-11; Bible Dictionary entry, “Noah”; D&C 27:6-7
4. In spite of the famine, how many years did Methuselah live?



5. Read the Bible Dictionary entry, “Noah.” What does the name Noah mean? How old was Noah when he was ordained to the priesthood? By what other name do we know him?



6. Read D&C 27:6-7. Under what title did Noah also function as a messenger?



Day 3: Read Moses 8:12-17
7. How old was Noah when he begat Japheth? Shem? Ham? Using Genesis 9:28-29, how many years did Noah live?



8. What were Noah’s righteous sons called?



9. Who did Noah’s granddaughters marry? Why did this anger the Lord?



Day 4: Read Moses 8:18-21; Matthew 24:36-39
10. What priesthood did Noah hold? (See also D&C 107:52.) What was his stewardship?




11. How did the children of men react to Noah’s teachings?



12. Who did the children of men claim to be?



BONUS: Read Matthew 24:36-39. How will the time preceding the Second Coming of Christ be similar to Noah’s day?



Day 5: Read Moses 8:22-25
13. What do you think the phrase “every man was lifted up in the imagination of the thoughts of his heart” means? (See also Alma 12:14 and D&C 124:99.)



14. Compare Moses 8:24 with Moses 6:52. What truths did Noah teach? What was the warning to those who refused to hearken?



15. Compare Moses 8:25 with Genesis 6:6. What caused Noah such intense sorrow?



Day 6: Read Moses 8:26-30
16. Why did God decide to destroy the wicked?



17. How did Noah find grace in the eyes of the Lord? How was the flood an act of grace?




18. With what was the earth filled? How does this affect the hearts of men?



Day 7: Read Genesis 6:14-22; Genesis 7:6; Bible Dictionary entry, “Ark"
19. How old was Noah when he entered the ark? Read the Bible Dictionary entry, “Ark.” Approximately how long was the ark? How wide? How high?



20. Read the footnote to Genesis 6:16a. What might the windows in the ark have been?




21. Read the footnote for Genesis 6:18a. What covenant did God make with Noah?

Moses 7:42-69

Moses 7:42-69 Study Guide – to be discussed November 19
Day 1: Review Moses 7:41; read Moses 7:42-46
1. What was the good news in Enoch’s vision of Noah’s day? What was the bad news?



2. Why was Enoch so bitter? How did the Lord comfort him?



3. Why did Enoch look forward to the coming of the day of the Lord?



Day 2: Read Moses 7:47-50
4. What makes Moses 7:47 a good Christmas scripture? Where did Enoch see himself and his people?



5. In what way(s) is the earth “the mother of men”? Why is she weary? List her questions from Moses 7:48.




6. What specifically did Enoch pray for regarding the earth and his posterity through Noah?


Day 3: Read Moses 7:51-53; Bible Dictionary entry “Messiah;” Alma 5:50; Helaman 5:12
7. Why do you think the Lord could not withhold answering Enoch’s petition? (See also Moses 6:34.)



8. What were the terms of the covenant the Lord made with Enoch? Would the earth rest during Noah’s day?




9. List names of the Lord from Moses 7:53. From the Bible Dictionary entry, what does “Messiah” mean? What is the promise to his followers?




BONUS: Read Alma 5:50 and Helaman 5:12. How do these scriptures add insights to the names for Christ listed in Moses 7:53?



Day 4: Read Moses 7:54-57; Matthew 27:50-53
10. What was Enoch’s question in Moses 7:54?


11. Could Enoch’s question have been answered yes or no? How did the Lord answer?



12. Read Matthew 27:50-53. What did Enoch see in vision? Would the earth rest during Christ’s mortal ministry?



Day 5: Read Moses 7:58-62
13. What question did Enoch pose to the Lord in Moses 7:59?



14. How did the Lord answer Enoch’s question this time? What did the Lord say must happen before the earth can rest?



15.President Ezra Taft Benson taught regarding Moses 7:62 that “righteousness” from heaven includes or refers to latter-day revelations, especially the Doctrine and Covenants. He also noted the Book of Mormon represents “truth” from the earth (see “The Gift of Modern Revelation,” Ensign, November 1986). How will these latter-day blessings bring the earth rest?




Day 6: Read Moses 7:63-66; D&C 101:26-34
16. What will eventually happen to the two Zion’s – Enoch’s Zion and the New Jerusalem?



17. How long will the earth rest?



18. List details of this happy state from D&C 101:26-34. (Extra credit: see also 1 Nephi 22:26; 2 Nephi 30:12-18; D&C 43:29-33; D&C 45:58-59; Revelation 21:1-4; Article of Faith #10.)






Day 7: Read Moses 7:67-69
19. How did Enoch receive a “fullness of joy”?



20. How long did Enoch preach to the people in the City of Zion before it was taken up?



21. Review all of Moses 7. Which verse or passage motivates you to improve some area of your life?

Moses 7:1-41

Moses 7:1-41 Study Guide – to be discussed November 12
Day 1: Read Moses 7:1-4; Alma 40:11-14
1. Read Alma 40:11-14 with Moses 7:1. Where do the spirits of the wicked reside after mortality? How long must they wait for release?



2. Read the footnote to Moses 7:2a. What does “Simeon” mean?


3. What happened to Enoch on Mount Simeon? What did he see? What did he hear?



BONUS: Count the number of times the Lord instructed Enoch to “Look” or “Behold.”

Day 2: Read Moses 7:5-13
4. In what kind of dwelling did the peoples of Shum and Canaan live? What does this suggest? What did Enoch prophesy to these peoples?



5. List the lands in which Enoch was called to cry repentance. Where was he told NOT to preach? Why?



6. Review Moses 6:31-32. How was Enoch blessed so that his weaknesses became strengths?



Day 3: Read Moses 7:14-18; Bible Dictionary entry, “Zion”
7. How did the Lord protect his people? What caused fear among their enemies?



8. According to the Bible Dictionary entry, “Zion,” how is Zion defined in latter-day revelation?



9. List qualities of a Zion people from Moses 7:18.



BONUS: List what you learn about Zion from each of these verses:
a. D&C 76:66-68


b. D&C 84:99-100


c. D&C 105:5-6


Day 4: Read Moses 7:19-24; Zechariah 14:20-21; D&C 38:4
10. According to Moses 7:19, what is another name for Zion? Read Zechariah 14:20-21 and review Moses 6:57. Why is this name appropriate?



11. Why do you think the Lord showed Enoch the future of Zion in vision before he showed him the “residue” of the people? Where would you prefer to live?



12. According to D&C 38:4, what happened to the Zion of Enoch?



Day 5: Read Moses 7:25-31; Proverbs 5:22; Alma 12:11; JST Genesis 14:25-36
13. Read Proverbs 5:22 and Alma 12:11. What is the chain in Satan’s hand (Moses 7:26)? How can we break it?



14. Why do you think Enoch was shown Satan laughing and God weeping? What did Enoch ask as a result of this vision?



15. Read JST Genesis 14:25-36 with Moses 7:27. What evidence do we have that worthy people were translated and taken up after Enoch’s day?



Day 6: Read Moses 7:32-35
16. What two things did the Lord tell Enoch he gave man in the Garden?



17. Why did God weep?



18. List names of God from Moses 7:35. In what way does each identify a quality of godliness?



Day 7: Read Moses 7:36-41, D&C 138:18-23
19. Why was the flood an appropriate means of cleansing the earth?



20. Read D&C 138:18-23. Did Christ visit the wicked in the spirit world? What did He do for them?



21. Why did Enoch’s heart swell “wide as eternity”?

Moses 6:35-68

Moses 6:35-68 Study Guide – to be discussed November 5
Day 1: Read Moses 6:35-36; John 9:1-15; Bible Dictionary entry, “Seer”
1. Read John 9:1-15 with Moses 6:35. Why do you think Enoch was instructed to anoint his eyes with clay? Was he blind?



2. List what Enoch was able to see after he had cleansed his eyes.




3. Read the Bible Dictionary entry, “Seer.” What is a seer? How does having a seer among a people help them live more righteously?



Day 2: Read Moses 6:37-39; Review Moses 5:45
4. Why do you think “all men were offended” because of Enoch’s declarations? Why did they keep coming to hear him?




5. Review Moses 5:45. From whom were the tent-keepers descended?



6. How was Enoch protected from harm?



Day 3: Read Moses 6:40-47
7. Why was Enoch compelled to speak plainly with the people? What questions did he ask in Moses 6:43?




8. List what Enoch bore witness of.




9. Why do you think the people trembled at hearing Enoch’s testimony?


Day 4: Read Moses 6:48-52; Articles of Faith #2 and #4
10. In preparing his listeners to understand the principle of repentance, Enoch described two distinct “Falls.” What are the two “Falls”? (See also Article of Faith #2.)



11. Compare Moses 6:52 with Article of Faith #4. List similarities.


12. What additional principle did Enoch include at the end of Moses 6:52?



Day 5: Read Moses 6:53-58; D&C 93:38; Mosiah 3:16-17; Moroni 8:8
13. What question did Adam ask of the Lord?



14. Read D&C 93:38, Mosiah 3:16-17, Moroni 8:8. How can little children be “whole from the foundation of the world” (Moses 6:54) and also “conceived in sin” (Moses 6:55)? What do you think the phrase, “when they begin to grow up” means?




15. Why did the Lord command all men to teach their children the principle of repentance?



Day 6: Read Moses 6:59-62
16. List the three elements by which we are born physically, or born into mortality. Now list their spiritual counterparts.




17. According to Moses 6:60, why is each of these elements important?



18. From Moses 6:61, list three different roles of the Holy Ghost.



Day 7: Read Moses 6:63-68; 2 Nephi 11:4; Alma 30:44; D&C 88:45-46
19. Give one example of how a temporal thing bears record of the Savior (See also 2 Nephi 11:4, D&C 88:45-46.)




20. What did Adam do after he had been taught the first principles of the gospel?



21. According to the footnote for Moses 6:67, what “order” was Adam a part of?



BONUS: What do you think it means to be “quickened in the inner man”? (See also Mosiah 27:25, Alma 5:14.)

Moses 6:1-34

Moses 6:1-34 Study Guide – to be discussed October 29
Day 1: Read Moses 6:1-4; D&C 107:42-43; D&C 138:40; Bible Dictionary entry, “Seth”
1. Read D&C 107:42-43 and BD “Seth.” How old was Adam (in mortality) when Seth was born? How old was Seth when he was ordained by Adam?



2. Why did Adam glorify the name of God when Seth was born?



3. What was Seth’s legacy to his children?




Day 2: Read Moses 6:4-9; Zephaniah 3:8-9
4. What principle of obedience led to the advent of written language? For what was this skill used?



5. By what spirit was Adam called upon to write? Does that same spirit move us today?



6. Read Zephaniah 3:8-9. When will we again have a pure language and for what will it be used?



Day 3: Read Moses 6:10-14 (with footnote 10b); D&C 107:44,53
7. Fill in the time line below (or make your own on a larger sheet of paper) with dates for Seth’s birth, Adam’s death, and Seth’s death.


0____________________________________________________________
100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 1100 1200




8. Read D&C 107:44. Add the year of Enos’ ordination to the priesthood to your time line. From D&C 107:53, where did Enos receive a patriarchal blessing?



9. What did Seth teach Enos?




Day 4: Read Moses 6:15-18
10. Add the years of Cainan’s birth and Enos’ death to your time line.
11. What was the name of the promised land occupied by Enos’ people?


12. From Moses 6:15, list what began to happen among men when Satan had great dominion. Do you think he has dominion today?




Day 5: Read Moses 6:19-22; D&C 107:45-48
13. Add the birth years of Mahalaleel, Jared and Enoch to the time line.


14. How old was Adam (from the Fall) when Enoch was ordained?



15.Read D&C 107:45-48. Add the years of priesthood ordination for Cainan, Mahalaleel, Jared and Enoch. If Adam had many sons and daughters, why do you think this particular genealogy is the only one recorded in Moses and Genesis?




Day 6: Read Moses 6:23-30
16. Add Methuselah’s birth to the time line.


17. What was Enoch called to do?



18. List the reasons the Lord was angry with the people.



Day 7: Read Moses 6:31-34; Ether 12:27; 1 Corinthians 1:25-29
19. What did Enoch do when he received his mission call? Read Ether 12:27 and 1 Corinthians 1:25-29. Why did the Lord call Enoch?



20. List the promises made to Enoch if he was obedient.



21. What did the Lord command Enoch to do at the end of Moses 6:34? What do you think this means? How does it apply to each of us?



BONUS: Look at your time line. What did you learn about the early patriarchs?