Moses

How many Mormons does it take to change a light bulb? It depends!
If it is the Relief society it take four.
One to fix refreshments.
One to bring the tablecloth.
One to design the Center Piece,
And one to screw in the light bulb.

If it is the Bishopric, forget it,
they don't do light bulbs.
They call a Priesthood Executive Council
And delegate it to the Elders.

If it is the Elders it takes four.
Three that don't show up, and
One to change the bulb.

If it is the High Priests it take four.
Two to push the wheel chairs.
One to handle the oxygen tank,
And one to screw in the light bulb.

If it is the Home Teachers, it only takes two,
But you have to wait until the end of the month.

If it is the Aaronic Priesthood, it only takes one.
He holds the light bulb in the socket
And the whole world revolves around him.

God reveals himself to Moses—Moses transfigured—Confrontation with Satan—Many inhabited worlds seen—Worlds without number created by the son—God’s work and glory to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.

[Object lesson - play a game without rules or objective. Lets discuss the game. Does it appear to be a fun game? Is it for pleasure or learning? What do we need to know if we are ging to play?

1) We need to understand our roles...

2) We need to understand the rules how we win, how we lose

3) What is the purpose of the game?

4) How does this relate to life? To understand our lives on earth we to must understand our purpose. In Moses Chapter 1 we learn these answers...

1) We need to understand who we are.

2) How can we overcome the influence of the adversary?

3) What is God's work and Glory Chapter 1 God reveals himself to Moses--Moses transfigured--Confrontation with Satan--Many inhabited worlds seen--Worlds without number created by the son--God's work and glory to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.]

1 THE words of God, which he [The premortal Jesus Christ - ot Jehovah The God os the Old Testament. President Joseph Fielding Smith said "All revelation since the fall has come through Jesus Christ...The Father has never spoke to man directly and personally since the fall, and he has never appearred except to introduce and bear record of the son. Doc of Salvation Vol 1:27"] spake unto Moses at a time when Moses was caught up into an exceedingly high mountain, [8,200-9,500 height of mountains around sinai region]

2 And he saw God face to face, and he talked with him, and the glory of God was upon Moses; [ What does it mean the Glory of god was on him? transfigured] therefore Moses could endure his presence.

3 And God spake unto Moses, saying: 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; [How is Moses his son? he is his son in the literal and gospel sense ] 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, [foreordained] Moses, my son; and thou art in the similitude of mine Only Begotten; [What does it mean to be created in the similitude of the savior? How important is it for Moses at this time to know that he is created in the similitude of the Savior? Because of what is going to happen next...the visit from Satan] 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, [Remember that Moses came from a world of idols and false deity as was had among the Egyptians. Here the Lord is making a point - he is getting the attention of Moses. If Moses is going to accomplish the work that is before him he must understand this message well. That the work will only come about by un-relenting faith in ONE GOD the creator of the world, the center of all faith and worship.] and all things are present with me, [The dimension of time is different to God - Elder Neal A. Maxwell "God...is not simply predicting based on the past.In ways that are not clear to us, he sees rather than forsees the future, because all things are at once present before him" Things As They Really Are p29] for I know them all.

7 And now, behold, this one thing I show unto thee, [again we see this one thing What is the one thing that he is going to show him? The clue is found in verse 39] Moses, my son, for thou art 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. [What does Moses learn from being left unto himself? That he is nothing] 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, [How can it be true that we are the son of God and yet still man is nothing? We are nothing without God because he has given us everything, yet as his children we can become like God] 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.

12 And it came to pass that when Moses had said these words, behold, Satan came tempting him, saying: Moses, son of man, [Why does Satan address Moses as The son of man?
Why does satan want us to doubt that we are children of God?
How does he do this? By making Moses refer to himself as the son of Man his life and purpose have a different meaning.] worship me.

Now watch how Moses responds to Satan...
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; [How does Moses respond? He knows who he is, he is the son of God and how does he know that? Because the Lord has told him threes times already in the first few verses. God has instilled in Moses in the previous verses confidence in himself and who he is, his worth. How can we apply this principle to helping our children? Can it be used to strengthen a marriage? We live in a world of demeaning comments and the such...how important is it to help others see themselves as children of God] and where is thy glory, that I should worship thee?
14 For behold [there are several places in the scripture that when we hear we should stand up and take particular notice, they are I believe as follows: �and thus we see� most every time that is said it it by a prophet who has seen our day and is summarizing the important message the moral of the story so to speak, and the phrase �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.
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, [pray unceasingly] 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. [How many times has Moses told Satan to leave? 4 Does this teach us anything about Satan and his efforts?]
22 And it came to pass that Satan cried with a loud voice, with weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth; and he [Satan],/span> departed hence [What did Moses do to resist the temptations of Satan? See verse 18 Good thing we are not tempted in our lives to the point that we need to �not cease to call upon the Lord�, I�m glad for the strength to go it alone aren�t you? DISCUSS], even from the presence of Moses, that he beheld him not.
23 And now of this thing Moses bore record; but because of wickedness it is not had among the children of men.
24 And it came to pass that when Satan with the Holy Ghost, which beareth record of the Father and the son; Moses beheld his glory again...
25 And calling upon the name of God, he beheld his glory again, for it was upon him; and he heard a voice, saying: Blessed art thou, Moses, for I, the Almighty, have chosen thee, and thou shalt be made stronger [Do you suppose that the events that have just happened, as painful as they might have been that they have made Moses stronger?] than many waters; for they shall obey thy command as if thou wert God.
26 And lo, I am with thee, even unto the end of thy days; for thou shalt deliver my people from bondage, even Israel my chosen.
27 And it came to pass, as the voice was still speaking, Moses cast his eyes and beheld the earth, yea, even all of it; and there was not a particle of it which he did not behold, discerning it by the spirit of God.
28 And he beheld also the inhabitants thereof, and there was not a soul which he beheld not; and he discerned them by the Spirit of God; and their numbers were great, even numberless as the sand upon the sea shore.
29 And he beheld many lands; and each land was called earth, and there were inhabitants on the face thereof.
30 And it came to pass that Moses called upon God, saying: Tell me, I pray thee, why these things are so [Moses must have been overwelmed... Why so much? IMAX movie of earth from moon at Smithesonian], and by what thou madest them?

AND NOW THE ANSWERS... 31 And behold, the glory of the Lord was upon Moses, so that Moses stood in the presence of God, and talked with him face to face. And the Lord God said unto Moses: For mine own purpose have I made these things. Here is wisdom and it remaineth in me. 32 And by the word of my power, have I created them, which is mine Only Begotten son, who is full of grace and truth. 33 And worlds without number have I created; and I also created them for mine own purpose [which is? see verse 39] ; and by the son I created them, which is mine Only Begotten. 34 And the first man of all men have I called Adam, which is many. 35 But only an account of this earth, and the inhabitants thereof, give I unto you. For behold, there are many worlds that have passed away by the word of my power. And there are many that now stand, and innumerable are they unto man; but all things are numbered unto me, for they are mine and I know them. 36 And it came to pass that Moses spake unto the Lord, saying: Be merciful unto thy servant, O God, and tell me concerning this earth, and the inhabitants thereof, and also the heavens, and then thy servant will be content. 37 And the Lord God spake unto Moses, saying: The heavens, they are many, and they cannot be numbered unto man; but they are numbered unto me, for they are mine. 38 And as one earth shall pass away, and the heavens thereof even so shall another come, and there is no end to my works, neither to my words. 39 For behold [the lord is summarizing for us], this is my work and my glory--to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. 40 And now, Moses, my son, I will speak unto thee concerning this earth upon which thou standest; and thou shalt write the things which I shall speak. 41 And in a day when the children of men shall esteem my words as naught and take many of them from the book which thou shalt write, behold, I will raise up another like unto thee; and they shall be had again among the children of men--among as many as shall believe. 42 (These words were spoken unto Moses in the mount, the name of which shall not be known among the children of men. And now they are spoken unto you. Show them not unto any except them that believe. Even so. Amen.)