1 AND Adam hearkened unto the voice of God, [ Was obedient to the commandments of God. ] and called upon [ Asked, enticed. ] his sons [ Is this meant as just sons, or does he mean children. Sons from the standpoint that they might need to be the leaders(holders of the priesthood - patriarchs). ] to repent. [ What did repentance look like to Adam? Adam transgressed in the garden, but did God get made at him? No. God simply taught him that because of the transgression that thing would be different. In other words, that Adam had chosen a different path that the one that he was on in the garden. So maybe another way of looking at repentance from Adams eyes was "Follow the commands of God, if not you will have learning and growing experiences coming from a different direction." Adam was not cursed by God, while his circumstances where definitely changed. So in Adam's eye he does not see God as someone who is trying to punish us for making mistakes, but we need to grow from them. He recognizes that he is on the earth to become like God and then return to God. It is a learning period. So repentance in a way to Adam, means try to be more like God everyday. If we are not like God today we do not need to feel ashamed (as Satan would want us to feel) we just need to reach out to him, for his help, we need to come unto him. ]

2 And Adam knew his wife again, and she bare a son, and he called his name Seth.[ Adam, having lost Abel who was slain by Cain, needed a new patriarch (Abel was the son who had the birthright, was the grand patriarch for the family and the priesthood leader under Adam.). Remember that the other children of Adam and Eve have already rejected the gospel. So Eve gets another son, named Seth(Seth means replacement), to carry on his work. From him comes that line of successors in the priesthood, duly registered in the Book of Life, from which the wicked were excluded. (Moses 2:5–8.) Seth was born 130 years after the fall of Adam and Eve, lived a total of 912 years, referred to as "perfect man" and looked just like Adam and could only be distinguished from Adam by age D&C 107:43. So look how diabolical Satan is. He waits for Cain to kill Abel until Eve would appear to be beyond her child bearing years. So in Satans mind he thinks well all of the other children of Adam are not part of the gospel, nor do they hold the priesthood. Abel is the grand patriarch and the only one left. So if I kill Abel there is no way for Christ(which was designed in the beginning) to come forward and save man, because Abel is dead, Cain has now made his bed to follow Satan as well as the rest of Adams children. ] And Adam glorified the name of God; [ This is kind of interesting here. Adam could have been mad at God for letting this happen, after all why did God not stop it. But no, Adam is teaching us that it was not God, That Cain had his agency, that Cain was the one who made the choice. ] for he said: God hath appointed me another seed, [ That is what the name Seth means is replacement. So God has given Adam a substitute for Able. Abel had been chosen to carry the responsibilities of the priesthood to succeeding generations. But after he was murdered, Seth was selected as the chosen son to carry this sacred responsibility. D&C 107:42 He was ordained at 69 giving Seth plenty of time to prove himself before he was given the priesthood - which provided for his own endowment from the Lord in the next verse. ] instead [ To replace, in place of. So as a result Seth becomes the new grand patriarch. ] of Abel, whom Cain slew.

3 And God revealed himself unto Seth, [ Received his own endowment from God. Symbolic of his righteousness. So Seth becomes the new patriarch. That is why the patriarchal line always goes Adam, Seth, Enos... The Patriarchal Law of Inheritance in the Old Testament put forth that the first ‘righteous’ son would receive the birthright, becoming the Grand Patriarch with Melchizedek authority. The book of Genesis discusses both a firstborn son and a birthright son. In most cases, these should be the same son, but the birthright responsibility is to be passed to the first righteous son, as in the case of Jacob or Israel and his sons. Ruben was the firstborn son, but Joseph became the birthright son. Esau was the firstborn son of Isaac, but Jacob became the birthright son. Ishmael was the firstborn of Abraham, but Isaac became the birthright son. The firstborn son of Joseph (who was sold into Egypt) was Manasseh, but the birthright son was Ephraim. Cain was the firstborn in the gospel (who had accepted it) but Abel was chosen to be the Grand Patriarch, the priesthood leader and birthright son. This righteous and chosen Grand Patriarch was to lead and direct his father’s family as a prophet, stand as a priest in providing and performing the ordinances of salvation and exaltation that were required, and act in the responsibilities of a king in providing for the temporal needs and the protection of his father’s family. ] and he rebelled not, [ He was obedient to the commands of God. ] but offered an acceptable sacrifice, [ He was humble submissive and obedient. He did not try to change the ways of God. He just did what he was told to do. ] like unto his brother Abel. And to him also was born a son, and he called his name Enos. [ So according to Levirate law Seth would have married Ables' wife and their first born son would belong as a descendant of Able. ]

4 And then began these men to call upon the name of the Lord, , [ They were trying to be good righteous men. They learned that if they wanted to know what God wanted of them then they would need to learn to approach God in prayer. Adam taught them how he was able to just converse with God directly while he was in the Garden of Eden. But since the fall he was no longer in the presence of God as such he would have to learn to pray. ] and the Lord blessed them;

5 And a book of remembrance [ The kept a record of the revelations that God had given them about himself, the plan of salvation including how the atonement would come about, These were the beginning of what we now know as the scriptures. I don't think that there is any mention of this in epic Genesis. ] was kept, in the which was recorded, in the language of Adam, [ Adamic language - while the language is not known to man today we do have a few words from the scriptures D&C 78:20; 95:17. A pure and undefiled language is one that cannot be misunderstood. It was the Adamic language, or the language Adam was taught by God. Not only is it a language that could not be misunderstood, but it was also possible for the actual feelings to be conveyed in the language. This was recorded in the homeland in which Enoch dwelt. One curious Dead Sea Scroll, dug up 110 years after Joseph dictated this, describes a book given by Seth to his heir Enosh, Enoch's great-great-grandfather: The law is etched by God for all ... sons of Seth. And the Book of Memory is inscribed before him (God) for those who observe his word ... And he [Seth?) bequeathed it to Enosh with the people of the spirit... (Wacholder, 2.66, lines 15-16) The Greek Apocalypse of Enosh says that after receiving this sacred book from Adam, Enosh was commanded by an angel to add to it. The angel says to "write down all these hidden things" (aron@upa, "apocrypha"). The angel then reveals that the book of Adam Enosh is entrusted with is made of Truxas xands, "ptychas chalkas," or "copper-alloy plates." ( By the way, brass is also a copper-alloy ) Last, Enosh is told to huck 'em in the woods. "Write down all the hidden things upon the (prychas chalkas] tablets and deposit them in the wilderness." ] for it was given unto as many as called upon God to write by the spirit of inspiration; [ It was a pretty common thing for those who would take the time to call upon God. ] [ What do you think he means by that? That they were to keep a journal; to document their experiences with the Lord and his hand in their lives. ]

6 And by them [ Adam and Eve. ] their children were taught to read and write, [ God himself taught them how to do this as God wrote with his own finger records for Adam and Eve and gave it to them, from there they were taught the pattern of how to write and read.(Moses 6:46) Showing that they were educated from the beginning. Having written language allows things to be passed down in a more accurate manner(more consistent over oral traditions). ] having a language which was pure and undefiled. [ So it must have not been english either - ha ha. ]

7 Now this same Priesthood, [ The Patriarchal Priesthood that was held by Adam and his righteous sons and posterity. This familial, patriarchal order of the priesthood, which we all enter into as we receive the ordinances of the temple. Elder Renlund spoke about what the priesthood is. He spoke about the rocket and the payload. You have the rocket, its whole purpose is to deliver the payload. And so, he described the rocket as priesthood, the payload being the atonement of Jesus Christ. And so here, the purpose of the priesthood is to launch, here's his words, "To launch and deliver the opportunity to benefit from Christ's Atoning power." "Anytime we are using the priesthood, it is with that purpose in mind; deliver the Atoning power of Jesus Christ into the lives of other people." Joseph taught that were three Priesthoods: Patriarchal, Melchizedek and Aaronic. All power and keys lie within the Melchizedek Priesthood, but that which was in the beginning was the Patriarchal Priesthood, and it will be the same Priesthood at the end of the world because all of the Melchizedek Priesthood Keys will be given back to Christ. There is no Melchizedek Priesthood in the hereafter. God does not have Priesthood anyway—He has power. That power is inherent within Him because He is God. When authority is used to act in God's name we call that Priesthood. A Priest is someone who functions between God and man. “Hood” is the authority to function for and behalf of God to mankind. *(TPJS p 323) ] which was in the beginning, [ Was with God during and before the creation Alma 13:3. ] shall be in the end of the world also.

8 Now this prophecy Adam spake, as he was moved upon by the Holy Ghost, [ He taught the gospel to his children. ] and a genealogy was kept of the children of God.[ Showing each of them their heritage, that they were part of an eternal family and most likely kept a record of the ordinances performed for each one as well. Adam had lived in the presence of God, he was created by God so this genealogy would include the knowledge that they were if they were Adams direct children only one generation away from God and his likeness. ] And this was the book of the generations of Adam, saying: In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him;

9 In the image of his own body, male and female, created he them, and blessed them, and called their name Adam, [ We see from the verses (Moses 2:27; Abraham 4:27) that Man is created in the image of God’s own body, and woman is also created from the image of God, and they together were called Adam. Adam means mankind; but this is also symbolic that God called them as one - (Mr and Mrs Adam) each with their own responsibilities; but together as one. ] in the day when they were created and became living souls [ Joined the spirit with a physical body D&C 88:15. ] in the land upon the footstool of God. [ Or the earth. ]

10 And Adam lived one hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his own image, and called his name Seth.

[ From this we see that Abel had been killed before this, and it was possible for Adam to have had kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids before Seth was born. NOTE that from this point on to verse 26 every person for the first thousand plus years either lived in the Garden and saw the Father first hand, or personally was ordained and spoke with Adam who lived in the garden and personally was in the presence of God. How strong the testimony must have been, having received it from Adam himself. see Lectures On Faith Lecture 2:36-56. ]

11 And the days of Adam, after he had begotten Seth, were eight hundred years, and he begat many sons and daughters;

12 And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years , [ Now when Noah had lived three hundred and fifty years after the Flood, and that all that time happily, he died, having lived the number of nine hundred and fifty years. But let no one, upon comparing the lives of the ancients with our lives, and with the few years which we now live, think that what we have said of them is false; [ or in other words do not suppose that their years were shorter as that is not correct they were as long as ours] or make the shortness of our lives at present an argument, that neither did they attain to so long a duration of life, for those ancients were beloved of God, and [lately] made by God himself; and because their food was then fitter for the prolongation of life, might well live so great a number of years: and besides, God afforded them a longer time of life on account of their virtue, and the good use they made of it in astronomical and geometrical discoveries, which would not have afforded the time of foretelling [the periods of the stars] unless they had lived six hundred years; for the great year is completed in that interval. (Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews - Book 1, chapter 3, verse 9 ) See also Wilford Woodruff in James R Clark Messages OF tHE First Presidency Vol 3 pg 319. ] and he died. [ According to the Greek Life of Adam and Eve 7:19 Eve will die some 6 days later (still within the day of the Lord). ]

13 Seth lived one hundred and five years, and begat Enos, and prophesied in all his days, and taught his son Enos in the ways of God; wherefore Enos prophesied also.

14 And Seth lived, after he begat Enos, eight hundred and seven years, and begat many sons and daughters.

15 And the children of men were numerous upon all the face of the land. And in those days[ Or in the days of Seth, and form that time forth. So this is the period of time whne things really start to spin out of control. ] Satan had great dominion among men, and raged in their hearts; and from thenceforth came wars and bloodshed; and a man’s hand was against his own brother, in administering death, because of secret works, seeking for power.

16 All the days of Seth were nine hundred and twelve years, and he died.

17 And Enos lived ninety years, and begat Cainan. [ So he would be the great-great-grandson of Adam. ] . And Enos and the residue of the people of God came out from the land, which was called Shulon, and dwelt in a land of promise, [ First mention of a land of promise - or a land dedicated to those who wanted to worship God so they could receive the promised blessings. ] which he called after his own son, whom he had named Cainan.

18 And Enos lived, after he begat Cainan, eight hundred and fifteen years, and begat many sons and daughters. And all the days of Enos were nine hundred and five years, and he died.

19 And Cainan lived seventy years, and begat Mahalaleel; and Cainan lived after he begat Mahalaleel eight hundred and forty years, and begat sons and daughters. And all the days of Cainan were nine hundred and ten years, and he died.

20 And Mahalaleel lived sixty-five years, and begat Jared; and Mahalaleel lived, after he begat Jared, eight hundred and thirty years, and begat sons and daughters. And all the days of Mahalaleel were eight hundred and ninety-five years, and he died.

21 And Jared lived one hundred and sixty-two years, and begat Enoch; [ Who will be ordained by Adam at the age or 25 D&C 107:48 then called by the Lord on a special mission at age 65. He will be faithful and preach the gospel for 365 years before the city of Enoch is translated At this time Enoch will be 430 years old Moses 8:1. Enoch (Henoch) is “the one-and-only,” Greek hen, “one,” Latin unicus, “only, sole”; but at the same time he is Everyman, the universal “I,” from the Semitic anokh. He is often identified with Enosh, “the Man” or human being par excellence. The name Enoch is usually derived from the root ḥanakh, meaning basically to taste, hence to test, “to give attention to”; from this is derived, in turn, the idea of teaching or training, designating Enoch as the “first vehicle of . . . the genuine gnosis.” A related meaning is “to consecrate,” making Enoch the “consecrated one, from whom authentic solutions [are] to be expected touching the secrets of this world and the one beyond.” This puts the figure of Enoch, A. Caquot avers, “in the center of a study of matters dealing with initiation in the literature of Israel.” Enoch is the great initiate who becomes the great initiator. ] and Jared lived, after he begat Enoch, eight hundred years, and begat sons and daughters. And Jared taught Enoch in all the ways of God. [ Enoch’s mortal father, Jared, taught him all the ways of God. Taught by his father just as Nephi... He was taught the path to repentance just as Adam taught his children (see vs 1). His is the independent intelligence always seeking further light and knowledge. He is the great observer and recorder of all things in heaven and earth, of which God grants him perfect knowledge. The great learner, he is also the great teacher: Enoch the Initiator into the higher mysteries of the faith and secrets of the universe; Enoch the Scribe, keeper of the records, instructor in the ordinances, aware of all times and places, studying and transmitting the record of the race with intimate concern for all generations to come. He offers the faithful their greatest treasure of knowledge. He is the seer who conveys to men the mind and will of the Lord.Enoch is the great advocate, the champion of the human race, pleading with God to spare the wicked and “refusing to be comforted” until he is shown just how that is to be done. For his work Enoch is endowed with power—the power of the priesthood. (D&C 107:48) ]

22 And this [ The previous verses. ] is the genealogy of the sons of Adam, who was the son of God, [ Son of God in the sense that he was righteous; son of God in the since that he was the first man D&C 84:16; God created him spiritually and physically. ] with whom God, himself, conversed. [ Because they were taught to remember their identity, their relationship with God, after all they were the sons of God. We will find here shortly that they begin to loose their identity as sons of God and become carnal, sensual and devilish vs 49. ]

23 And they [ The sons of God. ] were preachers of righteousness, [ They were "watchers" they were given the assignment to watch over each other by Adam. This list would also include Noah along with whom Enoch shared the common mission of warning mankind against the coming Flood; the Enoch story overlaps with the Noah story in a way that scholars have found disturbing and have attributed to bungling and confusion. Here the Joseph Smith version in the book of Moses proves most enlightening, for while the same overlapping is very apparent, it is also explained with perfect clarity. The trouble is that God addresses Enoch as if he were Noah and Noah as if he were Enoch. “At a very early date,” writes Van Andel, “the Noah Tradition and the Enoch Tradition are interwoven. The connection lies in the figures themselves. Their righteousness shows much similarity and their works make them interesting both for an Enoch-circle and a Noah-circle.”(Van Andel, Structuur, p. 119. As Noah preaches the first end, so Enoch Redivivus preaches the second end of the world; both take a special position between heaven and earth; Noah as Preacher of Righteousness was identified by the early Christians with Enoch, etc.) The points of resemblance between the two figures—their preaching mission, their speaking with God face to face, their importance as key figures in “a turning point in history,” and so on, suggest “how easily the Noah Tradition can be woven through that of Enoch and vice versa. ”(Van Andel, Structuur, p. 117. As Noah preaches the first end, so Enoch Redivivus preaches the second end of the world (25); both take a special position between heaven and earth (29); Noah as Preacher of Righteousness was identified by the early Christians with Enoch (83), etc.) “Which of the two traditions is older,” Van Andel leaves for further investigation, (Van Andel, Structuur, p. 41-42. As Noah preaches the first end, so Enoch Redivivus preaches the second end of the world (25); both take a special position between heaven and earth (29); Noah as Preacher of Righteousness was identified by the early Christians with Enoch (83), etc.) but the mixing of the figures accounts for the mingling of the texts, suggesting to R. H. Charles that the book of Enoch is “built up on the debris of” an older Noah saga. (R. H. Charles, The Book of Enoch (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1912), xlvii.) Sir F. G. Kenyon, on the other hand, gives priority to Enoch at least in the Michigan Codex “in its original state . . . containing a fragment of a Book of Noah, of which other portions are interspersed elsewhere in Enoch. ”(F. G. Kenyon, The Chester Beatty Papyri (London: Emery Walker Ltd., 1941) fasc. VIII, Enoch and Melito 8.) Though scholars following the standard German procedure formerly insisted that the Noah elements were a corruption, an intrusion, or “Christian interpolations” in the Enoch text, (So A. Dillmann, cited in G. B., “Enoch,” in J.-P. Migne, Dictionnaire des Apocryphes, 2 vols. (Paris: J.-P. Migne, 1856) 1:395; thus Lagrange, cited by J. B. Frey, “Apocryphes de l’Ancien Testament,” in L. Pirot, Dictionnaire de la Bible (Paris: Letouzey et Ane, 1928) 1:368.) they now recognize, as Jellinek did from the first, that “the Enoch- and the Noah-books belonged together”; (A. Jellinek, BHM 3:32—33; frg. XIV, 155—60; 2:83—108, 114ff.) after all, they were contemporaries and had the same mission. The Joseph Smith text shows how easily Noah and Enoch can trade places, a phenomenon so marked that some scholars now go so far as to maintain that “Enoch is really Noah. ”(R. Graves and R. Patai, Hebrew Myths: The Book of Genesis (New York: McGraw Hill, 1964), p. 119.) Parallel passages show how the two are consciously related: ] and spake and prophesied, and called upon all men, everywhere, to repent; and faith was taught unto the children of men. [ The principle of faith (faith that God has a plan for us - faith that there will be an atonement and a way back for each of us) was an important concept that Jared, a preacher of righteousness, taught his son Enoch. ]

24 And it came to pass that all the days of Jared were nine hundred and sixty-two years, and he died.

25 And Enoch lived sixty-five years, [ The great-great-great-great-grandson of Adam(seventh patriarch from Adam); at age 65 Enoch is called to preach vs 27; at this time Adam was 687 years old; Adam will live for 243 years of Enoch's preaching and the people of his day knew Adam see vs 45. ] and begat Methuselah. [ As far as we are told this is Enoch's only son, maybe his only child. ]

26 And it came to pass that Enoch journeyed in the land, among the people; and as he journeyed, the Spirit of God descended out of heaven, and abode upon him.

27 And he heard a voice from heaven, saying: Enoch, my son, prophesy unto this people, [ Enoch's call to preach. Just like God did with Moses he begins with my son. That teaching that he needs to understand if he is to do the Fathers work, the idea that he is a child of God. The story line from here to verse 68 will describe the LIfe and ministry of Enoch that we have no other place (except in some versions of the books of Enoch - none which were available in the time of Joseph Smith). ] and say unto them—Repent, for thus saith the Lord: I am angry with this people, and my fierce anger is kindled against them; for their hearts have waxed [ Grown. ] hard, and their ears are dull of hearing, [ They can or do not listen to the spirit - they are spiritually dead. ] and their eyes cannot see afar off; [ They cannot see things from and eternal perspective. How important is it to keep an eternal perspective on things? How does that change things? ] ]

28 And for these many generations, ever since the day that I created them, have they gone astray, and have denied me, [ They are slowly being lead away from God and following Satan. So Satan's plan is working. To reassure Enoch, the Lord gives justification for the mission, explaining, "[This people] have denied me." Notice how different this is from the Lord's words about Jeremiah's people who "have not known [him]." (Jeremiah 4:22) Enoch's cousins knew God quite well, they just consciously rejected everything about Him. Again, at first glance, this doesn't seem too strange. This comes off as generic Christian language. Except that this isn't the post-Christian period, and the idea of "denying" someone doesn't occur frequently in the Old Testament. Sarah "denies" laughing about bearing Isaac in her old age, to and Job decides not to "deny" the "God that is above." (Job 31:28) There are a few occurrences in Proverbs and elsewhere, but this phrase isn't common. Never does Lucifer, Lot, Sodom, Pharaoh, Goliath, David, Solomon, Jezebel of King Manasseh ever "deny" the Lord. Does that provide some sort of context into the state that the world is in during this period? There is additional description of how the people denied "the Lord of the Spirits", "denied the the name of the Lord of Spirits" as well as "His annointed". (All found in 1 Enoch) ] and have sought their own counsels [ Made their own decisions without asking God. ] in the dark; [ Which is without the light, or the light of God. ] and in their own abominations have they devised murder, [ It all starts when he begins under the influence of Satan to mock God with his offerring Moses 5:18,19; 29-31. ] and have not kept the commandments, which I gave unto their father, Adam. [ What was the reson for God giving the commandment to Adam in the first place? To keep him safe, to protect him, to enable him to be able to learn the thing of God that he might return to God. The comandments that Adam and Eve were given after the garden was to be obedient and multiply and replenish the earth. Both of these they were not doing ]

29 Wherefore, they have foresworn [ Previously made promises and covenants with God. ] themselves, and, by their oaths, [ Then they joined and took up the secret combinations of Satan Moses 5:51; 6:15. ] they have brought upon themselves death; [ Of both kinds physical and spiritual. ] and a hell I have prepared for them, [ The part of the spirit world known as "Spirit Prison" where the wicked suffer for their un-repented sins see Alma 40:11-14. ] if they repent not; [ So it is not too late for them to repent. ]

30 And this is a decree, [ When a decree is issued it must be carried out there is not wiggle room. If an ancient King did not fulfill his decree no matter how bad it was he would loose his power. ] which I have sent forth in the beginning of the world, from my own mouth, from the foundation thereof, [ Which took place in the premortal world. ] and by the mouths of my servants, thy fathers, have I decreed it, [ Stated the plan of salvation; and the gospel to which Enoch is being called to preach. ] even as it shall be sent forth in the world, unto the ends thereof. [ At some point everyone will know of it. ]

31 And when Enoch had heard these words, he bowed himself to the earth, before the Lord, and spake before the Lord, saying: Why is it that I have found favor in thy sight, and am but a lad, [ Only 65 years old. It is interesting to note that the word "lad" never appears in the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, nor in the rest of the Pearl of Great Price. This is the one and only time in all of Joseph's revelations that the word "lad" is used. As a matter of fact from the Joseph Smith Papers Project, we can find only one other time Joseph uttered the word "lad," and it was thirteen years after he revealed it here to describe Enoch. (2. JSP, Journal, December 1842-June 1844; Book 1, 21 December 1842-10 March 1843, p. 30, accessed November 4, 2024,https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/journal-december-1842-june-1844-book-1-21-december-1842-10-march- 1843/36?highlight=lad#source-note ) Basically, the word stands out as strange for Joseph. In 1835, Joseph doubled down, saying that "Enoch was twenty-five years old when he was ordained under the hand of Adam." That's young compared to the ordinations of Jared at 200 years old(D&C 107:46), Mahalaleel at 496(D&C 107:47) and even Seth, the "perfect man," at 96.(D&C 107:42-43). The Hebrew Enoch not only agrees with Joseph here, but it expands the description of Enoch's juvenility. When Rabbi Ishmael sees a vision of Enoch in heaven, the surrounding angels call Enoch or "Na'ar." (3 Enoch 2:2) This appellation is so strange to bystander Ishmael that he asks, "Why do they call thee Na'ar' in the high heavens?" Enoch answers by reciting the same scene Joseph just described: “Because I am Enoch, the son of Jared ... For when the generation of the flood sinned ... the Holy One, blessed be He, removed me from their midst to be a witness against them ... As soon as [the angels saw me, they said before Him: "Lord of the Universe! What is this one that he should ascend to the height of heights?" .... And because I am small a youth among them in days, months and years, therefore they call me Na'ar. (3 Enoch 4:2-3, 7, 10). The Beit ha-Midrasch also takes special note of Enoch's junior station. Remember that Enoch wasn't just young compared to angels, he was young compared with the centuries-old Sons of Seth against whom he was called to preach. Enoch worries: I am small ("gatan", young in the midst of them [the Watchers of vast age, to whom he was sent], and am but a lad among them in days and months and years; in view of which they call me 'Lad'. (BHM vol. 5, p 172) Ancient Hebrew writings "represent Enoch] as a youth," according to the Jewish Encyclopedia.(see under “Metatron”) Whow another grreat guess by Joseph Smith. The nickname, "lad," is further evidence of the great abomination, perpetrated by the sons of Seth. How long had it been since someone was born? How long since a baby survived? That the 65-year-old Enoch is such a remarkable thing? Had there been no births in 65 years? Is the adult population too far gone, such that God has to call a young Lad as the only hope for righteousness? ] and all the people hate me; [ I am sure - have you ever noticed how wicked people hate and try to make life miserable for those who try to keep the commands and be good. So Enoch is kind of saying I have just tried to keep the commandments and be good and I am hated bad enough - going out and preaching and calling people to repentance well it is only going to make my life more miserable. ] for I am slow of speech; [ This record is being delivered by the hand of Moses. Enoch just like Moses suffered from a speech impediment so severe that nobody expected he could follow the pattern of his patriarchal forefathers in becoming a powerful preacher of righteousness. But God Himself called Enoch to go forth and open his mouth in proclaiming the gospel to mankind and as Enoch did so, his words flowed forth with such eloquence and power that "fear came on all them that heard him," and "the people trembled, and could not stand in his presence" (Moses 6:39, 47). He even did a good enough job that "the Lord came and dwelt with his people" (Moses 6:18-19), and it was a city so beloved by God that he finally took it up from this world to a higher realm: "and lo, Zion, in the process of time, was taken up into heaven" (Moses 7:21) What do you think that Moses felt here? How well do you think that he could relate as he was slow of speech as well see Exodus 3-4; (3:11; 4:1,10] wherefore am I thy servant? [ But I wil humbly do as you command. ]

32 And the Lord said unto Enoch: Go forth and do as I have commanded thee, and no man shall pierce thee. [ I will protect your life. Enoch was given divine protection against Satan and those who would seek to do him harm. ] Open thy mouth, and it shall be filled, [ I will give you the speech when you need it; but you have to go forth with faith and open your mouth. This would have been a real challenge for Enoch, who was slow of speech (vs 31). The next chapter(Moses 7:13) records the fulfillment of this promise. Perhaps this might also be related to an ancient ceremony known as the “Opening of the Mouth,” which was prominently practiced among the Egyptians and other societies. It involved washing and anointing various body parts with water (often mixed with natron) and oil in order to restore or preserve their proper functions, which can be compared to the washing and anointing rituals in Latter-day Saint temples. ( Jeffrey M. Bradshaw, “The Book of Moses as a Temple Text,” Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-Day Saint Faith and Scholarship 49 (2021): 63–112.) Nibley further explains that the “rite is called the Opening of the Mouth because that must come first, that being the organ by which one may breathe, receive nourishment, and speak …. So the mouth comes first; but to rise above mere vegetation, life must become conscious and aware, so that the opening of the eyes immediately follows.” This sequence is rather striking because in the Book of Moses the Lord’s injunction for Enoch to open his mouth was closely followed by an anointing ordinance intended to open his eyes to the spiritual realm (Moses 6:35–36).(Nibley, The Message of the Joseph Smith Papyri, 179.) ] and I will give thee utterance, for all flesh is in my hands, [ I have the power to help you. ] and I will do as seemeth me good.

33 Say unto this people: Choose ye this day, to serve the Lord God who made you.

34 Behold my Spirit is upon you, wherefore all thy words will I justify; and the mountains shall flee before you, [ Mountains will be moved at his command Moses 7:13. ] and the rivers shall turn from their course; [ Moses 7:13 ] and thou shalt abide in me, and I in you; [ We will be a team your confidence will be strong in my presence D&C 121:45. ] therefore walk with me. [ This is a hint of what is coming up—what kind of power Enoch will have in the land. It was during the time of Enoch that natural calamities and disasters began to shake the whole earth. These calamities continued until the time of Abraham. The lands began to separate in the time frame between Noah and Abraham, as in the “days of Peleg” (Gen 10:25). The whole surface of the earth began to change and move constantly. The great winds that drove the vessels of the Jaredites across the ocean to the Promised Land soon after the Tower of Babel was constructed were a result of this upheaval. ]

35 And the Lord spake unto Enoch, and said unto him: Anoint thine eyes with clay, and wash them, and thou shalt see. And he did so. [ The Lord asks Enoch to do something simple to see if he is obedient - which Enoch does. Just as the Savior does with the blind man in John 9:6-7. ]

36 And he beheld the spirits that God had created; and he beheld also things which were not visible to the natural eye; and from thenceforth came the saying abroad in the land: A seer [ One who see's with spiritual eyes, one who perceives that which is obscure to others; an interpreter and clarifier of eternal truths past present and future. Mosiah 8:17 "Wherefore, we again say, search the revelations of God; study the prophecies, and rejoice that God grants unto the world Seers and Prophets. They are they who saw the mysteries of godliness; they saw the flood before it came; they saw angels ascending and descending upon a ladder that reached from earth to heaven; they saw the stone cut out of the mountain, which filled the whole earth; they saw the son of God come from the regions of bliss and dwell with men on earth; they saw the deliverer come out of Zion, and turn away ungodliness from Jacob; they saw the glory of the Lord when he showed the transfiguration of the earth on the mount; they saw every mountain laid low and every valley exalted when the Lord was taking vengeance upon the wicked; they saw truth spring out of the earth, and righteousness look down from heaven in the last days, before the Lord came the second time to gather His elect; they saw the end of wickedness on earth, and the Sabbath of creation crowned with peace; they saw the end of the glorious thousand years, when Satan was loosed for a little season; they saw the day of judgment when all men received according to their works, and they saw the heaven and the earth flee away to make room for the city of God, when the righteous receive an inheritance in eternity." Teachings Of The Prophet Joseph Smith pg 12-13. We might ask ourselves why does Enoch recieve this vision? Why now? Usually God provides context to his prophet as he is about to change things? Elisha saw the angelic army because he was about to be thrown into battle. Jeremiah saw the branches of a tree because the branch of Israel's tree was about to be broken off. Lehi saw the destruction of Jerusalem when Jerusalem was about to be destroyed. What about Enoch's ministry requires him to see the spirits of the unembodied? A clue comes from the Ethiopian Enoch, which describes the wicked Sons of Seth who "taught enchantments, and root-cuttings." Suddenly "men perished, they cried, and their cry went up to heaven." (1 Enoch 8:1) Then "the souls of men" made their petition to the angels who relay the message: The souls of those who have died are crying and making their suit to the gates of heaven ... and Thou dost not say to us what we are to do to them in regard to these. (1 Enoch 9:1) So the sons of Seth teach the root-cuttings, because of which men die, and their souls cry up to angels who don't know what to do with them. Perhaps of note is that the outcry is coming from those "who have died," not those "who were slain." Enoch doesn't mention any battles before this point. It almost sounds like their cause of death is the root-cutting. The language here is tricky. The angels here sound perplexed: "What are we to do in regard to these?" Like this is something the heavens were unprepared for. Victims of war is one thing, but what do we do "in regard to these"? The Plan was being thwarted. atan was preventing mankind from birth. Including the Savior. Jehovah could not take on a mortal form. If Jehovah could not be born, then he could not die, and if He couldn't die, He couldn't liberate the spirits stranded in the spirit world. So the Lord prepared Enoch by showing him. the unborn and the dead, both of which depended on the Flood cleaning the earth. Following the Plan-pinching abominations of the Sons of Seth, this is exactly the vision that Enoch would need. Now with clarity, Enoch could "testify ... against their works." (Moses 6:37)] hath the Lord raised up unto his people.

37 And it came to pass that Enoch went forth in the land, among the people, standing upon the hills and the high places, and cried with a loud voice, t [ Isaiah uses similiar language in Isaiah 21:8. ] testifying against their works; and all men were offended because of him. [ He’s just doing his job! No one really likes to be called to repentance because it hurts; especially the wicked. ]

38 And they came forth to hear him, [ It’s interesting that even though Enoch offends everyone, they all still go out to hear him prophesy. ] upon the high places, saying unto the tent-keepers: T [ Bibically speaking "keeper" implies some kind of guard. So without knowing so Joesph has identified that these "tent-keepers" are guarding something. Extra bibical texts suggest that they might be guarding the wives of others in whom they have abucted, and held possibly as sex slaves. (1 Enoch 102:9; Life Of Adam Chapter 16, pg 142.; Book of Giants fragment ) ] Tarry ye here and keep the tents, while we go yonder to behold [ See. ] the seer, for he prophesieth, and there is a strange thing in the land; [ If you do not know the spirit; but then you feel it the first time it is a stranger thing; and unknown thing. ] a wild man [ Something that they do not understand. He is wild to them because his teachings are foriegn, they make them feel things that they have not, or at least felt for hundreds of years maybe. ] hath come among us.

39 And it came to pass when they heard him, no man laid hands on him; [ As promised by the Lord vs 32. ] for fear came on all them that heard him; [ They recognized that he came with power and authority they knew that much, and that scared everyone to death. ] for he [ Enoch. ] walked with God. [How much confidence do you think he had if he walked with God? D&C 121:45 His confidence waxed strong in the presence of God - enabling him to perform miracles. He was invited to do so in vs 34. ]

40 And there came a man unto him, whose name was Mahijah, [ LDS scholar Hugh Nibley. In Worlds Without Number I write: In Hugh Nibley’s wonderful thirteen-part article published in The Ensign, titled “A Strange Thing in the Land: The Return of the Book of Enoch,” Part 13, he presents an astonishing link between the Joseph Smith revelation providing content from the original five-part Book of Enoch, which is currently in the Book of Moses in the Pearl of Great Price, and the Dead Sea Scroll Book of Enoch.35 In the Joseph Smith revelation, as Enoch was sent to the land of Mahujah to call the people to repentance, he was questioned directly by someone named Mahijah, thus providing him with an opportunity to teach the people and call them to repentance. Nibley explains, “What always impressed me as the oddest detail of the Joseph Smith account of Enoch was the appearance out of the blue of the name of the only non-biblical individual named in the whole book—Mahijah. (Moses 6:40.)” This is because in the Dead Sea Scrolls Book of Enoch, Mahijah is the name given for one of the Watchers—or a giant son of a Watcher. The fact is remarkable, because the Joseph Smith revelation version matches the Dead Sea Scroll version in a manner that is impossible to be a coincidence, thus proving to the world the revelatory authenticity of the Prophet Joseph Smith. It is also significant because it informs us that the Mahijah of Moses 6:40 was likely a Watcher, or the giant son of a Watcher, thus evidencing the existence of the Watchers. Also significant is the tie-in to beings who present themselves as Watchers. As we learn in our discussions below about victims of nightmarish “extraterrestrial” abductions, some of the abductors identify themselves as the “Watchers”—who claim to have watched over mankind and assisted humanity “since the beginning.” The story of Mahijah in v 40 becomes rather significant to Latter-day Saints. When the Dead Sea Scrolls (DSS) were discovered in 1947, one of the scrolls was named the Enoch Scroll. When this scroll was finally translated in 1976, there was a particular story that showed up. In the known ancient texts of the world to that point, there had not been any reference to a Mahijah. In fact, the name Mahijah did not exist other than in the Pearl of Great Price, in Moses 6:40, which came out in 1830. But in 1976, when Father J.T. Milik, a Catholic Priest and scholar, published his long-awaited translation of the Enoch Scroll (fragments, really), a rather interesting story was discovered, of one Mahijah being sent to Enoch to learn who he was and where he came from. In the ancient script, Mahijah is written so: MHWY. ] and said unto him: Tell us plainly who thou art, and from whence thou comest? [n a world where fertility is everywhere controlled-and strangled— and yet Enoch appears out of nowhere. He was born without sanction or control of the Watchers. Furthermore, he was not common in this generation, being a young lad compared to everyone else. Mankind had been cultivated and sterilized, yet here sprouted some wild human. In fact, Noah's birth recorded in the Genesis Apocryphon receives the same incredulity that Enoch's appearance does. Noah's father was so shocked that his wife gave birth that he "thought, in his heart, that the conception was the work of the Watchers, the pregnancy of the Holy Ones and that it belonged to the Nephilim." Noah's mother assures his father, "I swear to you ... that this seed, pregnancy, and planting of fruit comes from you." (Genesis Apocryphon Fragment 2, Column 2) The wicked rulers of the world, the sons of Seth whom Enoch calls "my brothers," (Livre of Adam p.142, 167) ask a very telling question of the "wild man": they demand he tell them "whence [he] comest." (Moses 6:40) This question exposes the sad reality the Watchers have created: a wild human birth is simply incredible.]

41 And he said unto them: I came out from the land of Cainan, [ "The promised land" given to Enoch and the righteous sons of God. vs 17. ] the land of my fathers, a land of righteousness unto this day. And my father [ Who was Jared vs 21. ] taught me in all the ways of God.

42 And it came to pass, as I journeyed from the land of Cainan, [ Enoch's home, a land of righteousness vs 41. ] by the sea east, [ Heads to the sea to the east. Enoch, attended the conference at Adam-ondi-Ahman, and journeyed from the land of Cainan, or that land by the sea east. That was about three years before Adam passed away. It was after that conference that Enoch began his ministry, being 68-69 years old. The area of the “sea east” is close to where the sacred grove is. Joseph Smith spoke of "Zelph", a “white Lamanite, a large, thick- set man and a man of God. He was a warrior and chieftain under the great prophet Onandagus, who was known from the hill Cumorah or the eastern sea to the Rocky Mountains.” (Joseph Smith, History of the Church 2: 79-80; Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 3: 239-240, Italics added.)] I beheld a vision; and lo, the heavens I saw, and the Lord spake with me, and gave me commandment; wherefore, for this cause, to keep the commandment, I speak forth these words. [ Enoch is obeying the Lord as he opens his mouth to speak the words the Lord gives him. Note the ease in which Enoch seems to speak - as promised by the Lord if he would open his mouth vs32. ]

43 And Enoch continued his speech, saying: The Lord which spake with me, [ Who commanded him to speak - so by what authority. ] the same is the God of heaven, [ And why God has the power to command him to speak. ] and he is my God, [ His identity is tied to God as his Eternal Father, maker he is a child of God - the same thing that Moses was taught when he first meet with God. ] and your God, [ Whether you like it of not. deal with it you will have to answer to him. You are children of God - this is the message; taught over and over. Yet we don't seem to accept it. ] and ye are my brethren, [ They are all the great great children of Adam; they are all the spiritual sons of God. They all know who Adam was. “Ye all have fallen away,” he says, “and are trying to destroy the nature and concept of the God that Adam taught us.” ] and why counsel ye yourselves, and deny the God of heaven? [ So why do you just not admit that you are children of God? Why do you continue to put distance between you and your heritage? Why do you choose to not honor your true identity? ]

44 The heavens he made; the earth is his footstool; [ All things on it are subject to his command. ] and the foundation thereof is his. [ He created it; formed it. ] Behold, he laid it, [ Brought it forth. ] an host of men hath he brought in upon the face thereof. [ He created man as well. ]

45 And death hath come upon our fathers; [ Because of the fall all men will die. ] nevertheless we know them, and cannot deny, and even the first of all we know, even Adam. [ Re-confirming that Adam was the first man, and that he lived during their time. They saw him and knew him personally, and that they cannot deny. This is the beginning of a new dispensation the dispensation of Enoch. Enoch starts teaching to correct the general apostasy that began back in Moses 5:12-13. ]

46  For a book of remembrance [ Enoch, we learn, had this book of Adam, and read it to the people, and handed it on with his own writing in the writings that Moses later edited and Joseph Smith finally translated: “Soon after the words of Enoch were given, the Lord gave the following commandment [December 1830]: ‘Behold, I say unto you that it is not expedient in me that ye should translate any more until ye shall go to the Ohio.'” (D&C 37:1) Would this have been the Book Of Adam and Eve? We know that Abraham had that book as part of the books he studied. (Abr 1:2) ] we have written among us, [ So here we have Enoc who is reading the books of Adam, the scriptures at the time, from them he is learning how to become righteous. It is through the scriptures that every spiritual revival in history comes forth. Here Enoch is beginning the dispensation of Enoch, a revival that will lead a people to become Zion and to becme translated. It is coming to understand the ways of God, the ways are that are always the same in which we will be able to gain salvation. So here we see that Enoch is teaching those same doctrines that were recorded by Adam from the beginning. ] according to the pattern given by the finger of God; [ So Jehovah actually wrote some of the earliest records with his own finger. Showing them how to write and read. ] and it is given in our own language. [ The Adamic language. In other words you can read it for yourself, it is available to you; for you to read and study. Like the scriptures today although at this point the language was clear there were no works or man in the process it was as it had come directly and undefiled from God. ]

47 And as Enoch spake forth the words of God, [ Note where he has started - the fall of man which is important to understand if we are to comprehend the plan of salvation, and the need for an atonement... The next twenty-two verses are all from this "book of remembrance." ] the people trembled, and could not stand in his presence. [ They are not beyond getting the point, for when Enoch speaks to them directly, “They could not speak nor could they raise their eyes to heaven for shame because of their sins and were condemned.” He showed them a book, as in the Joseph Smith version. (Moses 6:5, 8, 46.) You cannot deny, he says “for a book of remembrance [you] have written among [you]”; and when he showed them the book, they “could not stand in his presence.” (6:47.) This version says, “They could not speak nor raise their eyes to heaven for shame because of their sins when he showed them from the book.” ]

48 And he said unto them: Because that Adam fell, we are; [ We would not be here if Adam had not partaken of the tree of knowledge making him mortal and granting the ability to have blood and hence offspring. So we are a few hundred years from Adam leaving the garden and Enoch is teaching the plan of salvation to the children of men, because they have forgotten already. “Because Adam fell we exist,” reasons Enoch. He explains that because of the Fall we are all made partakers of misery and woe. He is trying to establish a need for a Savior. Whether we like it or not, Adam fell, and children are born into this lone and dreary world. Enoch is trying to establish a foundation or reason for the people to give ear to his words, just as Ammon and Aaron did in the Book of Mormon when teaching King Lamoni. (See Alma 18:34-39; 22:12-14). ] and by his fall came death; [ And so as with life came death as part of the plan. ] and we are made partakers of misery and woe. [ The trials, tribulations, temptations and challenges of life. ]

49 Behold Satan hath come among the children of men, and tempteth them to worship him; [ In reality very few people think that they are actually worship Satan. The idea he is conveying is this: if we are not worshipping God, then we are becoming carnal, sensual, and devilish. If we are not for God, then we are for Satan. Can you see that? If we know the commandments and don't keep them, then we are willfully rebelling against God (3 Ne 6:18). How does Satan subtly tempt men to worship him? The trap of transgression and sin, is that we begin seeing the world in ways that justify our transgressions and our sins. We find ways to justify why we did what we did. We find ways to blame others, or our circumstances, or our genetic tendencies, and so on. And what happens is that we lose sight of the extent of our responsibility for our transgressions. And when we lose sight of that responsibility of our agency, we lose sight of the need for repentance, and we lose sight of the need for the Savior. We saw Adam and Eve do it. "She brought it to me and I partook." And, "Satan came and tempted me and I partook." And this displacement of responsibility is so natural to us. I think that's what it's talking about when we become carnal, sensual, and devilish. We want to cover, John as you said, “We want to cover our sins,” quoting Section 121. And the Lord doesn't shame us and say, "See, you're hiding. You're right." He says, "Come. Be honest about what you yourself know. I am your Advocate. I am a Counselor and I speak the truth. Come be honest about it. And I will heal you a new heart I will give you. I will break you free of the bondage of the lies about both the sin and the justification of your sin." ] and men have become carnal, [ Without spirituality, worldly, materialistic. ] sensual, [ Sexually active - or immoral. ] and devilish, [ Evil and wicked. ] and are shut out from the presence of God. [ They by their own choice have quit talking to God through prayer. The second reason is that Satan (the great Accuser) has accused men of their sin, has made them feel down, out, despondent, separated from God because they are bad, that they need to hide from God. ]

50 But God hath made known unto our fathers that all men must repent. [ We all need to change our characters. Because they have become carnal, sensual and devilish vs 49. Repentance is the answer, we need change, we need to recognize our identity and come back to begin children of God, wanting to be like him, of continual renewal, of being changed, of being taught, of seeing the world different again. ]

51 And he [ God. ] called upon our father Adam by his own voice, [ So Enoch in order to establish Zion quotes to his people directly from the Book of Adam. This is what God taught Adam directly when he taught him the gospel three generations after he left the garden. ] saying: I am God; [ From here to verse 68 it is Adam telling us what God said directly to Adam. You could put quote marks from here to the end of verse 68 as Enoch is quoting from the Book Of Adam, what Adam said that God said to him. ] I made the world, and men before they were in the flesh. [ Or in our pre-mortal life he created us as spirits. ]

52 And he also said unto him: If thou wilt turn unto me, [ Or repent, To recognize me, accept me for whom that I say that I am. The Lord in a way is responding to the question from Adam "Why is repentance necessary". This is all new to Adam, he is learning line upon line, watch how the Lord leads him through the process to be able to return to him. Enoch is suppling the detailed information that was taught to Adam when he received the gospel. How does the Lord help us to turn to him? Through covenants. What are covenants? They establish a relationship. They affirm and confirm our connection with another party, in this case God. As a result the relationship is changed, because if you will do this then I will do that through a covenant. ] and hearken unto my voice, [ Obey. The Law of Obedience. The first step for Adam was to offer sacrifice which he has been doing, because he has been obedient to that command the angel is now giving him further light and knowledge. ] and believe, [ The first step. ] and repent of all thy transgressions, [ The second step. "Transgressions, not sins---they do not have the Gospel yet. ] and be baptized, [ This is the definition of the gospel as declared in D&C 30:6. Hear Enoch is reading from the Book Of Adam, how the gospel was taught to Adam by God directly. ] even in water, [ Immersed. ] in the name of mine Only Begotten son, who is full of grace and truth, [ Who has the power to save. ] which is Jesus Christ, the only name which shall be given under heaven, [ Heavenly Father is introducing Jesus Christ and his mission as he directly taught the gospel to Adam. The only one who has power to save us, and he only has one gospel on the earth. ] whereby salvation shall come unto the children of men, ye [ Or those that do this. ] shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, asking all things in his name, and whatsoever ye shall ask, it shall be given you. [ When a man has the gift of the Holy Ghost, he has that which is necessary to reveal to him every principle and ordinance of salvation that pertains unto man here on the earth. The question was asked by one of Adam’s sons when that first instruction was given to Adam, “Why be baptized of water?” In the following verses of scripture you find one of the most excellent summations and explanations of the initiatory ordinances of the gospel. Born Of The Spirit Harold B. Lee - Stand Ye in Holy Places: Selected Sermons and Writings of President Harold B. Lee. (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1975), p. p.47-65. ]

53 And our father Adam spake unto the Lord, and said: Why is it that men must repent and be baptized in water? [ Enoch takes an interesting coarse here, as he teaches them the first principles and ordinances. And then he says, "Adam had a question for the Lord." And it's almost as if he's answering the question his audience might have, which is, why? Why do I have to do these things? Why do we baptize? Almost as if his audience is like, "Hmm, I had that same question. I'm glad Adam had that question." Then he said, "Okay, well let me tell you what the Lord's answer was to, 'Why do we have to do these things?'" The answer is found in verse 55-60. ] And the Lord said unto Adam: Behold I have forgiven thee thy transgression in the Garden of Eden. [ Interesting where the Lord starts the answer from. First he puts Adams mind at easy by telling him that he has been forgiven of his transgression in the garden. That is, Adam and Eve had acted appropriately in the garden by eating the fruit thus opening the way for God's children to come to mortality. Therefore, the Lord forgave them unconditionally for their transgression in the garden: Adam and Eve did not need to repent of their eating of the forbidden fruit. Paul says the wages of sin is death, a physical death and a spiritual death—the physical death of the physical body, and separation from the presence of God, which is a spiritual death. The Lord tells Adam that he has forgiven Adam his transgression. That means these two deaths have been taken care of (by Christ) and he will not have to worry about them. That’s why when a child dies before the age of accountability, or the age for baptism, there is no spiritual death for that child. His exaltation is guaranteed. Why? Because the Lord has forgiven Adam his transgression committed in the Garden of Eden. It is all taken care of, and has been since the beginning, as Christ is the Lamb slain before the foundation of this world. The effects of the Fall have been taken care of for all; that is Grace. This is quite a statement. The doctrine of original sin has been a pillar of Christian thought since Augustine of Hippo first articulated it and the Council of Orange creedified it in 529 AD. Gratefully, after 500 years of cluelessness, Jesus' big mistake of not mentioning the original sin was corrected by Joseph Smith. Imagine the audacity of Joseph to correct Augustine correcting Jesus! ]

54 Hence came the saying abroad among the people, that the son of God hath atoned for original guilt, [ Adam's transgression in the garden. 2nd article of faith. ] wherein the sins of the parents cannot be answered upon the heads of the children, for they are whole [ Without sin, clean. So we are born into the world with a perfect spirit(Moses 6:54; D&C 93:38) and placed into our mortal body which is carnal. This is reversed at death when we are given a perfect body and the spirit(character) that we have become.] from the foundation of the world. [ So apparently Satan had already started the false doctrine that little children are born with sin. ]

55 And the Lord spake unto Adam, saying: Inasmuch as thy children are conceived in sin, [ Or in a sinful world, they come with a perfect spirit,(Moses 6:54; D&C 93:38) but their body is carnal, after a while we all constrain to sin as we are "born into a world of sin" In other words, we only sin because of the environment we are born into. Sin conceives in our hearts because we have seen, heard, or read about it. The natural man seeks only to satisfy his desires, appetites, and passions, thus giving the adversary power to captivate. A world with predispositions, or vulnerabilities, where we are susceptible, one that would incline us to do certain things, to taste the bitter. Because there is evil all around us, and because of the “natural man,” sin conceives in the hearts of everyone born on earth. It is not put there by Satan. It is put there by our own body's appetites, desires, and passions, and our choices to act on them. It is our own agency that will condemn or exalt us! It is not by compulsion. (See D&C 93:31) Joseph observed: “that Satan was generally blamed for the evils which we did, but if he was the cause of all our wickedness, men could not be condemned. The devil could not compel mankind to do evil; all was voluntary. . .God would not exert any compulsory means, and the devil could not; ...” (see TPJS p 187) Robert Millet once said, "Raise your hand if you are responsible for the Fall of Adam." And nobody raised their hand. And then he said, "Raise your hand if you have been affected by the Fall of Adam." And everybody raised their hand. And so I'm thinking, “All right, maybe that's what this means. We grow up, sin conceived in our hearts. We are fallen also.” Though Adam's transgression in the garden was unconditionally forgiven, the consequences of his transgression would have lasting effects upon all mankind. With the fall, the physical nature of Adam and Eve changed. They became mortal or natural, subject to all the ills of mortality including the capacity to sin. This mortal condition would be passed on to their children and therefore they would be "conceived in sin." Elder McConkie A New Witness for the Articles of Faith pg 101; "The natural birth creates a natural man, and the natural man is an enemy to God. In his fallen state he is carnal, sensual, and devilish by nature. Appetites and passions govern his life and he is alive -- acutely so -- to all that is evil and wicked in the world" (A New Witness for the Articles of Faith, p. 282). Meaning you have to have a predisposition for sin, right? Hormonally, and physiologically, and all of those things, so that you can taste the bitter to know to prize the good. And all these emotions that we have that make our lives hard in a sense, right? Do we have to have these sexual inclinations? They're really hard. And they start when I'm this young, and I'm not going to get married for ... What in the world is that all about? Right? Or all the things, like my anxious personality, my super conscientious, anxious person. I tend to be like, "Why do I have to have this predisposition towards that temperament?" You know? And yet it's the way we can experience the truth and prize the good. And that we need to be born again. It is like the Lord will begin answering by starting at the beginning. He says, "Listen, I wanted you to be born the way you were born. I wanted you to become mortal. I wanted you in this situation so you can grow up and taste the bitter, and prize the good. I want you to be an agent to yourself." Verse 56. "I want you to have the freedom to choose." So all of this is, everything that's happened so far is really good, but I don't want you to stay that way. I don't want you to stay carnal, and sensual, and devilish. I want you to experience it, but not stay that way. So here comes verse 57. "so now repent. So you can learn all the lessons from mortality, be cleansed from the problems of mortality and come back to me educated." This life is an educational experience. It's helping us taste bitter to know to prize the good. Learning, growing, with a covenant relationship assuring that we have a way back. ] even so when they begin to grow up, [ So they are not born with sin; but it comes to them as they begin to have sinful thoughts. We live in a sinful whole and so we end up having some of it rub off on us. We learned earlier in Moses that the devil “put it into the heart of the serpent and he spoke by the mouth of the serpent” (Moses 4:6-7). The scriptures tells us that he has the ability to lead away, get possession of, to harden, or even stir up the hearts of the people to anger (Alma 8:9; Alma 27:12; Hel. 16:22-23; 3 Ne. 2:2-3; Ether 15:19; D&C 10:32, 66). But nowhere do the scriptures say that he can control the thoughts of one's mind, which is different than one's heart. If he can, then I have an out—“The devil made me do it!” What v 55 is telling us is that because we are born into a sinful world, sin begins to conceive in our hearts. The only things that a person needs to sin is agency and a choice—that's all. Because we are born into a sinful world—it's all around us—sin conceives in our hearts. It is not because Satan put those things into your mind. That which is in your own heart is your character. You choose your thoughts and your actions based on what is in your heart (i.e. your character). This is what is crucial to understand. Until your character begins to change and you learn to overcome the natural man, you will be prone to choosing wickedness. ] sin conceiveth in their hearts, [ Again not because of Satan, but because of their own nature and the environment in which they live. ] and they taste the bitter, that they may know to prize the good. [ The part of the plan suggesting that must needs be opposition in all things 2 Ne. 2:11 In a certain sense, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil represents human agency and our mortal state. We exercise agency in response to law and thereby taste the fruits of good and the fruits of evil actions. We learn by our own experience what the consequences of good and evil taste like and can increasingly choose the good. The Lord explained it all to Adam, saying, “They taste the bitter, that they may know to prize the good” (Moses 6:55). That is what the tree is all about. It presents the great opposites—despair and delight, good and evil, virtue and vice, sorrow and joy. These are the fruits our choices produce. The tree stands before each of us, and it stands there all the time. Where can you go to get away from the tree in this life? Though many wish to avoid or deny the consequences of choice, the tree will give its fruits as we pick them—bitter or sweet. What fruits come from good? What fruits come from evil? ]

56 And it is given unto them to know good from evil; [ "them" - Adam's posterity. So when they are old enough to recognize the difference between good and evil. Elder James E. Talmage wrote: "A knowledge of good and evil is essential to the advancement that God has made possible for His children to achieve; and this knowledge can be best gained by actual experience, with the contrasts of good and its opposite plainly discernible" (Articles of Faith, p. 54). Mortality is necessary for obtaining the knowledge of good and evil. Elder Talmage said: "A knowledge of good and evil is essential to progress, and the school of experience in mortality has been provided for the acquirement of such knowledge" (The Vitality of Mormonism , p. 46). President George Q. Cannon declared: "It is for this purpose that we are here. God has given unto us this probation for the express purpose of obtaining a knowledge of good and evil--of understanding evil and being able to overcome the evil--and by overcoming it receive the exaltation and glory that He has in store for us" (Journal of Discourses, 26:190-191). In light of this, at the beginning of World War I, the First Presidency gave the following instruction to the Church: God, doubtless, could avert war, prevent crime, destroy poverty, chase away darkness, overcome error, and make all things bright, beautiful and joyful. But this would involve the destruction of a vital and fundamental attribute in man -- the right of agency. It is for the benefit of His sons and daughters that they become acquainted with evil as well as good, with darkness as well as light, with error as well as truth, and with the results of the infraction of eternal laws. Therefore he has permitted the evils which have been brought about by the acts of His creatures, but will control their ultimate results for His own glory and the progress and exaltation of His sons and daughters, when they have learned obedience by the things they suffer. The contrasts experienced in this world of mingled sorrow and joy are educational in their nature, and will be the means of raising humanity to a full appreciation of all that is right and true and good. (Messages of the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, vol. 4, pp.325-326). ] wherefore [ This is the reason. ] they are agents unto themselves, [ And can exercise their own agency; at that point they become accountable. because children have agency, they will need to be taught repentance? And that we are commanded to teach them to repent? see verse 58. ] and I have given unto you another law and commandment. [ Or so here is what you need to do. This is the first commandment after they have been given or taught the gospel. To show them (your children) that they need to repent vs 57. ]

57 Wherefore teach [ Adam , Eve it is now a commandment from me (God) that you teach your children. ] it [ The principles that I have taught you, that there is a Savior, that you have to repent, and be baptized and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. ] unto your children, that all men, everywhere, must repent, [ Repentance is a word that means ‘the process of changing character,’ i.e. being better than one was before. Repentance is the process upon which exaltation is founded. The word ‘repent’ in both Hebrew and Greek is an archery term that means to ‘take aim again’ having ‘missed the target’ which is the definition of the word 'sin'. To ‘take aim again’ is practice, trying to improve by recognition and habit, allowing for the change of character as our ability changes. Recognizing the need to ‘take aim again’ is an integral part of repentance. If the need for change is unrecognized, there will be no “will” or reason for the change of character. ] [ We all need to repent because we all make mistakes. ] or they can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God, [ The celestial kingdom. ] for no unclean thing can dwell there, [ So it is not just a casual place, a place where everyone will be. When you are in the celestial room of the temple do you ever consider what it took to get there? This is symbolic of what it will take to return and live in God's presence. God is in essence telling Adam, “Your children have agency, they are agents unto themselves and can choose good or evil. You are commanded to teach these things to your children. Teach them that they must repent, or they can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God, for no unclean thing can dwell there, or dwell in his presence.” If repentance is the process of changing our character, the Lord is telling Adam that unless we have the character of God, we cannot dwell in His presence. Joseph Smith also taught “If you wish to go where God is, you must be like God, or possess the principles which God possesses, for if we are not drawing towards God in principle, we are going from Him and drawing towards the devil.” (TPJS p 216). ] or dwell in his [ Our Father in Heaven's presence. This is one of the Eternal Laws - That no unclean thing can dwell in the presence of God. It is taught from the very foundation, so that man may understand that this is not negotiable. It is a Eternal Law. It is one of the first things that Lehi taught in (1 Ne 15:34; Again in 2 Ne 2:4; 3 Ne. 27:19 and Alma 42:13) ] presence; for, in the language of Adam, Man of Holiness is his name, [ Signifying that God is a Holy Man In the pure Adamic language. It is also interesting to note that of all the things that he could have called himself (king, ruler...) he chose "Man" of Holiness, What does that say about us? ] and the name of his Only Begotten is the son of Man, [How is God the son of Man? The "son of God" and the "son of Man" are synonymous... and the name of Christ, the son, is "son of Man of Holiness or son of Man as we are shown here. see Matt 9:6. The earliest use of this title "Son of Man" (man here means "King") that I can find in the scriptures comes from the Book Of Enoch(Enoch 46:1-3). Other references to that title include Daniel(), Abraham() and Christ himself() and all of them would have had available the Book Of Enoch. Enoch was given the title Son of Man as a descriptor for Jesus Christ. We find in written in the Book of Enoch 46:1-3 “And I asked the angel who went with me and showed me all the hidden things, concerning that Son of Man, who He was, and whence He was, (and) why he went with the Head of Days? And he answered and said unto me: This is the Son of Man who hath righteousness, with whom dwelleth righteousness, and who revealeth all the treasures of that which is hidden, because the Lord of Spirits hath chosen Him, and whose lot hath the pre-eminence before the Lord of Spirits in uprightness forever. (BoE 46:1-3)” So from these verses we can see that Enoch's angelic guide has declared that "the Son Of Man" is another name for Jesus Christ. This phrase is used by Daniel when he likens the person that he saw in his vision "like the Son of Man" (Daniel 7:13-14) as does Abraham when he described the individual who volunteered Himself to do the will of the Father as being “like unto the Son of Man.”  Therefore the phrase “like the Son of Man” or “like unto the Son of Man,” (Abr 3:27) used in these two examples promote the familiarity through an external source to which both prophets would have had access to that being the Book of Enoch. (Abr 1:31) This is also why Christ would have referred to himself as "the Son Of Man" because it was the messianic title that embodied the works and mission that would be preformed creation, example, atonement, resurrection, judgement(John 5:22-23,27) are all responsibilities that were given to the Son Of Man. Christ seems to use this title to place specific importance upon the subject matter He was teaching at the time, because the use of that title by Christ typically focuses on the prophecies of the Great and Terrible Day of the Lord and His latter-day responsibilities. There is no reason to belive otherwise than those Jews who heard Christ use this title would have been fully aware the title’s source and the bold declaration represented by the messianic prophecies for him as described in the Book of Enoch. ] even Jesus Christ, a righteous Judge, who shall come in the meridian of time. [ Reference to Christ's mortal mission on earth. In astronomy, the meridian is a north-south line passing exactly overhead that divides the sky in half. Meridian literally means “midday.” The sun culminates (reaches its high point) as it passes over the meridian. Time before that “passover” is called ante meridiem (A.M., or “before midday”), and afterward it is post meridiem (P.M., or “after midday”). The scriptural meaning of “the meridian of time” has been interpreted by Church leaders to be essentially the same as the astronomical meaning: that is, the coming of Christ marked the high noon, so to speak, of the earth’s temporal existence. Elder Bruce R. McConkie wrote, “The meridian of time is the middle or high point of that portion of eternity which is considered to be mortal time. Since Christ lived, ministered, and worked out the atonement in time’s meridian, such era was truly the high point of history.” ]

58  Therefore I give unto you a commandment, [ An assignment. ] to teach these things [ What things? That there is a Savior, That there is no original sin, that they need to repent and be Baptized and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. They need to be taught the plan of salvation. see vs 59. ] freely [ This does not mean without charge, but it does mean all of the time. They need to know they need to understand D&C 68 It is upon the heads of the parents to teach. We are to teach our children all the time because what we believe means nothing to them unless they gain their own testimonies. ] unto your children, saying: [ Or this is what I want you to teach(say to your children) them. ]

59  [ 1] That by reason of [ Because of Adam and Eve's. ] transgression cometh the fall, [ 2] which fall bringeth death, [ Both physical and spiritual as we are cut off from the presence of God. ] [ 3] and inasmuch [ Because. ] as ye were born into the world by water, and blood, and the spirit, [ The same three elements that are required to bring a mortal into the world; are the same three elements that are required to save use. Interesting! Water (amniotic fluid) = baptism (At the death of Christ atonement water gushed forth from his side.); blood (which accompanies natural birth)= atonement/repentance (blood was shed at the atonement in both Gethesamne and on the cross.); spirit (the joining of your premortal spirit with a body)= vs 60 by the spirit ye are justified( The Father and the Holy Ghosts presence were there in spirit during the atonement.). The one who baptizes representing the Lord, as Moses in his prophetic role represented the Lord. What does the baptizer do? Pulls you out of the water. It brings in all of the typology and the symbolism with that, which... It's just fantastic. Being pulled from the waters, that's something that happens at birth. You're pulled from amniotic fluid. We were born onto the earth; now we must be born again into the Kingdom of heaven, of water (Baptism), of the Spirit (Holy Ghost), and then be cleansed by the Blood of Christ by exercising faith unto repentance in order for sanctification. The Lord explains that even the blood by which we are cleansed is the blood of the Only Begotten, that we might be sanctified from all sin. That's the blood that cleanses, not the waters of baptism. Moses 6:60 also says, “by the Spirit ye are justified.” So it is the Spirit then that aligns us with God, much like how a word processor justifies text—bringing it into perfect alignment. The Holy Ghost helps us recognize when our lives are in harmony with God, and gently warns us when we stray. ] which I have made , [ Our premortal spirits which God has made Heb 12:9. ] and so became of dust a living soul, [ Body and spirit in combination become the soul D&C 88:15. ] even so ye must be born again [ Spiritually. ] into the kingdom of heaven, [ Celestial kingdom. ] of water, [ Through the ordinance of baptism. ] and of the Spirit, [ Sealed by the Holy Ghost. ] and be cleansed by blood, even the blood of mine Only Begotten; [ Through repentance - we must ask. In scripture we also see the three parallel, physical cleansings of the earth: by the flood (water - The Flood in Noah’s time) by the wind (Spirit - during the time of Nimrod and the confusion of the languages) by fire (blood - According to Revelation 17-18; Isaiah 13-14; 1 Ne 13-14; and according to Jeremiah 50-51, Babylon will be destroyed again. And this time it will be by fire. So we are waiting for the cleansing of fire, which will be the refiner's fire. We read in Malachi about the great and dreadful day of the Lord and that the possibility exists that we will all be burned (Mal. 4:1, 5).). ] that ye might be sanctified from all sin, [ This is the opportunity that you can have if you do these things. Through the atonement of Christ, who will provide the time that we need(because of his mercy) to change our character, so that we can prove that we are exercising faith in God by changing our characters to be become clean and pure enough to return to our Father in Heaven's presence. ] and enjoy the words of eternal life in this world, and eternal life [ The kind of life that God has. ] in the world to come, [ Or here are the opportunities that are available to you if you will do as I am asking you to do here. ] even immortal glory; [ What do you think was one of the first things that Adam and Eve wanted to do once they were removed from Gods presence? I think that they wanted to return, they wanted things to be like they were. I am guessing here but I believe that one of the things that they would have been praying for is, is this possible for us to return and what do we need to do to make that happen, so here is the answer to their prayers. ]

60 For by the water ye keep the commandment; [ Thru baptism you are obedient(this is why Christ was baptized(2 Ne 31:6)) to what God wants you to do, and that is to enter into a covenant with him to be obedient. "Baptism is a sign to God, to angels, [ The witnesses in heaven. ] and to heaven that we do the will of God, [ That we are entering into a covenant of obedience. ] and there is no other way [ That pretty much explains that there are no other options. ] beneath the heavens whereby God hath ordained for man to come to Him to be saved, and enter into the Kingdom of God" (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 197.) Baptism does not cleanse us from our sins. Baptism is an ordinance of obedience, not of cleansing. It is why baptism is the first ordinance received in the church. We cannot be disobedient unless we have made a covenant to be obedient. Obedience precedes knowledge, and then knowledge demands obedience. The more obedient we become, the more knowledge we are able to receive. ] by the Spirit ye are justified, [ The Holy Ghost. Just as a word processer justifies thing or lines them up so that they are in perfect harmony throughout the document. So we become justified or our lives become lined up - in harmony with God. to be made just, or free from guilt and sin. he Holy Ghost justifies us and lets us know if we are in the path, and we know if we aren’t because the Holy Ghost withdraws from us. So he justifies our path. He justifies our actions. He lets us know if we are still in the straight and narrow way. The Holy Ghost is the member of the Godhead whose power acts as a cleansing agent that removes guilt and sin from our lives 2 Ne 31:17. "I’ve struggled with that statement, and I have found a definition that seems to indicate to me what I’m sure the Lord intended to convey. The definition that I think is significant says: “Justify means to pronounce free from guilt or blame, or to absolve.” Now if the Spirit, the Holy Ghost, is to pronounce one free from guilt or blame, or to absolve, then we begin to see something of the office of the Holy Ghost that relates to the subject about which we are talking: what it means to be born of the Spirit." Born Of The Spirit Harold B. Lee - Stand Ye in Holy Places: Selected Sermons and Writings of President Harold B. Lee. (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1975), p. p.47-65 That is, to justify means to ratify, approve, confirm, or give authorized sanction of an action. All actions relative to the gospel, such as repentance, baptism, temple marriage, etc., must be justified through the Holy Ghost or they are not enforce after this life is over. The Lord has stated: "All covenants, contracts, bonds, obligations, oaths, vows, performances, connections, associations, or expectations, that are not made and entered into and sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, of him who is anointed, both as well for time and for all eternity, and that too most holy, by revelation and commandment through the medium of mine anointed, whom I have appointed on the earth to hold this power . . . are of no efficacy, virtue, or force in and after the resurrection from the dead" (D & C 132:7). Therefore when an action is "sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise" it is approved or ratified by the Holy Ghost as being legitimate. In General Conference, Elder Bruce R. McConkie, gave the following instruction regarding justification: "Now, to justify is to seal, or to ratify, or to approve; and it is very evident from these revelations that every act that we do, if it is to have binding and sealing virtue in eternity, must be justified by the Spirit. In other words, it must be ratified by the Holy Ghost; or in other words, it must be sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise. "All of us know that we can deceive men. We can deceive our bishops or the other Church agents, unless at the moment their minds are lighted by the spirit of revelation; but we cannot deceive the Lord. We cannot get from him an unearned blessing. There will be an eventual day when all men will get exactly and precisely what they have merited and earned, neither adding to nor subtracting from. You cannot with success lie to the Holy Ghost. "Now let us take a simple illustration. If an individual is to gain an inheritance in the celestial world, he has to enter in at the gate of baptism, that ordinance being performed under the hands of a legal administrator. If he comes forward prepared by worthiness, that is, if he is just and true, and gains baptism under the hands of a legal administrator, he is justified by the Spirit in the act which has been performed; that is, it is ratified by the Holy Ghost, or it is sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise. As a result it is of full force and validity in this life and in the life to come. "If an individual thereafter turns from righteousness and goes off and wallows in the mire of iniquity, then the seal is removed, and so we have this principle which keeps the unworthy from gaining unearned blessings. The Lord has placed a bar which stops the progress of the unrighteous; he has placed a requirement which we must meet. We must gain the approval and receive the sanctifying power of the Holy Ghost if eventually and in eternity we are to reap the blessings that we hope to reap. "The same thing that is true of baptism is true of marriage. If a couple comes forward worthily, a couple who is just and true, and they enter into that ordinance under the hands of a legal administrator, a seal of approval is recorded in heaven. Then assuming they do not thereafter break that seal, assuming they keep the covenant and press forward in steadfastness and in righteousness, they go on in the next world as husband and wife; and in and after the resurrection, that ordinance performed in such a binding manner here has full force, efficacy, and validity." (Conference Report, April 1956, p.65) ] ] and by the blood [ The refiner's fire. The blood is the Atonement of Christ. Through this we are sanctified. so, through the Atonement and as our garments will be washed clean in the blood of the Lamb. In this verse we see that the Lord is telling Adam that these cleansings, these baptisms, are each distinct, and are the three cleansings that we are to participate in: the water for obedience; the Spirit for justification, and the blood (the Refiners Fire) for sanctification (see JST John 1:28). ] ye are sanctified; [ See verse 59; thru the atonement you can become sanctified; or become holy and worthy of eternal life and immortal glory Moroni 10:32-33. ]

61 Therefore it [ The privilege of having the Holy Ghost to be with us. ] is given to abide in you; the record of heaven; [ The record that the Holy Ghost keeps on each of our lives, every action and thought "Our acts are recorded, and at a future day they will be laid before us, and if we should fail to judge right and injure our fellow-beings, they may there, perhaps, condemn us; there they are of great consequence, and to me the consequence appears to be of force, beyond anything which I am able to express. Ask yourselves, brethren, how much you have exercised yourselves in prayer since you heard of this council; and if you are now prepared to sit in council upon the soul of your brother." Teachings Of The Prophet Joseph Smith pg 69. ] the Comforter; the peaceable things of immortal glory; the truth of all things; that which quickeneth [ Brings to life. ] all things, which maketh alive all things; that which knoweth all things, and hath all power according to wisdom, mercy, truth, justice, and judgment.

62 And now, behold, I say unto you: This is the plan of salvation unto all men, through the blood of mine Only Begotten, [ These are the things Enoch is teaching those people who will establish Zion. ] who shall come in the meridian of time.

63 And behold, all things have their likeness, [ Are symbolic. ] and all things are created and made to bear record of me, both things which are temporal, and things which are spiritual; things which are in the heavens above, and things which are on the earth, and things which are in the earth, and things which are under the earth, both above and beneath: all things bear record of me.

64 And it came to pass, when the Lord had spoken with Adam, our father, that Adam cried unto the Lord, [ Prayed, asking for the blessings that had been described to him - ie the covenant of baptism. ] and he was caught away by the Spirit of the Lord, and was carried down into the water, and was laid under the water, and was brought forth out of the water. [ Adam is baptized by immersion - One of the saving ordinances of the gospel. ]

65 And thus he was baptized, and the Spirit of God descended upon him, and thus he was born of the Spirit, and became quickened in the inner man. [ This verse is the same as verse 9 In Moses 5. This is the definition of what it means to be born again. or another way of saying it is "It means to be quickened in the inner man.". ]

66 And he heard a voice out of heaven, saying: Thou art baptized with fire, and with the Holy Ghost. This is the record [ The mission and role of the Holy Ghost is to testify and witness. ] of the Father, and the son, from henceforth and forever;

67 And thou art after the order [ Adam receives the Holy Priesthood after the Order of the son of God. (D&C 107: 3). This Order of organization began with Patriarchs and Matriarchs who were given Patriarchal and Melchizedek authority. The Lord is instructing Adam, letting him know he is the first to be given this organizational authority. From here on out, Adam holds all of the Keys of the Gospel. The template of God, we are like him. Also; Adam held the priesthood Moses 6:7 - or the order in the Priesthood of God . The "Order" means high priest in the Melchizedek Priesthood as we know it today. Wilford woodruff quoted Joseph Smith saying "The Prophet Joseph taught us that father Adam was the first man on earth whom God gave the keys of the everlasting priesthood. He held the keys of presidency, and was the first man to did hold them" Discourses of Wilford Woodruff pg 66 Ezra Taft Benson (Quorum of the Twelve) When our Heavenly Father placed Adam and Eve on this earth, He did so with the purpose in mind of teaching them how to regain His presence. Our Father promised a Savior to redeem them from their fallen condition. He gave them the plan of salvation and told them to teach their children faith in Jesus Christ and repentance. Further, Adam and his posterity were commanded by God to be baptized, to receive the Holy Ghost, and to enter into the order of the son of God. (See Moses 6.) To enter into the order of the son of God is the equivalent today of entering into the fulness of the Melchizedek Priesthood, which is only received in the house of the Lord. Because Adam and Eve had complied with these requirements, God said to them, "Thou art after the order of him who was without beginning of days or end of years" (Moses 6:67). ("What I Hope You Will Teach Your Children About the Temple," Ensign 15 (August 1985): 8). ] of him [ Jesus Christ. ] who was without beginning of days or end of years, from all eternity to all eternity.

68 Behold, thou art one in me, a son of God; [ "one in me" is the word for atonement. Adam was baptized vs 64-65, and then received the priesthood Moses 6:7 also compare with D&C 34:4 so a son of God is one who has made covenants with God Baptism, Priesthood. " adam and eve had faith in God, repented of their sins, were baptized, received the Holy Ghost, were endowed and sealed in the new and everlasting covenant of marriage and received all of the ordinances of the house of God? Mortal Messiah Vol 1 pg 228-229. So in review here God is looking to make Adam a son of God in principle, in the things that he chooses to do as opposed to a son of man. (Gen 6:1-4, Moses 5:13, 7:1) ] and thus [ By applying the principles of faith and repentance and receiving the saving ordinances of the gospel. ] may all become my sons. [ This is the process for becoming one of his sons or daughters. Again the idea that we are born as the sons of men. We become sons of God by choice through the plan of salvation (see John 1:10-13; 1 John 3:2). sons and daughters D&C 76:24 live with him. Now we can go back and read the rest of the story in Moses 5:9. It is the gospel that gives us the power to become his sons and daughters. We also learn from the The Book of the Cave of Treasures that Seth was the "governor of the children of his people, and he ruled them in purity and holiness. And because of their purity they received the name." Which name did they receive? "The best of all names," or: "The Sons of God."(Treasure Fol.9a, Col.1). As well as this description of them "Thus lived those holy men, who were indeed holy, and their wives were pure, and their sons were virtuous, and their daughters were chaste and undefiled. In them there was no rebellious thought, no envy, no anger, no enmity." (Treasures Fol. 9b, col. 1) So we have this definition of "the sons of God" given two times, Treasures agrees with Joseph's version of the story. It would appear that these "sons of God" where priesthood holders who were ministering to the "children of men". They were a group of righteous sons and daughters who kept the commands of God to a very high level - a Zion people. ] Amen.