This is a complicated world full of distractions that can confuse us and push us away from the plan of salvation. (Moses 7)

7:1

Enoch is giving this speech shortly before he and his city is translated. This is about 50-60 years after Adam had died and is around 985 years since the Garden of Eden. It’s interesting to me that, when Enoch is giving this speech, Adam had been alive to most who were hearing this speech. Adam wasn’t a historical figure but the actual patriarch of everyone who was then living. So, when Enoch says, “our father Adam taught these things,” he’s not talking about someone long-gone but someone who they knew. They heard firsthand what Adam taught.

“And it came to pass that Enoch continued his speech, saying: Behold, our father Adam taught these things, and many have believed and become the sons of God, and many have believed not, and have perished in their sins, and are looking forth with fear, in torment, for the fiery indignation of the wrath of God to be poured out upon them.” There were two groups of people that Enoch is describing - those who believed and those who didn’t. Belief was the determining factor in the resulting condition of Adam’s descendants.

If you believed, you were the “sons of God.” If you didn’t believe, you perished in your sins. These are the two opposites ends of the spectrum in terms of consequence. Sons of God are those who inherit all that God has. Those who perish in their sins is the opposite of that. It’s not that they are destroyed literally but that their potential futures are destroyed. Through their own agency, they have judged themselves as unworthy or unwilling to progress. They have loved their sins more than they love righteousness. They must have had some major sins.

Or did they? Probably. But we shouldn’t think that they are terrible people and we’re fine. What sins are you perishing in? What sins are evidence that you’re openly rebelling against God? What little thing are you willing to allow you complete fidelity to what God wants for you? Where do you let your will and God’s will deviate? If it’s just a little thing, isn’t it more pathetic that you would rebel against God because of a little sin you happen to enjoy? Rather than judge them as wicked, we should productively consider what sins we are willing to perish in.

7:4

“And I saw the Lord; and he stood before my face, and he talked with me, even as a man talketh one with another, face to face; and he said unto me: Look, and I will show unto thee the world for the space of many generations.” This seems like a simple verse but it really makes the point that God is a man with a physical body. This is not believed by most of the Christian world. One of Satan’s greatest accomplishments is hiding the true nature of God.

I suspect that the council of Nicaea was a direct or indirect attempt to keep control over people by hiding the fact that God is knowable, close, reveals things and every single person can be like him. If the population believes that, how well do they subordinate to their local political leaders? So, this doctrine of who God is was an attempt to:

• Fix doctrine to preserve unity and authority.

• Settle this question so the empire survives”

• Stop destabilizing claims of revelation.

The result was that God becomes distant, heaven becomes closed, authority becomes political-theological, and the people are dependent on institutions rather than revelation

That is exactly the condition the Restoration claims to correct. I’m grateful that we have books like Moses that help us understand the true nature of God and, therefore, the true nature and potential of ourselves.

7:7

I am exhausted when I see the news and see how people are so divided. I can see an event with my eyes and I immediately know that the two sides of the political aisle will see that same event completely differently. Our biases are messing with our very perception of reality. It’s very frustrating. I’m reminded of that when I read this verse. “And the Lord said unto me: Prophesy; and I prophesied, saying: Behold the people of Canaan, which are numerous, shall go forth in battle array against the people of Shum, and shall slay them that they shall utterly be destroyed; and the people of Canaan shall divide themselves in the land, and the land shall be barren and unfruitful, and none other people shall dwell there but the people of Canaan.” The only serious threats that exist for the U.S. are from the inside. There isn’t another nation that can threaten us in any meaningful way. It is our internal divisions that will cause that our God-protected land can become “barren and unfruitful.”

7:13

If we can have a leader who speaks truth and is righteous and has faith in God, what a leader that would be! “And so great was the faith of Enoch that he led the people of God, and their enemies came to battle against them; and he spake the word of the Lord, and the earth trembled, and the mountains fled, even according to his command; and the rivers of water were turned out of their course; and the roar of the lions was heard out of the wilderness; and all nations feared greatly, so powerful was the word of Enoch, and so great was the power of the language which God had given him.”

I don’t know if we will ever have a political leaders like Enoch. Probably not until Christ comes himself. I wish we could have a political leader that could lead like Enoch did. Enoch’s very words were powerful. Why were they so powerful? Was it because of his natural talents as a leader and orator? Nope. We learned earlier that Enoch didn’t think he was even worthy to be God’s servant. Simply put, it was his “faith in God” that qualified Enoch to be a very powerful leader.

7:18

“And the Lord called his people Zion, because they were of one heart and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness; and there was no poor among them.” When a people can be completely united towards a common goal, it’s a powerful thing. Whether that is a nation, community or couple. Without that unity of heart and mind, it’s very hard to act as one. Marci and I warn young people from making the hard decision of marrying someone who doesn’t share our faith. To go through life without a common goal is a very difficult challenge!

Obviously, the key is that they are unified in righteousness. Being of one mind and heart with criminal intent isn’t helpful. But, if you’re united in righteousness, that becomes very powerful. We have friends that we feel this way about. Our friendship gives me insight into what it will be like to live in a holy community like this. With certain friends, we are strengthening, uplifting, counseling, supporting, encouraging, helping, serving, being grateful and caring, etc. It’s beautiful.

Obviously, if a community is united in righteousness, they aren’t going to let one family or person live in poverty. All things can be held in common. This isn’t socialism or communism because it is voluntary. It is great to redistribute wealth that was donated and given freely. If that wealth was taken by force, it’s not good for the community to do that. Some day, we will live in a place where we do have all things in common. Yet, that place will also be filled with those who are working and striving to progress in God’s plan of salvation. Those who don’t want to work will be existing in a place. They will self-deport.

7:26

“And he beheld Satan; and he had a great chain in his hand, and it veiled the whole face of the earth with darkness; and he looked up and laughed, and his angels rejoiced.” Satan has been holding an impenetrable grudge since his plan for taking God’s power and destroying our agency was rejected. He holds a grudge for being cursed “above the beasts.” He still holds a grudge for being cursed to crawl on his belly. His grudge remains for God placing enmity between him and all of us. He’ll never get over it. He’s demonstrating the ultimate case of loss aversion. He lost the ability to progress and rise higher.

Satan’s only satisfaction comes from eating dust. Dust is often used in scripture as death and corruption. Satan works at it every day. His efforts have made an impact. He’s twisted reality and corrupted society to a large degree. The world is veiled with darkness. In the days of Adam or Christ or Joseph Smith, it was pretty obvious to everyone that there was a Creator. Everyone believed in God - in one form or another. It was clear because of the complexity of creation - there must be a Creator. Somehow, that’s been forgotten - through the successful efforts of Satan and his angels. Of course they are laughing and rejoicing.

7:28-29

“And it came to pass that the God of heaven looked upon the residue of the people, and he wept; and Enoch bore record of it, saying: How is it that the heavens weep, and shed forth their tears as the rain upon the mountains? And Enoch said unto the Lord: How is it that thou canst weep, seeing thou art holy, and from all eternity to all eternity?” The fact that our Heavenly Father weeps demonstrates the sincere empathy and caring he has in his heart for us. He weeps at the heartache and struggle we’re all facing. He is sad when we make bad choices. He the most sad when we openly rebel with no hope for the future.

I can’t help but think about Christ weeping when Lazarus died and his sisters were sad. Christ knew that Lazarus would be resurrected shortly but his sisters were feeling real, terrible emotions. As an empathetic being, Christ couldn’t help but suffer when they suffered and mourn when they mourned. Jesus and God knows that all of the worldly troubles that we are facing will disappear and all will be well - but that doesn’t stop him from feeling real sorrow for the pain we are enduring right now. I’m grateful that we have a Creator that is our Heavenly Father.

7:30-31

Moses was amazed that the Creator of the universe could feel these emotions and wrote about it. “And were it possible that man could number the particles of the earth, yea, millions of earths like this, it would not be a beginning to the number of thy creations; and thy curtains are stretched out still; and yet thou art there, and thy bosom is there; and also thou art just; thou art merciful and kind forever; And thou hast taken Zion to thine own bosom, from all thy creations, from all eternity to all eternity; and naught but peace, justice, and truth is the habitation of thy throne; and mercy shall go before thy face and have no end; how is it thou canst weep?” Moses is marveling at the vastness of God’s creation and yet can still mourn the pain of a person. It’s the combination of ultimate power and ultimate caring in the same individual.

Moses knows about the vastness of his creation more than the average prophet. He’s had a vision of God’s creation. I think Moses is amazed at this but also amazed at God weeping with him knowing the ultimate destiny for all of us where we overcome our current trials. Moses knew that God would provide peace, justice, truth and mercy to all of us. Eventually we will feel peace but that doesn’t stop us from feeling pain today. God feels for us in the here and now.

7:32-33

“The Lord said unto Enoch: Behold these thy brethren; they are the workmanship of mine own hands, and I gave unto them their knowledge, in the day I created them; and in the Garden of Eden, gave I unto man his agency; And unto thy brethren have I said, and also given commandment, that they should love one another, and that they should choose me, their Father; but behold, they are without affection, and they hate their own blood.” The plan of salvation is simple. I feel like God is saying, “I created you, let you choose, told you to love each other and choose me and you cannot do something so incredibly simple.”

I think we live in a complicated world. There is a lot going on. There are political strife, protests, company mergers, movies, war, home maintenance, elections, vacations, careers, shopping, raising children, caring for elderly parents, electronics, the internet, wearing stylish clothes, exercising, budgeting, yard work, fishing, Chat GPT, cleaning the house, the news, podcasts, music, food prep, voting, arguing with neighbors, signing local petitions, serving, etc, etc. So much going on. It’s all overwhelming and confusing.

Add to this that Adam and Eve lived a full 6000 years ago and it makes it very difficult to keep the simplicity of the plan of salvation in perspective and top of mind. If we could start and end every day remembering the basics of the plan, we may find it easier to keep our lives balanced. We may not get caught up in the latest political controversy or get so angry at those who don’t agree with us. We would know that it’s as simple as loving each other and choosing God. Consider how the current world would change? How would the political climate improve?

As we turn our back on God and refuse to “choose him,” we slowly lose affection for each other. We hate our “own blood.” We separate ourselves from our friends and families. We take to the streets and act violently towards each other. We villainize those who don’t agree with us. We allow the frustration of their stupid opinions affect us and make us angry. Let’s simplify our lives and our world and not let all of the millions of daily distractions take us further from the point of it all.

7:36-37

God is explaining why he weeps. “Wherefore, I can stretch forth mine hands and hold all the creations which I have made; and mine eye can pierce them also, and among all the workmanship of mine hands there has not been so great wickedness as among thy brethren. But behold, their sins shall be upon the heads of their fathers; Satan shall be their father, and misery shall be their doom; and the whole heavens shall weep over them, even all the workmanship of mine hands; wherefore should not the heavens weep, seeing these shall suffer?” God knows the “doom” that everyone who chooses wickedness will face in their future. Misery is the final destination for those who turn their backs to the Savior.

It’s sad for God to see his creations get off track so far. Every spirit comes to earth as a pure vessel. They get slowly but surely corrupted over time. God watches it. He knows that the pure babies being raised in wickedness will have eternal effects. Of course the heavens weep. The sadness must be overwhelming in some way. It demonstrates how committed he is to maintaining our agency here in mortality. If he were any less committed, he would just immediately bless the righteous and punish the wickedness so everyone would know completely and instantly what is right and what is wrong. The first time anyone was shocked with intense pain every time they mistreated their neighbor, they would stop doing it. If someone received $1,000 every time they had a positive thought or served an hour of service, there would be a lot more positivity and service! Unfortunately, this isn’t true agency. This is programming robots. It isn’t really a true test of agency. No one is being proved in that scenario.

7:62

“And righteousness will I send down out of heaven; and truth will I send forth out of the earth, to bear testimony of mine Only Begotten; his resurrection from the dead; yea, and also the resurrection of all men; and righteousness and truth will I cause to sweep the earth as with a flood, to gather out mine elect from the four quarters of the earth, unto a place which I shall prepare, an Holy City, that my people may gird up their loins, and be looking forth for the time of my coming; for there shall be my tabernacle, and it shall be called Zion, a New Jerusalem.” I was listening to a podcast today and thinking about how many podcasts/YouTube channels there are from those who are faithful. These are righteous folks attempting to share the gospel of Jesus Christ.

I know there is a lot of anti-Mormon content out there. But, I must say that I think there are three channels that are positive about the church for every one that is against. It’s amazing actually. I’m happy and uplifted to think that there are so many. It makes me think that, in the battle of flooding the Earth with messages, the righteous are winning. It’s a good thing.

7:66

“But before that day he saw great tribulations among the wicked; and he also saw the sea, that it was troubled, and men’s hearts failing them, looking forth with fear for the judgments of the Almighty God, which should come upon the wicked.” The world is going to get rough. It’s going to get hard. There is bound to be wicked men and women doing wicked things. I see now how that these will be concentrated on those people who are making bad choices.

I think there will continue to be violence between groups. I don’t see this as being primarily righteous against wicked. Rather, I see it as being wicked against another type of wicked. We are going to see violence in the streets. But it’s easier for me to picture extremist vs. extremist. It may be the ends of the polarization where it’s extreme left vs. extreme right. I can picture it now. It gets easier and easier to see.

If you take a nation that is divided and you add some natural disasters to the conflict, it is like jet fuel on a fire. Blame and accusations will increase. The other side will be the source of the problem rather than natural consequences.

Men’s righteous hearts have been failing. Our ability to stand in holy places and choose the right will falter. Our strength in the faces of trials and the adversary will lessen. For the wicked, as things get bad - all hope will be lost. Instead of hope, there will be fear. They will not look forward with a brightness of hope but a despair that always comes with wickedness - knowing that the future judgment of God will not be a pleasant experience.

It doesn’t have to be this way. We can strengthen our hearts and our faith and our righteousness. Instead of a doomed future, we can strengthen ourselves and each other and create pockets of Zion. We can create “holy cities” where the righteous dwell and associate. It is now that we should begin building these spiritual and literal strongholds.