Chapter 1
Imagine a long, long time ago, a special person named Moses was in a quiet place, talking to God. Suddenly, God showed Moses an amazing vision! It was like looking up at the night sky but seeing so many stars and planets, more than anyone could ever count. God told Moses, "I made all of these! And each one is special to me." This vision helped Moses understand how incredibly powerful God is and how vast His creations are, reminding him that God knows and loves every single thing He’s made, including us.
The Book of Moses holds profound theological meaning for Christians, serving as a foundational text that dramatically expands upon the Genesis account and restores "plain and precious truths" lost from the traditional biblical record. Preserved within the Pearl of Great Price, this work originated from Joseph Smith’s inspired clarification of the Bible and elucidates doctrines crucial to the understanding of the Plan of Salvation. Its significance begins with a detailed, expansive vision granted to Moses, clarifying the nature of God the Father, confirming the premortal divinity of Jesus Christ (Jehovah), and emphasizing that God’s work is to bring to pass the "immortality and eternal life of man." Crucially, the Book of Moses reframes the Fall of Adam and Eve, portraying it not merely as a catastrophe but as a necessary and glorious step—a deliberate choice that enabled procreation, mortal experience, and the eventual need for a Savior. Moreover, it restores the majestic narrative of the prophet Enoch, detailing his powerful ministry, his expansive vision of the cosmos, and the eventual removal of his righteous people (the City of Zion) due to their unparalleled holiness. Thus, the meaning of the Book of Moses is rooted in restoration: it provides a broader cosmic view of creation, the purpose of mortality, the centrality of the Atonement, and the eternal pattern of building Zion through covenants and righteousness.
1. The words of God, which he spake unto Moses at a time when Moses was caught up into an exceedingly high mountain,
2. And he saw God face-to-face, and he talked with him, and the glory of God was upon Moses; therefore, Moses could endure his presence.
3. And God spake unto Moses, saying, "Behold, I am the Lord God Almighty, and Endless is my name; for I am without beginning of days or end of years; and is not this endless?"
4. And, behold, thou art my son; wherefore look, and I will show thee the workmanship of mine hands, but not all, for my works are without end, and also my words, for they never cease.
5. Wherefore, no man can behold all my works, except he behold all my glory; and no man can behold all my glory and afterwards remain in the flesh on the earth.
6. And I have work for thee, Moses, my son; and thou art in the similitude of my Only Begotten; and my Only Begotten is and shall be the Savior, for he is full of grace and truth; but there is no God beside me, and all things are present with me, for I know them all.
7. And now, behold, this one thing I show unto thee, Moses, my son, for thou art in the world, and now I show it unto thee.
8. And it came to pass that Moses looked and beheld the world upon which he was created; and Moses beheld the world and the ends thereof, and all the children of men who are and who were created; of the same he greatly marveled and wondered.
9. And the presence of God withdrew from Moses, so that his glory was not upon Moses, and Moses was left unto himself. And as he was left unto himself, he fell unto the earth.
10. And it came to pass that it was for the space of many hours before Moses did again receive his natural strength like unto man; and he said unto himself, "Now, for this cause I know that man is nothing, which thing I never had supposed."
11. But now my own eyes have beheld God, but not my natural eyes, but my spiritual eyes, for my natural eyes could not have beheld, for I should have withered and died in his presence, but his glory was upon me, and I beheld his face, for I was transfigured before him.
12. And it came to pass that when Moses had said these words, behold, Satan came tempting him, saying, "Moses, son of man, worship me."
13. And it came to pass that Moses looked upon Satan and said, "Who art thou?" For behold, I am a son of God, in the similitude of his Only Begotten; and where is thy glory, that I should worship thee?
14. For behold, I could not look upon God, except his glory should come upon me, and I were transfigured before him. But I can look upon thee in the natural man. Is it not so?
15. Blessed be the name of my God, for his Spirit hath not altogether withdrawn from me, or else where is thy glory, for it is darkness unto me? And I can judge between thee and God, for God said unto me, "Worship God, for him only shalt thou serve."
16. Take thee hence, Satan; deceive me not, for God said unto me, "Thou art after the similitude of mine Only Begotten."
17. And he also gave me commandments when he called unto me out of the burning bush, saying, "Call upon God in the name of mine Only Begotten, and worship me."
18. And again Moses said, "I will not cease to call upon God; I have other things to inquire of him, for his glory has been upon me, wherefore I can judge between him and thee." Depart hence, Satan.
19. And now, when Moses had said these words, Satan cried with a loud voice and ranted upon the earth and commanded, saying, "I am the Only Begotten; worship me."
20. And it came to pass that Moses began to fear exceedingly; and as he began to fear, he saw the bitterness of hell. Nevertheless, calling upon God, he received strength, and he commanded, saying, "Depart from me, Satan, for this one God only will I worship, who is the God of glory."
21. And now Satan began to tremble, and the earth shook; and Moses received strength and called upon God, saying, "In the name of the Only Begotten, depart hence, Satan."
22. And it came to pass that Satan cried with a loud voice, with weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth; and he departed hence, even from the presence of Moses, that he beheld him not.
23. And now of this thing Moses bore record; but because of wickedness it is not had among the children of men.
24. And it came to pass that when Satan had departed from the presence of Moses, that Moses lifted up his eyes unto heaven, being filled with the Holy Ghost, which beareth record of the Father and the Son;
25. And calling upon the name of God, he beheld his glory again, for it was upon him; and he heard a voice, saying, "Blessed art thou, Moses, for I, the Almighty, have chosen thee, and thou shalt be made stronger than many waters, for they shall obey thy command as if thou wert God."
26. And lo, I am with thee, even unto the end of thy days; for thou shalt deliver my people from bondage, even Israel, my chosen.
27. And it came to pass, as the voice was still speaking, Moses cast his eyes and beheld the earth, yea, even all of it; and there was not a particle of it which he did not behold, discerning it by the Spirit of God.
28. And he beheld also the inhabitants thereof, and there was not a soul which he beheld not; and he discerned them by the Spirit of God; and their numbers were great, even numberless as the sand upon the seashore.
29. And he beheld many lands, and each land was called earth, and there were inhabitants on the face thereof.
30. And it came to pass that Moses called upon God, saying, "Tell me, I pray thee, why these things are so, and by what thou madest them?"
31. And behold, the glory of the Lord was upon Moses, so that Moses stood in the presence of God and talked with him face to face. And the Lord God said unto Moses, "For mine own purpose have I made these things." Here is wisdom, and it remains in me.
32. And by the word of my power, have I created them, which is mine Only Begotten Son, who is full of grace and truth.
33. And worlds without number have I created; and I also created them for mine own purpose; and by the Son I created them, who is mine Only Begotten.
34. And the first man of all men have I called Adam, which is many.
35. But only an account of this earth, and the inhabitants thereof, do I give unto you. For behold, there are many worlds that have passed away by the word of my power. And there are many that now stand, and innumerable are they unto man, but all things are numbered unto me, for they are mine, and I know them.
36. And it came to pass that Moses spake unto the Lord, saying, "Be merciful unto thy servant, O God, and tell me concerning this earth and the inhabitants thereof, and also the heavens, and then thy servant will be content."
37. And the Lord God spake unto Moses, saying, "The heavens, they are many, and they cannot be numbered unto man; but they are numbered unto me, for they are mine."
38. And as one earth shall pass away, and the heavens thereof, even so shall another come; and there is no end to my works, neither to my words.
39. For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.
40. And now, Moses, my son, I will speak unto thee concerning this earth upon which thou standest, and thou shalt write the things which I shall speak.
41. And in a day when the children of men shall esteem my words as naught and take many of them from the book which thou shalt write, behold, I will raise up another like unto thee; and they shall be had again among the children of men—among as many as shall believe.
42. (These words were spoken unto Moses in the mount, the name of which shall not be known among the children of men. And now they are spoken unto you. Show them not unto any except them that believe. Even so. Amen.)
Book of Moses Chapter 1: The Divine Preface to Your Purpose
As you delve into the first chapter of the Book of Moses, you are immediately transported to a mountaintop where Moses experiences a profound, transfiguring vision of the Almighty. This account serves as a divine preface, not just to the creation story that follows, but to your understanding of your own place in the cosmos. What is happening is nothing less than a complete elevation of Moses’s status: you see him commune with God "face to face," a glorious encounter so intense that his natural strength leaves him, requiring divine aid to withstand the glory. God then reveals to him—and thus to you—the sheer infinity of creation, showing you "worlds without number." The meaning here is threefold: first, it establishes God’s incomprehensible majesty as the orchestrator of galaxies, and second, it humbles Moses, forcing him to acknowledge that “man is nothing.” However, the third and crucial meaning is the affirmation of purpose, as God calls Moses His “son” and ordains him for a mighty work, confirming that your individual identity is known and valued despite the vastness of creation. Finally, this chapter immediately arms you for spiritual combat, detailing the immediate confrontation with Satan. Having just seen the true glory of God, you watch Moses resist the adversary’s demand for worship by declaring, "I will not cease to call upon God," illustrating a timeless principle: the moment you gain a clear, personal witness of the Father, you must prepare yourself for the fiercest test of your obedience. This chapter is your blueprint for discipleship, teaching you that transformation, vision, and conflict are inseparable parts of your divine calling.
Replies
Add comment
Comments