Genesis 5; Moses 6: Enoch Teaches the First Principles of the Gospel

Old Testament Seminary Student Study Guide, (2002), 16–17

Adam and Eve fell because of disobedience to a law, and they were “shut out” from the presence of God (Moses 5:4). We read in Moses 5 how disobedience leads men even further away from God—as in the case of Cain, Lamech, and others. After Adam and Eve left the Garden of Eden, they were taught to understand and live doctrines and make and keep covenants. They also learned which saving ordinances were required for them to return and live in the presence of God. Many of these teachings are found in Moses 6. The prophet Enoch taught his people these truths in an attempt to inspire them to repent of their sins and wickedness so they could be redeemed and brought back into the presence of God.
man in robes baptizing another

Understanding the Scriptures

Moses 6

Glorified (v. 2)Praised 
Undefiled (v. 6)Not polluted, pure 
Genealogy (vv. 8, 22)Family history 
Generations (vv. 8, 28)Children, grandchildren, and so on 
The footstool of God (v. 9)Earth (see v. 44) 
Begat (vv. 10–11, 13–14, 17, 21, 25)Was the father of 
Dominion (v. 15)Power 
Residue (v. 17)The smaller group that was left after being separated from the whole group 
Conversed (v. 22)Spoke with 
Kindled (v. 27)Beginning to grow 
Counsel (vv. 28, 43)Advice 
Devised (v. 28)Planned 
Foresworn themselves (v. 29)Made promises 
Decree (v. 30)Official announcement 
Pierce (v. 32)Hurt, kill 
Utterance (v. 32)What to say 
Justify (v. 34)Make happen 
Yonder (v. 38)Over there 
Host (v. 44)Large number 
Are made partakers of (v. 48)Experience 
Woe (v. 48)Sorrow 
Original guilt (v. 54)The transgression of Adam and Eve 
Whole (v. 54)Clean and pure 
Conceived in sin (v. 55)Born into a sinful world to parents who live in a fallen world and have sinned themselves 
Sin conceiveth (v. 55)The desire for sin begins to grow 
Sanctified (vv. 59–60)Cleansed and made holy, purified 
Justified (v. 60)Made free from guilt and the punishment of sin, forgiven 
Quickeneth (v. 61)Gives life to 

Studying the Scriptures

Do at least three of the following activities (A–E) as you study Moses 6.

Activity A iconMake a Table of Contents

Write what you think the table of contents would look like for the book described in Moses 6:5–25.

Adam teaching children

Activity B iconWrite about or to Your Family

  1. 1.

    According to Moses 6:45–46, why did Enoch and his people know their ancestors (fathers)?

  2. 2.

    Write about one of your ancestors you “know” because of records that have been kept. Include something about them that inspires you to be a better person.


Write something you will want your posterity to know about you. Consider the following statement from President Spencer W. Kimball: “Get a notebook. … Begin today and write in it your goings and comings, your deepest thoughts, your achievements and your failures, your associations and your triumphs, your impressions and your testimonies” (“‘The Angels May Quote from It,’” New Era, Oct. 1975, 5).

Activity C iconWhat Do They Describe?

  1. 1.

    Find the following phrases in Moses 6:27–29 that describe the sins of the people in Enoch’s day: “hearts have waxed dull,” “ears are dull of hearing,” “eyes cannot see afar off,” “have denied me,” “sought their own counsel in the dark,” “devised murder,” “have not kept the commandments [given to] Adam,” and “foresworn themselves.” You might want to underline or highlight these phrases in your scriptures.

  2. 2.

    Describe what you think is meant by “hearts waxed dull,” “ears dull of hearing,” “eyes that cannot see afar off,” and what it means to “seek counsel in the dark.”

  3. 3.

    Give the opposite of each description above so that they describe righteous people. In other words, through the gospel hearts can be ___, eyes can become ___, and so on.

Activity D iconA Calling from the Lord

  1. 1.

    According to Moses 6:31, how did Enoch feel about his calling from the Lord?

  2. 2.

    Explain how you think Enoch felt after the things the Lord said and did in Moses 6:32–36.

  3. 3.

    Read Moses 7:13–19 and write about how the promises of the Lord to Enoch were fulfilled.

Activity E iconHow Do We Receive Our Inheritance from Heavenly Father?

Because of the Fall

How the Fall Is Overcome

As children of God, we are entitled to inherit all that He has. When we sin, however, we become unclean, and no unclean thing can inherit the kingdom of God. The Lord taught Adam how to become clean and thus qualify to inherit eternal life. Enoch taught these same principles to his people. Read Moses 6:48–68, and then make a chart like the one shown. List in the first column things that happened because of the Fall. List in the second column things that tell how to overcome the effects of the Fall.