Line upon Line

The Pearl of Great Price

Moses

“For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.” The Lord to Moses, Moses 1:39

The Book of Moses is “an extract from the translation of the Bible as revealed to Joseph Smith the Prophet, June 1830–February 1831.” It begins with a vision in which God speaks with Moses face to face, and then gives, in God’s own words to Moses, the Creation, the Fall, the families of Adam and Eve, the ministry of Enoch, and the days of Noah.

Much of it runs beside Genesis 1:1–6:13, which is also on this site. This companion goes through all eight chapters and gives its attention to what the Book of Moses has that Genesis does not, linking to the Genesis chapters for the rest. It tries to anticipate the questions a careful reader asks: Who is speaking? What does this add to Genesis? What did that phrase mean to the first Saints who read it? Where is Christ in this?

Two small figures walk from a garden up a path toward a high mountain beneath a starry sky, with a pale city on a ridge at the right and a thin band of rain on distant slopes at the left.

The chapters

Moses 1 has no counterpart in Genesis. Chapters 2–5 and 8 retell Genesis 1–6 with much added, and most of chapters 6 and 7, the ministry of Enoch, stands where Genesis has a few verses.

Moses 1–1

Moses on the Mountain

God reveals Himself to Moses, who is transfigured, confronted by Satan, and shown worlds without number. The Lord tells him His work and His glory.

  1. 1 Moses on the Mountain Moses sees God face to face, is tested by Satan, is shown worlds without number, and is told the Lord’s work and glory.
Moses 2–4

The Creation and the Fall

God tells Moses of the Creation, by His Only Begotten, spiritually before naturally. Satan’s rebellion is told, and Adam and Eve fall.

  1. 2 The Creation in God's Own Words The Lord tells Moses what He made, in the first person, and says who made it with Him.
  2. 3 Spiritual First, Then Natural God created all things spiritually before they were naturally upon the earth. He created man, the first flesh, upon the earth, and woman is a help meet for man.
  3. 4 How Satan Became the Devil Before the serpent speaks in Eden, God tells Moses where the serpent’s master came from, how he fell, and what he was after; then the Fall unfolds, ending with God’s words that cannot return void.
Moses 5–5

Adam and Eve and Their Children

Adam and Eve offer sacrifice and are taught the gospel by an angel. Cain loves Satan more than God, kills Abel, and wickedness spreads.

  1. 5 Adam and Eve’s Family, and Cain Outside Eden, Adam and Eve hear the Lord’s voice, are taught by an angel what sacrifice stands for, and rejoice in the Fall, while Satan comes among their children, and Cain chooses him.
Moses 6–7

Enoch and Zion

Enoch is called, preaches the plan of salvation as Adam was taught it, and builds a city of one heart and one mind. He sees the God of heaven weep, the coming of the Son of Man, and the last days.

  1. 6 Adam’s Book, Enoch’s Call, and the Gospel Taught from the Beginning Adam’s family keeps a book of remembrance and a pure language while Satan’s dominion grows; Enoch is called, anointed to see, and preaches what God taught Adam about the Fall, repentance, and baptism in the name of the Only Begotten.
  2. 7 Enoch’s Zion, and the God Who Weeps Enoch preaches, his people become Zion and are taken up, and he sees God weep over the wicked, the Son of Man lifted up, and Zion’s return.
Moses 8–8

The Days of Noah

Methuselah and Noah prophesy and preach the gospel. The people will not repent, and the Flood is decreed.

  1. 8 Noah’s Day, and the Gospel He Preached Methuselah’s line carries the covenant to Noah, who is ordained, preaches Christ’s gospel to a people who seek his life, and hears the Lord’s decree of the Flood.

Beloved passages

Most-used sources

Every note cites its sources. These are the ones this commentary leans on most.