Thursday, January 16, 2014

There is a huge difference between what the Bible has in the book of Genesis about Enoch and his people versus what the Joseph Smith Translation in the Book of Moses has on Enoch and his people. In Genesis all it tells us is that Enoch walked with God and that God brought Enoch to Him. In Moses we learn about Enoch's calling, we learn what the Lord did to help Enoch in all that he was required to do, we learn about what the city of Zion was like. We know that the people were of one heart and one mind, that the Lord dwelt with them, and that eventually the city of Enoch was taken up into heaven. 

Moses 6:26-31
At the time of Enoch, the Lord described the people living on the earth as a people whose "hearts have waxed hard, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes cannot see afar off". They are a people who have denied the Lord, who have sought after their own ways, and have not kept the commandments of God. When the Lord tells Enoch that he is to tell the people to repent, Enoch feels very inadequate. He feels like he is slow of speech and the people do not like him. He asks the Lord why he has found favor in His sight and why he was the one chosen to call them to repentance.

Moses 6:32-39, 47; 7:13-18, 69
The Lord strengthened Enoch to be able to do all that was required of him by promising that Enoch's mouth would be filled and the words he needed to speak would be given to him. The Lord promised that the Spirit would justify all that Enoch said. Enoch was shown things that are "not visible to the natural eye". The Lord also stayed with Enoch and walked and dwelt with Him.

I love the promise where the Lord tells Enoch that "my Spirit is upon you, wherefore all thy words will I justify." I think that is an incredible promise. I know that I have experienced that to some degree in my life and I hope that I can continue to strive to achieve that. The Lord can take whatever it is that we are doing and make it powerful and great. When we do anything by His Spirit it has the power to influence and change lives. I know that I have experienced this as a pianist. I love to write arrangements of the hymns and primary songs. Before I play them for people I always pray to have the Spirit to testify of the truth that is in these songs to the listeners. It becomes a chance for me to bear my testimony and to share what I know is true. Then when that is truly the desire of my heart I know that the Spirit touches their hearts, touches their spirits and helps influence them for good in some way. I am so grateful for the power that comes when the Lord justifies our actions and our words. It is a real power that we can experience and help others to feel. I hope and pray that I can continue to strive to have that be a power in my own life.

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