Moses 5

The Lord (Jehovah) speaking to fallen man

Jehovah — the premortal Christ, the Lord of the Old Testament

And Adam and Eve, his wife, called upon the name of the Lord, and they heard the voice of the Lord from the way toward the Garden of Eden, speaking unto them, and they saw him not; for they were shut out from his presence. Moses 5:4

After the Fall, Adam and Eve pray and hear the Lord's voice though they cannot see Him. Latter-day Saints understand that after the Fall God deals with mankind through Jehovah, the premortal Christ.

How we know: a Church study aid lists it

• the same title in Abraham 1:16 — "My name is Jehovah"—the Lord who speaks to the patriarchs.
• alludes to Moses 4:14 — Adam and Eve heard the voice of the Lord God in the garden before being cast out.

Firstling sacrifice

And he gave unto them commandments, that they should worship the Lord their God, and should offer the firstlings of their flocks, for an offering unto the Lord. And Adam was obedient unto the commandments of the Lord. Moses 5:5

Adam is commanded to sacrifice the firstborn of his flocks. The firstborn, unblemished animal points to Jesus, the Firstborn of the Father, who would be offered for us (see verse 7).

How we know: a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• interpreted by Moses 5:7 — The angel explains the sacrifice is a similitude of the Only Begotten.
• alludes to Exodus 13:12-15 — Firstlings set apart unto the Lord in memory of redemption from Egypt.

Sacrifice in similitude of the Only Begotten

And after many days an angel of the Lord appeared unto Adam, saying: Why dost thou offer sacrifices unto the Lord? And Adam said unto him: I know not, save the Lord commanded me. Moses 5:6–7

Adam obeyed without knowing why, and then an angel taught him: animal sacrifice is a likeness of the sacrifice Jesus Christ would make. From the very beginning, sacrifice pointed to the Savior's Atonement.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• interprets Jacob 4:5 — Abraham's offering of Isaac and the law are "a similitude of God and his Only Begotten Son."
• interprets Alma 34:13-14 — The whole meaning of the law points to that great and last sacrifice.
• the same title in John 1:14 — "The only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth."
• alludes to Moses 6:63 — All things are created and made to bear record of Christ.

In the name of the Son

Wherefore, thou shalt do all that thou doest in the name of the Son, and thou shalt repent and call upon God in the name of the Son forevermore. Moses 5:8

The angel teaches Adam to do everything, repent, and pray in the name of the Son. The pattern of acting and praying in Jesus' name began with the first man.

How we know: a Church study aid lists it

• the same title in Moses 1:17 — Moses commanded to call upon God in the name of the Only Begotten.
• alludes to 3 Nephi 18:19 — Pray unto the Father in my name.
• alludes to 2 Nephi 32:9 — Pray unto the Father in the name of Christ and perform nothing without it.

Only Begotten of the Father, Redeemer from the Fall

Only Begotten — the only child of the Father in the flesh

And in that day the Holy Ghost fell upon Adam, which beareth record of the Father and the Son, saying: I am the Only Begotten of the Father from the beginning, henceforth and forever, that as thou hast fallen thou mayest be redeemed, and all mankind, even as many as will. Moses 5:9

The Holy Ghost carries the very words of Christ to Adam: "I am the Only Begotten of the Father." The Savior promises that just as Adam fell, he and all mankind who are willing may be redeemed.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• alludes to 2 Nephi 2:25-26 — Adam fell that men might be; the Messiah comes to redeem from the fall.
• the same title in Moses 1:24 — The Holy Ghost "beareth record of the Father and the Son."
• alludes to Moses 6:59 — Redemption through the blood of the Only Begotten taught to Adam.

Resurrection (again in the flesh I shall see God)

And in that day Adam blessed God and was filled, and began to prophesy concerning all the families of the earth, saying: Blessed be the name of God, for because of my transgression my eyes are opened, and in this life I shall have joy, and again in the flesh I shall see God. Moses 5:10

Filled with the Holy Ghost, Adam prophesies that he will see God again in the flesh. That hope rests on the Resurrection made possible by Jesus Christ.

How we know: a Church study aid lists it

• alluded to by Job 19:25-26 — "I know that my redeemer liveth... yet in my flesh shall I see God."
• fulfilled by 1 Corinthians 15:22 — As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

The joy of our redemption

And Eve, his wife, heard all these things and was glad, saying: Were it not for our transgression we never should have had seed, and never should have known good and evil, and the joy of our redemption, and the eternal life which God giveth unto all the obedient. Moses 5:11

Eve rejoices that the Fall made possible children, knowledge, and "the joy of our redemption." The redemption she rejoices in is the Atonement of the Only Begotten just promised in verse 9.

• alludes to Moses 5:9 — The Only Begotten's promise that fallen man may be redeemed.
• alludes to 2 Nephi 2:25 — Adam fell that men might be; men are, that they might have joy.

Faith in the Son

And as many as believed in the Son, and repented of their sins, should be saved; and as many as believed not and repented not, should be damned; and the words went forth out of the mouth of God in a firm decree; wherefore they must be fulfilled. Moses 5:15

God decrees from the beginning that salvation comes through believing in the Son and repenting. Faith in Jesus Christ and repentance have always been the way home.

How we know: a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• alludes to Mark 16:16 — He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; he that believeth not shall be damned.
• alludes to John 3:18 — He that believeth on the Son is not condemned.
• alludes to Moses 6:52 — Adam taught to believe, repent, and be baptized in the name of the Only Begotten Son.

Abel the shepherd and his accepted offering

And she again conceived and bare his brother Abel. And Abel hearkened unto the voice of the Lord. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. Moses 5:17–20

Abel, a shepherd, offers the firstlings of his flock as the Lord commanded, in the similitude of Christ's sacrifice, and it is accepted. Abel pictures the Good Shepherd and the acceptable offering of the Lamb.

How we know: a Church study aid lists it

• interpreted by Hebrews 11:4 — By faith Abel offered a more excellent sacrifice than Cain.
• a type of what is in Moses 5:7 — Firstling sacrifice as a similitude of the Only Begotten.
• a type of what is in John 10:11 — "I am the good shepherd."

Abel, the righteous one slain

And Cain went into the field, and Cain talked with Abel, his brother. And it came to pass that while they were in the field, Cain rose up against Abel, his brother, and slew him. Moses 5:32

Abel, who "walked in holiness before the Lord" (v. 26), is murdered by his own brother for gain. Jesus, the Holy One, was likewise betrayed and killed by His own people.

• alluded to by Matthew 23:35 — Jesus names the blood of righteous Abel as the first of the righteous slain.
• interpreted by 1 John 3:12 — Cain slew his brother because his own works were evil and his brother's righteous.

Abel's blood crying from the ground

And the Lord said: What hast thou done? The voice of thy brother's blood cries unto me from the ground. Moses 5:35

Abel's shed blood cries out for justice. Hebrews contrasts it with the blood of Jesus, which "speaketh better things"—it cries for mercy and cleansing.

• a type of what is in Hebrews 12:24 — Jesus the mediator and the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.
• a parallel account in Genesis 4:10 — The same words in Genesis.

Only Begotten Son, to come in the meridian of time

Only Begotten Son — the only child of the Father in the flesh

For they would not hearken unto his voice, nor believe on his Only Begotten Son, even him whom he declared should come in the meridian of time, who was prepared from before the foundation of the world. Moses 5:57

God had declared that His Only Begotten Son would come in the meridian (the middle) of time and that He had been prepared as Savior before the world was made. The wicked were condemned for refusing to believe on Him.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• the same title in Moses 6:57 — Jesus Christ, who shall come in the meridian of time.
• alludes to 1 Peter 1:19-20 — The Lamb foreordained before the foundation of the world.
• alludes to Revelation 13:8 — The Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
• fulfilled by Galatians 4:4 — When the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son.

The gospel of Christ preached from the beginning

And thus the Gospel began to be preached, from the beginning, being declared by holy angels sent forth from the presence of God, and by his own voice, and by the gift of the Holy Ghost. Moses 5:58–59

The gospel of faith in the Only Begotten (v. 57) was preached from the very beginning by angels, by God's own voice, and by the Holy Ghost, and confirmed to Adam by a holy ordinance. The gospel of Jesus Christ is not new; Adam had it.

• alludes to Moses 6:64-66 — Adam is baptized and born of the Spirit.
• alludes to Galatians 3:8 — The gospel preached before unto Abraham.