The Prophet Moses

The  Baby Moses

Many years had gone by after Joseph and the king of Egypt had died.  The Israelites lived in Egypt and they had many children.  One of the kings of Egypt did not like the Israelites and he thought there were too many of them.  He was afraid that they would take his land away from him so he made slaves of them.

One day the king said that all the Israelite baby boys must be killed.  He sent his men out to kill them.  One Israelite mother hid her baby boy for three months.  Then she put her baby in a basket and hid it in some tall grass by the river.  She had the baby's sister, Miriam, stand by and watch the baby.

The kings of Egypt's daughter went to the river one day.  She found the basket and opened it and found the baby.  She wanted to keep him and take him home. She needed help in taking care of the baby.  Miriam went to the king's daughter and told her she would fin an Israelite woman to take care of the baby.  Miriam ran and got her mother and the mother helped to take care of the baby.

The king's daughter named the baby Moses.  He grew up in the king's house.  Moses grew up to be a man.  He saw his people, the Israelites, treated poorly and he was sad for them.  One day Moses saw an Egyptian beating an Israelite.  He became angry and tried to protect the Israelite.  In the process, Moses killed the Egyptian.

The king of Egypt heard that Moses had killed the Egyptian and said he would have Moses killed.  Moses was afraid and left Egypt and went to another land.  He stayed in that land for many years.

For the children

Moses the Prophet Frees the Israelites

One day Moses went upon a mountain where he saw a bush that was on fire but the bush did not burn up.  He knew it was a miracle.  Moses was showed the power of God.  Jesus Christ spoke to Moses from the bush.  Jesus knew that the Israelites were not happy and did not want to be slaves anymore.  Jesus was hearing their cries and prayers.  Jesus told Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt to the promised land.  Moses felt inadequate.  He did not feel he could do the job.  Jesus told Moses that Aaron would help him.  Aaron was Moses biological brother.

For the children

For Adults:  I am the Son of God by Jeffery R Holland

Moses was a prophet of God.  Moses and Aaron went to the King of Egypt and asked that he let the Israelites leave Egypt.  Of course, the king said no.  Jesus said he would help Moses and Aaron and Jesus would show the king of Egypt his power.

Moses told the king that Jesus would change the water in the rivers to blood.  Jesus did change the water.  The people could not drink the water and the fish died.  The king's heart was hardened and he would not let the Israelites go.

Jesus then sent many frogs to Egypt.  The frogs were everywhere, even in everyone's homes.  The king said he would let the Israelites go if the frogs went away so Jesus made the frogs die.  BUT, the king lied to Moses and he would not let the people go.

Then Jesus made lice come everywhere.  The lice was everywhere.  On all the people and on all of their animals.    But the King's heart was hard and he would not let the people go.

Next, Jesus made flies come everywhere.  The flies drove the Israelites nuts.  They wanted the flies to go away. The king told Moses he would let the people go if Moses got rid of the flies.  Jesus made the flies go away but the king lied and would not let the people go.

Moses said that Jesus would make the Egyptians' animals died.   All of The Egyptian's cattle died but the Israelites cattle were protected and they did not die.  Still, the king would not let the people go.

Then Jesus made bad sores come on the Egyptians, boils all over their bodies.  Still, the king's heart was hardened.

Then Jesus ent a bad hail storm.  The storm was so bad that everyone that was outside was killed.  The king said he would let the Israelites go so Moses prayed and the storm stopped, but the king lied again.

Jesus sent grasshoppers to heat all of the Egyptian's food.  Still, the king would not let the Israelites go.

Jesus sent darkness for 3 days and the Egyptians could not see anything.  But the Lord blessed the Israelites and they had light in their houses.  Still, the King would not let them go.

Finally, Jesus told Moses a sickness would come.  The oldest child in every Egyptian family would die.  Even the king's oldest son would die.

Jesus told Moses how to save the Israelite children.  He said each Israelite father should get a lamb that was perfect, no sickness or broken bones.  They were to kill the lamb and put the lambs' blood on their doors.  The sickness would pass over the houses with blood on their doors.  If there was no blood on the door than the oldest child would die.

That night the oldest child of each Egyptian family died; even the king's oldest son.  The king was afraid everyone in Egypt would die so he sent for Moses and Aaron.  He told them to take the Israelites and leaven Egypt.

The Israelites leave and the parting of the Red Sea.

Moses led them and Jesus showed Moses where to go.  BUT the king of Egypt changed his mind and decided he wanted the Israelites for his slaves so he had his army chase them and bring them back.

The Israelites came to the Red Sea.  They saw the army coming and were afraid that they would be killed.  Moses told them not to be afraid and that Jesus would help them.  They must have faith.

Jesus told Moses to raise his hand over the sea.  A strong wind divided the sea.  It was a miracle.  It showed the Israelites God's power.  The Israelites walked across on dry ground.  Then the Egyptian army began to follow them.  When the Israelites were safe on the other side Jesus told Moses to raise his hand over the sea again.  The sea covered the army and was killed.

Now the Israelites were free.  They sang songs and danced and thanked God.  They would always remember that Jesus led them out of Egypt and to freedom.

For the Children

Moses and the 10 Commandments

Moses and the Israelites traveled for 3 days.  They were very thirsty, but the water the found tasted bad and they could not drink it.  Jesus told Moses to put a tree in the water.  The tree made the water good so the people could drink it and move on.

After more days in the wilderness, their food was gone.  They were hungry and very angry at Moses.  Jesus provided a miracle and gave the Israelites food to eat.  They called it manna.  It tasted like bread and honey.  The manna was on the ground each morning.

Jesus told the people to pick up only as much as they need for that day.  Some of the people did not obey.  They picked up too much.  They kept some for the next day.  But the next morning the manna was full of worms and smelled bad, so the people could not eat it.

Jesus told the Israelites they should not pick up manna on the Sabbath.  They should pick up a lot of manna the day before.  Then they would not have to work on the Sabbath and they could keep it holy.  The manna stayed good on the Sabbath.

The Israelites traveled even farther in the wilderness.  Again there was no water and the people were angry with Moses.  Moses prayed and Jesus told Moses to hit a rock and water would come out.  It was a miracle.  It showed God's power.

The Israelites traveled 2 more months until they reached Mount Sinai.  Moses went up the mountain.  Jesus Christ spoke to him.  Jesus told Moses to tell the Israelites how they had been blessed.  He told Moses to tell them that if they obeyed the commandments he would bless them more.

Jesus wanted the Israelites to hear his voice.  Moses told them to stand at the bottom of the mountain.  The mountain was called Mount Sinai.  A could of smoke came on the mountain.  Jesus was in the cloud.  The mountain shook.  Jesus spoke to the people and gave them the 10 commandments.

1. Thou shalt have no other Gods before me.
2. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image.
3. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.
4. Remember the sabbath day to keep it holy
5. Honor thy father and they mother
6. Thou shalt not kill
7. Thou shalt not commit adultery
8. Thou shalt not steal
9. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor
10. Thou shalt not covet.

The people heard Jesus.  They were afraid.  They did not want Jesus to talk to them.  They wanted him to talk to Moses.  Then Moses could tell them what Jesus said.  Moses went back up Mount Sinai.  Jesus gave other commandments to the people.

Moses told Aaron and Aaron's two sons to come up the mountain.  He also told 70 elders to come up.  The men went up the mountain.  They saw Jesus.

Jesus told Moses to come higher on the mountain.  Jesus wrote the commandments on stone with his finger.  Jesus gave Moses the commandments.

Moses was gone 40 days and nights.  He did not eat or drink all that time.

For Adults  The Ten Commandments by Bernard P Brockbank

The Law of Moses: BYU Religious Education --- Exodus 21-35

Moses Builds a Tabernacle

Moses went to Mount Sinai and talked to Jesus Christ.  The Israelite children needed a place to learn about God so Jesus told Moses to build a tabernacle and what the tabernacle should look like.  Jesus told Moses what type of wood to use and how to build it.  The men were blessed so they could do good work.  The Israelites obeyed Jesus.  Gold and silver and acacia wood were used.  Animal skins were used for the roof so it would be waterproof.  The men build the tabernacle and the women made beautiful cloths for the walls.

The tabernacle was like a tent.  It had a wall of curtains.  There was a yard inside the wall and an altar for sacrifices in the yard.  A small building that looked like a tent was in the yard.  It had 2 rooms.  A gold altar was in one of the rooms and a big beautiful box was in the other room.  The box was called the ark of the covenant.  Inside the ark were the stones with the 10 commandments written on them.

The Israelite people were happy and Moses was happy - because they obeyed Jesus.  Just like we are happy when we obey Jesus.

Moses blessed the people, the tabernacle, and Aaron and his sons.  Moses gave them the priesthood along with other men that Jesus chose.  Aaron and his sons burned sacrifices for the people.  The other men helped take care of the tabernacle.

The tabernacle was a very holy place, similar to our temples today.  The Israelite people came to the tabernacle to learn about God and to do his work.  They made sacrifices there.

Jesus put a cloud above the tabernacle during the day.  He put a fire above the tabernacle at night.  The fire and the cloud showed the Israelite people that Jesus was there.  When the cloud moved, the Israelites took down the tabernacle.  They carried it with them in the wilderness.  They followed the cloud.

For the Children:

For Adults:  Jesus Christ the great High Priest - explanation of the Priests attire.

40 Years in the Wilderness

The Israelites lived by Mount Sinai for a year.  Then the cloud went away from the tabernacle.  The Israelites followed the cloud into the wilderness.  The priests carried the ark of the covenant (which held the 10 commandments tablets).  Jesus said he would lead the Israelites to the promised land.

The Israelites followed Moses but they did not like the wilderness and they were not happy.  They were sorry they left Egypt.  Jesus had sent them manna so they had plenty to eat.  BUT, they got tired of eating manna.  They wanted some meat so Jesus sent them quails.

The Israelites came to the land of Canaan.  It was the promised land.  Moses sent 12 spies into the land of Canaan.  The spies came back and brought many kinds of fruit.  They said the land was very good but some of the spies were afraid of the people of Canaan.  The people were big and strong.  They lived in big cities with walls around them.

Now, the Israelites were afraid.  They did not have enough faith that they could capture the land of Canaan.  They became angry with Moses.  They wanted to go back to Egypt and they did not have faith in God.

Jesus was angry with the Israelites.  He told Moses he would not help them anymore.  Moses asked God to forgive them.  Jesus forgave them but he would not let them go into the promised land.  He told Moses to take the Israelites back into the wilderness.  There they were to live for 40 years.  The older Israelites did not have faith in God.  They would die in the wilderness.  Their children would grow up and go into the promised land.  The Israelites went back into the wilderness.

One day the Israelites were very thirsty, so they told Moses they wanted water.  Jesus told Moses how to get water.  He was to hit a rock 2 times with his rod.  Water came out of the rock and the people drank the water.

Moses led the people in the wilderness for 40 years.  He taught them all about the commandments of God.  When Moses was 120 years old, God told him to go to a mountain.  Moses saw the land of Canaan which was the land God had promised the Israelites.  Then God took Moses.

For the Children:

Joseph & Potipher's wife - Heavenly Father wants us to Live a Pure Life

Jacob had twelve sons who later are known as the "12 tribes of Israel.  It was noted in the scriptures that Jacob favored Joseph.  Jacob made Joseph a 'coat of many colors.'  That coat was a reminder to the other boys that their father loved Joseph more.

This inflamed the brothers and they hated Joseph for it.  When Joseph was 17 years old, Jacob sent him out to check on his brothers.  The brothers saw him coming from afar off and plotted how to kill him.  Rueben talked the other brothers into not killing him.  Joseph was cast into a pit then sold to a company of Ishmaelites (Midianites).

The brothers took Joseph's coat, ripped it, and put goats blood on it.  They told their father that Joseph was killed by an evil beast who had devoured him.

Then Joseph was taken to Egypt where he was sold as a slave to Potiphar, who was the officer of Pharaohs and captain of the guard.

Joseph was a good and honorable man and soon he became ruler and overseer of Potiphar's house.

Genesis 30:2-4 - "And the Lord was with Joseph...and his master was with him, and that the Lord was with him, and that the Lord made all that he did to prosper in his hand...and Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him, and he made overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand."

THEN - Potiphar's wife decided she wanted Joseph.  She asks him to sleep with her.  Being the honorable man that he was he refused and ran away.  When he refused, she falsely accused him of attempted rape.

Potiphar believed his wife and sent Joseph to prison.

Joseph stayed honorable.  He was a good and righteous man.  In prison, Joseph found favor with the guards and soon was placed in charge of the other prisoners.  In prison, he correctly interpreted the dreams of two of Pharaoh's servants.  Two years later, when Pharaoh had a dream that no one could interpret. the butler remembered how Joseph had interpreted his dream while in prison.

Pharaoh brought Joseph out of prison and had him interpret his dream.   Pharaoh recognized again that he was a man of God and Joseph served as second in command to Pharaoh and ended up providing a way to save the people of Egypt and his own family during a future famine.

There are many lessons we can learn from the story of Joseph and Potiphar.

1-  God is with us at all times and no matter what our life situation is.  BUT we must keep him in our lives and allow God to be in our lives.  God was with Joseph when he was a slave, then a prisoner, and later a national leader.  Wherever Joseph was, God was at work in his life in ways Joseph could not have understood at the time.

2- Heavenly Father wants us to live pure lives no matter what the cost.  Joseph was high in command and had a good life in Potiphar's home.  Joseph would not lower his standards in order to stay in that position.  Joseph refused to sleep with Potiphar's wife.  That cost him his job and he was thrown into prison.  But Joseph did not turn his back on God.  God honored Joseph's faithfulness.

The story teaches us that it is important that we honor and obey God's commandments.  Heavenly Father has asked us to stay morally clean.  We will be blessed if we obey our Heavenly Father.

Lessons from the Old Testament by Ronald A. Rasband

   Joseph Model of Excellence by Arthur A Bassett

Videos for kids

Enoch

Enoch

Genesis 5 & Moses 6-7

Enoch was the 4^th great grandson of Adam. (Adam would have been about 620 years old when Enoch was born.  Adam died at the age of 930).

Enoch was called to be a prophet, a missionary, and a reformer.  Enoch’s ministry was to preach and call to repentance the line and the cult of Cain and the many followers.  The people were sensual, devilish, and violent.  Enoch preached repentance and those that believed became the ‘sons of God.” 

Those that followed Enoch segregated themselves from the wicked brethren and made a new home called “Cainan.”  In this new home they built up a righteous community called ‘Zion,’ which meant ‘the pure in heart.’  In this community all were righteous, all were of one mind and one heart, and there were no poor among them.

Eventually the community became so righteous that ---- “And Enoch and all of his people walked with God, and he dwelt in the midst of Zion; and it came to pass that Zion was not, for God received it up into his own bosom; and from thence went forth the saying, Zion is Fled.” (Moses 7:69)

And in Hebrews 11:5 we find: “By faith, Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.”

We can learn a lot from the story of Enoch.  It is an excellent example of what can happen to you and I when we put our trust in the Lord and when we obey his commandments and his prophets.

·       Moses 6:31 – we learn that Enoch was very humble.  “And when Enoch had heard these words, he bowed himself to the earth, before the Lord, and spake before the Lord, saying: Why is it that I have found favor in thy sight, and am but a lad and all the people hate me; for I am slow of speech; wherefore am I thy servant?”

Even though he felt inadequate, he humbled himself before the Lord and did what the Lord ask of him.

·       The Lord will be with us and give us strength when we do what he asks of us.

And the Lord blessed him. “…no man shall pierce thee. Open thy mouth, and it shall be filled, and I will give thee utterance, for all flesh is in my hands, and I will do as seemeth me good.” (Moses 6:32). And the Lord did bless him:

Moses 6:35-36 – “And the Lord spake unto Enoch, and said unto him; Anoint thine eyes with clay, and wash them….and he beheld the spirits that God had created, and he beheld also things which were not visible to the natural eye.”

Moses 6:39 – “…when they heard him, no man laid hands on him; for fear came on all them that heard him; for he walked with God.”

Moses 6:47 – “…Enoch spake forth the words of God, the people trembled, and could not stand in his presence.”

·       What we need to do to become a Zion people.

o   Believe in Christ

o   Repent

o   Be baptized by the proper authority in the name of Christ

o   Receive the gift of the Holy Ghost

o   Have love in our hearts

o   Obey God’s commandments

o   Follow the prophet

o   Follow the guidance of the Spirit

o   Endure to the end

Principles

When the Lord calls you to teach gospel truths he will give you special knowledge, power, and insight so you can fulfill your calling. (Moses 6)

We can overcome the effects of the Fall by being ‘born again.’  By listening to the prophets, being baptized, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, obeying the commandments, and doing what the Lord asks us to do. (Moses 6)

The Lord will call us a Zion people when we live together in righteousness, are of one heart and mind (unity), and we take care of the poor. (Moses 7)

BYUI Education Series

Lecture series - Hugh Nibley

The building up of Zion  Zion is a place and a people

The greatest commandment is to Love one Another

For the Children

Sources used:

https://www.lds.org/scriptures/gs/enoch?lang=eng

Https://www.lds.org/scriptures

https://www.lds.org/bc/content/shared/content/english/pdf/language-materials/34589_eng.pdf?lang=eng

https://www.lds.org/manual/old-testament-student-manual-genesis-2-samuel?lang=eng

Adam & Eve and their family (Cain & Able)

Coming soon

Adam & Eve and The Fall

Adam & Eve and The Fall

Genesis 3 & Moses 4

(below taken from https://www.lds.org/topics/fall-of-adam?lang=eng)

In the Garden of Eden, God commanded, “Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it, nevertheless, thou mayest choose for thyself, for it is given unto thee; but remember that I forbid it, for in the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die” (Moses 3:16–17). Because Adam and Eve transgressed this command and partook of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, they were cast out from the presence of the Lord (see D&C 29:40–41). In other words, they experienced spiritual death. They also became mortal—subject to physical death. This spiritual and physical death is called the Fall. 

Our Fallen Condition

As descendants of Adam and Eve, we inherit a fallen condition during mortality (see Alma 42:5–9, 14). We are separated from the presence of the Lord and subject to physical death. We are also placed in a state of opposition, in which we are tested by the difficulties of life and the temptations of the adversary (see 2 Nephi 2:11–14; D&C 29:39; Moses 6:48–49).

In this fallen condition, we have a conflict within us. We are spirit children of God, with the potential to be “partakers of the divine nature” (2 Peter 1:4). However, “we are unworthy before [God]; because of the fall our natures have become evil continually” (Ether 3:2). We need to strive continually to overcome unrighteous passions and desires.

Repeating the words of an angel, King Benjamin said, “The natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam.” King Benjamin warned that in this natural, or fallen, state, each person will be an enemy to God forever “unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father” (Mosiah 3:19).  

Benefits of the Fall

The Fall is an integral part of Heavenly Father&sdquo;s plan of salvation (see 2 Nephi 2:15–16; 9:6). It has a twofold direction—downward yet forward. In addition to introducing physical and spiritual death, it gave us the opportunity to be born on the earth and to learn and progress. Through our righteous exercise of agency and our sincere repentance when we sin, we can come unto Christ and, through His Atonement, prepare to receive the gift of eternal life. The prophet Lehi taught:

“If Adam had not transgressed he would not have fallen, but he would have remained in the garden of Eden. And all things which were created must have remained in the same state in which they were after they were created; and they must have remained forever, and had no end.

“And [Adam and Eve] would have had no children; wherefore they would have remained in a state of innocence, having no joy, for they knew no misery; doing no good, for they knew no sin.

“But behold, all things have been done in the wisdom of him who knoweth all things.

“Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy.

“And the Messiah cometh in the fulness of time, that he may redeem the children of men from the fall” (2 Nephi 2:22–26; see also 2 Nephi 2:19–21, 27).

Adam and Eve expressed their gratitude for the blessings that came as a result of the Fall:

“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.

“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 5:10–11).  

Redemption from the Fall

Because of our fallen, mortal nature and our individual sins, our only hope is in Jesus Christ and the plan of redemption.

Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, everyone will be redeemed from the effects of the Fall. We will be resurrected, and we will be brought back into the presence of the Lord to be judged (see 2 Nephi 2:5–10; Alma 11:42–45; Helaman 14:15–17).

In addition to redeeming us from the universal effects of the Fall, the Savior can redeem us from our own sins. In our fallen state, we sin and distance ourselves from the Lord, bringing spiritual death upon ourselves. As the Apostle Paul said, “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). If we remain in our sins, we cannot dwell in the presence of God, for “no unclean thing can dwell … in his presence” (Moses 6:57). Thankfully, the Atonement “bringeth to pass the condition of repentance” (Helaman 14:18), making it possible for us to receive forgiveness for our sins and dwell in the presence of God forever. Alma taught, “There was a space granted unto man in which he might repent; therefore this life became a probationary state; a time to prepare to meet God; a time to prepare for that endless state which has been spoken of by us, which is after the resurrection of the dead” (Alma 12:24).  

Gratitude for the Savior’s Atoning Sacrifice

Just as we do not really desire food until we are hungry, we will not fully desire eternal salvation until we recognize our need for the Savior. This recognition comes as we grow in our understanding of the Fall. As the prophet Lehi taught, “All mankind were in a lost and in a fallen state, and ever would be save they should rely on this Redeemer” (1 Nephi 10:6).

(explanation above taken from https://www.lds.org/topics/fall-of-adam?lang=eng)

 Principles I Learned from The Fall

Agency is a gift from God and was given to mankind from the very beginning (Adam & Eve).  Agency is the power to act for oneself.  Exercising our agency has consequences that are based on eternal laws. (Moses 3:16-17).

Satan seeks to destroy Heavenly Father’s plan of happiness. (Moses 4:1-6).

If we do not hearken to God’s word than Satan will enslave us and we will be blinded and deceived by him.  (Moses 4:4).

Satan lied to Eve when he tempted her to eat of the fruit of the tree of Knowledge of good and evil.  Satan wanted to thwart God’s plan of Salvation, but Satan did not know the mind of God and the plan of salvation was furthered.  Satan sprinkles in some truth amongst many lies to trick us. (Geneses 3:1-6 and Moses 4:5-18).

Because of the fall of Adam and Eve, we face on this earth sorrow, sin, work, children, death, and the presence of God.  Both spiritual and physical death. (Genesis 3:16-24, and Moses 4:23-25).

The Fall of Adam and Eve was a benefit for mankind.  Because of the fall, we can practice agency and choose good from evil, experience sorrow and joy, bear and raise children.  Even though death was part of the package we can live again as we partake of Christ’s atonement (both spiritually and physically).  (Genesis 3:16-24 and Moses 5:9-11).

Trials in our lives are a blessing and are necessary so we can grow and become like our Heavenly Father. (Genesis 3:16-19 and Moses 4:22-25).

A great chart found in the OT Student Manual

Mormon Belief

BYU Religious Education - Adam and Even in the Garden of Eden 

BYU Religious Education - The Fall and the Patriarchs 

Our Leaders Speak - Lessons from Eve (Nelson)

For the Children

The Creation of the Earth

The Creation of the Earth

Genesis 1&2 and Moses 1-3

Through the power of God’s priesthood and under the direction of Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ created the beautiful earth we live on today.  He also created everything that is on the earth.  In Moses 1:33 it says: “Worlds without number have I created…and by the son I created them, which is mine Only Begotten.”

In Moses 3:5 we read “And every plant of the field before it was in the earth…For I the Lord God, created all things…spiritually, before they were naturally upon the face of the earth.”

In this scripture, we learn that everything on this earth, including the earth itself, was created spiritually before it was created physically.  The earth and everything on it was planned and thought out before it was created.

In the scriptures, we learn that God took five days to create the earth, one day to create man, and the seventh day he rested. (See Genesis 1-2, and Moses 1-3).  

He organized the earth, divided the light from darkness to make day and night.  He formed the sun, the moon, and the stars.  The waters were divided from the dry land to make seas, lakes, and rivers.  Plants and flowers were made and animals, fishes of the sea, and birds were created. “And I, God, saw everything that I had made, and behold, all things which I had made were very good.” (Moses 2:31).

Why would God create the world?

He created the world for US.  He wanted a beautiful place for us to live and to grow and to become like him.

After God had created the world it was now time to make man.  “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness; and it was so. And I, God said; Let them have dominion over the fishes of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. And I, God, created man in mine own image, in the image of mine Only Begotten created I him; male and female created I them. And I, God, blessed them, and said unto them; Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it…I have given you every herb bearing seed…and every tree…to you and it shall be for meat…behold, all things which I made were very good; and the evening and the morning were the sixth day.”

Principles learned from the creation

God’s purpose in created the earth and mankind was to help His children receive immortality and eternal life and to become like him someday. (Moses 1:30-39)

Jesus Christ created the heavens, the earth, and all that was on it, under the direction of our Heavenly Father. (Moses 1:32-38, 2:1, 31-33, and Moses 7:30).

The earth was organized and created from existing matter. (Moses 2 & Genesis 1).

The earth, everything on the earth, and mankind, was created spiritually before they were created physically. (Genesis 2:4-5, and Moses 3:4-5).

Adam and Eve and all mankind were created in the literal image of God. (Genesis 1:26-27 and Moses 2:26-27).

God rested from his labors on the seventh day and ordained one day in seven for mankind to also rest from their labors and to worship Him. (Genesis 2:1-3 and Moses 3: 1-3).

Mormon Channel

My Favorite song about the creation

Talks from our Leaders

BYU Education - discussing the creation

For the children