Background
v5...Adam was obedient unto the Lord. They were commanded to offer their firstlings of their flocks as an offering unto the Lord.
v12...Adam and Eve blessed the name of God and made all things known unto their children.
v16,17...Cain was a tiller of the ground; Abel was a keeper of sheep.
...firstling of the flock
The word ‘firstlings’ puts certain qualifications and restrictions and even determines the quality of faith that is used in offering the sacrifice. ‘Firstling’ does not necessarily denote the oldest of the flock, but the firstborn of its particular mother. A ‘firstling’ is a male, the ‘first to open the matrix’ of its mother. Each mother in her lifetime could produce only one firstling, but a flock of sheep could have several firstlings born each year. In order to know which lambs were acceptable for sacrifice, the owner would have to know his flock. Some notice would have to be made of mothers and of young. Otherwise, how could anyone know which mothers had produced offspring for the first time? There is no way that a man, Adam or anyone else, could know which males were firstlings unless a record and some identification of mothers and offspring were kept. This requirement removes the element of chance and of haphazard obedience, or sometime obedience. Not only is one’s faith shown in the willingness to offer a sacrifice but also in the care required and the preparation needed beforehand in making the selection of the proper animal.
This particular passage of scripture illustrates the concept that the commandments of God require the intelligent and deliberate attention of those who are seeking salvation. It gives a reason for Paul’s observation that ‘without faith it is impossible to please’ God. For without faith one would not have kept a record and marked (at least mentally) which animals were proper for sacrifice'
Moses 5:18-20
Who did Cain love the most?
...Cain loved Satan more than God
What did Satan command Cain to do unto the Lord?
...Satan commanded him saying: Make an offering unto the Lord
What did Cain offer unto the Lord?
...Cain brought of the fruit of the ground
What did Abel offer unto the Lord?
...Abel brought of the firstlings of his flock
Whose offering did the Lord respect?
...The Lord had respect unto Abel
Why was it important to make sacrifices in the way the Lord had commanded?
Moses 5:21,26
How did Cain react when the Lord rejected his sacrifice and called him to repentance?
...Cain was wroth, his countenance fell, he rejected the greater counsel, he listened not any more to the voice of the Lord, neither to Abel, who walked in holiness.
Why is sometimes hard for us to be called to repentance?
How can we develop more repentant hearts?
Moses 5:32
...Cain slew Abel
How could the Lord allow something like this to happen?
In 1885 the First Presidency made the following statement, speaking about the righteous who are afflicted by the wicked: “For a wise purpose in [God’s] providence He permits the wicked, in the exercise of their agency, from time to time to afflict His followers. Since the days of our father Adam this has always been the case, and it will continue to be, so long as Satan has any power over the hearts of the children of men”.
Moses 5:33
...I Am Free
What do you think Cain believed he was free of?
How does disobedience actually decrease our freedom?
How does obedience increase our freedom?
Moses 5:34
...Am I my brother’s keeper?
Elder Dallin H. Oaks said: "Are we our brothers’ keepers? In other words, are we responsible to look after the well-being of our neighbors as we seek to earn our daily bread? The Savior’s Golden Rule says we are. Satan says we are not. Tempted of Satan, some have followed the example of Cain. They covet property and then sin to obtain it. The sin may be murder, robbery, or theft. It may be fraud or deception. It may even be some clever but legal manipulation of facts or influence to take unfair advantage of another. Always the excuse is the same: ‘Am I my brother’s keeper?’".
Bishop Robert L. Simpson said: “The world today tells you to leave your friend alone. He has the right to come and go as he pleases. The world tells you that persuasion to attend church or priesthood meeting or to discard a bad habit might lead to frustration and undue pressures; but again I repeat the word of the Lord: You are your brother’s keeper, and when you are converted, you have an obligation to strengthen your brother.
Moses 5:36
What happened to Cain as a result of choosing to follow Satan instead of God?
...thou shalt be cursed
How did Cain's choices affect his descendants as well as himself?
How can our righteous or unrighteous choices affect our family members?
Elder Richard G. Scott counseled: "Many of you have heavy hearts because a son or daughter, husband or wife, has turned from righteousness to pursue evil. My message is for you. Your life is filled with anguish, pain, and, at times, despair. I will tell you how you can be comforted by the Lord. First, you must recognize two foundation principles:
1. While there are many things you can do to help a loved one in need, there are some things that must be done by the Lord.
2. Also, no enduring improvement can occur without righteous exercise of agency. Do not attempt to override agency. The Lord himself would not do that. Forced obedience yields no blessings (see D&C 58:26–33).
I will suggest seven ways you can help. First, love without limitations. … Second, do not condone the transgressions, but extend every hope and support to the transgressor. … Third, teach truth. … Fourth, honestly forgive as often as is required. … Fifth, pray trustingly. ‘The … fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much’ (James 5:16). …Sixth, keep perspective. … When the things you realistically can do to help are done, leave the matter in the hands of the Lord and worry no more. Do not feel guilty because you cannot do more. Do not waste your energy on useless worry. … In time, you will feel impressions and know how to give further help. You will find more peace and happiness, will not neglect others that need you, and will be able to give greater help because of that eternal perspective. …“One last suggestion—Never give up on a loved one, never!"
Moses 6:27
...thus saith the Lord: I am angry with this people
Do you think the Lord is pretty much at that point the way the world is now?
Moses 6:31-32
How did Enoch react when he was called by the Lord to preach repentance to the people?
...wherefore am I thy servant
Elder James E. Faust, then a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, taught: “Most of us who are called to leadership in the Church feel that we are inadequate because of inexperience, lack of ability, or meager learning and education
What can we learn from Enoch about serving the Lord even when we do not feel capable?
Moses 6:35-36
...A seer hath the Lord raised up
Elder John A. Widtsoe stated: “A seer is one who sees with spiritual eyes. He perceives the meaning of that which seems obscure to others; therefore he is an interpreter and clarifier of eternal truth. He foresees the future from the past and the present. This he does by the power of the Lord operating through him directly, or indirectly with the aid of divine instruments such as the Urim and Thummim
Moses 6:37
Why were people offended when Enoch began to preach?
Why did they continue to listen to him even though they were offended?
Moses 7:18
...one heart, one mind
What does it mean to be of one heart and one mind?
What can we do to become of one heart and one mind with the Lord?
Moses 7:21
...Zion was taken up into heaven
Moses 7:26-28
...Satan laughed at the wickedness
...God wept
Elder Marion D. Hanks, a former member of the Seventy, explained: "God, from whom all blessings come, asked of his children only that they should love each other and choose him, their Father. But as in our day, many neither sought the Lord nor had love for each other, and when God foresaw the suffering that would inevitably follow this self-willed, rebellious course of sin, he wept. That, he told Enoch, was what he had to cry about."
Summary Points
- The commandments of God require the intelligent and deliberate attention of those who are seeking salvation. It took a lot of faith to make an offering of the firstlings of the flock.
- It is important make an offering in the way that the Lord wants
- We should be slow to anger and humble ourselves to repentance
- God permits the wicked to afflict the righteous in exercise of their agency
- Obedience increases our freedom not disobedience
- We are responsible to look after the well-being of our neighbors
- The choices we make to follow Jesus Christ will help draw us closer to him and lead us to liberty, happiness, and eternal life.
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