Difference between revisions of "Moses 6:6-10"

Revision as of 22:11, 16 November 2006

The Pearl of Great Price > The Book of Moses > Chapter 6

Questions

Verse 7

• Of what importance would it be that the same priesthood that was exercised here by Seth and Enos would exist at the end of the world also?
• Might this prophecy already be fulfilled?

Lexical notes

Verse 6

• This is a continuation of a series of thoughts beginning in verse 4 (not semicolons at the end of verses 4 and 5). As the chain of thoughts refers back to Seth and Enos, the pronouns here (them, their) also refer to Seth and Enos.

Verse 7

• The form of this prophecy, as recorded here, is very similar to the form of the declaration given in Moses 5:59.

Exegesis

Verse 7

The phrase "this same Priesthood" is curious here because it is not obvious what exactly is being referred to. A list of potential priesthood actions and themes described in this chapter include:

• the keeping of a "book of remembrance" (v. 5) also D&C 128:6-10
• speaking "a language which was pure and undefiled"
• teaching "their children... to read and write"
• the power "to write by the spirit of inspiration" (v. 5)
• the ability "to call upon the name of the Lord"
• offering "an acceptable sacrifice"
• the general patriarchal order
• or possibly some special patriarchal order related to being an "appointed ... seed". Moses 6:1

Nowdays, in the restored Church, the Priesthood is frequently defined as the authority to act in the name of God. Based on this definition, it might be inappropriate to consider certain of the activities listed above as specifically pertaining to the Priesthood. For example, it seems that fathers who do not have the Priesthood are able to teach their children to read and write and everyone is given the right to "call upon the name of the Lord."

On the other hand, all of these actions may be viewed as the function of a father acting as a patriarch according to the patriarchal order of the priesthood. If so, then this list may provide an outline of patriarchal priesthood responsibilities which can only be fully performed by one given the authority to act in God's name. In this sense, familial relationship between father and son may be a type of priesthood relationship.

This verse also makes it clear that this patriarchal order of the priesthood that existed in Adam's family will be had again in the last days. We can see these same prieshood functions reflected in the themes outlined in D&C 128, where we read of

• "an acceptable sacrifice" (cf. D&C 128:24)
• the ability "to call upon the name of the Lord" (cf. D&C 128:11)
• and an "appointed seed" (cf. D&C 128:15)
• as well as the more obvious themes of records and remembrance (cf. D&C 128:8 especially).

Since D&C 128 is a treatise on baptism for the dead, these common themes suggests that there is indeed some profound connection between the patriarchal priesthood and "the subject of the baptism for the dead" revealed to Joseph Smith in D&C 128. The return of a priesthood, "which was in the beginning," at the very "end of the world also" seems to be the precise concern of that section of the Doctrine and Covenants.

Related links

• Click the edit link above and to the right to add related links