Week 1

This week, we were studying in Moses 7 and Enoch came face to face with God. The Lord showed unto him many things which were to come like the restoration, the coming of the Son of Man, the Second Coming and Satan. Moses 7:26 reads: “And he beheld Satan; and he had a great chain in his hand, and it veiled the whole face of the earth with darkness; and he looked up and laughed, and his angels rejoiced.” The despair and fear felt after reading this verse is almost tangible, until you see verse 27: “And Enoch beheld angels descending out of heaven, bearing testimony of the Father and Son; and the Holy Ghost fell on many, and they were caught up by the powers of heaven into Zion.” Professor Griffin clarified that verse 27 was about missionary work and that when Moses had been foreordained and beheld the utter wickedness encompassing the entirety of the earth, he probably pointed to the Earth and said “please send me there. These people need me. I need to go there.” Moses did not quake and tremble at beholding the gruesome sight, but instead looked forward with faith which is the exact opposite of the fear one could expect. Professor Griffin said that we were up there too looking down and probably had the same response: “Please send me there. These people need me. I need to go there.” I’ve never felt the desire to serve a mission more than I did in that moment. I’ve always been afraid of getting rejected on a mission or that I won’t be an obedient and dependable missionary, but reading verses like this reminds me that missions are for service and hopefully helping people escape the bands of misery and destruction. I imagine what my life would be like if the gospel wasn’t a part of it and I can see myself giving into temptations and bending to what the world wants me to be. Instead, I know that God loves me and He weeps when His children are led away because “they are the workmanship of mine own hands…”. This more than anything else makes me want to save others who are struggling just as I have and bring them to know of their loving Heavenly Father and loving Heavenly Brother.