I love the parallel of starting a new study of the Old Testament with the start of the new year because Genesis has so many new beginnings. In fact, have you ever thought about just how new it truly was?
The Miracle of the Creation
In Genesis 1:2, it says:
2 And the earth was without aform, and void; and bdarkness was upon the face of the deep. And the cSpirit of God dmoved upon the face of the waters.
The Bible dictionary for Genesis talks about how many beginnings we find in this account, “the introduction of sin, the revelation of the gospel to Adam, the beginning of tribes and races, the origin of various languages at Babel …”
As we read Genesis, it takes us through the creation and the priority in which the Lord created the earth:
Day 1 - He made Light, and divided Day and Night.
Day 2 - He made the firmament, creating a sky for the earth.
Day 3 - He made land and seas and plants.
Day 4 - He made the stars and the moon
Day 5 - He made the birds that flew through the air and the whales and animals that swam in the sea.
Day 6 - He made creatures on land, like deer, including Adam and Eve.
Day 7 - He rested.
Elder D. Todd Christofferson said, “Whatever the details of the creation process, we know that it was not accidental but that it was directed by God the Father and implemented by Jesus Christ.” (“Why Marriage, Why Family,” D. Todd Christofferson, April 2015 General Conference)
This brings to mind a talk about sequential patterns and how the Lord teaches through sequential order:
"The sequential order in which the earth was created gives us a glimpse not only of what is most important to God but also why and for whom He created the earth." ("A House of Sequential Order," Vaiangina Sikahema, October 2021 General Conference)
Of course, even for many that don’t follow Christianity, next comes one of the most famous stories in the scriptures. For after the world was created, the Lord made Adam and put him in the garden of Eden, and then made Eve, so that man would not be alone.
Adam and Eve eventually partook of the forbidden fruit and were kicked out of the garden.
The Blessing of Adam and Eve Leaving Eden
Now, the piece I take for granted in the Creation story, because I grew up learning this, is the teachings from the Book of Mormon and the Pearl of Great Price about this story. In 2 Nephi 2:25, It says, “Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy.”
Think about this from two perspectives: For those that grew up studying the Book of Mormon, how has that truth impacted your life? And for those that have never heard this before, what exactly does that mean?
2 Nephi 2:26 goes on to clarify: “And the Messiah cometh in the fulness of time, that he may redeem the children of men from the fall. And because that they are redeemed from the fall they have become free forever, knowing good from evil; to act for themselves and not to be acted upon, save it be by the punishment of the law at the great and last day, according to the commandments which God hath given.”
Our Come Follow Me Study guide reminds us that when we study the Fall of Adam and Eve we should “focus not on the seeming tragedy but on the possibilities - not on the paradise Adam and Eve lost but on the glory their choice allows us to receive.”
Many years ago, before President Nelson became the prophet of our church, he reminded us, “The very purpose of creation was to provide bodies, to enable these eagerly awaiting spirits to enjoy mortal life and experiences.” He then said, “Adam did his part. He became the first man. But, in spite of the power and glory of creation to that point, the final link in the chain of creation was still missing.
All the purposes of the world and all that was in the world would be brought to naught without woman—a keystone in the priesthood arch of creation.” (“Lessons from Eve,” Russell M. Nelson, October 1987 General Conference).
We learn this insight further in Moses 5:10-11:
Pearl of Great Price
10 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.
11 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.
The True Meaning of Sacrifice
There are so many beautiful things to glean from the opening chapters of Genesis, and the Moses account of this story. One of the biggest ones for me was the focus on sacrifice.
When Adam and Eve left Eden they were asked to make a sacrifice.
Moses 5:7 says:
“7 And then the angel spake, saying: This thing is a similitude of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten of the Father, which is full of grace and truth.”
It seems harsh that the Lord so thoroughly rejected Cain’s offering of produce from his field, but not when you realize what an insult it was, because of what the sacrifice was intended to represent. Our Savior, Jesus Christ, came down to this earth and suffered the worst agonies, he bled from every pore while he poured out his soul in prayer for us. All that he did, was for us, and to honor his Father. And this sacrifice represented that.
However, note that even the sacrifice that Abel made wasn’t that big in the scheme of things. The Lord didn’t ask Abel to sacrifice his entire livestock and have nothing to eat. He asked “for the firstlings of their flocks, for an offering unto the Lord.” (Moses 5:5)
Bishop L.Todd Budge explains this beautiful insight:
In modern usage, the term sacrifice has come to connote the concept of “giving up” things for the Lord and His kingdom. However, in ancient days, the meaning of the word sacrifice was more closely tied to its two Latin roots: sacer, meaning “sacred” or “holy,” and facere, meaning “to make.”2 Thus, anciently sacrifice meant literally “to make something or someone holy.”3 Viewed as such, sacrifice is a process of becoming holy and coming to know God, not an event or ritualistic “giving up” of things for the Lord. (“Give Holiness to the Lord,” L. Todd Budge, October 2021 General Conference)
He later states:
“Sacrifice is less about ‘giving up’ and more about ‘giving to’ the Lord. (“Give Holiness to the Lord,” L. Todd Budge, October 2021 General Conference)
I close with these scriptures references in the Come Follow Me manual:
Psalm 4:5 - Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the Lord.
7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver
26 … I would that ye should come unto Christ, who is the Holy One of Israel …
Moroni 7:6–11
11 … a bitter fountain cannot bring forth good water; neither can a good fountain bring forth bitter water; wherefore, a man being a servant of the devil cannot follow Christ; and if he follow Christ he cannot be a servant of the devil.