This is My Work and My Glory

A Prologue to Genesis: Moses 1 in Light of Jewish Traditions

E. Douglas Clark

BYU Studies 45, no. 1 (2006)

The famous opening words of Genesis, “In the beginning,” launch the reader immediately into the creation account without any hint of authorship. Not so in the book of Moses, whose first chapter serves as a kind of prologue to the creation account, which is a revelation to Moses when he was “caught up into an exceedingly high mountain.” Ancient texts such as Jubilees and rabbinic texts parallel elements of Moses 1. This article tells why Moses 1 is an essential introduction to the Bible.

A Strange Thing in the Land: The Return of the Book of Enoch, Part 1

Hugh W. Nibley

Ensign 5, no. 10 (Oct. 1975)

A Strange Thing in the Land: The Return of the Book of Enoch, Part 11

Hugh W. Nibley

Ensign 7, no. 4 (Apr. 1977)

A Strange Thing in the Land: The Return of the Book of Enoch, Part 12

Hugh W. Nibley

Ensign 7, no. 6 (Jun. 1977)

A Strange Thing in the Land: The Return of the Book of Enoch, Part 6

Hugh W. Nibley

Ensign 6, no. 7 (Jul. 1976)

A Strange Thing in the Land: The Return of the Book of Enoch, Part 7

Hugh W. Nibley

Ensign 6, no. 10 (Oct. 1976)

Book of Moses Insights

Jeffrey M. Bradshaw et al.

Pearl of Great Price Central (Invalid Date)

This resource contains sixty-one short essays, with MP3 audio versions, on the book of Moses, examining the text in more detail. Included are discussions on the presence of temple themes, literary aspects, and ancient parallels in the book of Moses.

Christ the Creator

Mark E. Petersen

BYU Speeches (Dec. 1977)

Moses gives testimony of Christ through his scriptural writings and through his appearance to Joseph Smith. The writings of Moses help us understand the covenant God made with Abraham.

Exodus 1–10, Let My People Go

Church Educational System

Old Testament Student Manual, Genesis–2 Samuel: Religion 301 (2003)

This study guide discusses Moses’ youth, Moses slaying an Egyptian, the forms of God’s name, and more. Links to the Joseph Smith Translation of a few select verses in Exodus (Exodus 4:21, 24–27; and 6:3, 29) provide information which is missing in the King James Version.

Glory: Reflections on Moses 1

Philip Barlow

Old Testament Reflections (2026)

Moses 1:39 declares God’s work and glory—to bring to pass our immortality and eternal life. This article explores the depth of that verse and the meaning of “glory” in scripture. As you study, consider: How does understanding God’s glory change the way you see His purpose and your own divine potential?

Jesus Christ: Resurrection of Jesus Christ

Tad R. Callister

Encyclopedia of Mormonism (1992)

Latter-day Saints believe in the literal and physical resurrection of Jesus Christ, supported by biblical and Book of Mormon accounts. The scriptures teach that the era preceding the second coming of the Savior will be perilous and filled with tribulation. When he does come, there will be an age of peace, harmony, and joy.

Joseph Smith Translating Genesis

Kent P. Jackson

BYU Studies Quarterly 56, no. 4 (2017)

This article explains the history of the Joseph Smith Translation, which is the foundation of unique Latter-day Saint texts of Moses and Abraham.

Joseph Smith Translation

Bible Dictionary

Joseph Smith began a revision or translation of the King James Version of the Bible in June 1830. He was divinely commissioned to make the translation and regarded it as “a branch of his calling” as a prophet. Although the major portion of the work was completed by July 1833, he continued to make modifications while preparing a manuscript for the press until his death in 1844.

The Ancient Covenant Restored

Robert L. Millet

Ensign28, no. 3 (Mar. 1998)

Moses and other ancient prophets participated in the restoration of the ancient covenant of Abraham to Joseph Smith.

The Creation: An Introduction to Our Relationship to God

Michael A. Goodman

Religious Educator 8, no. 3 (2007)

Teaching and learning about the Creation should be an awe-inspiring and spiritually edifying experience. It easily devolves, however, into much less. If we don’t follow the Lord’s pattern for sharing the Creation as found in the scriptures, we risk missing the powerful influence that learning of the Creation can have in the lives of our students.

The Fall of Man and His Redemption

Gerald N. Lund

The Book of Mormon: Second Nephi, the Doctrinal Structure (1989)

While Lehi gives various counsel to all his children, his address to Jacob is primarily a doctrinal exposition. In 2 Nephi 2, Lehi expounds to Jacob on the Fall of man and the need for a redeemer. This article methodically goes through Lehi’s discussion on the Fall to point out how 2 Nephi 2 shapes our understanding of the Fall and the Atonement.

The LDS Story of Enoch as the Culminating Episode of a Temple Text

Jeffrey M. Bradshaw

BYU Studies Quarterly 53, no. 1 (2014)

Moses 7 gives a detailed account of how and why Enoch and his people created a holy city. The general structure of the second half of the book of Moses follows a pattern exemplifying faithfulness and unfaithfulness to a specific sequence of covenants that is familiar to members of the Church who have received the temple endowment. The story of Enoch and his people in these latter chapters of the book of Moses provides a vivid demonstration of the final steps on the path that leads back to God and up to exaltation.

“According to Their Language, unto Their Understanding”: The Cultural Context of Hierophanies and Theophanies in Latter-day Saint Canon

Mark Alan Wright

Studies in the Bible and Antiquity 3 (2011)

Wright discusses the “fainting” of Alma in Mosiah 27 in context of ancient Mesoamerican prophetic calls.

“And I Saw the Stars”: The Book of Abraham and Ancient Geocentric Astronomy

John Gee, William J. Hamblin, Daniel C. Peterson

Astronomy, Papyrus, and Covenant (2005)

The authors suggest that we view the astronomy of Abraham as a discussion of the visible heavens rather than an accurate view of the cosmos. The text makes the most sense when read as referring to ancient geocentric astronomy.

Astronomy and the Creation in the Book of Abraham

Michael D. Rhodes, J. Ward Moody

Astronomy, Papyrus, and Covenant (2005)

This chapter looks at what we know and what we don’t know: What do we know about Kolob? What is the age of the earth? Was there death among plants and animals before the Fall? What are the seven creative periods taught in Abraham 3?

Jesus Christ: Resurrection of Jesus Christ

Tad R. Callister

Encyclopedia of Mormonism (1992)

Latter-day Saints believe in the literal and physical resurrection of Jesus Christ, supported by biblical and Book of Mormon accounts. The scriptures teach that the era preceding the second coming of the Savior will be perilous and filled with tribulation. When he does come, there will be an age of peace, harmony, and joy.

Premortal Existence, Foreordinations, and Heavenly Councils

Joseph Fielding McConkie

Apocryphal Writings and the Latter-day Saints (1986)

The doctrines of premortal existence, heavenly councils, and foreordinations were all a part of the theology of the ancient Saints and as such are a necessary part of the promised restoration of all things.

The Abrahamic Test

Larry E. Dahl

Sperry Symposium Classics: The Old Testament (2005)

In spite of the mind-boggling contradiction that Abraham is promised seed through his son Isaac and that God commands him to sacrifice that son, Abraham had faith to proceed. He had full confidence that somehow God could and would fulfill his promises.

The Condescension of the Lamb of God

S. Brent Farley

Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior (2002)

Jesus condescended to be born and live in humble circumstances. To know of the condescension of God is to know of his love. This condescension still occurs in the present time, as every time God interacts with his children, it is a manifestation of his continuing condescension.

The Creation: An Introduction to Our Relationship to God

Michael A. Goodman

Religious Educator 8, no. 3 (2007)

Teaching and learning about the Creation should be an awe-inspiring and spiritually edifying experience. It easily devolves, however, into much less. If we don’t follow the Lord’s pattern for sharing the Creation as found in the scriptures, we risk missing the powerful influence that learning of the Creation can have in the lives of our students.

The King Follett Discourse: Pinnacle or Peripheral?

James E. Faulconer, Susannah Morrison

BYU Studies Quarterly 60, no. 3 (2021)

Joseph Smith taught that intelligence is self-existent. This article reviews the history of ideas about individuals existing as independent agents prior to their creation as spirits.

Joseph Smith and Egyptian Artifacts: A Model for Evaluating the Prophetic Nature of the Prophet’s Ideas about the Ancient World

Kerry Muhlestein

BYU Studies Quarterly 55, no. 3 (2016)

This article grapples with the content and history of the Egyptian drawings that Joseph Smith possessed, acknowledging that Joseph believed several things about the artifacts that are not fully congruent with modern academic Egyptology.

The LDS Story of Enoch as the Culminating Episode of a Temple Text

Jeffrey M. Bradshaw

BYU Studies Quarterly 53, no. 1 (2014)

Moses 7 gives a detailed account of how and why Enoch and his people created a holy city. The general structure of the second half of the book of Moses follows a pattern exemplifying faithfulness and unfaithfulness to a specific sequence of covenants that is familiar to members of the Church who have received the temple endowment. The story of Enoch and his people in these latter chapters of the book of Moses provides a vivid demonstration of the final steps on the path that leads back to God and up to exaltation.

Antonio Lebolo: Excavator of the Book of Abraham

H. Donl Peterson

BYU Studies 31, no. 3 (1991)

Antonio Lebolo, an Italian man, went to Egypt to excavate artifacts and then sold them. Ancient papyri with writings ascribed to Abraham and Joseph that Lebolo excavated arrived in the United States in 1833 and were brought to Joseph Smith in 1835. This article examines Lebolo’s life and legacy.

Joseph Smith and Egyptian Artifacts: A Model for Evaluating the Prophetic Nature of the Prophet’s Ideas about the Ancient World

Kerry Muhlestein

BYU Studies Quarterly 55, no. 3 (2016)

This article grapples with the content and history of the Egyptian drawings that Joseph Smith possessed, acknowledging that Joseph believed several things about the artifacts that are not fully congruent with modern academic Egyptology.

Teaching the Book of Abraham Facsimiles

Michael D. Rhodes

Religious Educator 4, no. 2 (2003)

Here are basic answers for questions raised about the book of Abraham papyri, specifically the three facsimiles.