Come, Follow Me 2026: Week 2 - Moses 1; Abraham 3 (January 5–11)

Doctrinal Foundation

What existed before the "beginning" described in Genesis 1:1? Why did God create the heavens and earth? These questions frame the visions given to Moses and Abraham, revealing layers of divine purpose. From Moses's view, after beholding God and His creations, he pleads, “Be merciful unto thy servant, O God, and tell me concerning this earth, and the inhabitants thereof, and also the heavens” (Moses 1:36). From God's view, the response centers on identity and purpose: “For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man” (Moses 1:39). From Abraham's view, premortal intelligences prepare for mortal proving (Abraham 3:22–28). Satan counters with confusion: “Moses, son of man, worship me” (Moses 1:12), contrasting God's affirmation, “thou art in the similitude of mine Only Begotten” (Moses 1:6). These perspectives resolve the mystery of divine identity—children of God with eternal potential—against Satan's deceptions, setting the foundation for understanding God's work as bringing eternal life through Jesus Christ.

Scripture Deep Dive

Ascend through Moses 1 and Abraham 3 as a staircase of discovery, where each step unveils escalating connections.

Step 1: Divine Identity Affirmed (Moses 1:4, 6)
God declares to Moses, “thou art a son of God; and he hath created thee after the image of his Only Begotten” (Moses 1:4, 6). This counters the mystery of human worth, establishing premortal likeness to Christ.

Step 2: Satan's Counterfeit Assault (Moses 1:12–13)
Satan tempts, “Moses, son of man, worship me,” offering a fake version of power (Moses 1:12). Recognize the pattern: God builds testimony; Satan erodes it immediately after visions.

Step 3: Moses's Resistance Builds (Moses 1:15, 18, 20–22)
Moses commands, “Depart from me, Satan; for this one God only will I worship, which is the God of glory” (Moses 1:20–22). The Lord's help arrives: “the earth shook himself” (Moses 1:24–26), resolving temptation through divine power.

Step 4: Vision of Worlds (Moses 1:27–30)
Moses beholds “worlds without number” and asks, “Tell me … why these things are so” (Moses 1:30). This bridges to purpose.

Step 5: God's Work Revealed (Moses 1:31–39)
“Now, for this cause I have shown thee the power of God... For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man” (Moses 1:39). Immortality differs from eternal life, achieved through Christ.

Step 6: Premortal Council (Abraham 3:22–24)
Abraham sees “the intelligences that were organized before the world was; and among all these there were many of the noble and great ones; And God saw these souls... he stood among those that were spirits” (Abraham 3:22–23).

Step 7: Purpose of Mortality (Abraham 3:25–26)
“We will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them” (Abraham 3:25). Christ chosen as Redeemer.

Step 8: Eternal Proving (Abraham 3:27–28)
“These I will make my rulers... as it is written they shall inherit thrones, powers, principalities, and dominions” (Abraham 3:28). This climactic step ties premortal glory to mortal obedience, transforming Genesis context through Joseph Smith's revelations.

Archaeological and cultural insights from these JST visions collapse time: ancient prophets saw modern doctrines, like premortal life, hidden in plain sight.

Historical Context

The bundle reveals how Joseph Smith restored context lost in Genesis. Moses 1 provides backstory before "in the beginning," showing Moses's vision post-commandments. Abraham 3 records a premortal council vision, answering "what was there before this ‘beginning’?" This "time collapse" aligns ancient seers with latter-day clarity: Moses's plea (Moses 1:36) mirrors Abraham's sights, framing Old Testament Creation as response to prophetic questions. Pioneer experiences echo this—Joseph translated amid persecution, revealing truths Satan obscures, much like Moses resisted post-vision temptation.

Pattern Recognition Web

This week's pattern—vision, temptation, purpose—repeats across dispensations. God affirms identity (Moses 1:4, 6), Satan confuses (Moses 1:12), divine power overcomes (Moses 1:24–26; see also Matthew 4:1–11). Premortal proving (Abraham 3:25) links to Moses's work (Moses 1:39; see Doctrine and Covenants 11:20). Noble spirits become rulers (Abraham 3:22–28), patterning latter-day callings. Contradiction resolved: spiritual highs invite temptation, but resistance proves worth (Moses 1:12–26). Generational link: pioneers acted on premortal truths amid trials, as in Saints vol. 2 (bundle reference implies study).

Discussion Framework

1. What most people miss in Genesis 1:1—its premortal prelude (Abraham 3:22)?
2. How does God's message to Moses (Moses 1:4) differ from Satan's (Moses 1:12)?
3. Why tempt right after visions—what does Moses 1:13–18 reveal about counterfeits?
4. What shook the earth in Moses's resistance (Moses 1:24–26)?
5. Why show Moses "worlds without number" before purpose (Moses 1:27–39)?
6. Who were the "noble and great ones" (Abraham 3:22–23)?
7. How does "prove them herewith" (Abraham 3:25) apply to daily choices?
8. What inheritance awaits the faithful (Abraham 3:28)?
9. How does identity affect decisions, per prophetic counsel?
10. Where does Christ fit in God's work (Moses 1:39; Abraham 3:27)?

Gospel Connections

Principles anchor the Plan of Salvation: premortal life (Abraham 3:22–28) leads to mortal proving (Abraham 3:25), enabled by Christ's redemption for immortality and eternal life (Moses 1:39). Surprising parallel: Moses's similitude to the Only Begotten (Moses 1:6) echoes premortal choice of Christ (Abraham 3:27), linking identity to exaltation. See Topics and Questions, “Premortal Life,” “Eternal Life.”

Teaching Moments

1. Mirror activity: Read Moses 1:4, have children affirm “I am a child of God” to reflections and each other—creates aha on divine worth.
2. Act out Moses 1:12–26: Pray, command Satan away—hidden connection to family resistance practices.
3. Premortal draw: Key words from Abraham 3:22–28 (“spirits,” “prove”) inspire songs like “I Will Follow God’s Plan,” linking to choices (Abraham 3:25).
4. Dinner chat: Share resisting Satan stories, tying to Moses 1:20–22 for spontaneous teaching.

Personal Reflection

• When has a spiritual high been followed by temptation, like Moses 1:12–26—what helped resist?
• List choices shaped by child-of-God identity (Moses 1:4)—which labels compete?
• What "work" calls today, echoing Moses 1:6 and Abraham 3:22?
• How does knowing premortal nobility (Abraham 3:23) change proving in trials (Abraham 3:25)?
  Discover patterns: Visions precede purpose—track similar moments in journals.

Prophetic Echoes

Modern revelation mirrors ancient visions strikingly. “If the Lord were speaking to you directly,” President Russell M. Nelson taught, “the first thing He would make sure you understand is your true identity” (“Choices for Eternity” [worldwide devotional for young adults, May 2022], Gospel Library). “The way you think about who you really are affects almost every decision you will ever make” (“Choices for Eternity”). This echoes God's words to Moses (Moses 1:4, 6) against Satan's confusion (Moses 1:12), urging identity as foremost.

These restored visions invite recognition of premortal truths in personal covenant paths.