This week we encounter the most foundational narrative in scripture: the Creation. We read this account not once, but three times—in Genesis, Moses, and Abraham—each offering unique perspectives that illuminate different aspects of God's creative work.

Genesis 1–2 provides the familiar biblical account, structured around seven days of creative work and rest. Chapter 1 presents a cosmic, ordered creation, while Chapter 2 zooms in on the garden, the creation of Adam, and the forming of Eve as his perfect companion.

Moses 2–3 offers the same narrative but through the lens of Moses's vision (introduced in Moses 1). Here we learn that Christ ("mine Only Begotten") was the Creator under the Father's direction. Moses adds clarifying details, such as the spiritual creation preceding the physical.

Abraham 4–5 provides the most distinctive account. The language shifts from "God" to "the Gods" (reflecting the divine council introduced in Abraham 3), and the vocabulary changes from "created" to "organized." Here creation is explicitly a collaborative work of the Godhead preparing a place for Abraham's posterity—and by extension, all of God's children.

Together, these three accounts reveal creation as temple-building, identity-establishing, and covenant-inaugurating. The pattern of seven, the divine rest, the image of God in humanity, and the institution of marriage all carry profound theological weight.

Book of Genesis (Chapters 1–2)

• Author: Moses (traditional attribution)
• Original Audience: Israel
• Purpose: To establish God as Creator, humanity as His image-bearers, and the fundamental patterns of life
• Key Themes: Seven-day pattern, image of God, blessing, rest, marriage

Book of Moses (Chapters 2–3)

• Author: Moses, restored through Joseph Smith
• Source Date: Original to Moses (~1446 BC); restored June 1830
• Purpose: To reveal Christ as Creator and add clarifying details to Genesis
• Key Themes: Christ as Creator, spiritual/physical creation distinction

Book of Abraham (Chapters 4–5)

• Author: Abraham, restored through Joseph Smith
• Source Date: Original to Abraham (~2000 BC); restored 1835
• Purpose: To reveal creation as organized by the divine council
• Key Themes: "The Gods," organization vs. creation, council work

The creation accounts were not written in a vacuum. They entered a world full of competing creation stories—Egyptian, Babylonian, Canaanite, and Sumerian myths that Israel would have known. Understanding these alternatives reveals what Genesis/Moses/Abraham affirm and deny.

Egyptian Creation Myths (Moses's Context)

What Moses/Genesis Corrects:

• One God, not many: Clarifies one divine God, not the plethora of competing gods
• Matter unorganized, not deified chaos: Genesis presents formless material as simply that—material, not a god
• Purpose for humanity: Humans are the pinnacle, made in God's image, not afterthoughts to serve the gods
• No divine combat: Unlike myths where creation results from cosmic battles between gods

Mesopotamian Creation Myths (Abraham's Context)

The Enuma Elish (Babylonian Creation Epic):

• Divine combat: Marduk kills Tiamat (chaos dragon) and creates the world from her corpse
• Humanity's purpose: Humans created to serve gods and relieve them of labor
• Polytheism: Multiple generations of gods with conflict and intrigue

What Abraham 4–5 Corrects:

• "The Gods" ≠ polytheism: The divine council works in unity under the Father
• Creation ≠ divine combat: Creation results from deliberate organization, not violence
• Humanity's dignity: Not servants to relieve gods, but children to inherit

In the ancient Near East, a king would place images (selem, צֶלֶם in Hebrew) of himself throughout his kingdom. These statues represented his authority and presence in places he couldn't physically be.

• Egypt: Pharaohs erected statues; the statue was the pharaoh for purposes of worship and presence
• Mesopotamia: Kings placed images at borders and in temples as extensions of their rule

Radical Implications of Genesis:

• Not just kings but all humans are in God's image
• Humanity is God's representatives, not His servants or slaves
• This grounds human dignity, worth, and purpose

The Seven-Day Framework

The Pattern:

• Days 1–3: Creating realms (forming)
• Days 4–6: Creating rulers/inhabitants for those realms (filling)
• Day 7: The goal—God dwelling in His completed temple

The "And It Was Good" Refrain

The Hebrew tov (טוֹב) appears seven times in Genesis 1: verses 4, 10, 12, 18, 21, 25, and verse 31 adds "very good" (tov me'od). This sevenfold "good" is a covenant signature.

Genesis 1:26–28: "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea... So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them..."

Abraham 4:26–27: "And the Gods took counsel among themselves and said: Let us go down and form man in our image, after our likeness... So the Gods went down to organize man in their own image, in the image of the Gods to form they him, male and female to form they them."

Doctrinal Analysis

"Let us" — Plural Deliberation: Genesis uses Elohim (plural form) with singular verbs—hinting at plurality in unity. Abraham makes this explicit: "the Gods took counsel among themselves." This is not polytheism but the united Godhead.

Image and Likeness: Tselem (image) = we represent God. Demut (likeness) = we resemble God. Together: We both represent and resemble our Creator.

Male and Female: The image of God is incomplete in isolated humanity. Both genders together reflect divine completeness.

Dominion: Hebrew radah = rule, reign, govern. Not exploitation but stewardship. We govern creation on God's behalf.

Cross-References

• Psalm 8:4–6 — "Thou hast crowned him with glory and honour"
• Colossians 1:15 — Christ is "the image of the invisible God"
• Ether 3:15–16 — "Seest thou that ye are created after mine own image?"

Genesis 2:18, 21–24: "And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him... And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam... and he took one of his ribs... And the rib... made he a woman, and brought her unto the man... Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh."

The Phrase "Help Meet" — Ezer Kenegdo

Key Insight: Ezer is used predominantly of God in the Old Testament: "The Lord is our ezer and our shield" (Psalm 33:20). If ezer implies subordination, then God is subordinate to Israel! Eve is essential, powerful counterpart.

"One Flesh" — Covenant Union

Marriage in Eden is the first human covenant—instituted before the Fall, therefore part of God's original, unfallen design for humanity.

Cross-References

• Matthew 19:4–6 — Jesus quotes Genesis 2:24: "What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder"
• D&C 132:19 — Celestial marriage sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise

Genesis 2:1–3: "Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it."

Key Hebrew Terms

• Shabbat (שָׁבַת) — To cease, desist, rest. Not exhaustion but completion. In ancient cosmology, divine rest meant enthronement—the deity taking up residence in his completed temple.
• Qadash (קָדַשׁ) — To sanctify, set apart. The Sabbath is the first thing declared holy in Scripture—time is sanctified before space.

The Open-Ended Seventh Day

The seventh day has no "evening and morning"—it remains open, unclosed. The Sabbath is ongoing divine invitation. Hebrews 4:9–11 develops this: "There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God."

Cross-References

• Exodus 20:8–11 — The Sabbath commandment rooted in creation rest
• Hebrews 4:9–11 — "There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God"
• D&C 59:9–13 — "On this, the Lord's day... offer thine oblations"

Abraham 4:1–3: "And then the Lord said: Let us go down. And they went down at the beginning, and they, that is the Gods, organized and formed the heavens and the earth. And the earth, after it was formed, was empty and desolate... and the Spirit of the Gods was brooding upon the face of the waters."

Doctrinal Analysis

"The Gods" — Plurality in Unity: Hebrew Elohim is grammatically plural. Abraham makes the plurality explicit. NOT polytheism but the Godhead and council working in unity.

"Organized" vs. "Created": Abraham uses "organized" and "formed"—implying working with existing materials. D&C 93:29: "Intelligence... was not created or made." God is the great Organizer, not creator ex nihilo.

"Took Counsel Among Themselves": Deliberation precedes action. Creation is planned, intentional, purposeful. Links to Abraham 3:22–28's council scene.

Cross-References

• Abraham 3:22–24 — The premortal council; "we will go down"
• D&C 93:29 — "Intelligence... was not created or made"
• John 1:1–3 — "In the beginning was the Word... all things were made by him"

בָּרָא

צֶלֶם

עֵזֶר כְּנֶגְדּוֹ

טוֹב

שָׁבַת

קָדַשׁ

Focus: Understanding Your Identity and Purpose

Central Application: You are made in God's image—this defines who you are and what you're for.

Study Approach:

• Day 1–2: Read Genesis 1–2 completely. Chart what God created each day. Note how many times "good" appears.
• Day 3–4: Read Moses 2–3 alongside Genesis. Note additions: "mine Only Begotten," spiritual creation.
• Day 5–6: Read Abraham 4–5 and note "the Gods" and "organized."
• Day 7: Journal: What does it mean that I am made in God's image?

Focus: Marriage as Creation Ordinance

Central Application: Your marriage is not a social construct but a creation pattern—instituted before the Fall as part of God's original design.

Discussion Topics:

• The "Not Good" Moment: Genesis 2:18 is the only "not good" in creation. What does this say about our need for each other?
• Ezer Kenegdo: Eve is essential strength, not subordinate assistant. What does it mean to be each other's strength?
• "One Flesh" — Before the Fall: Marriage was instituted in Eden's perfection. How does this change how we view it?

Focus: We Are God's Children, Made in His Image

Opening Song: "I Am a Child of God" (Hymns, 301)

Scripture: Genesis 1:26–27

Object Lesson: The Family Photo

Show a family photo or look in a mirror together. Ask: "What do you see when you look at yourself?" Explain: We don't just look like each other—we look like God! When He made us, He put His own likeness in us.

Activity Options:

• Young Children: Draw a picture of yourself and label it "Child of God"
• Older Children: Create a family crest showing values that reflect God's image
• Teens: Discuss: Social media encourages us to create our own image. How is this different from receiving our identity from God?

Treat: Something creative—let the kids help "create" it!

Lesson Objective:

Class members will understand how Genesis, Moses, and Abraham together reveal God's nature, humanity's purpose, and the pattern of covenant.

Attention Activity (5 min):

Display three photos of the same scene from different angles. Ask: "Which is the 'real' photo?" Discuss: All are real—each captures a different perspective. This is what we have with three creation accounts.

Main Discussion Sections:

1. The Genesis Foundation: Seven-day structure, "good" appears 7 times (covenant signature), creation as temple-building
2. Moses Adds Christ: "mine Only Begotten"—everything in Genesis is Christ's work
3. Abraham Reveals the Council: "The Gods," "organized" vocabulary, connection to Abraham 3's premortal council
4. Image of God Application: How should this doctrine change how we see ourselves and others?

Focus: Your Identity Is Received, Not Created

Central Application: In a world that tells you to "create your own image," God has already placed His image in you.

Opening Discussion:

• How much time do people spend curating their image on social media?
• What if your identity wasn't something you had to create but something you received?

Key Points:

• You are God's living statue: His representative on earth. This isn't something you earn; it's something you ARE.
• You were in the council: Abraham 3:22—you were there. You were chosen. You have purpose.
• For YW: Eve was ezer—same word used for GOD. You bring essential power. You're not decoration; you're strength.
• For YM: "Dominion" is royal language—you're meant to govern, lead, care. But dominion isn't domination. It's responsibility.

Commitment Activity: Write one way you'll live as God's image-bearer this week.

1. What does God say before creating humanity that He doesn't say before creating anything else?
2. In whose image is humanity created?
3. What two terms are used to describe humanity's relationship to God?
4. What three commands does God give to the newly created humans in Genesis 1:28?
5. How does Abraham 4:26 describe the divine deliberation before creating humanity?
6. What verb does Abraham use instead of "created"?
7. What did God say was "not good" in Genesis 2:18?
8. From what part of Adam was Eve formed?
9. On which day did God rest?
10. What two things did God do to the seventh day?

1. What does it mean to be made in God's "image"?
2. Why do you think God deliberated ("Let us") before creating humanity but not before other creations?
3. What is the difference between tselem (image) and demut (likeness)?
4. Why does Abraham's account use "organized" rather than "created"?
5. How does knowing ezer is used of God change your view of Eve's role?
6. Why is marriage instituted before the Fall?
7. Did God rest because He was tired?
8. What does divine "rest" mean in ancient cosmology?
9. Does "the Gods" mean there are many gods?
10. What is the relationship between "the Gods" and the Godhead?

1. How should knowing you bear God's image affect your self-image?
2. What changes when you view every person you meet as bearing God's image?
3. How can you exercise "dominion" over creation in a godly way today?
4. How does the "image of God" doctrine shape how you treat your body?
5. How does understanding ezer as "strength" change how you view women's roles?
6. What does "one flesh" require of married couples today?
7. How can you make the Sabbath the climax of your week?
8. What does godly "rest" look like in your life?
9. How does knowing you were in the premortal council affect your sense of purpose?
10. What aspects of your life need to be "organized" rather than discarded?

1. Why do you think God gave us three creation accounts instead of one?
2. What surprises you most about the creation accounts when you read them carefully?
3. How should the "image of God" doctrine shape our response to social issues?
4. What would change in your church if everyone truly believed they were made in God's image?
5. How does the creation account prepare us for the rest of scripture?