Enoch vs. Cain

The bible does a wonderful job outlining narratives, often putting them side by side so we can see varying consequences. 

Today we are going to be looking at two contrasting characters: Cain and Enoch. Who was Cain? Son of Adam and Eve. 

Who was Enoch? 
The seventh from Adam. We don't learn much about of Enoch in the bible, rather the Pearl of Great Price and the D&C. 

I've handed out scriptures for various people to read. What we are going to do is go back and forth between Cain and Enoch and hopefully learn about how each of their attitudes led them down a different path. 
ON BOARD: Steps with arrow up and down (attitude that lead us to God, attitude that lead us to destruction): have people read contrasting scriptures between Cain and Enoch. Talk about their varying attitudes. 

Step 1:
(Enoch) Moses 7:59
What does this show us about his attitude towards god? 
(Board): thou art God and I know thee 
*He knew God, he asked God questions, he came to be taught by God
(Cain) Moses 5:16 
What does this show us about Cains attitude towards God
(Board): who is The Lord? 
This reminded me of Laman and Lemuel refusing to call upon God as Nephi did to receive wisdom and blessings from The Lord. 

Step 2: 
(Enoch) Moses 6:31
(Board): wherefore am I thy servant?
Although he felt unqualified, he accepted more responsibility and served God. 
(Cain) Moses 5:25 
(Board): he rejected the greater counsel 
Cain wanted nothing to do with God. We see this in him trying to give The Lord a less qualified sacrifice by offering the fruit of the land and not offering an animal sacrifice which we know from last weeks lesson signified the atonement of Jesus Christ. 

Step 3: 
(Enoch) Moses 6:43
(Board): ye are my brethren
Created a relationship between himself, god and the rest of humanity. It's evident that if Enoch didn't love his brethren he wouldn't have preached to them 
(Cain) Moses 5:34 
(Board): am I my brothers keeper?
How did Cain respond when the Lord asked where Abel was? (See Moses 5:34.) 
Every night I pray that Beckahm and Amari will be their brothers keeper. What does it mean to be our brother’s keeper? (See 1 John 3:11, 17–18.) 
11 For this is the amessage that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
17 But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his abrother have bneed, and cshutteth up his bowels of dcompassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
18 My little children, let us not love in word, aneither in tongue; but in bdeed and in truth.
In what ways can we act as our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers?

Quote #1:
Bishop Robert L. Simpson said: “The world today tells you to leave your friend alone. He has the right to come and go as he pleases. The world tells you that persuasion to attend church or priesthood meeting or to discard a bad habit might lead to frustration and undue pressures; but again I repeat the word of the Lord: You are your brother’s keeper, and when you are converted, you have an obligation to strengthen your brother” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1971, 114; or Ensign, Dec. 1971, 103).
And this is exactly what Enoch did. He knew of God and he prophesied of God and shared the gospel with his brethren.

Step 4: 
(Enoch) Moses 6:39
(Board): he walked with God 
As we learned in our first lesson this "man is nothing" concept is played out here. Just like Adam and Eve never ceased calling upon God for help, Enoch never ceased walking with God. 
(Cain) Moses 5:33
(Board): I Am free 
After killing his brother Abel, Cain said, “I am free” (Moses 5:33). What do you think Cain believed he was free of? How does disobeying God’s commandments actually decrease our freedom? How does obedience increase our freedom?

Step 5: 
(Enoch) Moses 7:44
(Board): wept over his brethren
He wept over them, he cared when he saw they had fallen into wickedness
(Cain) Moses 5:31
(Board): glorified in his wickedness 

Step 6:
(Enoch) Moses 7:18 
(Board): they were of one heart and one mind
*end result: Enoch and the city of Enoch dwelt with God 
(Cain) Moses 5:41 
(Board): Cain was shut out from the presence of The Lord 
•What happened to Cain as a result of choosing to follow Satan instead of God? (See Moses 5:23–25, 36–41.) 
*(Board): spiritual destruction 
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How did Enoch's choices affect himself and others? 
The entire city was converted and translated. 

How did Cain’s choices affect his descendants as well as himself? (See Moses 5:41–43, 49–52, 55.) His sons committed murder to get gain, his posterity kept those secret combinations Cain received from Satan intact, they were cursed. 

Can our righteous or unrighteous choices affect our family members?
I've seen this "brothers keeper" concept go awry multiple times in my own family and in my husbands family. The quote is true that misery loves company and if misery can be shared between blood brothers than is in even greater company. 15 years my brothers spent living as addicts, one often helping the other heighten their addiction or entice the other to revisit their addiction. The same thing has happened in my husbands family. 

People often think that the choices they make do not affect other people but they are dead wrong. Even those outside this circle of addiction have suffered by way of having to pick up the broken pieces of these peoples lives, by bailing them out of jail, loaning money, turning a home into a recovery unit, being a poor example to younger, impressionable siblings and of course lets not forget the 
heart broken, sleepless mothers 

Every choice has a consequence and behind every consequence is usually a face of a loved one, someone we care about. 

What can we do to help ourselves bear the pain when loved ones go astray? What can we do to help these loved ones?

Quote #2: Elder Richard G. Scott counseled:
“Many of you have heavy hearts because a son or daughter, husband or wife, has turned from righteousness to pursue evil. My message is for you.
“Your life is filled with anguish, pain, and, at times, despair. I will tell you how you can be comforted by the Lord.
“First, you must recognize two foundation principles:
“1. While there are many things you can do to help a loved one in need, there are some things that must be done by the Lord.
“2. Also, no enduring improvement can occur without righteous exercise of agency. Do not attempt to override agency. The Lord himself would not do that. Forced obedience yields no blessings (see D&C 58:26–33).

Moses 6:
55 And the Lord spake unto Adam, saying: Inasmuch as thy children are aconceived in sin, even so when they begin to grow up, bsin conceiveth in their hearts, and they taste the cbitter, that they may know to prize the good.
56 And it is given unto them to know good from evil; wherefore they are aagents unto themselves, and I have given unto you another law and commandment.

Quote #3: Elder Scott continues:
“I will suggest seven ways you can help.
“First, love without limitations. … Second, do not condone the transgressions, but extend every hope and support to the transgressor. … Third, teach truth. … Fourth, honestly forgive as often as is required. … Fifth, pray trustingly. ‘The … fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much’ (James 5:16). …
“Sixth, keep perspective. … When the things you realistically can do to help are done, leave the matter in the hands of the Lord and worry no more. Do not feel guilty because you cannot do more. Do not waste your energy on useless worry. … In time, you will feel impressions and know how to give further help. You will find more peace and happiness, will not neglect others that need you, and will be able to give greater help because of that eternal perspective. …
“One last suggestion—Never give up on a loved one, never!” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1988, 69–71; or Ensign, May 1988, 60–61).

I know it may seem harsh when P. Scott said to let go after you've done what you can, and leave the matter in the Lords hands, but as we learn from the account of Enoch, the Lord is aware of each and every one of us. If you can imagine how much you love your children, magnify that times 1,000--for that is how much God loves us. 

Let's read this beautiful passage between God and Enoch. I want you to feel how much he loves you personally as we read this. 

Moses 7:28 And it came to pass that the God of heaven looked upon the aresidue of the people, and he wept; and Enoch bore record of it, saying: How is it that the heavens weep, and shed forth their tears as the rain upon the mountains?
29 And Enoch said unto the Lord: How is it that thou canst aweep, seeing thou art holy, and from all eternity to all eternity?
30 And were it possible that man could number the particles of the earth, yea, millions of aearths like this, it would not be a beginning to the number of thy bcreations; and thy curtains are stretched out still; and yet thou art there, and thy bosom is there; and also thou art just; thou art merciful and kind forever;
31 And thou hast taken aZion to thine own bosom, from all thy creations, from all eternity to all eternity; and naught but peace, bjustice, and truth is the habitation of thy throne; and mercy shall go before thy face and have no end; how is it thou canst cweep?
32 The Lord said unto Enoch: Behold these thy brethren; they are the workmanship of mine own ahands, and I gave unto them their bknowledge, in the day I created them; and in the Garden of Eden, gave I unto man his cagency;
33 And unto thy brethren have I said, and also given commandment, that they should alove one another, and that they should choose me, their Father; but behold, they are without affection, and they bhate their own blood;
36 Wherefore, I can stretch forth mine hands and hold all the acreations which I have made; and mine eye can pierce them also, and among all the workmanship of mine hands there has not been so great bwickedness as among thy brethren.
41 And it came to pass that the Lord spake unto Enoch, and atold Enoch all the doings of the children of men; wherefore Enoch knew, and looked upon their wickedness, and their misery, and wept and stretched forth his arms, and his bheart swelled wide as eternity; and his bowels yearned; and all eternity shook.
44 And as Enoch saw this, he had abitterness of soul, and wept over his brethren, and said unto the heavens: I will refuse to be bcomforted; but the Lord said unto Enoch: Lift up your heart, and be glad; and look.
47 And behold, Enoch asaw the day of the coming of the Son of Man, even in the flesh; and his soul rejoiced, saying: The Righteous is lifted up, and the bLamb is slain from the foundation of the world; and through cfaith I am in the bosom of the Father, and behold, dZion is with me.

The Lord has a plan for each of us. He loves us, and just as he tried to beckon to Cain time and again to repent and follow his counsel, he's asks us to do the same, so that we too--using the metaphor of the city of Enoch being taken to God--can likewise return to Gods presence. 

May we be converted so we can help others be converted as Enoch. And if others choose not to be converted, let us love them, serve them, and be there for them, understanding the necessity of free agency, and having faith that they are the workmanship of God-- he knows them, he loves them and he will come to their aid.