Genesis 5 and Moses 6

Enoch

Enoch is one of my heroes, but it may surprise members of the Church that very little is known about him in the wider Jewish and Christian worlds. Within Genesis 5 there is a series of verse that don’t tell us an awful lot:

And Jared lived an hundred sixty and two years, and he begat Enoch: And Jared lived after he begat Enoch eight hundred years, and begat sons and daughters: And all the days of Jared were nine hundred sixty and two years: and he died. And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah: And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters: And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years: And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him (Genesis 5:18-24).

We learn from these verses that Enoch:

• Was the son of Jared
• Enoch was the father of Methusaleh (and others)
• He lived from 365 years (which compared to the others listed was a short period of time)
• Enoch walked with God (suggesting he was righteous?)
• God took him.

The first two points are confirmed in Luke’s genealogy of the Saviour:

Which was the son of Mathusala, which was the son of Enoch, which was the son of Jared, which was the son of Maleleel, which was the son of Cainan, which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God (3:37-38).

The last point is emphasised and expanded slightly in Hebrews:

By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God (11:5).

Though, even this idea about Enoch’s translation was not read as we understand it, for example there is the suggestion by Rashi in the Talmud that:

Enoch was a righteous man, but he could easily be swayed to return to do evil. Therefore, the Holy One, blessed be He, hastened and took him away and caused him to die before his time. For this reason, Scripture changed [the wording] in [the account of] his demise and wrote, ‘and he was no longer’ in the world to complete his years.

His taking into heaven without tasting death, or in the words of Hebrews, his translation was to avoid him falling into evil. Thus, as we read Moses 6 we learn so much more than is known throughout the world. We gain a much more rounded and inspirational picture of this great prophet (I’ll return to this below).

The Book of Enoch

While the letter of Jude expands what we know a little more:

And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him (Jude 1:14-15).

The passage from Jude seems to quote from the apocryphal Book of Enoch (a work generally dated to the 3^rd-1^stCenturies BCE. The above quotation has specific reference to God coming down to Sinai to judge humanity, itself a midrash on Deuteronomy 33:2

And he said, The Lord came from Sinai, and rose up from Seir unto them; he shined forth from mount Paran, and he came with ten thousands of saints: from his right hand went a fiery law for them.

The dating of such is from the time of Moses so seems a disjoint between the passages. There is nothing in the Book of Enoch to link with what we learn about Enoch from the Book of Moses in the Pearl of Great Price. There are elements that could be linked, for example it suggests that Enoch was:

a righteous man, whose eyes were opened by God, saw the vision of the Holy One in the heavens, which the angels showed me, and from them I heard everything, and from them I understood as I saw, but not for this generation, but for a remote one which is for to come.

And the Book of Enoch uses the phrase ‘Son of Man’, which may have influenced some of the early Christians alongside the Book of Daniel. However, the overwhelming narrative that seems to surround angels, fallen angels and judgement seems to me to suggest that the ‘mining’ of the work for Gospel truths would be cherry picking, and we are much better served by the Book of Moses. 

Care should be taken to associate the apocryphal Book of Enoch with the Book of Enoch mentioned in the Doctrine and Covenants. We read:

Three years previous to the death of Adam, he called Seth, Enos, Cainan, Mahalaleel, Jared, Enoch, and Methuselah, who were all high priests, with the residue of his posterity who were righteous, into the valley of Adam-ondi-Ahman, and there bestowed upon them his last blessing. And the Lord appeared unto them, and they rose up and blessed Adam, and called him Michael, the prince, the archangel. And the Lord administered comfort unto Adam, and said unto him: I have set thee to be at the head; a multitude of nations shall come of thee, and thou art a prince over them forever. And Adam stood up in the midst of the congregation; and, notwithstanding he was bowed down with age, being full of the Holy Ghost, predicted whatsoever should befall his posterity unto the latest generation. These things were all written in the book of Enoch, and are to be testified of in due time (D&C 107:53-57).

This would suggest that Enoch recorded the prophecies of Adam and wrote them in the ‘book of Enoch.’ It is patently clear on reading the apocryphal book that the two books are very different, and this book has not survived.

The Life of Enoch

Returning to Moses chapter 6 there are many more things that we learn about Enoch, his life and teachings. In relation to the above quoted verses from Genesis we read of an additional fact about Jared’s relationship with Enoch:

And Jared taught Enoch in all the ways of God (Moses 6:21).

Building on that which Adam had taught his posterity we know that “the Gospel began to be preached, from the beginning” (Moses 5:58). This Gospel, as discussed in week 1 of Come Follow Me, centred on the Saviour Jesus Christ, “his Only Begotten Son, even him whom he declared should come in the meridian of time, who was prepared from before the foundation of the world” (Moses 5:57). These are the truths and the ‘ways of God’ that will have been taught to Enoch by his father. This is confirmed in the description of all of those named in the genealogy from Adam to Enoch explained in Moses 6:

And they were preachers of righteousness, and spake and prophesied, and called upon all men, everywhere, to repent; and faith was taught unto the children of men (Moses 6:23).

Reading this alongside the practice of ‘holy ordinance[s]’ (Moses 5:59, see also 6:64-67), we realise that which we call the doctrine of Christ (see 3 Nephi 11:21–39) was taught from the earliest times of the world. 

We then read of Enoch’s ‘call’ to prophesy and to call the people to repentance:

And it came to pass that Enoch journeyed in the land, among the people; and as he journeyed, the Spirit of God descended out of heaven, and abode upon him. And he heard a voice from heaven, saying: Enoch, my son, prophesy unto this people, and say unto them—Repent, for thus saith the Lord: I am angry with this people, and my fierce anger is kindled against them; for their hearts have waxed hard, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes cannot see afar off; And for these many generations, ever since the day that I created them, have they gone astray, and have denied me, and have sought their own counsels in the dark; and in their own abominations have they devised murder, and have not kept the commandments, which I gave unto their father, Adam (Moses 6:26-28, this continues in verses 29-30).

It is Enoch’s reaction to this call that inspires me:

And when Enoch had heard these words, he bowed himself to the earth, before the Lord, and spake before the Lord, saying: Why is it that I have found favour in thy sight, and am but a lad, and all the people hate me; for I am slow of speech; wherefore am I thy servant? (Moses 6:31).

It always makes me chuckle because of his description of himself as ‘but a lad.’ We know from verse 25 that he’s at least 65!! If he’s ‘but a lad’, there’s hope for all of us This is not an unusual experience of those called by God, and in many ways shows a humility that is important as we strive to serve- it creates a reliance on the Lord from the beginning. If we think that we can do it by ourselves and rely on our own strength and our own intellect then we may be less swift to call on the Lord. There are many other examples of feelings of inadequacy:

And Moses said unto the LORD, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore*, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue (Exodus 4:10, see also 3:11-12 and Exodus 4:1-9).

And he [Gideon] said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house (Judges 6:15). 

Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child (Jeremiah 1:6).

The response of Enoch reminds me that as we teach the stories of the Gospel we should liken them to ourselves and our class members. If all we do is tell the stories of the scriptures without the underlying principles then we are partially fulfilling our role. My old mission president, Joseph McConkie taught:

The scriptures are alive with characters and events that translate themselves into modern settings. Who has never, Enoch-like, at least felt like protesting a call to service with a ‘Why me?’ attitude. ‘[I] am but a lad,’ Enoch argued, [unpopular and] slow of speech.’ (Moses 6:31) Who has never experienced Jonah-like indignation when someone repents whom we did not expect to? (Jonah 4). Our own Church history is full of tyranny and villainy of Pharaohs, Herods, and Pilates; and is not the world still full of people who, Nicodemus like, privately and quietly seek after the Church but publicly shun it?

Are there no more doubting Thomases or impetuous Peters who dare rebuke the Lord? (Matt 16:22) Or Amuleks who know the gospel is true but will not know it, who have heard the voice of the Lord but will not hear it? (Alma 10:5-6). Are there no more Professor Korihors who tell us that our religion consists of the ‘foolish traditions’ of our fathers that we cannot know of things we cannot see, that all our religious belief is the result of a frenzied mind (Teach and Reach, 14-15).

I have been absolutely like Enoch- called as a Bishop at 26 and to a Stake Presidency at 31, I was panicked, only the confirmation of the Holy Spirit to the divine inspiration of the call gave me any hope at all as I strived to serve. Which leads nicely into the response of the Lord:

And the Lord said unto Enoch: Go forth and do as I have commanded thee, and no man shall pierce thee. Open thy mouth, and it shall be filled, and I will give thee utterance, for all flesh is in my hands, and I will do as seemeth me good.  Say unto this people: Choose ye this day, to serve the Lord God who made you. Behold my Spirit is upon you, wherefore all thy words will I justify; and the mountains shall flee before you, and the rivers shall turn from their course; and thou shalt abide in me, and I in you; therefore walk with me (Moses 6:32-34).

The Lord promises us His Spirit and that our moths will be filled. This is a promise that we can find throughout the scriptures. Firstly, in His response to Moses:

And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man’s mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD? Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say (Exodus 4:11-12).

To Gideon:

And the LORD said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man (Judges 6:16).

To Jeremiah:

But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD. Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth (Jeremiah 1:7-9)

We are also promised by the Saviour:

But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you (Matthew 10:19-20).

Echoed in the Doctrine and Covenants:

Neither take ye thought beforehand what ye shall say; but treasure up in your minds continually the words of life, and it shall be given you in the very hour that portion that shall be meted unto every man (D&C 84:85).

I have seen this promise fulfilled so many times throughout my life, first as a missionary and then in every calling since that point. I have received the words to say at different points and I know for certain they did not come from me. This does not mean that we don’t prepare, but through a life of drawing close to the Lord we have the experience and knowledge with which to be prompted, I was once told ‘You can’t teach what you don’t know any more than you can come back from a place you have never been!”

This response that we are rely on the Lord, and that we will be given utterance reflects the response Gordon B. Hinckley suggested: 

Get on your knees and ask for the blessings of the Lord; then stand on your feet and do what you are asked to do. Then leave the matter in the hands of the Lord. You will discover that you have accomplished something beyond price (“To the Women of the Church,” Ensign, Nov. 2003, 114).

Spencer W. Kimball shared how this is fulfilled in each of our lives:

When my feeling of incompetence wholly overwhelmed me, I remembered the words of Nephi when he said: [1 Ne 3:7]. I want to tell you that I lean heavily on these promises, that the Lord will strengthen and give me growth and fit and qualify me for this great work. I have seen the Lord qualify men. In my church experience I have helped to …[call] many bishops. I have seen them grow and prosper and become great and mighty men in the Church; men who were weak and men who were foolish, and they became strong and confounded the wise, and so I rely upon that promise of the Lord that he will strengthen and empower me that I may be able to do this work to which I have been called (Spencer W. Kimball, Conference Report, Oct. 1943, 18).

Sometimes we might think that an admission of inadequacy is an admission of weakness. That is not so, it can be inspiring to others. I recently had a student visit with me crippled with self-doubt and a lack of self-confidence. I shared with her the feelings of inadequacy and imposter syndrome I have- it was inappropriate for me to share my reliance on the Lord, but even just this admission helped her see that she is not unusual and that these feelings can be overcome. I remember when I was helping to write the Gordon B. Hinckley manual that in one of the chapters I included a story of ;failure’ (his words not mine). One of the reviewers suggested I not include it as it painted the prophet in a less than perfect light- that was the point. Each of us is human and we can take inspiration from people overcoming adversity. One of my favourite prophets is George Albert Smith, in his bio on the Church website it describes:

Throughout his apostolic service, Elder Smith suffered from depression and anxiety, which at some points left him shattered and physically weakened. Shortly after pleading with God to let him die, he had several remarkable spiritual experiences that restored his confidence and gave him strength to endure. After taking rest and recuperation in 1909, he resumed his duties in 1912. Depression never fully left him despite his hard-won improvements, but he pressed on to fulfil duties and care for his family.

A similar description is given of Harold B. Lee following the death of one of his daughters. These experiences help me understand that however I feel that others have been there, and any issue with the help of the Lord can be worked through, and we can be strengthened. In the words of President Holland:

I testify that you have not travelled beyond the reach of divine love. It is not possible for you to sink lower than the infinite light of Christ’s Atonement shines.

The result of Enoch’s call to preach is described in Moses 6:

And it came to pass that Enoch went forth in the land, among the people, standing upon the hills and the high places, and cried with a loud voice, testifying against their works; and all men were offended because of him. And they came forth to hear him, upon the high places, saying unto the tent-keepers: Tarry ye here and keep the tents, while we go yonder to behold the seer, for he prophesieth, and there is a strange thing in the land; a wild man hath come among us. And it came to pass when they heard him, no man laid hands on him; for fear came on all them that heard him; for he walked with God (Moses 6:37-39)

I love this scripture- he goes from a frightened ‘lad’ to a ‘wild man’ in the space of a few verses. This is the confidence that we can receive from the Lord. We won’t all become ‘wild’ but people can see within us the testimony of Christ, we will become more than we are by ourselves. As the Lord has promised:

…for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them (Ether 12:27).

Part of this is by understanding who we are, and who those we serve are. Enoch received this inspiration:

And the Lord spake unto Enoch, and said unto him: Anoint thine eyes with clay, and wash them, and thou shalt see. And he did so. And he beheld the spirits that God had created; and he beheld also things which were not visible to the natural eye… (Moses 6:35-36).

As we come to understand who and whose we are we are raised beyond ourselves. We can ask ourselves the question, given by Alma:

And now behold, I ask of you, my brethren of the church, have ye spiritually been born of God? Have ye received his image in your countenances? Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts? Do ye exercise faith in the redemption of him who created you? Do you look forward with an eye of faith, and view this mortal body raised in immortality, and this corruption raised in incorruption, to stand before God to be judged according to the deeds which have been done in the mortal body? (Alma 5:14-15).

We find ‘success’ through gaining this eternal perspective. Sometimes it is actually dangerous for us to feel that we succeed through our own strength. We need to recognise the hand of the Lord in all we do, and trust in him. This is the faith that they be for us (the Lord) is greater than those who stand against us. This truth was similarly taught to early missionaries of this dispensation, Heber C. Kimball records:

I had been sleeping on the back of the bed. I immediately arose, slipped off at the foot of the bed, and passed around to where he [Elder Russell] was. Elder Hyde threw his feet out, and sat up in the bed, and we laid hands on him, I being mouth, and prayed that the Lord would have mercy on him, and rebuke the devil. 

While thus engaged, I was struck with great force by some invisible power, and fell senseless on the floor. The first thing I recollected was being supported by Elders Hyde and Richards who were praying for me, Elder Richards having followed Russell up to my room. Elders Hyde and Richards then assisted me to get on the bed, but my agony was so great I could not endure it, and I arose, bowed my knees and prayed.

I then arose and sat up on the bed, when a vision was opened to our minds, and we could distinctly see the evil spirits, who foamed and gnashed their teeth at us. We gazed upon them about an hour and a half (by Willard’s watch). We were not looking towards the window, but towards the wall. Space appeared before us, and we saw the devils coming in legions, with their leaders, who came within a few feet of us. They came towards us like armies rushing to battle. They appeared to be men of full stature, possessing every form and feature of men in the flesh, who were angry and desperate; and I shall never forget the vindictive malignity depicted on their countenances as they looked me in the eye; and any attempt to paint the scene which then presented itself or portray their malice and enmity, would be vain.

I perspired exceedingly, my clothes becoming as wet as if I had been taken out of the river. I felt excessive pain, and was in the greatest distress for some time. I cannot even look back on the scene without feelings of horror; yet by it I learned the power of the adversary, his enmity against the servants of God, and got some understanding of the invisible world. We distinctly heard these spirits talk and express their wrath and hellish designs against us. However, the Lord delivered us from them, and blessed us exceedingly that day. (Life of Heber C. Kimball,” pp. 131-132)

If every force of hell is unleashed upon us, we know that the Lord is stronger than all.

We teach with greater authority as we understand our relationship with Christ. I have explored before what this authority means in terms of the Saviour who also taught with authority. 

The Gospels contain many examples of Christ teaching “as one having authority, and not as the scribes” (Matthew 7: 29; see also Mark 1: 22). Other examples have Christ acting with authority, such as when casting out the unclean spirits: “And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him” (Mark 1: 27). This authority is coupled with power as shown in the healing of the paralysed man: “But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house” (Mark 2: 10-11).

These experiences give us an insight into what it means to teach with authority. Although the authority of Christ came from being the Son of God sent by the Father, and we know that Christ is the “only begotten Son” (John 3: 16), there are elements of his authority that we can emulate in our teaching. I would suggest that there are three such expressions of authority, all of which naturally link with the others:

1. Having authority given us
2. The authority of knowledge
3. The authority of righteous living

Having authority given us

The Saviour often referred his own identity, and his relationship to the Father, as the source of his authority. The later events of the baptism establish Jesus as the “beloved Son’ (Mark 1: 11) which is the source of his authority; a theme that is prominent in the Prologue of John in his identification as the light that came into the world. 

His authority came from his identity as the only begotten Son of the Father. Although, children of God, we do not automatically have this authority. This authority that is given to us comes in different ways dependent on the role that we have.

Firstly, as disciples of Jesus Christ we are commissioned to:

Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creatio” (Mark 16: 15). 

As we accept Jesus Christ into our lives and begin our path of discipleship we become a part of this great commission to preach the Gospel or good news of salvation. This is evidenced in the life of Saul; we read that following his road to Damascus experience:

He got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength. Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God (Acts 9: 18-20). 

This is the impact that discipleship has upon us as we consider the command to preach the Gospel.

With this authority we are to become the kind of teacher and leader that the Saviour was, one who recognises that:

The greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted (Matthew 23: 11-12). 

I have to admit that this is really difficult, when you are placed upon a pedestal, or people look to you for guidance and respect how can you keep the Saviour uppermost in your mind and in your actions? How do you not become as the Pharisees who act to be seen of others, and as those with authority we are commanded to:

not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the  synagogues and on the streets, to be honoured by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full (Matthew 6: 2). 

Authority from God is not a stick with which to beat people, but a gift with which to bless and guide people.

As I think about my role as a father, I am led to consider the similar way in which I will act with authority in my home. My authority comes because I am a parent, however, I must act in a way that the authority is recognised and remains. The need for unity in the home, in a similar way in which unity is expressed in the Church, is developed as my wife and I act in unity and humility as leaders. A phrase which I heard consistently as a teenager was “Don’t do as I do, do as I say!” Although this links with the third type of authority to be explored in this chapter it also links with the discussion about authority being used as a stick with which to beat people, or to impose our will on others. It is, perhaps, in the home where this is most difficult. It is in the home where we are at our most honest, it is the place where boundaries are pushed beyond those we would normally accept in any other walk of life. For these reasons, and many more, it is imperative that we act in the same way as our Saviour. Jesus showed love in every situation, yes, he could occasionally reprimand but this was in a measured way. We must be aware of the humility with which we must carry out our role of authority within the home- whether we do that as a father or mother in a two parent or single parent home. We must seek for a unity of love and oneness shown by the Father and the Son: 

I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name—the name you gave me–so that they may be one as we are one (John 17: 11).

The authority of knowledge

A mentor of mine from early in my ministry had an adage that has always lived with me, it was: “You cannot teach what you don’t know, any more than you can come back from a place that you have never been.” Undoubtedly, the ability to teach with the requisite background knowledge and expertise is imperative to teach with authority. As we explore the Sermon on the Mount we recognise in Jesus a person that knew the Law of Moses but encouraged, indeed commanded, us to be better. This was impossible without a knowledge of the Law:

You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘You shall not murder’; and ‘whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.’But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, ‘You fool,’ you will be liable to the hell of fire. So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you,leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift (Matthew 5: 21-25).

The standard was raised, the prohibition against adultery was changed to not even thinking about it, and many other examples could be used. Following the Sermon on the Mount the people recognised: 

Now when Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes” (Matthew 7: 28-29).

Having the authority of knowledge a person is able to correct false teachings. In his interactions with the Pharisees he taught the importance of teaching correct doctrine: 

He said to them, “Isaiah prophesied rightly about you hypocrites, as it is written, ‘This people honours me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching human precepts as doctrines.’ You abandon the commandment of God and hold to human tradition.” Then he said to them, “You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition! For Moses said, ‘Honour your father and your mother’; and, ‘Whoever speaks evil of father or mother must surely die.’  But you say that if anyone tells father or mother, ‘Whatever support you might have had from me is Corban’ (that is, an offering to God)—  then you no longer permit doing anything for a father or mother,  thus making void the word of God through your tradition that you have handed on. And you do many things like this” (Mark 7: 6-13). 

In today’s society when sometimes truth is seen to be subjective and anyone can set themselves up as an authority through the creation of a webpage it is important to explore the authority with which a person speaks, we must avoid the condemnation given to the scribes: 

For you have taken away the key of knowledge; you did not enter yourselves, and you hindered those who were entering (Luke 11: 52). 

As a parent or ministering brother or sister, knowledge in this sense is a little harder. It is a knowledge of Christ- gained through study and faith. A lifetime study of the scriptures should be central in our lives, as we seek to come to know God and their relationship to him. Only by having a knowledge of Christ can a person hope to become like him. But ‘knowledge’ in this sense is not enough. It is about having a passion for the subject that we teach. As a secular educator this is very evident in the way that we speak about the topic– as a young teacher I remember being asked to teach geography. This was taught to the same class that I taught Religious Education to­. The children themselves recognised a difference in the way that I taught; I neither had the same passion or knowledge for geography and although they were taught everything they needed to know I felt as though they were short changed.

For a disciple teacher this enthusiasm is developed and this knowledge is also gained through having a relationship with him. Joseph McConkie suggests:

In the context of the Bible, knowledge− in its highest spiritual sense− had little to do with the intellect but was rather a matter of the heart. The Old Testament references to a man knowing God and to a man knowing his wife− meaning conceiving a child with her− both use the same Hebrew word (yada). As a man was to leave his father and mother and cleave unto his wife and become one flesh with her, so he was to leave the things of the world, cleave unto his God, and become one with him. As faithfulness in marriage was essential to the nurturing of love, so faithfulness in keeping Gospel covenants was understood to be necessary in obtaining a knowledge of God. As love of spouse was strengthened in sacrifice and devotion, so the knowledge of God was obtained in living those covenants with exactness and honour (McConkie, J. 1987: 230).

We teach with authority when we know about Christ, and also when we know him. For a Christian leader this is recognising that they are primarily a Christian, a teacher and a leader rather than a leader. Hugh Nibley has suggested:

True leaders are inspiring because they are inspired, caught up in a higher purpose, devoid of personal ambition, idealistic, and incorruptible. There is necessarily some of the manager in every leader, as there should be some of the leader in every manager. Speaking in the Temple to the Temple management, the scribes and Pharisees all in their official robes, the Lord chided them for one-sidedness: They kept careful accounts of the most trivial sums brought into the Temple, but in their dealings they neglected fair play, compassion, and good faith, which happen to be the prime qualities of leadership. The Lord insisted that both states of mind are necessary, and that is important: “This ye must do [speaking of the bookkeeping] but not neglect the other.” But it is “the blind leading the blind,” he continues, who reverse priorities, who “choke on a gnat and gulp down a camel” (see Matthew 23:23ff).

As teachers we exemplify their knowledge and authority by knowing the Saviour.

The authority of righteous living

As the Saviour taught in the synagogue he was recognised as someone who taught with authority in contradistinction to the scribes. If we look back at the previous two types of authority it could be argued that the scribes had those authorities, though the later discussion of ‘knowledge’ as a relationship might not apply. They were widely recognised to have authority under the law, and indeed, the Pharisees and Sadducees may be seen to have authority from God to teach and make offerings respectively. They also had a knowledge of the law and of the scriptures. So what was it that made Jesus’ authority different? Jesus himself gives us an indication: 

For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5: 20).

There could have been something in the way that he spoke, but I would suggest that Jesus’ authority was markedly different because of the way that he lived what he taught. The authority with which a person teaches is enhanced by their enthusiasm for it, and also, in Gospel terms, in the way that it is a part of them and their daily living. Without tarring all of the Jewish leaders at the time of Jesus with the same brush, the same condemnations that Jesus uttered would have been recognised by the majority of people who lived at the time. As such, the authority of Jesus came because he lived what he taught, as Christians we are called to live the Gospel of Jesus Christ every moment of every day. The armour of God is not a bolt on and off accessory to be discarded or utilised casually, rather we our teaching is to be underpinned by our living in the grace of Jesus Christ. To slightly amend a phrase I used earlier, we cannot teach what we do not live any more than we can come back from a place we have never been.

This is evidenced throughout the ministry of the Saviour. The teachings that he outlined were reinforced by the life that he lived. He taught: 

Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven (Luke 6: 37). 

His interaction with the woman caught in adultery showed how this could be applied: 

Jesus straightened up and asked her, ‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?’ ‘No one, sir,’ she said. ‘Then neither do I condemn you,’ Jesus declared. ‘Go now and leave your life of sin’ (John 8: 10-11).

The same Jesus who taught the parable of the Good Samaritan healed the soldier’s ear and provided spiritual healing for tax collectors and others who were on the margins of society; he who taught to love your enemies died on the cross for all of humanity, even those who nailed him there. His authority came from his example and the life that he lived; there had and have been many people throughout history who have said “Do as I say”, the Saviour is the only one who can say “Do as I say, and as I do.”

What implications does this have for Christian educators? The implications are obvious. We live the Gospel of Jesus Christ in every facet of our lives so that, while recognising that we will fall, we can radiate the light of Christ in our lives. St Francis of Assisi is reported to have said (though he probably didn’t): “Preach the gospel at all times; when necessary, use words.” Being a disciple of Christ is a lot about who we are, what we do in addition to what we believe. We can be described as was John the Baptist: 

He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him.  He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light.  The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world (John 1: 7-9). 

We do not become stumbling blocks to the Gospel of Jesus Christ: 

If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea” (Mark 9: 42).

My faith and religion permeate every aspect of my life. As a parent I strive to follow the patience and love that my Saviour showed. As a friend I try to exemplify the service that Jesus taught and showed. In my recreational time I try and abide by the teachings of the Saviour and the prophets- such that there are many films I will not watch, music I will not listen to and substances I will not use. I have not always explored what it means for this covenant to extend to my practice as a teacher.

Let me provide two examples of how my religious beliefs impact on my classroom practice. I will begin by explaining the religious belief and then reflect on what role this has played in developing me as a teacher. invitation I am led to the experiences of the life of Jesus; whether it is him being moved with compassion to raise the son of the Widow of Nain, when he blessed the little children, or when he bore the pains and humiliation of the cross with grace and love for all people. This teaching builds on the belief that every person is a child of God. As such, I should treat every person or every child in my classroom in the way that Jesus would. He would not turn any away because of the way that they looked (the woman anointing his feet with oil), what they have done in the past (the woman caught in adultery), or how they treated him (he died for all of humanity even those who nailed him to the cross). I must build up every child whom I teach in every aspect of my dealings with them, I must not lose patience when they stretch it to breaking point, I must offer time and understanding. Every year as I address a new group of trainee teachers I offer my philosophy of teaching which is “To be the kind of teacher I want my children to have” which is only a slightly disguised plagiarism of the Golden Rule. For me, as a Christian, I must follow Jesus’ example in every aspect of my life. The command to follow him was not a part time opportunity.

Only when there is a coherence between our beliefs and our actions in every aspect of our lives can we truly teach with authority.

Every week when I begin my Come Follow Me study I promise myself that I’ll keep it brief- sorry!!! I haven’t explored the content of that which Enoch taught and testified of. This would probably be another few thousand words

This isn’t the end of Enoch’s story- but the story of the city of Enoch is explored next week!