FAIR

FAIR Resources for Come, Follow Me – Restoration Scripture
Week 2: January 5 - 11: "This is My Work and My Glory"

Moses 1; Abraham 3

Doctrinal Focus
Historical & Contextual
Apologetic Application
Practical Applications
Ideas for Teaching
Quick Reference

Doctrinal Focus

  • Key doctrines addressed in this week’s reading
  • This verse helps us understand that God’s entire purpose is centered on us—His children. He does not act for selfish reasons but for our eternal progression. Knowing His intent allows us to trust His plan, even when it requires faith and patience (Moses 1:39).

Immortality is a gift given through Jesus Christ’s resurrection, but eternal life requires covenant faithfulness. Recognizing this distinction motivates us to live in a way that aligns with God’s higher promises.

When Moses understands his true identity, he is strengthened against Satan’s deception. Likewise, when we know we are literal spirit children of Heavenly Parents, we can resist worldly pressures and discouragement (Moses 1:4, 6).

Premortal identity teaches us that life is not random—we were foreordained to specific roles. This knowledge inspires confidence and responsibility as we strive to fulfill our divine callings (Abraham 3:22–23).

  • The contrast between Christ’s willing submission and Satan’s rebellion shows the eternal importance of agency. God’s plan depends on our freedom to choose, and opposition is part of that framework (Moses 4:1–4; Abraham 3:27–28).

This illustrates that opposition is real and persistent, but God empowers His children to withstand deception. By relying on divine help, we too can discern truth and overcome temptation (Moses 1:12–22).

Historical & Contextual Insights

  • Insights in this week’s study
  • Moses 1 is a vision given to Moses after God called him to deliver Israel, but before he returned to Egypt. Abraham 3 was received while Abraham was in Egypt.

These chapters were revealed in the early 1830s through Joseph Smith’s inspired translation and translation projects (the Joseph Smith Translation and the Book of Abraham). They expand on biblical narratives by providing premortal context and God’s eternal purposes.

  • They situate the Restoration as a return of lost truths about premortal life, divine identity, and God’s eternal plan. For early Saints, this clarified not only who God is but also who they were and why they were on earth.
  • For us today, these texts remind us that our existence is eternal, purposeful, and known to God. Understanding that He revealed these truths anew in the latter days strengthens our confidence in prophetic restoration and in our divine potential.
  • Moses 1 describes how Moses saw God’s glory, then later faced Satan’s attempt to deceive him. The dramatic contrast illustrates the reality of spiritual opposition and the necessity of discerning truth from deception.

     

  • The sequence emphasizes that once we have experienced God’s light, Satan’s counterfeits become easier to recognize. Moses knew he was a son of God, which enabled him to reject Satan’s lies.
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  • This pattern applies today—spiritual experiences give us strength against temptation. By remembering divine moments and revelations, we can stand firm when confronted with spiritual or moral opposition.
  • In Abraham 3, God uses the stars and planets as teaching symbols for order, governance, and eternal progression. Just as there are stars of varying glory, so too are God’s children destined for varying roles and responsibilities, according to their faithfulness.

     

  • The comparison of stars to spirits illustrates premortal identity—we were organized, known, and chosen before this world began. This dispels the idea that life is chaotic or meaningless.
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  • Foreordination does not override agency. While God prepared and chose spirits for certain roles, it is up to each individual to exercise agency faithfully to fulfill their divine assignments.

If you have questions on this week’s reading, please email your questions to us here.

Apologetic Application

  1. Claim: “Joseph fabricated Abraham’s writings without any real historical basis.”
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  3. Response:
  4. Historical Evidence: Ancient texts like the Apocalypse of Abraham and other Near Eastern writings discovered after Joseph Smith’s time contain striking parallels to themes in the Book of Abraham (premortal life, cosmic visions, and Abraham’s search for God). Joseph could not have accessed these sources in the 1830s.
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  6. Eyewitness Support: Early Saints testified that Joseph translated by inspiration, and multiple scribes recorded him dictating revelations and scripture in real time, often without notes or prior preparation.
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  8. Spiritual Confirmation: Many readers of the Book of Abraham report spiritual impressions confirming its divine origin, consistent with Moroni’s promise that the Spirit can reveal truth.
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  10. Logical Analysis: The doctrinal depth—such as detailed teachings about premortal existence and divine councils—far surpasses Joseph’s limited education and reflects truths consistent with restored revelation.

  • Claim: “Joseph simply inserted his own imagination into the Bible text.”
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  • Response:
  • Historical Evidence: The Joseph Smith Translation added material to Genesis that reflects ancient traditions found in pseudepigrapha and apocryphal writings unavailable to Joseph, suggesting more than imagination.
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  • Eyewitness Support: Several early Saints described Joseph’s translation process as sincere, revelatory, and consistent—he dictated scripture as if reading from a source beyond himself.
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  • Spiritual Confirmation: Moses 1 provides profound insights about divine identity, agency, and opposition. Many readers testify that its Spirit-driven power could not come from human invention.
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  • Logical Analysis: Thematically, Moses 1 provides a perfect introduction to the Creation narrative, setting up context for Genesis. Its narrative logic reinforces God’s plan and Satan’s opposition in ways that harmonize with other restored scripture.
  • Claim: “There’s no biblical basis for believing in premortal existence.”
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  • Response:
  • Historical Evidence: Biblical passages hint at premortal life (e.g., Jeremiah 1:5, Job 38:7, John 9:2). The Book of Abraham expands on these in harmony with ancient Judeo-Christian traditions.
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  • Eyewitness Support: Early Saints consistently accepted and taught premortal life after Joseph’s revelations, showing it was a revealed doctrine rather than a gradual invention.
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  • Spiritual Confirmation: This teaching resonates deeply with many believers, affirming their worth and identity as eternal children of God. Such impressions are consistent with divine truth. 
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  • Logical Analysis: A premortal existence explains otherwise difficult questions—such as God’s justice, human diversity, and moral accountability—making it a coherent and theologically rich doctrine.

Practical Applications

Practical solutions for someone in faith crisis:

Action Step: Strengthen your identity as a child of God to stand against Satan’s lies.

Moses overcame Satan’s temptations by remembering he was a son of God. Likewise, when we are grounded in divine identity, we can see through counterfeit voices and worldly pressures.

  1. – Read Moses 1:12–22 and underline how Moses identifies himself.
  2. – Write down three truths about your divine identity.
  3. – When faced with temptation or discouragement, repeat one of those truths out loud.

Encouraging Thought:

“When you know who you are, you will not be deceived by who the world says you should be.” Inspired by Matthew 24:4

Action Step: Align your daily choices with God’s work and glory (Moses 1:39).

Understanding that God’s purpose is to bring about our immortality and eternal life gives meaning to even small acts of faith. It shifts focus from temporary concerns to eternal outcomes.

  1. – Each morning, pray for guidance to make one choice that supports eternal priorities.
  2. – Review your day in the evening, asking: “Did my choices bring me closer to God’s plan?”
  3. – Adjust tomorrow’s actions based on your reflection.

Encouraging Thought:

When we see our lives through the lens of eternity, our priorities become clear and our burdens lighter.

  • Action Step: Ask God for understanding when studying His word, as Abraham and Moses did.

Both prophets received visions that clarified their identity and God’s plan. Revelation personalizes scripture, transforming it from information into guidance tailored to our lives.

  1. – Begin scripture study with a prayer for understanding.
  2. – Pause when a verse stands out and write impressions in a journal.
  3. – Act on one prompting, even if it seems small.

Encouraging Thought:

  • Revelation is not reserved for prophets alone—God speaks to all His children who seek Him in faith.

Ideas for Teaching

Objective: Help learners understand how knowing their divine identity strengthens them against temptation.

Paper, pens/markers, scripture copies (Moses 1).

Activity Steps:

  1. Introduction (5 min): Ask learners to think of a time when they felt pressured to be someone they’re not. Write the word Identity on the board and briefly discuss why identity matters.
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  3. Scripture Discussion (5 min): Read Moses 1:12–22. Highlight how Moses rejected Satan by declaring, “I am a son of God.” Invite learners to identify phrases that give strength.
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  5. Application (5 min): Have each learner write 2–3 “identity truths” about themselves (e.g., “I am a child of God,” “I can receive revelation”). Encourage them to keep the list as a reminder.

Follow-Up Question: How does remembering your identity help you overcome everyday pressures and deception?

Objective: Teach learners about premortal life and foreordination through Abraham’s vision.

Glow-in-the-dark stars (or paper cutouts), tape, Abraham 3 printed verses.

Activity Steps:

Introduction (5 min): Darken the room slightly and place the stars on the wall or ceiling. Ask: “What do stars teach us about identity and purpose?”

Scripture Discussion (5 min): Read Abraham 3:22–23. Compare the stars to spirits—each unique, each chosen, and each with a role.

Application (5 min): Invite learners to write on a star (or paper) one role or gift they feel God has given them. Place the stars together on the wall to symbolize the “noble and great ones.”

Follow-Up Question: How can recognizing your premortal preparation help you live with greater purpose today?

Objective: Connect learners’ daily decisions to God’s eternal purpose.

A simple scale/balance illustration (or two baskets), slips of paper, pens.

Activity Steps: 

Introduction (5 min): Show the scale or two baskets. Ask: “How do small daily choices tip the balance of our lives toward eternal or temporary outcomes?”

Scripture Discussion (5 min): Read Moses 1:39. Discuss how God’s “work and glory” is centered on us and our eternal progress.

Application (5 min): Have learners write one daily choice that brings them closer to God and one that distracts them from Him. Place them in separate baskets. Discuss how consistent small choices add up over time.

Follow-Up Question: What is one simple choice you can make this week to align more with God’s eternal purposes?

QUICK REFERENCE

    • God’s work and glory is to bring about our immortality and eternal life (Moses 1:39).

       

    • We are literal children of Heavenly Parents, with divine identity and eternal potential.

       

    • Premortal life prepared us for earthly responsibilities, and agency is central to God’s plan.

       

    • Satan seeks to deceive and destroy, but divine identity and revelation give power to resist.
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    God reveals His truth line upon line through prophets, scripture, and personal revelation.

  • Why trust modern prophets?
    • God has always worked through prophets (Amos 3:7). Modern prophets continue this pattern by revealing God’s will for our day. Their lives and teachings are consistent with scripture and bring peace through the Spirit, confirming their divine calling.
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    • Why does God allow mistakes?
    • God permits weakness and imperfection—even in His servants—so His children can exercise faith and agency. As with biblical prophets, errors do not negate divine authority. Mistakes can become opportunities for growth and demonstrate God’s power to work through imperfect people.

Preach My Gospel (2019) — Section on God’s plan of happiness.