Who Was Melchizedek?

Read JST, Genesis 14:25-40; Alma 13:14-19; Doctrine and Covenants 84:14, 107:1-4; and the

Institute Student Manual commentary for Genesis 14:18, “Who Was Melchizedek?” (pg. 67-68).

Write a paragraph or two describing what you found out about Melchizedek.

Melchizedek is a person who exercised great faith in God that God found him worthy to use his name to replace the name of the highest priesthood. Instead of calling this priesthood as the “Holy Priesthood after the Order of the Son of God,” it was named Melchizedek priesthood. In the institute manual, it said, “Of all God’s ancient high priest, ‘none were greater.’” It pretty much explain or show how much favor he have from the Lord. In the book of Alma, it also said that he exercised “mighty faith” and received the office of the high priesthood and preached repentance to his people. He was called the prince of peace as the people repented.

Whom God Calls, He Qualifies

How did the Lord describe the people of Enoch’s day?

The Lord described the people in his day as having hard hearts, slow to hear God's words, and can't understand or see the things of God. They are proud and rely on their own strengths

 

What did Enoch say about his calling from the Lord

 Enoch ask the Lord why he has found favor on him. He was slow in speech. I thought that Enoch was humbled and recognized his in-capacities, which to means he recognizes that he is not able to do things by himself. 

From Moses 6:32-39, 47; 7:13-18, 69; describe in writing how the Lord strengthened and sustained Enoch. Write a paragraph or two on how you have seen the Lord do similar things for you or someone you know.

A similar experience happened to me while I was in nursing school in BYU-Idaho. I was having a hard time in my labor and delivery class. I played the "I am a guy" card when I can't seem to understand what the heck was going on in the female systems. As a normal student would do, I studied countless hours to no avail. Until finally, I recognized what I was missing. I have been doing things using my own strength. As I prayed and asked God to help me gain understanding, I was reminded of why I signed up to become a nurse. It can pay good, but what pushed me more was the satisfaction of being able to help others. It's like when your body release endorphins while exercising.  It makes  a person feel "good." As I humbled myself, the Lord helped me as I went through the rest of my nursing classes. I graduated, studied for the boards and passed. Now I am just waiting to start my new job. Now, I have yet to continue asking for the Lord's help as I touch other people's lives. A nursing instructor gave our group a final advice during our last clinical rotation. She told us to make sure to ALWAYS pray and ask for the Lord's help before starting our shifts. We are all God's children. Like our earthly parents, our Father in heaven is pleased when his children help each other. 

The Bible does not say much about Enoch and his people — it contains 109 words about Enoch and his day. By contrast, the Joseph Smith Translation account of Enoch in the book of Moses contains 5,240 words about Enoch’s day. Read Genesis 5:22–24; Moses 6:27-29, 47; 7:1-21; and summarize, in writing, what you find.

 

I think what stood out to me the most is Enoch's transformation. From being a weak and simple man, to a man who can make the earth shake through God's commands. He gained favor in the eyes of the Lord because of his faithfulness. In addition, the Lord showed Enoch our time, which I think was pretty cool! As thought of applying what the Lord said to Enoch, I can be taken up to heaven with Zion if I keep striving to build Zion.