The everlasting covenant and gospel dispensations -- Part 2 (Enoch)

Part 1 introduces the everlasting covenant in the context of gospel dispensations and shows how Adam sought to establish this covenant after the fall. This is characterized by

• The creation
• Eternity or "before the foundation of the world"
• Hearkening to the word of God and receiving instruction
• Being called after His order
• Preaching and exemplifying redemption, becoming a new creation

We will see how this plays out for the heads of the other dispensations. Next up is Enoch. There is enough about him to keep him the focus of this whole post.

Enoch

There is very little information on Enoch in the Bible, but fortunately we have much more information in the Book of Moses in the Pearl of Great Price. Here is the from the account of Enoch's calling

28 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.

29 Wherefore, they have foresworn themselves, and, by their oaths, they have brought upon themselves death; and a hell I have prepared for them, if they repent not;

30 And this is a decree, which I have sent forth in the beginning of the world, from my own mouth, from the foundation thereof, and by the mouths of my servants, thy fathers, have I decreed it, even as it shall be sent forth in the world, unto the ends thereof. (Moses 6)

Since the people have not kept the commandments from the first dispensation through Adam, there has been a fall and a new dispensation is necessary headed by Enoch. The oaths mentioned in verse 29 are the antithesis of the everlasting covenant. Generally, everything that God has in store for us, his gospel, his covenants and blessings, have a wicked counterpart designed by the devil. The desire to attain the unification of heaven and earth, the peace and rest that comes with righteousness, is always a struggle to overcome an opposing force.

Another source of information about Enoch is found in Joseph Smith's Translation of Genesis 14.

27 And thus, having been approved of God, he was ordained an high priest after the order of the covenant which God made with Enoch,

28 It being after the order of the Son of God; which order came, not by man, nor the will of man; neither by father nor mother; neither by beginning of days nor end of years; but of God;

29 And it was delivered unto men by the calling of his own voice, according to his own will, unto as many as believed on his name.

30 For God having sworn unto Enoch and unto his seed with an oath by himself; that every one being ordained after this order and calling should have power, by faith, to break mountains, to divide the seas, to dry up waters, to turn them out of their course;

31 To put at defiance the armies of nations, to divide the earth, to break every band, to stand in the presence of God; to do all things according to his will, according to his command, subdue principalities and powers; and this by the will of the Son of God which was from before the foundation of the world.

32 And men having this faith, coming up unto this order of God, were translated and taken up into heaven. (JST Genesis 14)

What exactly is the covenant with Enoch? We don't get many specifics, but apparently it has to do with the holy order, seed/posterity, being translated and taken up into heaven. From Moses 8:2 we also learn that one of the covenant promises was that "Noah should be of the fruit of his loins". The perpetuation of a righteous seed is a common covenant promise especially manifest in the Abrahamic dispensation/covenant.

What may seem puzzling from the quoted verses in the JST is the use of the holy order to agitate the creation ("break", "divide", "dry up") rather than uniting and creating harmony. But this is back to the topic of opposites. Covenant blessings and covenant curses, all in the hands of God and those he calls and ordains after His order. Back to the Book of Moses, we actually see this play out.

And so great was the faith of Enoch that he led the people of God, and their enemies came to battle against them; and he spake the word of the Lord, and the earth trembled, and the mountains fled, even according to his command; and the rivers of water were turned out of their course; and the roar of the lions was heard out of the wilderness; and all nations feared greatly, so powerful was the word of Enoch, and so great was the power of the language which God had given him. (Moses 7:13)

The enemies of the people of God come to battle and the unrest of the creation symbolizes the covenant curses. Contrast that with Zion

16 And from that time forth there were wars and bloodshed among them; but the Lord came and dwelt with his people, and they dwelt in righteousness.

17 The fear of the Lord was upon all nations, so great was the glory of the Lord, which was upon his people. And the Lord blessed the land, and they were blessed upon the mountains, and upon the high places, and did flourish. (Moses 7)

There is a clear contrast between the turmoil of the creation when describing the enemies of the people of God and the "blessed land" of Enoch and his people. The mountain symbolism in this case deserves particular attention. A few verses earlier, Enoch is commanded to go up on the mountain.

2 And from that time forth Enoch began to prophesy, saying unto the people, that: As I was journeying, and stood upon the place Mahujah, and cried unto the Lord, there came a voice out of heaven, saying—Turn ye, and get ye upon the mount Simeon.

3 And it came to pass that I turned and went up on the mount; and as I stood upon the mount, I beheld the heavens open, and I was clothed upon with glory;

4 And I saw the Lord; and he stood before my face, and he talked with me, even as a man talketh one with another, face to face; and he said unto me: Look, and I will show unto thee the world for the space of many generations. (Moses 7)

I consider this passage an account of Enoch's temple endowment from a time when mountains functioned as temples when none had been built. After this, Enoch's people are established and blessed on the mountains but for their enemies, the mountains fled. The image of mountains feeling is weird but the symbolism makes sense from the perspective of mountains as temples with access to covenant blessings.

I have colored various passages along the way that matches the list of things characterizing the restoration of covenants at each dispensation. The only one missing now is the last point, "Preaching and exemplifying redemption, becoming a new creation", even though we have touched upon it with the establishment of Zion. Typically, the restorer at each dispensation seeks the covenant blessings that restores the creation and ultimately leads to exaltation. Depending on other people's willingness to hearken, they achieve this only for themselves or establish a covenant people. The latter was the case with Enoch.

19 And Enoch continued his preaching in righteousness unto the people of God. And it came to pass in his days, that he built a city that was called the City of Holiness, even Zion...

64 And there shall be mine abode, and it shall be Zion, which shall come forth out of all the creations which I have made; and for the space of a thousand years the earth shall rest...

69 And Enoch and all his people walked with God, and he dwelt in the midst of Zion; and it came to pass that Zion was not, for God received it up into his own bosom; and from thence went forth the saying, Zion is Fled. (Moses 7)

Notice the linguistic connection between "Zion is fled" and the mountains that fled as commented earlier.

One other thing I have noticed is the connection between the various heads of restorations. Much of Enoch's preaching in Moses 6 is really about Adam. He links to Noah through the covenant about his seed, which is also an important factor of the covenant with Abraham. He links to Moses through his experience of talking with God face to face "even as a man talketh one with another" (See Moses 7:4 and Exodus 33:11) and to Joseph Smith through the establishment of Zion, the culmination of the seventh and final restoration.

There is little specific information about the details of God's covenant with Enoch, but the elements characterizing the restoration of the everlasting covenant are present in abundance. The next post will continue considering the subsequent restorers in this context, starting with Noah.