The purpose of Living History is to provide parents a history text in story form (the method used by the Savior in His teachings) from which to teach their children, blending the secular and religious together, and putting God back into history. Students are bored with history if all they learn about are facts and figures. But our faith in God is the main motivating factor why we do much of anything. That is the "why" we study history, and that is what makes it more interesting. Enoch spent 365 years preaching and teaching his people the gospel before they were prepared to be taken up to heaven. There is little in the Bible referring to this great patriarch. The Bible concludes with, "And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him." (Genesis 5:24) The restoration of the Gospel brings us a wealth of information on Enoch and what he was able to accomplish.

The life of Enoch, the sixth from Adam, was purposely passed over in volume 2 of The World Before Christ, an LDS Perspective so that the significance of his life might be dealt with in more detail in this volume. What this man established and what he accomplished would have far reaching influence not only in his day, but also in ours. What’s more, President Joseph Fielding Smith was of the opinion that Enoch may have helped in the creation of the earth, along with many other "noble and great ones." According to President John Taylor, Enoch was one of the ancient prophets to visit Joseph Smith (Journal of Discourses, volume 21, page 94)..

It is true that Adam helped to form this earth. He labored with our Savior Jesus Christ. I have a strong view or conviction that there were others also who assisted them. Perhaps Noah and Enoch; and why not Joseph Smith, and those who were appointed to be rulers before the earth was formed? We know that Jesus our Savior was a Spirit when this great work was done. He did all of these mighty works before he tabernacled in the flesh. (Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, vol. 1, pages 74-75)

It was Enoch who established the first "United Order" or "the Order of Enoch." He is the first we know of, and the only person before the Flood who was translated and taken to heaven without tasting death. Not only he, but his entire city, known as the City of Enoch, was of such righteousness as to be translated in tact. The anticipation of the return of the City of Enoch in the latter days is also well known.

Latter-day Saints believe that Enoch’s righteousness was grounded on the same gospel principles that apply in all dispensations and eternally. For this reason, Latter-day Saints feel a spiritual kinship with Enoch and his people: Enoch’s Zion represents every spiritual ideal for which Latter-day Saints strive. Called to build a modern Zion, the prophet and seer Joseph Smith used the name Enoch as one of the code names for himself in early editions of the Doctrine and Covenants. An economic system designed to promote material and spiritual equality within the Church, the Order of Enoch, has been implemented at various times in Church history. Church members look toward the day when the righteous will build the counterpart of Enoch’s City of Holiness, the New Jerusalem, in Jackson County, Missouri. Missionaries around the world preach repentance, for the earth is to be cleansed by fire, as it was with the flood that followed Enoch’s ministry. Church members anticipate the return of Enoch’s city from above to be reunited with the Zion beneath, when the earth will rest under the millennial reign of Jesus Christ. (Daniel H. Ludlow, Encyclopedia of Mormonism, Enoch, page 295)

Enoch was born in 3,378 B.C. when his father, Jared, was 162 years of age and when Father Adam was 622. Enoch was born in the land of Cainan, but was handicapped in his early youth by a speech impediment. "Why is it that I have found favor 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) While in his youth, Enoch had an experience which changed the course of his whole life. He had left his home in Cainan and was traveling toward the Sea East when suddenly the Spirit of God descended out of heaven, and rested upon him and he heard his call from God:

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. 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. (Moses 6:27-29)

Young Enoch was overwhelmed with this sudden call to the ministry. It was at this time he expressed his concern of being the Lord’s spokesman and his affliction with his slowness of speech. The Lord is in the habit of using the "weak" things of the earth to bring about his ways, and Enoch was no different.

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 instructed Enoch to anoint his eyes with clay and then wash them. As soon as he obeyed this commandment the veil was lifted from his eyes so that he was able to see the spirit world and all those things which are not visible to the natural eye. Immediately Enoch went forth to perform his divine calling.

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. (Moses 6:37)

News spread that there was a seer in the land, but not all were happy to hear his message. When they heard him speak openly of their sins and secret oaths and murders and immorality they were offended, but no one dared lay a hand on him for fear came on all them that heard him, "for he walked with God." Finally, a man named Mahijah approached young Enoch and demanded to know more specifically who he was.

And he said unto them: I came out from the land of Cainan, the land of my fathers, a land of righteousness unto this day. And my father taught me in all the ways of God. And it came to pass, as I journeyed from the land of Cainan, by the sea east, I beheld a vision; and lo, the heavens I saw, and the Lord spake with me, and gave me commandment; wherefore, for this cause, to keep the commandment, I speak forth these words. (Moses 6:41-42).

Enoch reminded his listeners that they were all brethren, that all things were created by God, and even Adam was still among them, the first human. They were admonished to believe in the Lord and deny not the things of God.

Behold Satan hath come among the children of men, and tempteth them to worship him; and men have become carnal, sensual, and devilish, and are shut out from the presence of God. But God hath made known unto our fathers that all men must repent. (Moses 6:49-50)

Then Enoch went back into the book of remembrance to retell the detailed circumstances surrounding the first glorious vision given to Father Adam by the Lord. Enoch reminded his listeners that the Fall was designed as a blessing, that they might taste the bitter so that they may know to prize the good.

Therefore I give unto you [Adam] a commandment, to teach these things freely unto your children, saying: That by reason of transgression cometh the fall, which fall bringeth death, and inasmuch as ye were born into the world by water, and blood, and the spirit, which I have made, and so became of dust a living soul, even so ye must be born again into the kingdom of heaven, of water, and of the Spirit, and be cleansed by blood, even the blood of mine Only Begotten; that ye might be sanctified from all sin, and enjoy the words of eternal life in this world, and eternal life in the world to come, even immortal glory; for by the water ye keep the commandment; by the Spirit ye are justified, and by the blood ye are sanctified. (Moses 6:58-60).

With such sermons as this it was no wonder that the reputation of Enoch spread like wildfire up and down the land. Not only did Enoch call the people to repentance, but like the true prophet that he was, he told the people of future events that were about to take place. One of his prophecies related to a war of annihilation which the seed of Cain would launch against the people of Shum.

And it came to pass that I turned and went up on the mount; and as I stood upon this mount, I beheld the heavens open, and I was clothed upon with glory; 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. And it came to pass that I beheld in the valley of Shum, and lo, a great people which dwelt in tents, which were the people of Shum.

And again the Lord said unto me: Look; and I looked towards the north, and I beheld the people of Canaan, which dwelt in tents. And the Lord said unto me: Prophesy; and I prophesied, saying: Behold the people of Canaan, which are numerous, shall go forth in battle array against the people of Shum, and shall slay them that they shall utterly be destroyed; and the people of Canaan shall divide themselves in the land, and the land shall be barren and unfruitful, and none other people shall dwell there but the people of Canaan; for behold, the Lord shall curse the land with much heat, and the barrenness thereof shall go forth forever; and there was a blackness came upon all the children of Canaan, that they were despised among all people. (Moses 7:3-8)

After preaching unto the people, Enoch was called to declare repentance among the people of the land of Omner, the land of Heni, the land of Shem, the land of Haner, and the land of Hanannihah. Everywhere that Enoch went his message divided the populace, separating themselves into clear-cut camps for or against him. The few who accepted his message responded to the spirit of gathering and collected in a central place. However, the forces of evil were not to sit by idly and allow Enoch a free reign. Soon war was carried out among Enoch’s people.

And it came to pass that Enoch continued to call upon all the people, save it were the people of Canaan, to repent; 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. There also came up a land out of the depth of the sea, and so great was the fear of the enemies of the people of God, that they fled and stood afar off and went upon the land which came up out of the depth of the sea. (Moses 7:12-13).

This almost unbelievable display of power which the enemies of Enoch were close enough to hear him call down from heaven was so impressive that they who escaped fled fearfully to their own lands and spread the news of all they had witnessed. Even a group of people known as "giants" feared Enoch and "stood afar off." From this time forward there were wars and bloodshed among them, but the Lord came and dwelt with his people, and they dwelt in righteousness.

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. And the Lord called his people ZION, because they were of one heart and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness; and there was no poor among them. (Moses 7:17-18).

It was during this time that Enoch built his City of Zion. No detailed description of this city exists, but we may perhaps assume that it resembled closely the revealed pattern for the City of Zion to be built in modern times. (See United States History, an LDS Perspective, volume 2.) In this pattern the city was divided into blocks of ten acres each. City streets were all of the same width, 132 feet, making allowances for sidewalks and parking of twenty feet. The center blocks were all reserved for temples, schools, places of worship, public buildings and storehouses. The surrounding blocks were divided into lots sixty-six feet wide and 300 feet deep, making each lot one-half acre. No lot in the city was to contain more than one house, and that it was to be built twenty-five feet back from the street, leaving a small yard in front and the rest of the lot for gardens.

Enoch was sixty-five years old when the foundations of the City of Zion were first laid. One of the most outstanding features of the society which Enoch established was the manner in which the Lord instructed him to combine the religious ideals of the people with certain divinely inspired economic principles. The successful practice of these principles resulted in a golden age of prosperity which continued throughout the earthly existence of this community – a total of three hundred and sixty-five years. We know from modern revelation that this economic system which was called "The Order of Enoch," was built upon the law of consecration. Each man consecrated himself and all he possessed to the welfare of his fellow men and the work of the Lord. He became his brother’s keeper, loving his neighbor as himself and working with every fiber within him to improve the security and happiness of both himself and the community.

The basic principles which made the Order of Enoch workable are better understood today than they have been for many centuries. This is because these principles were re-revealed when the gospel was restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith. Although the Church has never been permitted to practice the Order of Enoch except on a limited basis, sufficient is known about the over-all program to appreciate its fundamental precepts. Briefly, the Order of Enoch requires that those who become members in it accept the following precepts as being true:

First, that all things in the earth belong to the Creator and that men are only the custodians of these resources and riches which He has placed upon the earth for the welfare of mankind. (D&C 104:15-17; 55-57)

Second, that the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man require that human beings look upon one another as members of the same family – the family of God, and that they are directly responsible for one another’s welfare. (D&C 104:18)

Third, that in this family relationship every person is expected to do his share. Each shall give what he has (labor, skills, art, management, goods, services) and in return, receive what he needs. All have a place in the program except one type of person – the idler. Under the Order of Enoch the managers of the system were forbidden to give the fruits of others’ labors to any person who could, but would not work. (D&C 42:42)

Fourth, that the members of the Order of Enoch shall take the responsibility of giving education and assistance to those who are lacking in the ability or capacity to provide for themselves. This was not just charity for the poor but a program to provide the poor with the necessities of life and then aid them in becoming self-sustaining members of the order. The ultimate object – and one which the people of Enoch attained – was to have "no poor among them." (Moses 7:18)

Fifth, that private property and the dignity of the individual must be preserved. The private property of each member of the order was to be "according to his family, according to his circumstances and his wants and his needs," (D&C 51:3) "inasmuch as his wants are just." (D&C 82:17) Everything he could produce over and above the needs of himself and family was to be donated to the common treasury of the Order for the welfare of others less fortunate. (D&C 42:33-34, 55; 70:7-10) As for the dignity and independence of the individual, Dr. John A. Widstoe [an Apostle from 1921-1952] points out that in this Order, "every man must be respected as a free agent. He may enter the Order at his pleasure. Once in the Order, he must be allowed to use, fully, and as he pleases, any properties placed in his hands. He may leave the Order at his pleasure." (Church News, 15 May 1949, page 23) (W. Cleon Skousen, The First Two Thousand Years, pages 173-175)

Using modern terminology and applying it to the days of Enoch can be confusing, because much of the ancient details of the law given by Enoch are lost. However, there must have been a meeting of the minds between Enoch and the participant, just as there had to be one between the Bishop in Joseph Smith’s day and the participant. The Prophet Joseph stated:

The matter of consecration must be done by the mutual consent of both parties; for to give the Bishop power to say how much every man shall have, and he be compelled to comply with the Bishop’s judgment, is giving the Bishop more power than a king has; and, upon the other hand, to let every man say how much he needs, and the Bishop be compelled to comply with his judgment is to throw Zion into confusion and make a slave of the Bishop. The fact is, there must be a balance or equilibrium of power between the Bishop and the people; and thus harmony and good will may be preserved among you. Therefore, those persons consecrating property to the Bishop in Zion, and then receiving an inheritance back, must reasonably show to the Bishop that they need as much as they claim. But in case the two parties cannot come to a mutual agreement, the Bishop is to have nothing to do about receiving such consecrations; and the case must be laid before a council of twelve High Priests.... (Joseph Smith, History of the Church, Vol. 1, pages 364-365)

From this it can be seen that the Order of Enoch was placed on a sound, practical and businesslike basis. A man received full title to his stewardship and it was thereafter expected that he would take pride in showing how much he could do with it so as to multiply his resources and thus prove worthy of being assigned more. It was strictly a merit system with the greatest possible emphasis being placed upon individual initiative.

We have heard that it is reported by some, that some of us should have said, that we not only dedicated our property, but our families also to the Lord; and Satan, taking advantage of this, has perverted it into licentiousness, such as a community of wives, which is an abomination in the sight of God.

When we consecrate our property to the Lord it is to administer to the wants of the poor and needy, for this is the law of God; it is not for the benefit of the rich, those who have no need; and when a man consecrates or dedicates his wife and children, he does not give them to his brother, or to his neighbor, for there is no such law: for the law of God is, Thou shalt not commit adultery. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife. He that looketh upon a woman to lust after her, has committed adultery already in his heart. Now for a man to consecrate his property, wife and children, to the Lord, is nothing more nor less than to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the widow and fatherless, the sick and afflicted, and do all he can to administer to their relief in their afflictions, and for him and his house to serve the Lord. In order to do this, he and all his house must be virtuous, and must shun the very appearance of evil. (Joseph Fielding Smith, Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, page 127)

It should be clear from the foregoing that the Order of Enoch and the principles of modern Marxist Communism are far apart. There has been a tendency, however, to confuse the two, and therefore a brief statement of each system is being set forth as an aid in comparing them. The following is taken from W. Cleon Skousen, The First Two Thousand Years, pages 176-178.

Order of Enoch

**Property:** Privately owned except for certain community services such as public utilities.

Marxist Communism

State owned, state operated and state controlled.

**Profits:** Retained by the individual "according to his family, according to his circumstances and his wants and his needs." Surplus to be voluntarily donated to the common treasury of the Order. (D&C 42:33, 55; 70:7)

**Profits:** No private profits permitted.

**Participation:** Voluntary. Each man owns his individual stewardship and may discontinue his affiliation at any time by withdrawing his stewardship property from the Order. (D&C 51:5)

**Participation:** Forced. In Soviet Russia, for example, the penalty for attempting to leave the system and flee from the country was death, with five years in Siberia for one’s family.

**The Family:** Made the basic social unit of the Order. Fixed upon family members the obligation of looking after the material needs of each other. The Order took over only when the family failed for some reason to fulfill its responsibilities. (D&C 83:2-5)

**The Family:** Completely subordinate to the representatives of the state. In Soviet Russia each community consisted of a large "company town" with all lodgings owned by the government. The factory supervisors could eject the worker from his home for breaches of labor discipline (such as tardiness, inefficiency, etc.), and he could get no other home.

**Personal Security:** Made paramount. Right to possess legal title to all property held in a stewardship permitted each man to enjoy full independence even to the point of taking his stewardship out of the system if he so desired.

**Personal Security:** Forbidden. Workers are permitted to make suggestions but if the idea is rejected, no one is allowed to go out and "show" that it can be done better and cheaper than the way the government is doing it.

**Competition:** Encouraged. Each man attempts to prove himself "a profitable servant" and the more ingenuity and efficiency he manifests, the more profitable he is considered to be.

**Competition:** Highly centralized. Each man is frozen to his job and must perform according to a continuous flow of instructions which emanate from government administrators.

**Supervision:** Decentralized. Each man is given a wide latitude as to the manner in which he will develop his own particular stewardship to the greatest possible advantage. The judgment by the Bishop is on the final results.

**Supervision:** Highly centralized. Each man is frozen to his job and must perform according to a continuous flow of instructions which emanate from government administrators.

**Morals and Religion:** These were the foundation of the order. Respect for God and his Priesthood was the foundation in which the Order of Enoch sank its roots, and the high moral precept which made each man his brother’s keeper was the secret of its success.

**Morals and Religion:** Marx coined the phrase: "Religion is the opium of the people," and then wrote in the Communist Manifesto: "Communism abolishes eternal truths; it abolishes all religion, and all morality, instead of constituting them on a new basis; it therefore acts in contradiction to all past historical experience."

The reason why so many have confused the Order of Enoch or the "United Order" with Communism is because many students of the Bible have misunderstood the economic order of the early Christians and have assumed that they were "pure communists."

And all that believed were together, and had all things common; and sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men as every man had need.(Acts 2:43-44)

And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things in common. (Acts 4:32)

Notice that this description in Acts of the economic society which the early Christians established, is not a treatment of the legal structure of this arrangement but of the spirit which prevailed over their cooperative system. They did not lump their property together in a common stock, but each man "said" that the things which he possessed were not his own. This was an "attitude" of unity and mutual brotherhood which they were attempting to build up among themselves in keeping with the principles Jesus had taught them. They continued to enjoy legal title to their property and only sold whatever they felt was necessary in order to provide for the needs of the poor. This is clearly demonstrated in the story of Ananias and his wife Sapphira.

But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, and kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things. And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.

And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? and she said, Yea, for so much. Then Peter answered unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out. Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband. And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things. (Acts 5:1-11)

Ananias and Sapphira sold a possession to make a contribution to the Church and then held back part of the money. Peter criticized them for pretending that the money they contributed to the Church was the whole price of the property. In other words, property remained legally in the hands of each member as his own and he had complete control over it. He contributed it or withheld it as he desired. It was a voluntary contribution. The sin of Ananias and Sapphira was their false declaration that they were contributing all that the sale of the property had brought them. They didn’t have to contribute any more than they wished, but they should not have pretended that they were giving the whole price when it was really only part.

The idea of community ownership of property such as that advocated by Marxist Communism is opposed to the "stewardship" principle which is a basic Christian concept. It is also interesting to observe that communal ownership violates every instinct of human nature. It destroys initiative, nullifies agency, suppresses exploration, minimizes the dignity of the individual and makes a god out of an abstract thing called "The State." The inspired Order of Enoch therefore had nothing in common with the social or economic principles advocated by Karl Marx. The Order was designed to give each member a partnership with God in the enjoyment of the wealth of the earth.

Enoch records a most unusual statement when he says the "Lord came and dwelt with his people, and they dwelt in righteousness." (Moses 7:16) The close association between the Lord and the people of Enoch at this time was such that they could call upon Him for continued guidance and instruction. It was the promised Second Comforter, given to the whole city. As Joseph Smith explained:

The other Comforter spoken of is a subject of great interest, and perhaps understood by few of this generation. After a person has faith in Christ, repents of his sins, and is baptized for the remission of his sins and receives the Holy Ghost, which is the first Comforter, then let him continue to humble himself before God, hungering and thirsting after righteousness, and living by every word of God, and the Lord will soon say unto him, Son, thou shalt be exalted. When the Lord has thoroughly proved him, and finds that the man is determined to serve Him at all hazards, then the man will find his calling and his election made sure, then it will be his privilege to receive the other Comforter.

Now what is this other Comforter? It is no more nor less than the Lord Jesus Christ Himself; and this is the sum and substance of the whole matter; that when any man obtains this last Comforter, he will have the personage of Jesus Christ to attend him, or appear unto him from time to time, and even He will manifest the Father unto him, and they will take up their abode with him, and the visions of the heavens will be opened unto him, and the Lord will teach him face to face, and he may have a perfect knowledge of the mysteries of the Kingdom of God; and this is the state and place the ancient Saints arrived at when they had such glorious visions – Isaiah, Ezekiel, John upon the Isle of Patmos, St. Paul in the three heavens, and all the Saints who held communion with the general assembly and Church of the Firstborn. (Joseph Fielding Smith, Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pages 150-151)

The Lord appears to have revealed things to Enoch which perhaps had never been revealed before. One of the greatest visions opened to the man was the future history of the world. First, Enoch was shown his own city and he beheld that in the process of time it would be taken from the earth to a place which had been prepared for it. Then Enoch looked and saw all of those who remained upon the earth. He saw that even though he and the righteous inhabitants of Zion would be taken from the earth, the gospel would continue to be preached and many would accept the plan of salvation. He also saw that some of these righteous converts would be translated and caught up to join the inhabitants of the City of Zion.

And he saw angels descending out of heaven; and he heard a loud voice saying: Wo, wo be unto the inhabitants of the earth. And he beheld Satan; and he had a great chain in his hand, and it veiled the whole face of the earth with darkness; and he looked up and laughed, and his angels rejoiced. And Enoch beheld angels descending out of heaven, bearing testimony of the Father and Son; and the Holy Ghost fell on many, and they were caught up by the powers of heaven into Zion. (Moses 7:25-27)

Enoch also saw the wicked who would reject the gospel. As the Lord looked upon these, He wept. Enoch was astonished and said:

And Enoch said unto the Lord: How is it that thou canst weep, seeing thou art holy, and from all eternity to all eternity? And were it possible that man could number the particles of the earth, yea, millions of earths like this, it would not be a beginning to the number of thy creations; and thy curtains are stretched out still; and yet thou art there, and thy bosom is there; and also thou art just; thou are merciful and kind forever; and thou hast taken Zion to thine own bosom, from all thy creations, from all eternity to all eternity; and naught [nothing] but peace, justice, and truth is the habitation of thy throne; and mercy shall go before thy face and have no end; how is it thou canst weep?

The Lord said unto Enoch: Behold these thy brethren; they are the workmanship of mine own hands, and I gave unto them their knowledge, in the day I created them; and in the Garden of Eden, gave I unto man his agency; and unto thy brethren have I said, and also given commandment, that they should love one another, and that they should choose me, their Father; but behold, they are without affection, and they hate their own blood; and the fire of mine indignation is kindled against them; and in my hot displeasure will I send in the floods upon them, for my fierce anger is kindled against them.

Behold, I am God; Man of Holiness is my name; Man of Counsel is my name; and Endless and Eternal is my name, also. Wherefore, I can stretch forth mine hands and hold all the creations 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 wickedness as among they brethren. (Moses 7:29-36)

These wicked multitudes of the future whom Enoch saw were those who would be the contemporaries of Noah. Then he saw Noah and his sons laboring with the people, calling them to repentance. He saw their message rejected by the people, and the commanding of Noah and his sons to build an ark. As Enoch witnessed the Flood he exclaimed, "I will refuse to be comforted." Then Enoch asked to be shown the day when the Lord would come.

And behold, Enoch saw 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 Lamb is slain from the foundation of the world; and through faith I am in the bosom of the Father, and behold Zion is with me. (Moses 7:47)

At the conclusion of this vision, Enoch looked upon the earth and he heard a voice come out of it saying:

 Wo, wo is me, the mother of men; I am pained, I am weary, because of the wickedness of my children. When shall I rest, and be cleansed from the filthiness which is gone forth out of me? When will my Creator sanctify me, that I may rest, and righteousness for a season abide upon my face? And when Enoch heard the earth mourn, he wept, and cried unto the Lord, saying: O Lord, wilt thou not have compassion upon the earth? Wilt thou not bless the children of Noah? (Moses 7:48)

Enoch was so concerned with the earth that he asked if it would rest when the Savior would come to live his mortal life. The Lord told Enoch to look, and he could hardly believe his eyes. Instead of the ministry of Jesus Christ bringing peace to the world he beheld that wicked men would nail him to a cross and crucify him. Then Enoch saw the glory of the resurrection – not only of Christ but of the Saints, but wickedness continued. Enoch was then shown the Ascension of the Savior into heaven to be with the Father, and he asked if the Lord would return to the earth.

And the Lord said unto Enoch: As I live, even so will I come in the last days, in the days of wickedness and vengeance, to fulfil the oath which I have made unto you concerning the children of Noah; and the day shall come that the earth shall rest, but before that day the heavens shall be darkened, and a veil of darkness shall cover the earth; and the heavens shall shake, and also the earth; and great tribulations shall be among the children of men, but my people will I preserve. (Moses 7:60-61)

The Lord further comforted Enoch by saying that in the last days the righteous would be gathered from the four quarters of the earth, unto a place which the Lord would prepare, even another Holy City. It would also be called Zion, a New Jerusalem. At this point in the vision, Enoch was shown that when the New Jerusalem was set up in the last days it would be the signal for the return of Enoch and his people to the earth.

And the Lord said unto Enoch: Then shalt thou and all thy city meet them there, and we will receive them into our bosom, and they shall see us, and we will fall upon their necks, and they shall fall upon our necks, and we will kiss each other; 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. (Moses 7:63-64)

Enoch then beheld the Second Coming of Christ and the ushering in of the millennium. Thus concluded the vision of Enoch and as he looked and beheld the successful conclusion of the divine program which was framed and planned by the Lord from before the foundation of the world, he "received a fulness of joy."

In the year 3,073 B.C., when Enoch was 305, a great conference was called by Father Adam. It was not held in the City of Enoch, but at a place called Adam-ondi-Ahman, the ancient home of Adam, which was located about forty miles north of the Garden of Eden. At this time Adam was 927 years old. The purpose of the conference was to give Adam the opportunity to bless his righteous posterity with a final blessing, for he knew he was about to die. Enoch was appointed clerk of the conference and recorded in detail the events which transpired on that occasion.

Among those present, special mention is made of those who were direct heirs to the Priesthood, including: Seth, Enos, Cainan, Mahalaleel, Jared, Enoch, and Methuselah, "who were all high priests." [D&C 107:53] We are not told why Lamech, son of Methuselah, was not present. He had been called to the Priesthood twenty-one years before and had been ordained by Seth, but he is the only heir to the Priesthood who is not given credit for having been present at this conference. Perhaps he was called away by some special mission which prevented his attendance. (W. Cleon Skousen, The First Two Thousand Years, page 189)

The first part of the conference was taken up by Adam who called his sons forward to give them his final father’s blessing. Then, as a climax to the meeting, the glory of the Lord was suddenly shown forth in their midst and Jehovah stood before them to honor the Ancient of Days. All the congregation rose up together and blessed the name of Adam, calling him Michael, the mighty prince and archangel.

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. (Moses 7:56)

In warning Adam concerning the fruit from the tree of knowledge, the Lord had said: "In the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." (Moses 3:27) At the time this statement was made the earth was after the Lord’s time, "which was after the time of Kolob, for as yet the Gods had not appointed unto Adam his reckoning." (Abraham 5:13). The Lord explained that the reckoning of one day according to the reckoning of Kolob is "one thousand years" of the time appointed to the earth in its present fallen condition. (Abraham 3:4) Therefore the word of the Lord had restricted the life of Adam to something less than a thousand years. That period of time was nearly up.

It was three years after the great conference at Adam-ondi-Ahman, that the first patriarch of the race terminated his earthly mission. He was 930 years old when he died. This was in the year 3070 B.C. Seth was now exactly 800, Enos was 695, Cainan was 605, Mahalaleel was 535, Jared was 470, Enoch was 308, Methuselah was 243, and Lamech was 56. (W. Cleon Skousen, The First Two Thousand Years, page 190)

In 2,948 B.C., when Enoch was 430 years old, he and the entire population of the City of Zion were translated and removed from the earth. This quickening process was a remarkable physical change whereby the seeds of death were neutralized within them and their bodies became subject to a higher system of physical laws. This sudden refinement was given to all of the people in the City of Zion. It also extended to their possessions.

Enoch had to talk with and teach his people during a period of three hundred and sixty years, before he could get them prepared to enter into their rest, and then he obtained power to translate himself and his people, with the region they inhabited, their houses, gardens, fields, cattle and all of their possessions. (John A. Widtsoe, Discourses of Brigham Young, page 105)

The World Before Christ, an LDS Perspective, volume 3, pages 42-54.