Seven generations from Adam, in a time when wickedness had spread over much of the land, Enoch was born of Jared in Cainan. Cainan, named by Enoch after his son, was a land of promise and a land of righteousness not further elaborated on in the Bible. Enoch was taught in the way of righteousness by his father and ordained to the priesthood by Adam. While journeying through another land, Enoch was called by the Spirit of the Lord to preach repentance. He responded: "I am but a lad and all the people hate me; I am slow of speech" (Moses 6:31.) Enoch was told to anoint his eyes with clay and was given a vision "and he beheld the spirits that God had created." Enoch then went forth and preached in a loud voice, but the people were offended because of him, and said, "A wild man hath come among us." (Moses 6:38.)
Enoch preached of the fall of man and the redemption of Christ, and the need to be baptized:"For by the water ye keep the commandment; by the Spirit ye are justified, and by the blood ye are sanctified." (Moses 6:6.)
Many people were converted by the teaching and "the people trembled and could not stand in his presence." (Moses 6:47.)
As the wicked fought against them, Enoch led the people of God "and he spake the word of the Lord; and the earth trembled, and the mountains fled even according to his command." (Moses 7:13.)
Enoch then built "the city of holiness, even Zion." (Moses 7:19.) In this city the people were of "one heart and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness; and there was no poor among them." (Moses 7:18-31.) Modern revelation teaches that Enoch "saw the Lord, and he walked with him, and was before his face continually." (D&C 107:49.)
After Zion had continued for 365 years, Enoch, who was then 430 years old, "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." (Moses 7:69.)
The Lord promised Enoch that his posterity would remain upon the earth, which it did through Enoch's son Methuselah.
Through modern revelation, it is taught that when the New Jerusalem is built in Jackson County, Mo., the city of Enoch will return from above to be reunited with earthly Zion. (Moses 7:58-64.)
