Deanna Draper Buck - My First Old Testament Stories

Text 2001 by Deanna Draper Buck
Illustrations 2001 by Jerry Harston

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without permission in writing from the publisher, Deseret Book Company, P. O. Box 30178, Salt Lake City, Utah 84130. This work is not an official publication of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The views expressed herein are the responsibility of the author and do not necessarily represent the position of the Church or of Deseret Book Company.

Deseret Book is a registered trademark of Deseret Book Company.

Visit us at DeseretBook.com

First printing in board book format 2001
First printing in paperbound 2010

ISBN-10 1-57345-960-7 (board book)
ISBN-13 978-1-57345-960-0 (board book)
ISBN-13 978-1-60641-689-1 (paperbound)

Printed in the United States of America 06/10
Artistic Printing, Salt Lake City, UT

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

To George, Stella, and Bonne Buck

Our Premortal Life

Long, long ago, before any of us were even born, we were all spirits. We lived together as brothers and sisters with our Heavenly Father. The time came when Heavenly Father told us that we were ready to go down to earth and receive bodies.

On earth we would learn how to choose the right and to love and help each other.

Jesus was chosen by Heavenly Father to be the creator of a beautiful world and to become our Savior. We were so happy that we all shouted for joy!

The Creation

Jesus made the world and everything in it. He made the mountains, the rivers and oceans, the clouds, the sun and moon and stars in the sky. He made all of the trees and plants and all of the animals.

When He was finished, the world was beautiful, and Heavenly Father said it was good.

Then Heavenly Father and Jesus created Adam and Eve, the first man and woman on the earth.

Adam and Eve

Adam and Eve lived in a beautiful place called the Garden of Eden. The Lord told them they could eat any of the fruit in the garden, except for the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Satan was angry because he couldnt have a body, and he wanted to ruin Gods plan. He tempted Adam and Eve to disobey Heavenly Father and eat the forbidden fruit. When they did so, Adam and Eve couldnt live in the Garden of Eden anymore.

Heavenly Fathers Plan

After Adam and Eve left the Garden of Eden, an angel taught them about the Savior. The angel told them that if they would follow Jesus and live His teachings, then after Adam and Eve and their children died, they could all live with Heavenly Father again. Adam and Eve were happy to learn about the plan. They told their children about Jesus and taught them to love and help each other.

Noah

Noah was a prophet. He warned the people to obey Gods commandments, but they would not listen to him. The Lord said He was going to destroy the wicked people and told Noah to build a large boat called an ark. Noah was told to take his family and two of each kind of animal into the ark.

Then it began to rain. Soon the earth was covered with water, but everyone on the ark was safe. After the flood was over, Heavenly Father made a rainbow in the sky as a sign He would never again cover the whole world with a flood.

The Tower of Babel

Many years after the flood, the world was filled with people once again. Some of the people were wicked and foolish. In their pride, they began to build a great city and a tower. They were not interested in the Lord or in keeping His commandments. The Lord was not happy with the people, and He confused their language so they couldnt talk to each other. He scattered them all over the world. A man named Jared and his family and friends loved the Lord, and their tongues were not confused. They were led by the Lord to the Americas, the promised land. You can read about them in the Book of Mormon.

Abraham and Isaac

Abraham loved his young son Isaac very much. One day the Lord told Abraham to sacrifice Isaac. Abraham did not want to do so, but he was obedient and took Isaac up a high mountain. Just as Abraham was ready to sacrifice Isaac, an angel stopped him. There was a sheep caught in some nearby bushes. Abraham sacrificed the sheep instead of Isaac. The angel told Abraham that the Lord was pleased with Abraham because he was willing to keep the commandments of God.

Gods Covenant with Abraham

Because Abraham promised to love God and be obedient, the Lord made Abraham a special promise, called a covenant. Abraham was promised that Jesus would be born into Abrahams family; that Abraham would have more people in his family than there are stars in the sky or grains of sand on the seashore; and that Abraham and his family would hold the priesthood and bless the whole world.