Biography
The ancient scriptures of Genesis (Ch 4) tells the story of Cain, (son of the First Man Adam who killed his brother Abel in an act of jealousy for which he was exiled and went to live in the East. He is mentioned very frequently in the Ancient Scriptures of many religions as the first of those to do wickedly. According to Genesis, Cain was the first human born and Abel was the first to die.
Latter-day Saint Narrative
A son of Adam and Eve who slew his younger brother Abel over jealousy and greed (Gen. 4:1–16). Some of his descendants were skilled in the use of the harp and organ and in working with brass and iron (Gen. 4:17–25). Due to the incompleteness of the biblical record, many have regarded Cain as the eldest son of Adam. However, latter-day revelation tells us that Adam and Eve had many sons and daughters before Cain was born (Moses 5:1–3, 16–18). He married one of his brothers’ daughters (Moses 5:28).
Cain’s offering was rejected by the Lord, probably for several reasons, including the fact that it was not done in faith nor in the prescribed and revealed manner (compare Moses 5:5–8 with Gen. 4:3–5). He entered into an unholy covenant with Satan by which he became known as Master Mahan, or “master of this great secret,” and by which he could “murder and get gain” (Moses 5:29–31). A mark was set upon him by which he could be distinguished from the other children of Adam (Gen. 4:15; Moses 5:38–41). Cain and his descendants lived separately from the other descendants of Adam (Moses 7:22).
Cain is mentioned frequently in the scriptures, including Heb. 11:4; 1 Jn. 3:12; Jude 1:11; Hel. 6:27; Ether 8:15; Moses 5–7; see also D&C 84:16. (Source: LDS Bible Dictionary)
Siblings
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| Cain ben Adam | City of Enoch, Land of Nod | Awan (?-?) | |
| Abel ben Adam | |||
| Seth ben Adam (3630 BC-2718 BC) | Olaha | Cainan | Azura (Seth's sister) |
| Awan (?-?) | Mesopotamia | Mesopotamia | Cain ben Adam |
| Azura (Seth's sister) | Seth ben Adam (3670 BC-2758 BC) | ||
| other sons and daughters | |||
Children
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| Enos ben Cain | Mesopotamia | Mesopotamia, Land of Nod | |
| other sons and daughters | |||
Descendants of Cain
Cain obviously had many sons and daughters insomuch that he and his family were able to build and populate the "city of Enoch" in the Land of Nod:
And Cain went out from the presence of the Lord, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden. And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch. And unto Enoch was born Irad: and Irad begat Mehujael: and Mehujael begat Methusael: and Methusael begat Lamech. (Genesis 4:16-18)
Scriptural Commentary
Latter-day Saints
- A Strange Thing in the Land - Hugh Nibley (Dec 1976 Ensign)
- Am I My Brother's Keeper - Henry D Taylor (July 1972 Ensign)
References
- Cain and Abel = Wikipedia
- Cain - Religion.wikia
Footnotes (including sources)
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