Question
Dear Gramps,
In The Pearl of Great Price, in Moses 1 where the Lord talks face to face with Moses and gives some explanation regarding the creation, he says in 1:33-34,
And worlds without number have I created; and I also created them for mine own purpose; and by the Son I created them, which is mine Only Begotten. And the first man of all men have I called Adam, which is many.
While I know that the Lord also told Moses that ….only an account of this earth, and the inhabitants thereof, give I unto you.….etc. I think it impossible for us not to wonder about those ‘other worlds’ and what role God played in their creation.
Since they were created by his Son, the Only Begotten, did the Son have a similar role in their creation as he has with planet earth? Was he a Savior to those inhabitants also? Did he go through the process of mortal birth, teaching, crucifixion and resurrection or similar pattern as he did on earth? Sincerely
Gene
Answer
Dear Gene,
Let’s see if we can respond to your questions one by one-First a response to this statement– [While I know that the Lord also told Moses that only an account of this earth, and the inhabitants thereof, give I unto you.
Although there is no account given of the particulars of the activities on any of the others worlds, there has been some information revealed concerning the Savior’s role in the other worlds. So the statement Only an account of this earth, and the inhabitants thereof, give I unto you. should not be taken too conclusively.
Q. Did the Son have a similar role in their creation as he has with planet earth?
Ans. The Savior participated with the Father as the executor in the creation of all the worlds–
And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ (Ephesians 3:9).
Q. Was he a Savior to those inhabitants also?Ans. Jesus Christ, the first born of the Father in the spirit world, is the one and only Savior of all our Father’s children The great atoning sacrifice that He made during His mortal sojourn on this earth was infinite in its scope, and as such was sufficient to pay for all the sins of all humanity on all the worlds.
And behold, this is the whole meaning of the law, every whit pointing to that great and last sacrifice; and that great and last sacrifice will be the Son of God, yea, infinite and eternal. (Alma 34:14)
And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all which we give of him: That he lives!
For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father–
That by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God (D&C 76:22-24).
You will notice in the preface of Section 76, referring to verses 18-24, the statement that the Inhabitants of many worlds are begotten sons and daughters unto God through the atonement of Jesus Christ. This clearly indicates that His sacrifice on this earth was sufficient for all the worlds. He lived only one mortal life, on only one earth. He has only one mortal body. While we know very little about the other worlds that are inhabited by our Father’s children, they know about us, because their Savior was born here. We read in the Doctrine & Covenants
For all flesh is corrupted before me; and the powers of darkness prevail upon the earth, among the children of men, in the presence of all the hosts of heaven–
Which causeth silence to reign, and all eternity is pained (D&C 38:11-12).
You may also wish to review that fascinating parable in the Doctrine and Covenants 88:51-61, where the Lord compares the planets to kingdoms and the kingdoms to fields into which He sends His workers—
And thus they all received the light of the countenance of their lord, every man in his hour, and in his time, and in his season–
Beginning at the first, and so on unto the last, and from the last unto the first, and from the first unto the last;
Every man in his own order, until his hour was finished, even according as his lord had commanded him, that his lord might be glorified in him, and he in his lord, that they all might be glorified (D&C 88:58-60)
You mention Moses 1:34 “And the first man of all men have I called Adam, which is many.” This indicates that there was an Adam, or a first man who acted in Adam’s capacity, on many worlds. You may also note the statement in Moses 4:26,
And Adam called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all living; for thus have I, the Lord God, called the first of all women, which are many.
We can assume that the inhabitants of other worlds know who their Savior is, and that He worked out the great atonement by living in mortality in the most wicked of all the worlds that have ever been created, as we read in Moses 7:36
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 thy brethren.
Consideration of the above concepts adds a new dimension to the sacrifice of the Savior. The words “infinite atonement” have real meaning only by comparison with something finite. The scripture that states that He descended below all things–
Which glory is that of the church of the Firstborn, even of God, the holiest of all, through Jesus Christ his Son–
He that ascended up on high, as also he descended below all things, in that he comprehended all things, that he might be in all and through all things, the light of truth; (D&C 88:5-6)
The previous verses means that he descended below all things in the universe, not just below all things on this earth. He lived a perfect life in the most wicked of all worlds, and He suffered in the Garden and on the cross a sufficient amount to pay for all the sins of all the inhabitants of all the worlds. The question is, how many worlds are there? Enoch said,
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 art merciful and kind forever (Moses 7:30).
How many particles make up this earth? There are about two million particles in a bucket of sand. Now think of all the sand on all the seashores of all the oceans on the earth. Now consider that that is just a line on the surface of the earth. How many particles would be required to make up the earth? But the statement is millions of earths like this!! Then we are told that thy curtains are stretched out still; and yet thou art there! This earth will probably be host to some ten billion people before the Lord comes. It is absolutely unimaginable to consider the extent of the suffering of Him who paid the price of ALL SIN. The power of the Savior to withstand truly infinite suffering and pain, and at the same time to remain compassionate toward those for whom He suffered, is again beyond imagination. How carefully and meticulously should we obey all the commandments that He has given us, that that great infinite sacrifice will not have been made in vain in our behalf!
Gramps
