Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Question

 

Gramps,

When it is talking about the Gods created the earth in the Book of Abraham. What is it referring too? Let me know thanks!

Josh

 

Answer

 

Dear Josh,

There are two aspects of the creation. Both are explained in the Book of Abraham. There is both a spiritual and a physical creation. We might compare the spiritual creation to the architectural plans for a building. If you have seen the blueprints for a large building you will know that they consist of many pages. The architect, first lays out the location and dimensions of the foundation and the footing; there will be blueprint sheets showing all the details for installing all the electrical, water, heating and air conditioning and sewage services. Then there will be sheets that define how and of what materials the floors, walls and ceilings are to constructed. The exterior of the building will be defined in the plans, including finish materials and colors. Each of these sheets will reveal every detail of every step of the construction process.

Every possible detail of the building exists on the blueprints and in the mind of the architect, and yet no building exists. That could be likened to the account of the spiritual creation of the earth. In fact, in the preface to Abraham Chapter 4, we read,

The Gods plan the creation of the earth and all life thereon- Their plans for the six days of creation are set forth.

You will notice in this chapter that the Gods are talking about doing something and giving an account of what they plan to do. The the last verse of the chapter, we read,

And the Gods said: We will do everything that we have said, and organize them; and behold, they shall be very obedient.

President John Taylor, in The Government of God, Ch.9, states,

“All the designs of God concerning this world and the work of creation, were perfected in his mind before this world rolled into existence, or ‘e’er the morning stars sang together for joy’.”

In the preface of Chapter 5, we read that they finish their planning, and then bring to pass the creation.

Now, concerning the use of the term, “the Gods.” The name given to God the Father in the Hebrew bible is Eloheim, meaning “the Gods.” Undoubtedly more than one person was involved in the planning and in the creation of the earth. Elder Bruce R. McConkie suggests that many of the noble and great spirits may have been involved in the creative process under the direction of the Father.

“There were priesthood holders in preexistence; there are many who have held and do hold priestly powers in this probationary estate; and exalted beings will rule with this divine power to all eternity. ‘The Priesthood was first given to Adam; he obtained the First Presidency, and held the keys of it from generation to generation,’ the Prophet said. ‘He obtained it in the Creation, before the world was formed.’ (Teachings, p. 157.) Certainly this was also true of the other noble and great ones. Those who sided with Christ and Adam and who joined with them in taking of the materials that existed and in making an earth — certainly they all acted in the power and authority of the same priesthood held by Jehovah and Michael’ (A New Witness for the Articles of Faith, p.310)”.

 

Gramps

 

 

 

Copyright © 2024 Ask Gramps - Q and A about Mormon Doctrine. All Rights Reserved.
This website is not owned by or affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (sometimes called the Mormon or LDS Church). The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the position of the Church. The views expressed by individual users are the responsibility of those users and do not necessarily represent the position of the Church. For the official Church websites, please visit churchofjesuschrist.org or comeuntochrist.org.

Pin It on Pinterest