Question
Gramps,
What is meant by the earth being the Lord’s footstool?
Rachel & Grant
Answer
Dear Rachel. & Grant,
Think of it!! Of all the infinite number of worlds in the universe, the Savior chose this world, our earth, in which to take upon himself a mortal stature and work out the great atoning sacrifice, by which he suffered fully for all the sins of all mortal humanity that have ever lived or will ever live on all of those infinite worlds! The great infinity of that number was expressed by Enoch, who 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 (Moses 7:30).
And the Savior declared that of all those infinite worlds, this earth is the most wicked of them all—
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 (Moses 7:36).
As a matter of fact, He came to this earth to work out the great atonement because it was the most wicked of all the worlds.
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 88:6)
When the earth is purified it will become a fit celestial abode for the Savior himself to dwell upon—
“It assures me that God lives; and if I am faithful, I shall obtain the blessings of the celestial kingdom. The earth will become purified and made a fit abode for heavenly beings and for the Lord our God to come and dwell upon, which he will do during the millennium” (President Joseph Fielding Smith, Conference Report, October 1968, p.125).
I imagine that after the millennium when the earth will have attained its celestial glory that it may even be the residence of the Savior. Since the earth was the most wicked of all creations, I would imagine that it will become the most righteous of all creations–among the brightest stars of the universe. This thought is consistent with the proliferation of opposites in the Lord’s doings. (We see that in the great density of chiastic [opposite] arrangements in the scriptures).
So the earth being the Lord’s footstool is a euphemism for the fact that the Lord will plant his feet upon the earth, i.e., He will dwell here.
Gramps
