Question
Dear Gramps,
I was just reading your explanation as to why it’s fair that we got to live on this world. I hadn’t thought of it before, but did the Savior visit the other worlds after His resurrection as He visited His other sheep on this world? I’m thinking maybe He did.
Joan
Answer
Dear Joan,
You are dead right! The Savior has visited His other worlds, taught there his gospel, organized His church and kingdom, and provided every blessing for our Father’s children on the other worlds as He has done on this one. Let’s see if we can substantiate those statements with a few scriptures. First of all let’s review part of the Doctrine & Covenants, Section 88. The Section speaks of the Comforter, or the light of truth, stating that this truth is the light of Christ. He then identifies this light as the light of the sun, moon and stars, indicating that it is the power by which they were made. Then, to unequivocally explain what He is talking about, He identifies this light as follows—
And the light which shineth, which giveth you light, is through him who enlighteneth your eyes, which is the same light that quickeneth your understandings (D&C 88:11)
So we are to understand that the light that comes from the sun, i.e., physical light, is the light of Christ. Although the light of Christ can be observed in the laboratory, and some of its properties measured, science cannot really explain what light is because it is a spiritual phenomenon. The observation and measurement of light produce more questions that they do answers.
All of this is a prelude to the parable from verses 51 to 61, in which the Savior explains that He visits all the worlds. Verses 42 and 43 are key to what follows—
And again, verily I say unto you, he hath given a law unto all things, by which they move in their times and their seasons;
And their courses are fixed, even the courses of the heavens and the earth, which comprehend the earth and all the planets.
The reference is to all the planets, not just those in our immediate solar system, of which this earth is very probably the only inhabited one. Verse 47 identifies these the planets as kingdoms, stating that all these [planets] are kingdoms.
As an introduction to the parable the Savior says, I will liken these kingdoms unto a man having a field. He then explains in parabolic terms that He visits all these kingdoms, or planets, and [the inhabitants] are made glad with the light of the countenance of [their] Lord.
Now we must understand that He taught them concerning the great atoning sacrifice that has made all salvation possible for all our Father’s children on all His infinite worlds. Thus we understand why that sacrifice had to be an infinite sacrifice–infinite pain, infinite suffering, (Alma 34:10,14) in order to pay the full price to an eternal justice for all the inequities from which men are capable of repenting, so that the Father could extend his mercy in forgiving all repentant sin without violating the principles of justice.
With this background the scripture found in D&C 38:12 becomes more understandable.
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, and the angels are waiting the great command to reap down the earth, to gather the tares that they may be burned; and, behold, the enemy is combined.
Those on other planets know about this earth because their Savior was born here, and here He worked out the great atonement that provides for their salvation. These concepts make understandable the statements of John in Revelations 21 and what is written in the 7th chapter of the Book of Moses concerning that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven, from God.
Moses reveals the following concerning this Holy City, the New Jerusalem—
And righteousness will I send down out of heaven; and truth will I send forth out of the earth, to bear testimony of mine Only Begotten; his resurrection from the dead; yea, and also the resurrection of all men; and righteousness and truth will I cause to sweep the earth as with a flood, to gather out mine elect from the four quarters of the earth, unto a place which I shall prepare, an Holy City, that my people may gird up their loins, and be looking forth for the time of my coming; for there shall be my tabernacle, and it shall be called Zion, a New Jerusalem (Moses 7:62).
Here Moses speaks of the resurrection of all men, not just those who have lived on this earth. That is made clear in verse 64, which says—
And there shall be mine abode, and it shall be Zion, which shall come forth out of all the creations which I have made; and for the space of a thousand years the earth shall rest.
So the scriptures are replete with the knowledge that Jesus is the Savior of all the worlds, that His great atoning sacrifice was in indeed of necessity an infinite sacrifice, sufficient to atone for the repentant sins of all our Father’s children on all their innumerable worlds.
Gramps
