Question
Dear Gramps,
I have been reading the questions about other worlds and how the Savior atoned for the sins of all the different worlds. I knew that He was the only Savior but what I want to know is, why was I or you or anyone placed on this world? You said that the people of the other worlds are more righteous than we are here, so does that mean that we weren’t very righteous in the pre-existence?
Is this a punishment for something we did previously? Also, I assume there are other prophets on those planets like on ours. Actually I have heard that the best and the worst were sent here but I am not sure that is true. Seems like it lately tho. These might be questions that have no answer at this time.
Susi
Answer
Dear Susi,
You mentioned that I said that people of the other worlds are more righteous than we are here. I cannot find where I made such a statement, but if so, it would certainly need some clarification. Let me state that the most wicked people in the universe live on this world. That statement can be corroborated by two scriptures—
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)
This Comforter is the promise which I give unto you of eternal life, even the glory of the celestial kingdom;
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 88:4-6)
My interpretation of that scripture is that He descended BELOW ALL THINGS. So I assumed that He worked out the great atonement on this earth because it was the most wicked of all the earths.
My own personal belief is that the most righteous people in the universe also live on this planet. Of course the Savior Himself lived out his mortal sojourn here, and in the eternities, as a celestialized kingdom, this earth will be his eternal residence. If this earth is to become a celestial world fit for the residence of the Savior I must assume that there must be sufficient righteousness in it to offset the greatest wickedness in the universe. So I must assume that the most righteous people in the universe also inhabit this world. This concept fits with the scripture
For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not so, my first-born in the wilderness, righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad (2 Ne 2:11).
Concerning prophets of God on other worlds, we know that the Savior visits all the worlds that He has created (see D&C 88:42-61). We must assume that He taught the people on other worlds the same gospel of Jesus Christ as he did here, and that He organized his Church and ordained his servants there with the requisite priesthood authority to administer the laws and ordinances of salvation to the inhabitants thereof. Those concepts are consistent with the scripture that says,
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).
Therefore, those on other worlds must be aware of the corruption on this earth and are shocked into silence by what they perceive.
Gramps