MORMONISM: A SPACE-AGE PHILOSOPHY

Hyrum L Andrus All rights reserved

Recent scientific advancements have launched the world firmly into the space age. But who among the learned at this time is able to tell what the final concept of the earth and its relationship to the universe will be?

By revelation, Joseph Smith received information concerning the creation and redemption of worlds. To Brigham young and others he explained many ideas pertaining to "the formation of the planetary system."1 Reporting a discourse to the

Saints, he said: "I...gave some instructions in the mysteries of the kingdom of God; such as the history of the planets, Abraham's writings upon the planetary systems, etc."2 After visiting the Prophet, a traveler wrote that "from his conversation one might suppose him as well acquainted with other worlds as this."3

Early in his ministry, it was said of the Prophet in a revelation: "...I have given unto him the keys of the mysteries of those things which have been sealed, even things which were from the foundation of the world."4 As head of this last dispensation, he had a right to receive knowledge concerning the state of the earth since the beginning of the creation. Later he declared: "I could go back and trace every subject of interest concerning the relationship of man to God, if I had time. I can enter into the mysteries; I can enter largely into the eternal worlds."5

THE ETERNAL NATURE OF MATTER

Joseph Smith taught that matter and intelligence are eternal, and that God is in time and space as the great organizer of self-existing matter and things. A revelation declared: "The elements are eternal."6 "Earth, water, etc., had their existence in an elementary state from eternity," the Prophet declared.7 He explained:

Element had an existence from the time He (i.e., God) had. The pure principles of element are principles which can never be destroyed. They had no beginning and can have no end.8

2 SPACE AND TIME ARE ENDLESS

President Brigham Young voiced one of the great truths which was revealed through Joseph Smith when he said: "Eternity is without bounds, and is filled with matter; and there is no such place as empty space."9 This which is true of space is also true of time. The Prophet Joseph declared: "No man can Limit the bounds or the eternal existence of eternal time."10

ALL THINGS ARE GOVERNED BY LAW

The Lord declared in a revelation that the rule of law prevails in all areas of universal space. Having explained that there is no space in which there is no kingdom" of organized existence, God said: "And unto every kingdom is given a law."11

THERE ARE MANY GODS IN ETERNITY

Joseph Smith maintained that, when man views things in light of eternity, he must conclude that there are many Gods with their respective kingdoms in universal space. "I say there are Gods many and Lords many, but to us only one, and we are to be in subjection of that one." Taking this view of the matter, he held, "sets one free to see all the beauty, holiness, and perfection of the Gods.12

The Prophet taught that the many Gods in eternity are united within a divine patriarchal order in which there is a patriarchal line of Gods extending back in time and upward in the patriarchal chain into infinity, "Intelligences exist one above another," he declared, "so that there is no end to them." He then explained:

If Jesus Christ was the Son of God, and John discovered that God the Father of Jesus Christ had a Father, you may suppose that He had a Father also. Where was there a son without a father? And where was there ever a father without being a son? Whenever did a tree or anything spring into existence without a progenitor? And everything comes in this way. Paul says that which is earthly is in the likeness of that which is heavenly. Hence, if Jesus had a Father, can we not believe that He had a Father also? I despise the idea of being scared to death at such a doctrine, for the Bible is full of it.13

From the above statements it would appear that the organization of worlds in universal space has been going on under the direction of the several mighty

3 beings who have existed and who do exist within the divine patriarchal order from a time without beginning. It seems fair to conclude, therefore, that there have been great creators and redeemers of other worlds than that divine being who came to this earth at known to us as Jesus Christ. Speaking of our Father in Heaven --- the Man of Holiness --- Joseph Smith said: "God himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted man, and sits enthroned in yonder heavens."14

This being true, it may be concluded that the Christ whom we know --- the Firstborn of our Father in Heaven --- did not create or redeem the world upon which his Father experienced mortality.

THE CREATIONS OF GOD ARE INNUMERABLE

Our Father in Heaven has revealed to his prophets on this earth that his creations are innumerable to man. Abraham said of a vision of God's creations which he was shown: ". . . they multiplied before mine eyes, and I could not see the end thereof." 15 Moses was told that God's creations could not "be numbered unto man."16 And to the Lord, Enoch exclaimed: "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."17

CHRIST THE CREATOR OF MANY WORLDS

Speaking of his many creations, to Moses, the Father said: "By the word of my power, have I created them, which is mine Only Begotten Son, who is full of grace and truth." God then explained: "And worlds without number have I created; and I also created them for mine awn purpose; and by the Son I created them, which is mine Only Begotten."18 In light of the doctrine which Joseph Smith taught concerning the plurality of Gods, some students of Latter-day Saint thought conclude that the term "Only Begotten Son" in these statements to an office which has been occupied by many divine beings--a grand order of creators--and not specifically to the Son of God who created and redeemed this earth. That there have been divine creators and redeemers other than the one for this seems to be apparent from the evidence given. But this does not preclude the fact that the Son of God who came to this earth created many worlds. In the above statement to Moses, the Father is speaking of his creations through his Only Begotten Son. Having seen Christ on "the right hand of God," Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon heard a voice out of heaven "bearing record that he is the Only Begotten Son of the Father --- that by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created."19

4

CHRIST THE REDEEMER OF MANY WORLDS

Joseph Smith also taught that Christ holds the keys of the universe.20 recording some of the glorious truths which he and Sidney Rigdon were

shown in vision, the Prophet wrote that Jesus made his infinite sacrifice on this earth that "all might be saved whom the Father had put into his power and made by him."21 This statement seems to imply that Christ's atonement on this earth extends to all which he created by the power of the Father and which he has jurisdiction over, not merely this earth and its habitants. In arranging the report of this revelation in poetic verse, Joseph Smith wrote of Christ at this point:

'Tis decreed that he'll save all the works of his hands, And sanctify them by his own precious blood.

Continuing:

The Saviour will save all his Father did give, Even all that he gave in the regions abroad.22

Latter-day revelations state specifically that Christ's atonement covers, worlds other than ours. As Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon beheld Christ in the vision referred to above, they heard a voice out of heaven declare 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."23 In order to become a son or daughter must of God through Jesus Christ man be born into the kingdom of God through the power of Christ's atonement. (See D&C 25:1; 34:1-3; 39:1-4; Moses 6:59-62, 66-68; 7:1; Mosiah 5:7, 15:10-12; Ether 3:14.) If the inhabitants of the other worlds which Jesus creates are begotten sons and daughters unto God through Christ, his atonement must extend to those other spheres. Joseph Smith confirmed this view beyond question when he arranged the verses above in poetic form:

And I heard a great voice, bearing record from heav'n, He's the Saviour, and only begotten of God

By him, of him, and through him, the worlds were all made, Even all that career in the heavens so broad

5 Whose inhabitants, too, from the first to the last, Are sav'd by the very same Saviour as ours:

And, of course are begotten God's daughters and sons, By the very same truths and the very same powers.24

Another revelation explains the quickening and governing power, or glory, of Christ throughout the universe. (See all of D&C 88 in light of the setting which the Lord gives in verses 5 through 13.) Within the boundless expanse of space "there are many kingdoms," it declares, and God "hath given a law unto all things, by which they move in their times and seasons. Thus the orderly cosmos is sustained "in the midst of the power of God."25 The revelation likens "these kingdoms unto a man having a field" with twelve servants who labor in it. Each servant receives a visit in his time, "that his lord might be glorified in him, and he in his lord, that they all might be glorified." Concludes the revelation: "Therefore, unto this parable I will liken all these kingdoms, and the inhabitants thereof --- each kingdom in its hour, and in its time, and in its season, even according to the decree which God bath made."26

John Taylor quoted with approval a statement from the Times and Seasons, published at Nauvoo, Illinois, that the twelve kingdoms in this parable "are governed by the same rules, destined to the same honor," concluding that Peach kingdom, or planet, and the inhabitants thereof, were blessed with the visits and presence of their Creator, in their several times and seasons."27

This does not mean that Jesus would have to be crucified on each of the worlds that he created, but that his atonement on this earth extend to all that he creates. He then ministers to these many spheres, each in its turn. Elder Marion G. Romney has said: "Except for his mortal ministry accomplished on this earth, his service and relationship to other worlds and their inhabitants are the same as his service and relationship to this earth and its inhabitants.28

This expanded view of Christ's power of creation and redemption leaves some questions unanswered. Having declared to Moses that he had created worlds without number through his Only Begotten Son, God explained that there were many worlds which had "passed away." He then said: "And as one earth shall pass away, and the heavens thereof even so shall another come and there is no end to my works, neither to my words."29 If many worlds which Christ created had passed away before God spoke to Moses, questions may be raised regarding the time and circumstances of their redemption. Rather than give

6 Moses insight into these matters, God said: "But only an account of this earth, and the inhabitants thereof, give I unto you.30

KOLOB AND THE CREATION OF THE EARTH

Abraham was given a view of the earth, its creation, and its place in the divine scheme of things. By means of the Urim and Thummim, he saw a mighty sphere named Kolob, which is the center of our stellar system. He was informed that Kolob is the great governing star next to the sphere on which God dwells, and that Kolob governs all the bodies in space which pertain to "the same order" as our earth31 Abraham was also told that Kolob's schedule of time is "after the manner of the Lord" --- one revolution being "a day unto the Lord" and a thousand years of time on our earth.32

Kolob and its stellar system provide the setting for Abrahams account of the creation. Early in the creation the earth was apparently placed under the same time schedule as that of Kolob. Abraham used the word time to designate each period of the creation. For instance, when the light was "divided" from the darkness on the first day, Abraham said: . . . from the evening until morning they called night; and from the morning until the evening they called day; and this was the first, or the beginning of that which they (i.e., the Gods) called night and day.33 In concluding his report of the second day, Abraham wrote: ". . . this was the second time that they called night and day."34 Then as he concludes his report of the third day he said: ". . . they numbered the days;" and it was "the third time."35 The term "time" therefore meant a day of the Lord's time.

Thus, they continued through the creative periods. Concluding the account 36 of the sixth day, Abraham wrote: "And they numbered the sixth time."36 Finally, as the God's placed Adam upon the earth and warned him not to partake of the forbidden fruit in the garden, they said: "For in the time that thou eatest thereof, thou shalt surely die." Abraham then explained: "Now I, Abraham, saw that it was after the Lord's time, which was after the time of Kolob; for as yet the Gods had not appointed unto Adam his reckoning."37 On the basis of these declarations, Orson Pratt concluded that "the Lord had reckoned previous to that period (when he spoke to Adam concerning the forbidden fruit) by the diurnal rotations of Kolob, and that, without doubt, was the day referred to in parents should die, if they ate of the forbidden fruit."38 President Joseph Fielding Smith draws a similar conclusion.39

THE EARTH'S STATE AFTER THE CREATION

7 As a result of the actions of the creation, the earth was placed in a paradisiacal state of glory. The glory of the Father enveloped the earth and quickened all life with intelligent, living powers. Of Adam, Joseph Smith wrote:

"God conversed with him face to face; in his presence he was permitted to stand, and from his own mouth he was permitted to receive instruction --- he heard his voice, walked before him, and gazed upon his glory --- intelligence burst upon his understanding and enabled him to give names to the vast assemblage of his Maker's works.40

While in this state, Adam enjoyed intelligent spiritual endowments perhaps similar to those that the Lamanites received when they were converted by Nephi

and Lehi. Mormon wrote of them:

. . . they were encircled about, yea every soul, by a pillar of fire . . . and they were filled with that joy which is unspeakable and full of glory . . . and they could speak forth marvelous words.41

Similar endowments, with like effects, were given to the Nephi to children during Christ's visit among them. They 'were encircled about with fire,42 and they were able to "utter marvelous things.43

When the various forms of life were first placed on earth, they were both physical and spiritual in the nature of their organization, in somewhat the same way that a resurrected body is spiritual.44 Having stated that he created every tree "out of the ground," the Lord declared that "it was spiritual" in the day he created it, and that this was true of "all things" which he prepared for man.45 Thus organized, there was no deterioration of the physical body resulting in death before the fall. "If Adam had not transgressed he would not have fallen," Lehi explained, . . . .and all things which were created must have remained in the same state in which they were after they were created; and they must have remained forever and had no end.46

THE FALL

Adam's transgression changed this whole order of things. No longer was the earth subject to the law of Kolob; it was taken from that order and given its own schedule of time. God's glory --- the Spirit with its intelligent, living attributes and

8 powers --- was withdrawn, spiritual death thus came to life on earth.47 Physical death also entered the world as the spiritual nature of the several forms of life was changed and the earth entered its present temporal state. Orson Pratt contrasted the paradisiacal excellence which the earth initially enjoyed with its present temporal state. "First, it was spiritual in all its blessings and fullness of life and glory," he declared. "Then it was reduced to a temporal condition, wherein misery and wretchedness existed.48 His brother Parley also observed that the fall "affected the whole creation, as well as man, and caused the various changes to take place.49 But despite the corruption that has prevailed upon the earth, as a sphere it abides "the law of a celestial kingdom." For this reason it will be celestialized and become the abode of the righteous.50 "In proportion as it has been reduced," Brigham Young stated, "so it will be exalted. "51

GOD'S PROMISE OF FURTHER KNOWLEDGE

Though many important things were revealed to Joseph Smith about the earth and the cosmos, the Lord has promised to unfold other truths in this dispensation. The Prophet Joseph Smith spoke of

" A time to come in the which nothing shall be withheld, whether there be one God or many gods, they shall be manifest.

"All thrones and dominions, principalities and powers, shall be revealed and set forth upon all who have endured valiantly for the gospel of Jesus Christ.

"And also, if there be bounds set to the heavens or to the seas, or to the dry land, or to the sun, moon, or stars ---

"All the times of their revolutions, all the appointed days, months, and years, and all the days of their days, months and years, and all their glories, laws, and set times, shall be revealed in the days of the dispensation of the fulness of times ---

"According to that which was ordained in the midst of the Council of The Eternal God of all other gods before this world was, that should be re- served unto the finishing and the end thereof, when every man shall enter into his eternal presence and into his immortal rest.52

9 The promises that are made in this statement will not be fulfilled by means

of scientific exploration alone. Many important things will be revealed by the Lord after the earth has been renewed in the millennium to a state of paradisiacal glory, possibly because only then will man be capable of understanding and utilizing such information. In a revelation concerning the renewal of the earth,

it said:

. . . verily I say unto you, in that day when the Lord shall come, he shall reveal all things ---

"Things which have passed, and hidden things which no man knew, things of the earth by which it was made, and the purpose and the end thereof ---

"Things most precious, things that are above, and things that are beneath, things that are in the earth, and upon the earth, and in heaven.

"And all they who suffer persecution for my name, and endure in faith, though they are called to lay down their lives for my sake yet shall they partake of all this glory."53

The saints look forward to the millennium as a glorious age when man will possess great knowledge concerning the earth and the cosmos. At this time, if not before, the Saints will understand the eternal program by which the Gods organize worlds, subject them and their inhabitants to a temporal probation, and redeem the faithful to a place of glory and power.54

Endnotes 1 History Of The Church, Vol. 2, p. 334. This work which is popularly designated as the Documentary History Of The Church will hereafter be abbreviated as DHC, followed by the volume and page number. 2 DHC, Vol. 3, p. 27. 3 DHC, Vol. 6, p. 269 4 D&C 35:18. See also D&C 64:5; 112:15. 5 DHC, Vo1. 6, p. 315. 6 D&C 93:33. 7 DHC, Vol. 3, p. 387. 8 DHC, Vol. 6, pp. 308-309.

10 9 Journal of Discourses, Vol. 6, pp. 2-3. (Bookcraft 1954). Hereafter this source will be JD. 10 TPJS, p. 371. 11 D&C 88:37-38. 12 TPJS, pp. 371-372. 13 TPJS, p. 373. 14 TPJS, pp. 345. 15 Abraham 3:11-12 16 Moses 1:37 17 Moses 7:30 18 Moses 1:32-33 19 D&C 76:23-24. (Italics added) 20 DHC Vol. 3, p. 387. 21 D&C 76:41-42. (Italics added) 22 Times and Seasons, Vol. 4 (February 1, 1843), p. 83. (Italics added) 23 D&C 76:20-24. 24 Times and Seasons, Vol. 4 (February 1, 1843), pp. 82-83, (Italics added.) The fact that the inhabitants of these many spheres which Christ created are begotten sons and daughters unto God by receiving divine "truths" and "powers" from him confirms that Joseph Smith was speaking of birth into the Kingdom of God, which has its basis in the atonement of Christ. 25 D&C 88:6-13, p. 37, 43, 45. 26 D&C 88:51-61. (Italics added) 27 John Taylor, Mediation and Atonement (Stevens and Wallis, Inc., Salt Lake City, 1950), pp. 76-77. 28 The Improvement Era, November 1968, p. 46. 29 Moses 1:35, 33. 30 Moses 1:35. 31 Abraham 3:1-9. 32 Abraham 3:4. 33 Abraham 4:5. 34 Abraham 4:8. (Italics added) 35 Abraham 4:13. (Italics added) 36 Abraham 4:21. (Italics added) 37 Abraham 5:13. (Italics added) 38 JD Vol. 16, p. 317. Journal of Discourses, (Bookcraft 1954). Hereafter this source will be JD. 39 [Missing reference] 40 Lecture on Faith, No. 2. (Photo Reprint of Kirtland, Ohio (1835) ed. p. 15.) (Italics added.)

11 41 Helaman 5:43-45. 42 3 Nephi 17:24. 43 3 Nephi 26:14, 16. For a more complete treatment of this subject, see Andrus, God, Man And The Universe, pp. 323-327, 354-359. 44 See D&C 88:27; Alma 11:45; Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, Vol. 1, pp. 76-77. 45 Moses 3:9. For a more detailed discussion of this point, see Andrus, op. cit., pp. 320-323. 46 2 Nephi 2:22. (Italics added.) 47 See D&C 29:40-41 48 JD, Vol. 21, p. 323. 49 Parley P. Pratt, Voice of Warning, New Edition (Deseret News Press) p. 114. 50 D&C 88:17-26 51 JD, Vol. 10, p. 175. 52 D&C 121:28-32. 53 D&C 101:32-35. 54 D&C 45:11-12; HC, Vol. 4, p. 210.