Dear Lori,

We try to answer only one question at a time, so I'll pick the easy one, "How did it all start?" There are two approaches to the question of how the world came to be, when was it organized and how it did progress. There are scientific theories and there is the revealed word of God found in the scriptures. By the very nature of science it attempts to tie a time line to prehistoric events. The time of creation events is not mentioned in the scriptures, but the sequence is.

The predominant scientific theory that is in vogue today on how it all started is related to what is called the "Big Bang" theory. This theory holds that "in the beginning" all matter in the universe was concentrated at an infinitesimally small point at an infinitely high temperature. At the moment zero in time, this infinitely dense and infinitely hot mass exploded, and is yet expanding. Science does not address the moment before the time zero. Although questions could be asked, none could be answered.

One of the most complete explanations of the process of creation is found in The Pearl of Great Price, Abraham, Ch.4. Here we learn that the Gods have such power that they need only speak and matter obeys. We might conclude from that fact that matter contains within itself the principle of intelligence. We know, for instance, that the earth is a living being, and obeys the celestial law. "And again, verily I say unto you, the earth abideth the law of a celestial kingdom, for it filleth the measure of its creation, and transgresseth not the law--" (D&C 88:25).

And James E. Talmage, in Articles of Faith, Ch.2, pp.33-34 presents interesting reasoning that bears on the subject:

"Man's consciousness tells him of his own existence; his observation proves the existence of others of his kind and of uncounted orders of organized beings. From this we conclude that something must have existed always, for had there been a time of no existence, a period of nothingness, existence could never have begun, for from nothing, nothing can be derived. The eternal existence of something, then, is a fact beyond dispute; and the question requiring answer is, what is that eternal something-- that existence which is without beginning and without end? Matter and energy are eternal realities; but matter of itself is neither vital nor active, nor is force of itself intelligent; yet vitality and activity are characteristic of living things, and the effects of intelligence are universally present. Nature is not God; and to mistake the one for the other is to call the edifice the architect, the fabric the designer, the marble the sculptor, and the thing the power that made it. The system of nature is the manifestation of an order that argues a directing intelligence; and that intelligence is of an eternal character, coeval [coeternal] with existence itself. Nature herself is a declaration of a superior Being, whose will and purpose she exhibits in her varied aspects. Beyond and above nature stands nature's God".

So, although the time line is not given, the means are. The Supreme Intelligence, whom we call God, and who is our Eternal Father, organized the universe  by the power of His word from eternally existing chaotic material and energy.

Gramps

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