Dear Spudgam,

The biblical account of the creation of Adam and Eve is highly allegorical. The actual account of their origin is completely logical and highly pleasing and satisfying to the rational mind. Brigham Young explained it as follows:

“Though we have it in history that our father Adam was made of the dust of this earth, and that he knew nothing about his God previous to being made here, yet it is not so; and when we learn the truth we shall see and understand that he helped to make this world, and was the chief manager in that operation. He was the person who brought the animals and the seeds from other planets to this world, and brought a wife with him and stayed here. You may read and believe what you please as to what is found written in the Bible. Adam was made from the dust of an earth, but not from the dust of this earth. He was made as you and I are made, and no person was ever made upon any other principle” (Journal of Discourses, Vol.3, p.319).

When Adam and Eve came to this earth is was a terrestrial sphere and Adam and Eve were terrestrial beings. It is logical to assume that they were born on a terrestrial world, and that the flora and fauna that exist on this earth are similar to that on the world that Adam came from.

The terrestrial state of this earth lasted until Adam and Eve partook of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. As a consequence of that act the earth and all its inhabitants were changed to a telestial condition. That transition took place around 4,000 B.C. We talk of the seven thousand years of the earth’s temporal existence. (D&C 77:6) Brigham Young reveals some fascinating information about the earth’s transition from its terrestrial to its telestial state.

“This earth is our home, it was framed expressly for the habitation of those who are faithful to God, and who prove themselves worthy to inherit the earth when the Lord shall have sanctified, purified and glorified it and brought it back into his presence, from which it fell far into space . . . when the earth was framed and brought into existence and man was placed upon it, it was near the throne of our Father in heaven. And when man fell . . . the earth fell into space, and took up its abode in this planetary system, and the sun became our light. When the Lord said, “Let there be light,” there was light, for the earth was brought near the sun that it might reflect upon it so as to give us light by day, and the moon to give us light by night. This is the glory the earth came from, and when it is glorified it will return again unto the presence of the Father, and it will dwell there, and these intelligent beings that I am looking at, if they live worthy of it, will dwell upon this earth" (Journal of Discourses, Vol.17, p.144).

This is a surprising doctrine to many--that the earth is a newcomer to the solar system. But as we look at all the new information about the solar planets revealed by the recent space probes, it is not all that surprising. This earth is vastly different from all the other planets. There is also some compelling information that indicates that the earth is not the newest member of our planetary system. Dr. Immanuel Velikofsky, in his book, Worlds in Collision, develops compelling evidence that Venus was a comet that was captured by the sun at about 1500 A.D.

The earth itself is indeed a living being, with intelligence and volition. The earth obeys all the laws required of celestial beings and will inherit a celestial glory. We read in D&C 88:18-20 that,

it must needs be sanctified from all unrighteousness, that it may be prepared for the celestial glory, For after it hath filled the measure of its creation, it shall be crowned with glory, even with the presence of God the Father; That bodies who are of the celestial kingdom may possess it forever and ever; for, for this intent was it made and created, and for this intent are they sanctified.

Orson F. Whitney has written,

“The earth, which is a living creature, will be exalted to shine among the stars of God as a celestial body, that beings of a celestial order may inherit it for ever and for ever.  Says He: "All kingdoms have a law given," then if this earth is to become a celestial kingdom, we must obey the law of the celestial kingdom, if we desire to inherit it. For this earth is our heaven, and we will return to it if we are worthy of an inheritance on its surface” (Collected Discourses, Vol.1)

Gramps

Top of Page