Infinite Worlds

In Gospel Doctrine class today, we started the year with a discussion regarding the creation of our planet. As the discussion ensued, I remembered two scriptures, both in Moses.

The first has the Lord speaking to Moses.

“[Worlds] without number have I created; and I also created them for mine own purpose; and by the Son I created them, which is mine Only Begotten.” (Moses 1:33)

Second, Enoch is speaking to the Lord:

“[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; and thy curtains are stretched out still; and yet thou art there, and thy bosom is there; and also thou art just; thou art merciful and kind forever.” (Moses 7:30)

Considering all these numberless planets the Lord has created, it is important to remember D&C 76:24.

“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.”

The point of all this scripture remembering is that given the countless M-class planets like ours the Lord has created, it would certainly seem a waste of space (no pun intended) if ours was the only inhabited one. That being said, it is awesome to try and wrap one’s head around the unfathomable number of spirit children of God’s that have, do and will inhabit the universe.

17 thoughts on “Infinite Worlds

  1. gee.. funny how the church has an education system in place where everyone is supposed to be on the same lesson on any given Sunday. I asked what the SS lesson was today and was told it was from Abraham. So I said weren’t we supposed to start in OT today which to me begins with Genesis but no answer came. Good thing your ward is on the ball :)

  2. The Pearl of Great Price and the Old Testament are studied in the same unit.

    The Sunday School curriculum (minus Gospel Essentials class) is a four-year system. One year is the Old Testament and the Pearl of Great Price. The next is the New Testament. The third is the Book of Mormon. The final one is the Doctrine and Covenants. Then it starts over.

  3. The books of Abraham and Moses are wonderful tools in understanding the creation and the creation. Once we get out of the creation period, we will use the POGP less.

  4. Kim,

    What’s interesting to contemplate is the Lord’s point regarding stretching forth His hands and holding His creations.
    In facsimile #2 Joseph points out that a cubit is equal to 1000 years. If we assume that a cubit is about 18″ long,then a straight line of 18″ equals 1000 years. If we cube that 18″, so that it is in the form of a box, do the math and see how much time and creations could be held in that small amount of space. Awe inspiring.

  5. Unfortunately, if we calculate it so the cubit is only the diameter of a sphere, it’s somewhat less awe inspiring. One billion years compared to 3,140 years.

  6. If the inhabitants of these worlds were present in the same Council in Heaven that we were, then we would have to assume that He will be.

  7. Maybe I’m missing some crucial reference, but where does it state that there are additional populated worlds.

    If observations can be counted on, it seems that the Universe is basically set up to waste space. Huge distances between galaxies, uncountable unpopulated planets and planetoids.

    If He holds true to form, this may be the only populated world.

    And once this planet burns out…

  8. The last two quotes in the post specifically, Rick.

    “…millions of earths like this…”

    “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.”

  9. Yeah, it’s the earths like this part that is confusing.

    I mean if I said I’ll sell you an aquarium like this one, you certainly wouldn’t expect the fish…

    When he talks about the inhabitants of worlds there is no specific reference to more than one world being populated.

    It’s like me talking about all my red-headed children (I have none)… it is a vacuously true statement.

  10. Well, I suppose it depends on how you think the human race was created. If you believe that it was all a natural process, then millions of earths like this could imply that planets that have natural process similar to our and can support/create life.

    Nevertheless, that is why I picked the last quote as well.

  11. “So will Christ be the savior of all those worlds?”

    I don’t think the scriptures actually say that. In fact, as far as I know, there is a very strong connection between the “fall of adam” and the atonement. I think it’s safe to assume that unless there is some reason to believe that the fall of Adam would affect persons on another planet, then the same would go for the atonement.

    Some quick scriptures:
    2 Ne. 2: 25
    Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy.

    2 Ne. 9: 21
    And he cometh into the world that he may save all men if they will hearken unto his voice; for behold, he suffereth the pains of all men, yea, the pains of every living creature, both men, women, and children, who belong to the family of Adam.

    Mosiah 3: 11
    For behold, and also his blood atoneth for the sins of those who have fallen by the transgression of Adam, who have died not knowing the will of God concerning them, or who have ignorantly sinned.

  12. Thanks for these scriptures, Jeff. I think 2 Ne 9:21 answers this question, since it explicitly states that Jesus will only atone for those descended from Adam.

  13. I don’t know the answer, but perhaps each earth has an Adam. Is this what the following scripture means? (Many men, or many Adams? Is implies singular…)

    Moses 1:34:
    “And the first man of all men have I called Adam, which is many.”

  14. I wonder if Adam is the first of ALL the children of our heavenly Father, or the first of his children to inhabit this earth (which would be just as reasonable an interpretation of “first of all men.”) I wonder if “first” means “first to live in a physical body,” or if it means “first begotten in the spirit,” or if it means first in some other sense. (And by the way, no, I don’t know what being spiritually begotten entails.) I wonder how long Adam lived on earth in a deathless state before his fall, and whether that period could have been so long that other worlds could have come and gone while he was there.

    Wonder, wonder, wonder…

  15. Re-visiting this thread tonight
    and I think I have to disagree with Kim in comment 14. None of those scriptures says that Christ will atone ONLY for those descended from Adam. It just says that he will atone for all those who are descended from Adam and says nothing about the others.

    It’s a classic grouping problem: All beagles are dogs but not all dogs are beagles. All the children of Adam are atoned for by Christ but not all those atoned by Christ are necessarily children of Adam.

    Personally, I’m inclined to think Christ’s infinite atonement applies to many worlds, worlds that begin and end, before, during, and after the life of this one.

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