THE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE

 

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Personal Comments by Duane R. Hurst

copyrighted, October 1999

 

 

THE BOOK OF MOSES

 

CHAPTER 2

 

1. And it came to pass that the Lord spake unto Moses, saying: Behold, I reveal unto you concerning this heaven, and this earth; write the words which I speak.  I am the Beginning and the End, the Almighty God; by mine Only Begotten I created these things; yea, in the beginning I created the heaven, and the earth upon which thou standest.

 

COMMENT:

            Moses continues to receive direct revelation.  It should be noted that throughout this event, it appears that Moses actually is talking with Jesus Christ.  Many verses, such as this one, sound as though it is our Father in heaven who speaks to Moses.  However, each time “the Lord” is used, it refers to Jesus.  Therefore, he probably is speaking for His Father.  This action is not unusual.  D&C 1:38 states, “What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same.”  D&C 84:36-37 also explains the concept that representatives speak with authority from a higher person.  (“For he that receiveth my servants receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth my Father”)

            Moses again is instructed to write what he saw about this planet and its star system.  God wants mankind to understand these things correctly.  Emphasis is made that Jesus Christ organized all things associated with this earth.  He actually is the beginning and end of this planet, since He made it from the very first step of creation; He also will oversee the final step in its transition to a celestial orb.  Man too often confuses the concept of time.  Time only is important as a measure for what happens on this planet.  The measurement of “time” varies, based on where we are.  Time is much different when looked at from another planet, star, or galaxy.

            Time is the measurement of what happens on a mortal world.  This changes once the world changes to a higher state.  When made into a celestial world, the earth will not measure time in the same manner as now.  Hours and minutes will not have the same impact on our lives as now.  Again, see D&C sections 76 and 130 for more indications of this change.

            An important point in this verse is that God made this planet.  It did not just happen by accident.  Scientists and educators who deny this are wrong.  The opinion of the world, the thoughts of popular belief do not matter.  Truth is not dependent on the emotional opinions of people.  It is not based on the limited learning of men.  In D&C 93:24 Christ said, “And truth is knowledge of things as they are, and as they were, and as they are to come.”

            Jesus Christ (also called Jehovah) told Isaiah in the Old Testament (Isaiah 55:8-9), “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”  Man cannot understand this higher order of thought and action.  It can be understood only through direct revelation, such as Moses received.

 

2. And the earth was without form, and void; and I caused darkness to come up upon the face of the deep; and my Spirit moved upon the face of the water; for I am God.

 

COMMENT:

            Now we get the beginning of God’s explanation for how the earth was made.  From this verse until the end of this chapter, we have a brief account of the six periods (called days) of work.  These “days” are not based on a 24 hour system.  For one thing, time cannot be measured in earth terms if the planet is not even made yet.  For another, in the book of Abraham, two creation stages are mentioned.  The first is a spiritual creation of all things associated with this planet.  The second is a physical (mortal) creation.  This makes perfect sense, since we also know that this earth is the location of a “spirit world”--the place where all spirits of the dead go after being separated from the physical body.  So, the spiritual creation is necessary before the physical creation.  They both occupy the same place.  It can be compared to different dimensions.

            The idea of so many universes and so many gods who create more worlds and stars probably is confusing to people.  Think of this.  There are over six billion people now living on this earth.  Each person has a mind.  No one can know the thoughts of another person, except on rare occasion.  So, compare your mind with that of someone else.  You never enter each other’s, but you know of each other’s existence.  We see each other and hear each other, but we are deaf to unspoken thoughts.  It is not unreasonable that countless universes can exist, just as countless individual people can exist.  Each person, each universe, is separate.

            When we are elevated to a higher kingdom after our resurrection, we will gain more knowledge about this universe and others.  We now see some of the stars and galaxies beyond our planet, but we know very little about them.  We can know much more (probably all) if we go to the highest level of the celestial kingdom.  God knows all of this.  He wants to share it with all who live with Him.  See the promise of the priesthood in D&C 84:38 (“And he that receiveth my Father receiveth my Father’s kingdom; therefore all that my Father hath shall be given unto him”).

            About the first step of this world’s creation, Jesus Christ (under His Father’s direction) used the priesthood power, together with His deliberate thoughts, to start the process.  I believe that the  “spirit” refers to using the priesthood power in a thoughtful, proper manner.  It probably is another way of describing Kae-e-vanrash (mentioned in Abraham’s facsimile 2).

            Without form and being void is the normal state of unorganized matter.  The “Big Bang” theory of creation, believed by people such as scientist Carl Sagan, is nonsense.  That is based on an entropic system--that means, a system that eventually ends in destruction or permanent death.  (The second law of thermodynamics is that something eventually dies or stops working.)  God’s system is negentropic--an ever-living, growing system.  The resurrection proves that life is more powerful than death.  D&C 131:7-8 states, “There is no such thing as immaterial matter.  All spirit is matter, but it is more fine or pure, and can only be discerned by purer eyes; we cannot see it; but when our bodies are purified we shall see that it is all matter.”  All planets and stars are made from unorganized matter.

            The “day” means an undetermined period for Christ to finish his work.  It could have lasted billions of our years or less time.  That is unimportant.  The important thing is that it was made.  Work of the first period includes: separate light from darkness (probably a reference to making the sun and planets from unorganized matter).  “Face of the deep” refers to space.  “Face of the water” probably refers to heaven.  Ancient Egyptians referred to “waters above” and “waters below,” meaning water in the atmosphere and water in oceans/lakes/rivers.  They also spoke of the pillars of heaven, indicating a knowledge about water existing in some form in space.  This probably means that all elements necessary for various metals, water, etc., are in the unorganized matter.  Christ organized it into a sun and planets, particularly on this earth.

 

3. And I, God, said: Let there be light; and there was light.

 

COMMENT:

            This is the separation of unorganized matter into a sun.  This is the important first phase of starting a solar system.  Without light, life is impossible to start or continue.  Light provides plants with a way to generate oxygen.  Animals use the oxygen to live, and produce carbon dioxide as a bi-product of breathing.  Plants use the carbon dioxide to make oxygen.  Since Christ made and controls the sun, He actually is the “life and light” of this world.  Without Him and His use of the priesthood, the sun and world would follow the law of entropy (death and destruction).

 

4. And I, God, saw the light; and that light was good.  And I, God, divided the light from the darkness.

 

COMMENT:

            This refers to the first phase of creation: making a sun and planets from the gasses of space.  The earth itself was torn by many earthquakes during this period of consolidation.  Volcanoes erupted, sending much ash into the sky.  This heavy dust encircled the planet.  It blocked out the sunlight.  The ash was an important ingredient for soil development.  Dividing light from darkness also referred to the following: 1) This earth began to rotate on its axis, thus allowing all sections to experience receiving light from the Sun; 2) Volcanic ash fell to the ground, thus allowing sunlight to shine upon the planet's surface. Earth was ready for the next phase.

 

5. And I, God, called the light Day; and the darkness, I called Night; and this I did by the word of my power, and it was done as I spake; and the evening and the morning were the first day.

 

COMMENT:

            “Word of my power” is the priesthood.  It also emphasizes the role of Jesus Christ, who created all these things.  This likewise shows the role of works and words, as mentioned in chapter  one.  The normal cycle of day and night has begun on earth.  The land is ready for the next step--separation of land and water.

 

6. And again, I, God, said: Let there be a firmament in the midst of the water, and it was so, even as I spake; and I said: Let it divide the waters from the waters; and it was done;

 

COMMENT:

            This is organization of water in an atmosphere from molecules which surrounded the earth’s earlier “heaven”.  The earth cooled from earlier volcanic and earthquake activity.  This follows the laws of physical science.  God and Jesus Christ use all of the laws.  What we call nature actually is the priesthood in action.

 

7. And I, God, made the firmament and divided the waters, yea, the great waters under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament, and it was so even as I spake.

 

COMMENT:

            Again, this mentions the separation of water from the atmosphere (water above the firmament) and water on the earth--oceans/lakes.  It all happened as God “spake” because He knew and applied physical laws.  He also used the principles of higher mathematics.  With the churning activity in the waters, oxygen and nutrients are in the water and it is prepared for the next phase--plant life.

 

8. And I, God, called the firmament Heaven; and the evening and the morning were the second day.

 

COMMENT:

            This means the atmosphere of earth.  Step two is complete.

 

9. And I, God, said: Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and it was so; and I, God, said: Let there be dry land; and it was so.

 

COMMENT:

            This refers to water gathering into a vast ocean.  Water also gathered at the poles as ice.  Originally, the earth was one large continent.  Mountains and valleys appeared through the turmoil.  Also, earthquake fault lines were made, which later would cause the land to separate into continents and islands.

 

10. And I, God, called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters, called I the Sea; and I, God, saw that all things which I had made were good.

 

COMMENT:

            Two major elements of the world are finished: land and ocean (sea).

 

11. And I, God, said: Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, the fruit tree yielding fruit, after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed should be in itself upon the earth, and it was so even as I spake.

 

COMMENT:

            This is a good verse.  It shows that the concept of evolution is wrong.  Slight changes do happen, but some scientists now accept that at no time has there been an “evolution” of plants or animals  from one separate species to become another one.  In other words, man did not come from monkey.  Seeds produce plants like themselves.  Animals also produce their own kind.  The flowering seed is one of the most remarkable events in creation.  It makes possible food for the many animals which will come later.  Without such seeds, there would not be a wide variety of animal life on earth.  Flowering plants produce enough fruit and propagate themselves to such an extent that there is plenty of food for the animals of earth.

 

12. And the earth brought forth grass, every herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed should be in itself, after his kind, and I, God, saw that all things which I had made were good;

 

COMMENT:

            The soil is prepared for growing vast varieties of plants.  This took a long time.  We do not know how long each “day” took before the work was finished.  It could have been millions of years for each period of time.  It was not done in a speedy or half-done manner.  All things were made properly.

 

13. And the evening and the morning were the third day.

 

COMMENT:

            Period three is complete.  The creation story is in the book of Abraham.  Also, the temple endowment contains an explanation of the creation.  They both give this as the order of creation: Day 1 — separate light and darkness; Day 2 — organize the atmosphere; Day 3 — separate water and land (prepare soil for plants; organize plant life); Day 4 —let lights shine (sun, moon, stars); Day 5 — organize animal life in the water and air; Day 6 — organize land animals (place man and woman on earth in Eden); Day 7 — rest.

 

14. And I, God, said: Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven, to divide the day from the night, and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and for years;

 

COMMENT:

            This is not confusing when we remember that the earth had been covered with a thick cloud of ash and dust from volcanic activity.  When this finally settled, the light from the sun, moon and stars could shine on earth. It was ready for the next phase towards life on earth.

            “Firmament of the heaven” refers to the earth’s atmosphere.  So, the light now can be seen as the earth rotates on its axis.  That also is why the “signs” happen: we have day/night and seasons because the earth rotates on its axis and rotates around the sun.  The seasons occur as the earth moves around the sun--winter when the northern half of the earth (hemisphere) is farther away from the sun; summer when the northern hemisphere is closer to the sun.

 

15. And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth; and it was so.

 

COMMENT:

            The sun, moon and stars provide light to the earth--now that the atmosphere is free from the previous dust.

 

16. And I, God, made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night, and the greater light was the sun, and the lesser light was the moon; and the stars also were made even according to my word.

 

COMMENT:

            The sun, of course, is our most important light.  Plants use light for photosynthesis (make carbohydrates--food for energy).  Animals eat the plants for food--or eat plant-eating animals for food.  There is no life on earth without light.  The light also produces heat, which is important in keeping plants and animals alive.  People long ago observed that certain plants and animals live in areas according to the heat/cold ratio.  The seasons (winter, spring, summer, fall) were recognized by ancient people, especially the Egyptians.  They saw the four seasons and four elements (earth, water, fire, wind) as key to life.  The sun also was used to make a calendar.

            The moon also is important.  It gives light at night, but has another key function.  It affects the oceans.  The gravitational pull of the moon causes tides (the rise and fall of the ocean).  People since ancient times used the phases of the moon (full, quarter, half, quarter, new) to determine a calendar.  Some societies believed that light from a full moon caused people to go crazy.  That is why western Europe called a crazy person a lunatic.  The slang term was "looney".

            Most of the stars already had been created many ages before this planet.  Their light entered this atmosphere after the dust settled.  The various star clusters (constellations) are important to sailors and astronomers.  Ancient societies made observatories to observe star movements.  Actually, the movement mostly came from the earth moving around the sun.  However, the sun also rotates around the galaxy’s center.  This galaxy is called the Milky Way.  Our solar system is located near an outer part (rim) of the galaxy.  There are over 300 billion stars in the Milky Way.  Astronomers recently observed that our galaxy actually is larger than Andromeda. This galaxy and other galaxies rotate around another central star system.  Abraham learned about this.  God told him that all systems eventually are affected by Kolob, the central star nearest to God’s planet home.

 

17. And I, God, set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth.

 

COMMENT:

            These stars and the moon were placed in orbit at whatever time was appropriate for their purpose.  Most of them were made long before this solar system.  They gave light on earth after the atmosphere was clear of the heavy dust.

 

18. And the sun to rule over the day, and the moon to rule over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness; and I, God, saw that all things which I had made were good;

 

COMMENT:

            This verse shows how important order is in heaven.  All things have order.  Something is always higher (above) another thing.  They all must obey law or principles.  This is explained very well in D&C 88:17-32.  This states that this earth (after the final judgment), and all people from this earth, must follow the laws for each kingdom (celestial, terrestrial, telestial).  Those who refuse to follow law must live in outer darkness with Satan and his followers.

            Verse 33 in D&C 88 says, “For what doth it profit a man if a gift is bestowed upon him, and he receive not the gift?  Behold, he rejoices not in that which is given unto him, neither rejoices in him who is the giver of the gift.”  This shows why Jesus Christ cannot give exaltation as a gift to anyone.  Some people would not appreciate the gift, neither would they appreciate Christ for giving them such a life with Him.  That is why each person must earn the way to whatever kingdom they desire.  Harder work is rewarded with a better kingdom.  The lazy will be content with a lower level, just as they are content with a lower life now.

 

19. And the evening and the morning were the fourth day.

 

COMMENT:

            Period four is complete.

 

20. And I, God, said: Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl which may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.

 

COMMENT:

            Here come the animals, in all their variety.  There appears to be specific order in bringing the various creatures upon earth.  First, it begins in the water.  Birds come next.  All verses which deal with creation only mention this process in very general terms.  There is an enormous amount of detail involved in organizing living creatures.  Every aspect of the creature’s body and habitat must be known before the creation begins.  How it breathes, eats, digests food, rests, offensive weapons (claw, teeth, venom, etc.), defensive mechanisms (such as shell, camouflage, thick skin, etc.), and other things must be known.  It is impossible that this world happened by accident.

            The words of this verse confirm that “firmament of heaven” means the atmosphere.

 

21. And I, God, created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought  forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind; and I, God, saw that all things which I had created were good.

 

COMMENT:

            This verse also refutes the idea of evolution.  “After their kind” means that animals produce offspring which look like the parents.  Man did not come from monkey; there were no radical changes in animals.  They followed a pattern from God.

            In this chapter, Moses relates that living creatures were made in the air and water before land animals.  This is consistent with what science now teaches.  It also is logical to start in the water, since it would take much time to prepare soil for plants; birds would come before many land animals because they eat plant seeds and small sea animals.  However, “creeping things” came during “day” six.

 

22. And I, God, blessed them, saying: Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the sea; and let fowl multiply in the earth;

 

COMMENT:

            Again, this verse mentions that only creatures in the water and air were made during this fifth period.  At every phase of creation, the living things are ordered to “multiply” in the earth.  This was necessary to provide food for future children of Adam and Eve.  It is unlikely that Adam killed animals for food immediately after being sent out of the Garden of Eden.  He spent many years in the garden learning all about raising plants and animals.  In fact, according to many ancient stories about Adam, he named each type of animal.  He also learned much about how plants can help man (as food or to cure sickness); he learned this from talks with the Father and Son before Adam and Eve violated God’s commandment and were sent out of Eden.

 

23. And the evening and the morning were the fifth day.

 

COMMENT:

            Period five is over.  Each period probably lasted millions of years, but we have no knowledge about the actual time involved in this work.  It took as long as was necessary.  “Evening and morning” just mean from start to finish.

 

24. And I, God, said: Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping things, and beasts of the earth after their kind, and it was so;

 

COMMENT:

            Day six begins with creation of all land animals, large and small.  This also includes reptiles, amphibians, and mammals.  Although not stated, microorganisms may have been created during each phase of the creation, made according to the best time for them to appear.  Such small organisms would be needed early to make good soil.  Since death was not introduced to earth until after Adam and Eve left Eden, the negative aspects of each creature probably did not happen until the world changed to a telestial level.  The earth originally was at a terrestrial level.  That is why Joseph Smith wrote the following phrase in article of faith number 10: “that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.”

 

25. And I, God, made the beasts of the earth after their kind, and cattle after their kind, and everything which creepeth upon the earth after his kind; and I, God, saw that all these things were good.

 

COMMENT:

            All animals follow a proper order of procreation.  There was no evolution in the way that Charles Darwin and modern scientists teach today.  All thing “were good” because God made them properly.  Everything worked well.  There were no defects. 

 

26. And I, God, said unto mine Only Begotten, which was with me from the beginning: Let us make man in our image, after our likeness; and it was so.  And I, God, said: Let them have dominion over the fishes of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

 

COMMENT:

            Here is a very interesting verse.  It states that mankind has a physical body which looks similar to God’s body.  Also, Jesus Christ had a spirit body which looked similar to God.  All people who live on other worlds have physical bodies which look like God.  They do not have strange bodies, such as you can see in Star Wars or Star Trek movies.

            D&C 130:6-9 describes the location of angels (messengers) who are assigned to this earth.  In verse 5 of this section Joseph Smith stated, “But there are no angels who minister to this earth but those who do belong or have belonged to it.”  This rules out the idea that aliens from other worlds visit earth.  However, we also know that the city of Enoch was removed from earth to an unknown destination.  They will return prior to Christ’s second coming.  Perhaps they have craft reconnoitering earth in preparation for their coming.  This is speculation.

            Mankind is allowed to rule the animals and plants on earth.  This means that mankind can use all things upon the earth, including minerals, to our benefit.  Dominion does not mean ownership.  God and Jesus Christ retain the right of rule over earth.  Mankind actually is given stewardship of the earth.  This is explained in D&C 104:13-18 (“For it is expedient that I, the Lord, should make every man accountable, as a steward over earthly blessings, which I have made and prepared for my creatures.  I, the Lord, stretched out the heavens, and built the earth, my very handiwork; and all things therein are mine.  And it is my purpose to provide for my saints, for all things are mine.  But it must needs be done in mine own way; and behold this is the way that I, the Lord, have decreed to provide for my saints, that the poor shall be exalted, in that the rich are made low.  For the earth is full, and there is enough and to spare; yea, I prepared all things, and have given unto the children of men to be agents unto themselves.  Therefore, if any man shall take of the abundance which I have made, and impart not his portion, according to the law of my gospel, unto the poor and the needy, he shall, with the wicked, lift up his eyes in hell, being in torment”).

            Many foolish people in the past and today believe that the earth does not have enough resources to feed and care for everyone on this planet.  They do not believe in God or do not believe in His words.  There is more than enough food and material for everyone.  Poverty is manmade.  The elitists (those who believe that only they have wisdom to rule others) and the greedy people throughout history cause poverty and war.  A proper distribution of goods is needed.  Of course, this can never happen under a communist, socialist or any other “-ist” system.  All manmade systems of government contain problems, although some systems are better than others.  The gospel of Jesus Christ is the only system which will allow everyone to have true freedom and progress.

            Let me give a short account of some political theories which continue to influence world leaders.  All of them are divergent or opposite from gospel truth, but they are popular.  The genesis or beginning of these ideas can be traced back to Satan and Cain.  Their agreement was the first secret society.  Even today, all such groups center on doing everything in secret and to get money and power over other people.

            David Hume and  Jeremy Bentham of England in the mid-1770s believed in utilitarianism.  This is a philosophy of “the greatest good for the most people.”  Unfortunately, it emphasized the idea that individual people are not very important.  We see this idea when people support mass abortion (over one million babies per year are killed in America; more are killed in Europe).  Many  people, in effect, say that they love mankind but do not like a person.

            During the same period, Englishman T.R. Malthus taught that God gave three great gifts to mankind.  He said the gifts were war, famine, and disease.  Malthus believed that Britain had the responsibility to use these “gifts” to reduce the world’s population.  Of course, he wanted Britain to rule  the world.  Unfortunately, there are many people of power who agree with these foolish ideas.  Henry Kissinger is one such person.  He continues to influence leaders today.  We also have people with no moral base, such as Bill and Hillary Clinton, who have great influence over the lives of others.

            We can trace modern ideas of fascism, national socialism (the Nazis), and communism to the following German men: Immanuel Kant, G.W.F. Hegel, and Karl Marx.  They all believed in the dialectic (the development of a thesis, its antithesis or opposite, and a change brought about by synthesis).  An important facet or part of their idea was that history determines the destiny of all nations and people.  In actuality, what they all believed was a new kind of false religion.  They formed their own god of this world, not knowing that their ideas are similar to many false religions of ancient times.  All false religions receive support and influence from Satan and his followers.

            The importance of the American revolution to gain independence from England is seen in D&C 101:77-80.  Jesus Christ said, “According to the laws and constitution of the people, which I have suffered to be established, and should be maintained for the rights and protection of all flesh, according to just and holy principles; that every man may act in doctrine and principle pertaining to futurity, according to the moral agency which I have given unto him, that every man may be accountable for his own sins in the day of judgment.  Therefore, it is not right that any man should be in bondage one to another.  And for this purpose have I established the Constitution of this land, by the hands of wise men whom I raised up unto this very purpose, and redeemed the land by the shedding of blood.”

            Many far-thinking people in Europe supported American independence because they wanted to help start a nation where people have true freedom.  Unfortunately, elitists (those who are similar to the king-men of the Book of Mormon) now have much influence in the United States and around the world.  This nation was necessary so that the gospel of Jesus Christ could be restored in preparation for the second coming of Christ on earth (His millennial reign).

            There are several ways to be in bondage.  One is actual slavery, such as the blacks in America or black Christians sold into slavery today in Sudan, Africa.  Another form of bondage is economic servitude.  This was common in Czarist Russia or feudal Europe.  Another form was indentured servants in the British colonies of early America; they sold themselves into service for many years.  Today, many people are in bondage to banks and credit companies by borrowing money at high interest rates.  Governments often keep people in bondage through high taxes.  All of these forms are wrong.

            Ancient Israel and Islam forbade loaning money for interest.  The Perpetual Immigration Fund, started by Brigham Young to help members of the Church in Europe, is a good example of how to help people.  Poor people received money or goods to move into Utah and start a farm or business.  They later paid back what had been loaned, but did not pay any interest fee.  The money was returned to the Fund to help other members move to America.

 

27. And I, God, created man in mine own image, in the image of mine Only Begotten created I him; male and female created I them.

 

COMMENT:

            Again the Father emphasizes that He made man to look the same as Himself and Jesus Christ.  It is obvious that woman is not in the exact image as man.  Women are in the image of our Mother in heaven.  Note that the reference to Christ is in the future, when He will become our Father’s son born to Mary in Bethlehem.  “Only Begotten” because He will be the only spirit son of our Father in heaven who will be born naturally on this earth.  Emphasis should be placed on the proper and eternal relationship between God, Mary, and Jesus.  It follows the legitimate and eternal nature as explained in D&C 131:1-4.

 

28. And I, God, blessed them, and said unto them: Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

 

 

COMMENT:

            Adam and Eve could not follow these instructions when they first received them from God.  Why?  Because emotionally and in experience they were like children.  They did not understand the importance of sex, so they could not be “fruitful” or “multiply.”  Neither would they have dominion over the earth until they left the comfortable garden and learned to work hard.  God and Christ knew this.  The fall of Adam and Eve was necessary so that all people could be born.  Eve later learned this and praised God for giving them life and enlightenment.

 

29. And I, God, said unto man: Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree in the which shall be the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.

 

COMMENT:

            This shows that God and Jesus Christ taught Adam and Eve about the proper use of all plants; they learned what could be eaten.  I believe that Adam and Eve also learned what plants could heal the different diseases which they would see in the future.  I also believe that they learned how to grow plants, which would be necessary for them to know after leaving the garden.  All of this was taught in the garden because God does not want to punish people.  He wants us to grow by doing things for ourselves.

 

30. And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to everything that creepeth upon the earth, wherein I grant life, there shall be given every clean herb for meat; and it was so, even as I spake.

 

COMMENT:

            “Herb for meat” refers to plants which man can eat.  Of course, we cannot eat all plant or animal life.  Some are not suited for our digestive system.  Some contain poison which will kill us or make us very ill.

            I think the phrase “wherein I grant life” is very useful to us today.  We have scientists who are cloning animals.  They want to clone people, also.  This is something which scientists under Adolph Hitler tried to do.  Such people do not believe in God.  They play at creation.  Contrast their foolish attitude with this statement from D&C 8:10 (“Remember that without faith you can do nothing; therefore ask in faith.  Trifle not with these things; do not ask for that which you ought not”).

            In the King Follett discourse, Joseph Smith said this, “And I want you to know that God, in the last days, while certain individuals are proclaiming his name, is not trifling with you or me.”  God considers each life important.  Some ignorant people are so excited to make life in their own way that they cannot see that it is sacred work--work best left for those prepared to use priesthood properly at the celestial level.  Of course, Satan and his followers encourage mankind to play at life.

 

31. And I, God, saw everything that I had made, and, behold, all things which I had made were very good; and the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

 

COMMENT:

            All things have been created properly, including man and woman.  Now it is time to rest and enjoy the past work.  It also is time to begin the next phase of earth’s purpose.  This is the expulsion of Adam and Eve from Eden so that they can have children.  It includes the excitement of mortal life (learning, experiencing opposites, developing talents, sharing with other people, having families, making things, teaching other people).  It also is according to the plan of life and eternal progression, which we supported in the spirit world before we were born on this planet.  So, the atonement of Jesus Christ will be explained to Adam and Eve.  They, in turn, will teach their children.

 

(This is the end of chapter two.)