How Did God Create The World and For What Purpose?

In this episode of Gospel First, join Joe Cirillo as he delves into the profound question: Where did we come from before we were born? Explore the concept of the premortal existence, where we were raised by loving Heavenly Parents, developed talents, and eagerly accepted missions for our mortal lives. Discover the eternal significance of being children of God and how our premortal choices shape our earthly journey.

Transcription:

The universe is a vast, mysterious, and wondrous expanse of space and time, filled with trillions upon trillions of stars, planets, asteroids, and other celestial objects. Yet, amidst all this cosmic chaos, there lies a seemingly miraculous order and harmony that scientists and philosophers alike have marveled at for centuries. The origins of this awe-inspiring cosmos are shrouded in myth, legend, and scientific speculation. Despite the many theories and hypotheses put forth over the ages, the true nature of the universe's creation remains a mystery. Or is it?

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth as recorded in Genesis 1:1.

When Moses recorded these words, he taught us that this universe did not come about by random chance or accident. It teaches us that God controlled the events that took place, and that this world has a definite purpose.

Now some people ask, “If God created the world, then what about the Big Bank Theory?” If God wanted to use the big bang, so what? How God created this world is not as important as the reason Why He created it.

Again, looking at the Genesis 1.1 most of the Christian world assumes that “God” mentioned in this verse refers to Heavenly Father. However, when examining Hebrews 1:1-2, and Colossians 1:16 it becomes clear that it is through the Son, Jesus Christ, that the Father created the earth and everything on it by the word of his power.

This understanding is further reinforced by other pages in the Bible, such as John 1:3, which states that “All things were made through him [Jesus], and without him was not anything made that was made.”

And what is his power? (It is His priesthood.) And what is His purpose of the creation of this earth? The Lord tells us: In the Book of Moses 1:32-33,39 which is found in the Pearl of Great Price;

For mine own purpose have I made these things…

And by the word of my power, have I created them…

For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and the eternal life of man.

Isn’t that marvelous? To give an analogy, God the Father could be seen as the chief architect and Jesus Christ as the master builder in the creation of this world.

We also know from the scriptures the order in which things were created on this earth. Jesus Christ divided light from darkness to make day and night. He formed the sun, moon, and stars. He divided the waters from the dry land to make seas, rivers, and lakes. He made the earth beautiful and productive. He made grass, trees, flowers, and other plants of all kinds.

Then, He created the animals—fish, cattle, insects, and birds of all kinds. These animals had the ability to reproduce their own kind.

In some scriptures, these are called the six “days” of creation, but the account of the creation in the book of Abraham, which is found in the Pearl of Great Price, suggests that the order of the creation is more important than the amount of time it took to create the world.

In the 4th chapter of the book of Abraham, the creative “days” are called creative “times”, or creative periods. We don't know how long these creative times or creative periods took. It could very well be a million or even a billion years to create the earth. But, what we do know from the scriptures is that God did not just create everything out of nothing—the earth is created from existing elements or materials.

Abraham chapter 4 verses 1 reads; "Then the Lord said, let us go down and they went down at the beginning and they, that is the God's, organized and formed the heavens and the earth."

The scriptures also teach that the elements are eternal. We read in Doctrine and Covenants 93:33; "For man is spirit, the elements are eternal, and spirit and element inseparably connected receive a fullness of joy." and by taking unorganized elements that already existed, God organized this world.

According to the Prophet Joseph Smith, technically the word "created" in the scriptures should be "formed or organized".

Now, how many worlds were created? Moses chapter 1:38 says; "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."

It is interesting to know that when God created the earth, He created everything twice—first spiritually and then physically. In Moses chapter 3:5 we read; "For every plant of the field before it was in the earth and every herb of the field before it grew, for I the Lord God created all things of which I have spoken spiritually before they were naturally upon the face of the earth. For I the Lord God had not caused it to rain upon the face of the earth, and I the Lord God, had created all the children of men and not yet a man to till the ground. For in heaven created I them and there was not yet flesh upon the earth, neither in the water and neither in the air.”

In other words, before the animals or plants were put on the earth, they were spiritually created. Before humans were made physically, we were created spiritually. Now, that the earth was created, it is ready for the greatest creation of all. Mankind.

Mankind is God's crowning creation. Our spirits would be given bodies of flesh and blood so they could live on earth. And so, the first man, Adam, and the first woman Eve were formed and given bodies that resembled those of our heavenly parents.

In Genesis chapter 1:27 we read; "So God created man in His image, in the image of God created He him male and female created he them."

As you study Genesis 1 about the creation, you will notice that after each stage of the creation, God said that it was good. But only when mankind, his ultimate creation was placed on the earth, only then did God say in Genesis 1:31 “that it was very good and He rested for a time."

The truth that we are created in the image of God teaches us that our physical bodies are something to be treated with respect, taken care of, and not to be defiled in any way.

Paul taught in 1st Corinthians chapter 6:19, reads; "What? know you not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?"

God has given us our bodies as sacred gifts and we should treat them as such. The divinity of our physical creation informs many of the commandments related to the body, including the word of wisdom which is a health code. Dressing modestly, being sexually pure, and not doing anything to our bodies that will take away from its original beauty.

By obeying these commandments related to our body, you can show that you know how precious your body is.

As we have read in Genesis chapter 1:27, God created man in His image male and female. The creation of the world teaches us a fundamental truth. 1st Corinthians 11:11 teaches us; "Nevertheless, neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man in the Lord."

In our world that sometimes confuses the roles of men and women, that sometimes presents and promotes alternative relationships as acceptable, or that sometimes tries to say that being single is somehow more fun and enjoyable than being married and having a family.

We should remember the eternal truth clarified and declared from the creation, that it is not good for man to be alone.

The fundamental purpose of creation is centered on creating eternal marriages and families. Doctrine and Covenants section 49:16 says; "Wherefore, it is lawful that he should have one wife and they twain shall be one flesh, and all this that the earth might answer the ends of its creation." And so, God created the earth for mankind. He gave us stewardship over it, and it is our responsibility to take care of it.

Doctrine and Covenants section 89:11 teaches; "We are to use its resources with prudence and thanksgiving."

When we really understand the gift of creation, we will be inspired to do simple things to protect the earth and be more responsible with God’s creation.

There are many things that God did in the creation that we can adapt and adopt in our personal lives. The creation account teaches us how God uses one day to prepare for an upcoming day. Notice the pattern?

Patterns from the Creation in Our Lives

Day 1: Separates light from darkness

Day 2: Separates waters (firmament)

Day 3: Dry land appears—grass, trees, fruit, etc

Day 4: Creates the sun, moon, and stars to give light

Day 5: Creates water animals and fowl

Day 6: Creates land animals and mankind

Notice that day 4 couldn’t have happened without day 1, and day 5 without day 2, and day 6 without day 3?

Similarly, the groundwork we lay in our lives now makes it possible for us to accomplish our goals later in life. As we lay the foundation of attending school, studying, and getting good grades, we will be able to create our dreams of getting into our chosen career.

Here are some other simple, powerful truths that we can apply from the creation: “God said, Let there be light in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night (Genesis 1:14)

Just as God divided the light from the darkness, we can divide truth and error in our lives. We can draw lines between what is right and what is wrong, and we can make up our minds to choose the right through the light that God has given us in the scriptures, through the words of the prophets, and by the Holy Ghost.

God created grass, trees, rivers, mountains, and animals. He gave us a wide variety of things to appreciate. We can enhance our lives by making sure that we are involved in a variety of different activities. Being willing to learn new skills, meet new people, go to new places, and add righteous variety to our lives. That really helps us be more well-rounded people.

Just as God created all things spiritually before creating them physically, we can set goals and make plans for the things we hope to accomplish and create in the future.

As part of the creation process, God “organized” matter. And we too can become better organized as well. Let us organize our folders, our planners, our schedules, our homes. God is a God of order, and so we should have order in our lives as well.

On the seventh day, God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day and sanctified it. (Genesis 2:2-3)

Similarly, as we rest from our work in order to worship God on the Sabbath, we will find peace, rejuvenation, and spiritual strength for the upcoming week. If our Creator took a day to rest and made it holy, His creations should be the same.

Think about this: God is the master creator, and we are supposed to become like Him. So if He is a creator, we should create things too.

Several prophets have taught this principle by word and example. We read about Nephi in 2 Nephi 5:15 where he taught: “And I did teach my people to build buildings, and to work in all manner of wood, and of iron, and of copper, and of brass, and of steel, and of gold, and of silver, and of precious ores, which were in great abundance.”

In other words, he not only told his people to make things—to build things—he showed them how to create. Then in 2 Nephi 5:27 said, they lived “after the manner of happiness.”

There is an inherent joy in making something out of nothing in our lives. Each one of us has the ability to create, whether it’s a piece of music, a painting, a piece of furniture, or plant a garden. or even have the ability to create laughter. We are creating. That is the main focus. But on the most divine level, we can create eternal marriages and families.

We can all make something with our gifts and opportunities we have, and doing so will contribute to our happiness. When you put a lot of energy and effort into something, how do you feel about it? You probably really care about it, don’t you?

We are God’s greatest creations, and therefore He cares the greatest about us. He cares so much for us that not only did God create what we need, He created other things simply to make the world a beautiful place for us to live in. Doctrine and Covenants 59:18 teaches us, Yea, all things which come of the earth, in the season thereof, are made for the benefit and the use of man, both to please the eye and to gladden the heart.

When we look out at a beautiful vista in nature or see a beautiful animal or other creations, just remember that God made things not only to function but to be beautiful as well, because He loves us as His greatest creation.

Let’s be thankful for all the abundance that we enjoy and the beauty around us, the food we eat, the homes that we’re in, for the luxuries of life. We are so grateful for everything that we have. For God truly loves us and He shows it every single day.

This concludes lesson 3 in this section of ACT 1. Next up is lesson 4 which is titled “The War in Heaven.”

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