Can you explain “other worlds have come and passed away?”
Question
Gramps,
The scriptures say many worlds have come and passed away. This implies that people on these other worlds have been resurrected and the earths have received their paradisical glory. If Christ is the creator and savior for these other worlds how can this be if Christ is the first fruits of the resurrection and this happened on this earth about 2000 years ago?
Clark
Answer
Clark,
The only scripture I am aware of that says other worlds have passed away, is Moses 1:35:
But only an account of this earth, and the inhabitants thereof, give I unto you. For behold, there are many worlds that have passed away by the word of my power. And there are many that now stand, and innumerable are they unto man; but all things are numbered unto me, for they are mine and I know them.
I can think of two ways to approach this scripture and reconcile it with the idea of Jesus being the absolute first fruits of the resurrection, not only of all God’s children on earth, but of all God’s children everywhere (which is, itself, a bit of an assumption). First, if we assume that “worlds” does indeed mean other “planets”, it may be worth pointing out that the passage contains no definitive statement that the specific worlds that have “passed away” were ever populated.
Alternately, one could suggest that the “worlds” that have passed away include, for example, previous phases of the earth’s existence–ancient geological eras in which other forms of life prevailed, which were brought to an abrupt close by some sort of natural catastrophe that paved the way for the dominion of humankind over the earth.
Gramps
Well to think about heavenly father has a father and great grandfather and so on and so on is not enough for our mind to comprehend and add the assumption that each of them has a plan to there children……is unthinkable. ..thats why in the scriptures it says. Only the account of this world which is the earth we are given information..but i know that once the veil is taken off from us no question will be left unanswered.
As a convert to the church, I think this is a wonderful question. I first look at the following for an answer: “But only an account of this earth, and the inhabitants thereof, give I unto you.” This implies to me that there are other earths and implies that there are, were, or will be inhabitants of those “earths.” Again, I am a convert and have been told and taught that we can become Gods in heaven. Does that mean we work with God, or does that mean we will be a God of one of those “earths?” If we become a God, then who is to be the savior of the “earth” we will rule? If so, will we have our own “first born” to be the savior? Then: “And there are many that now stand, and innumerable are they unto man…” Tells me that there is life out there on other planets because many “now stand” rather than being certain eras of this earth. Personally, I do believe that there are innumerable planets in that vast, unknown amount of space that have a very high probability of supporting human life and probably already have humans in untold numbers. In this life we will never see or communicate with them.