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Day 13

  • Principle:  The purpose of earth, as created by Jehovah, is where you could live and progress toward eternal life.  
  • Read 1 Nephi 11:12 - 1 Nephi 11:30
    • A central theme in the Tree of Life is progression.  How does the rod of iron help those in the vision progress? Towards what are they progressing?  (Look in verse 25 for help.)  How do you use the same tools to progress in this life?
  • Consider the question, why was the earth created?
    • Read the following scriptures to help clarify your understanding of the purpose of the earth.
      • Moses 1:27-33, 39; 1 Nephi 17:36; and Doctrine and Covenants 49:16-17
      • Imagine you are teaching a ten year old and they asked you why the earth was created.  How would you respond?  How would your answer change if you were teaching a fifty year old?
        • Note: Regarding D&C 49:16-17 President Joseph Fielding Smith taught: “The people who inhabit this earth were all living in the spirit life before they came to this earth. The Lord informs us that this earth was designed, before its foundations were formed, for the abode of the spirits who kept their first estate, and all such must come here and receive their tabernacles of flesh and bones, and this is according to the number, or measure, of man according to his creation before the world was made. (Compare [Deuteronomy] 32:8–9.) It is the duty of mankind, in lawful and holy wedlock, to multiply according to the commandments given to Adam and Eve and later to Noah, until every spirit appointed to receive a body in this world has had that privilege. Those who teach celibacy and look upon marriage as sinful are in opposition to the word and commandment of the Lord. Such a doctrine is from an evil source and is intended to defeat the plan of redemption and the bringing into the world the spirits who kept their first estate. Satan, in every way that he can and with all his power, endeavors to defeat the work of the Lord. It is his purpose to destroy the souls of men and if he can prevent them from having bodies by teaching men and women that marriage is unrighteous and sinful, or that they should not after they are married bring children into the world, he thinks he will accomplish his purpose. All who hearken to these evil whisperings and practice this evil will stand condemned before the throne of God.” (Church History and Modern Revelation, 1:209–10.)

  • Bruce R. McConkie taught about the combination of the creation, the fall, and the atonement.  “Just as surely as salvation comes because of the Atonement, so also salvation comes because of the Fall. … And be it also remembered that the Fall was made possible because an infinite Creator … made the earth and man and all forms of life in such a state that they could fall. … All things were so created that they could fall or change, and thus was introduced the type and kind of existence needed to put into operation all of the terms and conditions of the Father’s eternal plan of salvation.  This first temporal creation of all things … was paradisiacal in nature. In the primeval and Edenic day all forms of life lived in a higher and different state than now prevails. The coming fall would take them downward and forward and onward. Death and procreation had yet to enter the world” (Bruce R. McConkie, “Christ and the Creation,” Ensign, June 1982, 9).

    • How does the fall help fulfil the purpose of the earth's creation?  Study 2 Nephi 2:18-25 for additional insight.
  • Additional Study