RS lesson 3/7/10

Sorry I'm a little slow in posting this. At 38 weeks pregnant, everything moves slow...from my brain to my fingers! =)

Our lesson this week was taught by Sis. Brown, Chapter 5 of our Gospel Principals Book "The Creation." We began by talking about the things we know about the creation. The list we made was; It took 7 creative periods, Jehovah and Michael created the earth under the direction of Elohim. The word "creation" is a derivative of the word meaning "to organize." And, matter has no beginning or end.
Then we talked about questions we have about the creation. This list was shorter, only including two questions.
1. We have 3 different versions of the creation (Genesis 1 and 2:1-7, Abraham 3:22-23 and 4-5, and Moses 1:27-42 and 2-3,) which is correct?
2. The "other worlds" that were created, were they created at the same time, or did the matter for this world come from them?
We were surprised that we couldn't articulate any more questions, because surely we don't all know everything there is to know about the creation. Sis. Brown explained this with a quote from Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve, who said in the May 2000 Ensign; "It is difficult for mortal minds to comprehend the majesty of the Creation" He further explains that the creation was absolutely planned and has been for all eternity, thus making it's entirety beyond what our human minds can comprehend. This explains our inability to even formulate questions regarding it.
We then discussed what was made during each of those creative periods. This can be found in the above mentioned scriptures. Sis. Brown read to us from that same Ensign article by Elder Russell M. Nelson the following story;
"While visiting the British Museum in London one day, I read a most unusual book. It is not scripture. It is an English translation of an ancient Egyptian manuscript. From it, I quote a dialogue between the Father and the Son. Referring to His Father, Jehovah—the premortal Lord—says:
“He took the clay from the hand of the angel, and made Adam according to Our image and likeness, and He left him lying for forty days and forty nights without putting breath into him. And He heaved sighs over him daily, saying, ‘If I put breath into this [man], he must suffer many pains.’ And I said unto My Father, ‘Put breath into him; I will be an advocate for him.’ And My Father said unto Me, ‘If I put breath into him, My beloved Son, Thou wilt be obliged to go down into the world, and to suffer many pains for him before Thou shalt have redeemed him, and made him to come back to his primal state.’ And I said unto My Father, ‘Put breath into him; I will be his advocate, and I will go down into the world, and will fulfil Thy command.’ ”

Although this text is not scripture, it reaffirms scriptures that teach of the deep and compassionate love of the Father for the Son, and of the Son for us—attesting that Jesus volunteered willingly to be our Savior and Redeemer.

The Lord God declared, “This is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.” He who, under direction of the Father, had created the earth, subsequently came into mortality to do the will of His Father and to fulfill all prophecies of the Atonement. His Atonement would redeem every soul from the penalties of personal transgression, on conditions that He set. "

Our understanding of the creation is limited. We know enough to appreciate the supernal significance. When Christ returns all questions will be answered and our knowledge of these events will once again be perfect. However, until that time, if we knew everything, there would be no reason for faith. What questions do you have? What questions does our knowledge of the gospel answer for us? How can you help others to come to that knowledge? Dede B.