Gospel Principles
Unit 2: Leaving the Presence of God
Chapter 5: The Creation
Concept 3: Carrying Out the Creation
"The earth and everything on it were created spiritually before they were created physically (Moses 3:5 "And 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, neither in the air; "). In planning to create the physical earth, Christ said to those who were with him, "We will go down, for there is space there, ... and we will make an earth whereon these [the spirit children of our Father in Heaven] may dwell " (Abraham 3:24).
Under the direction of the Father, Christ formed and organized the earth. He 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. These plants contained seeds from which new plants could grow. Then he created the animals--fish, cattle, insects, and birds of all kinds. These animals had the ability to reproduce their own kind.
Now the earth was ready for the greatest creation of all--mankind. Our spirits would be given bodies of flesh and blood so they could live on earth. "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." (Moses 2:26). And so the first man, Adam, and the first woman, Eve, were formed and given bodies that resembled those of our heavenly parents. "In the image of God created he him; male and female created he them." (Genesis 1:27). When the Lord finished his creations, he was pleased and knew that his work was good, and he rested for a time.
Discussion
Show a food recipe or a dress pattern. What is another word for recipe and pattern? (Plan.)
Read Abraham 3:24 ("And there stood one among them that was like unto God, and he said unto those who were with him: We will go down, for there is space there, and we will take of these materials, and we will make an earth whereon these may dwell;") to show that God plans for all of his creations."