Contents:

                Summary of Revealed Knowledge About the Creation

                The Prophet Joseph Smith  -  The Origin of the Materials Used in the Creation of the Earth

                Pres. Brigham Young  -  Duration of the Creation

                Elder Bruce R. McConkie  -  The 2.5 Billion Years

                Dictionary Definitions for the Term "Naked"
 

Summary of Revealed Knowledge About the Creation

• The creation of this earth was an organized effort supervised by God
  • An unknown number of pre-mortal spirits assisted the Lord in the creation process
• Technical details about the creation have not been revealed; and so far we have been able to know this much:
  • Earth was organized out of existing materials, at least some of which came from previously destroyed planets
  • The creation was accomplished in 7 work periods of unknown duration
    • We don’t know whether these 7 work periods were consecutive
• At the end of the creation process earth was a perfect sphere, with a natural environment beyond mortal comprehension, where death did not exist
• Man and woman were crowning jewels of the creation effort

The Prophet Joseph Smith
The Origin of the Materials Used in the Creation of the Earth
In A Compendium of the Doctrine of the Gospel, by Elder Franklin Dewey Richards & James A. Little

"This earth was organized or formed out of other planets which were broken up and remodeled and made into the one on which we live." (January 5, 1841)

Pres. Brigham Young
Duration of the Creation
Discourses of Brigham Young, p.100

"It is said in this book (the Bible) that God made the earth in six days.

"This is a mere term, but it matters not whether it took six days, six months, six years, or six thousand years. The creation occupied certain periods of time. We are not authorized to say what the duration of these days was, whether Moses penned these words as we have them, or whether the translators of the Bible have given the words their intended meaning. However, God created the world.

"God brought forth material out of which he formed this little terra firma upon which we roam. How long had this material been in existence? Forever and forever, in some shape, in some condition. We need not refer to all of those who were with God, and who assisted him in this work. The elements form and develop, and continue to do so until they mature, and then they commence to decay and become disorganized. The mountains around us were formed in this way. By and by, when they shall have reached their maturity, the work of disintegration and decay will commence. It has been so from all eternity, and will continue to be so until they are made celestial."

Elder Bruce R. McConkie
The 2.5 Billion Years
The Mortal Messiah, 1:32-33

"Brother W.W. Phelps says, 'And that eternity [the one during which Christ's doings have been known], agreeable to the records found in the catacombs of Egypt, has been going on in this system [not this world] almost two thousand five hundred and fifty-five millions of years.' (Times and Seasons 5:758.)

"That is to say, the papyrus from which the Prophet Joseph translated the Book of Abraham, to whom the Lord gave a knowledge of his infinite creations, also contained this expression relative to what apparently is the universe in which we live, which universe has been created by the Father through the instrumentality of the Son.  The time mentioned has no reference, as some have falsely supposed, to the period of this earth's existence."

Dictionary Definitions for the Term "Naked"

• Inadequately or partially clothed, being socially unacceptable
• Freed from or not provided with a protective enclosure
• Unprovided with needful or adequate clothing or other necessities of life
• Devoid of anything that strengthens, supports, or confirms; having nothing to validate, confirm, or support
• Lacking evident or proven authority or authoritativeness
• Lacking estimable qualities, as of worth, dignity, or adequacy

This web page was published only as a support for classroom discussion.
For more information, contact Dr. Marcus Martins at: MartinsM@byuh.edu