8/9/2019 LDS Old Testament Slideshow 03: The creation
1/29
Old Testament
Hurricane Utah
Adult Religion Class
Week 3: The Creation
8/9/2019 LDS Old Testament Slideshow 03: The creation
2/29
2
Primary sources on the Creation Genesis 12.
Moses 23 / JST Genesis 12 (1830).
Abraham 4
5 (1835). The temple endowment (1842).
8/9/2019 LDS Old Testament Slideshow 03: The creation
3/29
LDS views on science & creation
3
scholarly traditional
Earth created
in 6 days of
24 hours each
Earth created
in 6 days of
1,000 years each
Earth created
in 6 days of
billions of years each
6 days of
creation are
metaphorical
8/9/2019 LDS Old Testament Slideshow 03: The creation
4/29
LDS views on science & creation
4
scholarly traditional
Adam literally
created from the
dust of the earth
Adam physically born
and brought to earth
(dust metaphorical)
God nurtures
and directs
human evolution
God waits for
undirected evolution
to take its course
Creation science/Intelligent Design
(old earth,
punctuated creations)
8/9/2019 LDS Old Testament Slideshow 03: The creation
5/29
The limits of what we knowIn just what manner did the mortal bodies of Adamand Eve come into existence on this earth?
[Genesis, Moses, and Abraham] are the authenticstatements of the scriptures, ancient and modern,and it is best to rest with these, until the Lord shall
see fit to give more light on the subject. Whether themortal bodies of man evolved in natural processes topresent perfection, through the direction and powerof God; whether the first parents of our generations,Adam and Eve, were transplanted from another sphere, with
immortal tabernacles, which became corrupted through sin andthe partaking of natural foods, in the process of time; whetherthey were born here in mortality, as other mortals have been,are questions not fully answered in the revealed word of God.
Improvement Era, April 1910
5
8/9/2019 LDS Old Testament Slideshow 03: The creation
6/29
The limits of what we knowUpon the fundamentaldoctrines of the Church weare all agreed. Our missionis to bear the message ofthe restored gospel to the
world. Leave geology,biology, archaeology, andanthropology, no one of which has to do with thesalvation of the souls of mankind, to scientific research,while we magnify our calling in the realm of the Church.Upon one thing we should all be able to agree, namely,that [the First Presidency, writing in 1909] were rightwhen they said: Adam is the primal parent of our race.
First Presidency memorandum, April 1931
6
8/9/2019 LDS Old Testament Slideshow 03: The creation
7/29
The limits of what we knowLet us not try to wrest the scriptures inan attempt to explain away what we cannot explain. The opening chapters ofGenesis, and scriptures related thereto,were never intended as a text-book ofgeology, archaeology, earth-science or man-science. We do not show reverence for thescriptures when we misapply them through faultyinterpretation.
Elder James E. Talmage, August 1931
7
8/9/2019 LDS Old Testament Slideshow 03: The creation
8/29
8
Geocentric universe
8/9/2019 LDS Old Testament Slideshow 03: The creation
9/29
9
8/9/2019 LDS Old Testament Slideshow 03: The creation
10/29
10
8/9/2019 LDS Old Testament Slideshow 03: The creation
11/29
11
Heliocentric universe
8/9/2019 LDS Old Testament Slideshow 03: The creation
12/29
12
Geocentrism in LDS scripture The sun, moon, and stars are above the
earthone planet above another, until
thou come nigh unto Kolobwhich Kolob
is set nigh unto the throne ofGod(Abraham 3:5, 9).
Moses was shown the earth, yea, even
all of it, but he also beheld manylands; and each land was called earth
(Moses 1:27, 29).
8/9/2019 LDS Old Testament Slideshow 03: The creation
13/29
13
Genesis is not science God explains things to us on a level we
can understand.
The scriptures are about salvation, not
science.
How the earth was made has not been
revealed yet (D&C 101:3233).
8/9/2019 LDS Old Testament Slideshow 03: The creation
14/29
14
Two creation accountsGenesis 1:12:3 Genesis 2:42:25
Creation accomplished over 6
creative periods called days.
No division of creation into
units of time.
Order of creation:
1. Light2. Sea and sky
3. Land and plants
4. Heavenly bodies
5. Fish and birds6. Land animals and man
Order of creation:
1. Heavens and earth2. Water (mist)
3. Man
4. Garden of Eden
5. Land animals and birds6. Woman
God referred to only as God. God referred to by his personal
name,Jehovah(the LORD).
8/9/2019 LDS Old Testament Slideshow 03: The creation
15/29
15
Two creation accounts For I, the Lord God, created all things, of
which I have spoken, spiritually, before they
were naturallyupon the face of the earth
(Moses 3:5). These are the generations (Genesis 2:4).
[The resurrection] is sown a natural body;
it is raised a spiritual body(1 Corinthians 15:44).
Secondary textual source?
The Documentary Hypothesis.
8/9/2019 LDS Old Testament Slideshow 03: The creation
16/29
16
Create Hebrew bara . () Not out of nothingsee Genesis 1:27.
Organized and formed (Abraham 4:1). Renewing:
Create (bara) in me a clean heart, O
God; and renew a right spirit within me(Psalm 51:10).
8/9/2019 LDS Old Testament Slideshow 03: The creation
17/29
17
8/9/2019 LDS Old Testament Slideshow 03: The creation
18/29
18
8/9/2019 LDS Old Testament Slideshow 03: The creation
19/29
19
8/9/2019 LDS Old Testament Slideshow 03: The creation
20/29
20
8/9/2019 LDS Old Testament Slideshow 03: The creation
21/29
21
8/9/2019 LDS Old Testament Slideshow 03: The creation
22/29
Creation of animals God blessed (enriched, endowed) the
animals and man (Genesis 1:22, 28).
Three kinds of land animals
(Genesis 1:25):
Beast of the earth = undomesticated.
Cattle = domesticated.
Every thing that creepeth upon the earth =
reptiles, rodents.
22
8/9/2019 LDS Old Testament Slideshow 03: The creation
23/29
Creation of man; God rests Let us makeplural (Genesis 1:26).
Replenish =fill (Genesis 1:28).
Rested = shabbat = () sabbath =ceasedor stopped(Genesis 2:2).
23
8/9/2019 LDS Old Testament Slideshow 03: The creation
24/29
24
The divine name Genesis 2:4.
= YHWH= Yahwey (?) = Jehovah. Tetragrammaton (Greek ,having four letters).
Replaced in speaking with adonai ()= lord.
KJV The LORD.
Isaiah, Jeremiah,Jehoshaphat.
8/9/2019 LDS Old Testament Slideshow 03: The creation
25/29
25
Also known as = elohim= gods (plural).
The God of Israel (with a singular verb).
Gods of other nations. Root word el.
el elyon(Most High God).
el shaddai (God Almighty). Gabriel, Michael, Daniel, Israel.
8/9/2019 LDS Old Testament Slideshow 03: The creation
26/29
26
LDS usage Elohim and Jehovah as name-titles.
Rule of thumb only.
Psalm 110:1 (compare Hebrews 1:13):
The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou
at my right hand, until I make thineenemies thy footstool.
Jehovah adonai
8/9/2019 LDS Old Testament Slideshow 03: The creation
27/29
27
Adam and Eve soul = / nehfesh (Genesis 2:7).
D&C 88:15; Moses 3:9, 19.
commanded = / tsavah(Genesis 2:16). help meet, nothelpmeet
(Genesis 2:18).
Adam = / adam (Genesis 2:20). Creation of woman not literal
(Genesis 2:2122).
8/9/2019 LDS Old Testament Slideshow 03: The creation
28/29
28
What do we learn? Scripture does not conflict with science;
it conflicts with no creator.
Creation planned & purposed.
Men and women created in image of God.
It is not good for man to be alone.
Reproduction a commandment. Men and women have dominion and are
stewards.
8/9/2019 LDS Old Testament Slideshow 03: The creation
29/29
Next week:The Fall, the telestial world,
Cain and Abel
Genesis 34
(Moses 4:16:9)