Messenger
Jesus - Savior of Other Worlds?
Posted on 12/17/2008 at 3:19:24 PM
It has become a common belief amongst many Latter-day Saints that the atonement of Jesus extends to other earths like ours. This teaching is common in wards throughout the world, and is mentioned in books about the Savior by several by modern Mormon authors. But is this a revealed doctrine or just a popular theory, and what have the scriptures and prophets had to say on this subject?
The earliest proponent of this idea seems to have been Joseph Fielding Smith, who taught - prior to being Church President - that “Jesus Christ was sent here instead of some other world, for in some other world they would not have crucified Him, and His presence was needed here because of the extreme wickedness of the inhabitants of this earth.” (1)»
Was this just his opinion or was he revealing a hitherto hidden truth? It must be remembered that at the time he was neither Church President, nor speaking in General Conference, nor did he claim any inspiration for his views. A closer review of his words might help us to understand why he said what he did.
The idea that this world was the only one wicked enough to crucify Jesus seems to have been taken from two different verses of scripture. One from the Joseph Smith translation of the Bible, and the other from the Book of Mormon:
In the first of these passages the Lord tells Enoch that “among all the workmanship of mine hands there has not been so great wickedness as among thy brethren.” (2)» It does not mention the Savior, and it is unclear whether God is speaking of the workmanship of his hands related to this earth, or whether he is including other earths he had populated in the past.
The second verse, written several thousand years later, does relate to Jesus, and prophecies that he “should come among the Jews, among those who are the more wicked part of the world;” speaking specifically about one tribe and one period of time on our earth, at which point “there [was] none other nation on earth that would crucify their God.” (3)»
If we combine these passages together we could perhaps end up with the impression that this was the only earth wicked enough to crucify a Savior, yet neither passage teaches this. We may suppose then that Brother Smith, who was speaking to a small audience and not the whole Church, perhaps misremembered these verses, and was merely expressing a personal opinion based on that.
This might have been the end of this concept if it were not for Brother Smith’s son-in-law, Bruce R. McConkie. Perhaps presuming that his father-in-law was teaching a divine doctrine, Elder McConkie expanded upon this idea in his book Mormon Doctrine. However, he used a new argument in favor of this teaching and expanded its extent to the whole universe.
To Bruce R. McConkie it seemed that any atonement that didn’t cover every earth was less than infinite, and he believed that when the ancient prophets spoke of an “infinite atonement” (4)» that this must have been what they meant:
“When the prophets speak of an infinite atonement, they mean just that. Its effects cover all men, the earth itself and all forms of life thereon, and reach out into the endless expanses of eternity. … the atonement of Christ, being literally and truly infinite, applies to an infinite number of earths.” (5)»
However the Lord tells us Himself that when the word “eternal” is applied to Him it is only figurative when it refers to a period of time:
“Endless is my name, wherefore eternal punishment is God’s punishment, endless punishment is God’s punishment.” (6)»
Hence endless punishment does not last for an endless period of time, but it does come from an being who is - in some sense - endless.
Likewise “there is a God in heaven who is infinite and eternal” (7)» , He is a being who has (as far as we are concerned) infinite power, who traverses and comprehends infinity, therefore anything he does is infinite in its origins and effects, but this does not mean it encompasses everything that ever was or ever will be
Christ’s atonement was infinite in the sense that God is infinite - he will always be our God, Christ will always be our Savior, and their works and sacrifices will have continue throughout eternity and endless space. It was not that act of a finite mortal, but an infinite God.
“it must be an infinite and eternal sacrifice … that great and last sacrifice will be the Son of God, yea, infinite and eternal.” (8)»
If we were to believe that Jesus atoned for everyone who ever lived on every earth then this would mean that he atoned for His own heavenly Father, and for endless planets, whose history he has not been part of. Besides this logical problem, there are several doctrinal problems with the idea that Jesus was the Savior of other worlds, which we will examine:
1) It is not substantiated directly by revelation – there has been no word of the Lord saying it is so.
2) It is an idea which contradicts other established doctrines.
3) It contradicts teachings made by several prophets and presidents of the Church.
Let us look a these points in detail -
1) If Jesus was the Savior of other worlds why do the scriptures not say so?
One passage of scripture has been cited by proponents of this theory as being evidence for it:
“For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father – That by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God.” (9)»
Some assume from this that all worlds were created by Christ, and all of their inhabitants were made sons and daughters of God through Him. Why could not it be referring to the worlds within our solar system, and the only world we know that is inhabited amongst those worlds - our earth?
It could also be theorized that the other planets in our solar system may yet hold human life in the form of the eventual telestial and terrestrial kingdoms. For if the Lord, as he tells Isaiah, “created … not in vain” the earth, but “formed it to be inhabited” (10)» could this not also be said about the other planets that orbit the same Sun?
2) The idea that Jesus performed an atonement for other earths contradicts other established scriptural doctrines
i. The scriptures repeatedly state the Christ is the Savior of this world -
“And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.” (1 John 4:14) (11)»
ii. That he would take away the sins of this world -
“I do know that Christ shall come among the children of men, to take upon him the transgressions of his people, and that he shall atone for the sins of the world; for the Lord God hath spoken it.” (Alma 34:8) (12)»
iii. That he is the redeemer of this world -
“I am Alpha and Omega, Christ the Lord; yea, even I am he, the beginning and the end, the Redeemer of the world.” (D&C 19:1) (13)»
iv. That he atoned for Adam’s children -
“he suffereth the pains of all men, yea, the pains of every living creature, both men, women, and children, who belong to the family of Adam.” (2 Nephi 9:21) (14)»
The last of these points is perhaps the strongest, as if he atoned for Adam’s fall and its effects and for Adam’s children, then why would he be responsible for other children of other Gods on other planets, whose son or brother he is not?
3) The view that Jesus saved those on other earths contradicts the teachings of the prophets -
Those trying to substantiate this pseudo-doctrine point to an 1843 poem titled “the Vision” that has since been attributed to Joseph Smith.
“He’s the Savior and only begotten of God;
By him, of him, and through him, the worlds were all made,
Even all that career in the heavens so broad.
Whose inhabitants, too, from the first to the last.
Are sav’d by the very same Saviour of ours;
And, of course, are begotten God’s daughters and sons
By the very same truths and the very same powers.” (15)»
There are several problems, however, with the idea that Joseph Smith authored all 312 lines of this poem. Mormon scholar Michael Hicks argues that it is the work of William W. Phelps, writing as if he were Joseph Smith poetically paraphrasing his 1836 Kirtland vision. (16)»
Let us for arguments sake assume that Joseph did write or agree with the poem. It doesn’t say that all worlds ever made were made by Christ, but only the worlds that ‘career’ (or orbit) in our heavens were – presumably the solar system. (17)»
Notably it says that the inhabitants of such worlds were begotten children by the very same truths and powers – not necessarily the same being, but by a being – whoever that might be – with the same truths and powers. Whoever their Savior is, he must be the same as ours in qualities, abilities and purpose.
Conclusion
It was revealed by Joseph Smith that we were witnesses in our pre-mortal lives to our Savior’s appointment and personally approved of it.
“At the first organization in heaven we were all present, and saw the Savior chosen and appointed and the plan of salvation made, and we sanctioned it.” (18)»
Do we suppose that other spirit children from other worlds would not have the same opportunity?
Perhaps no prophet has spoke so simply on this subject as Brigham Young has, who taught that “every earth has its Redeemer” (19)» and “there never was any world created and people nor never would be but what would be redeemed by the shedding of the blood of the Saviour of that world.” (20)»
In his remarks he left no room for his words to be reconciled with those who believe that Jesus is the Savior of other earths. Every earth has its own redeemer and savior, no exceptions, and no ambiguity.
No matter how much we might admire Bruce R. McConkie’s scholarship in other areas, no matter how popular this idea has become, if it contradicts the scriptures and the prophets there is no doubt that it is wrong and can be discarded. However, knowing the truth we are obligated to not allow such misunderstandings to go uncorrected.
Footnotes
1. Joseph Fielding Smith Jr., The Signs of the Times, Lesson 1, 14 October 1942.
2. Moses 7:36.
3. 2 Nephi 10:3.
4. 2 Nephi 9:7, 25:16 & Alma 34:12.
5. Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, Atonement of Christ.
6. Doctrine and Covenants 19:10-12.
7. Doctrine and Covenants 20:17
8. Alma 34:10,14.
9. Doctrine and Covenants 76:23-24.
10. Isaiah 45:18.
11. See John 4:42, 1 Nephi 10:4, 13:40, D&C 42:1, 43:34, 66:1.
12. See Alma 5:48, 36:17, 39:15, D&C 35:2, 42:1.
13. See Helaman 13:6.
14. See 1 Corinthians 15:22, Mosiah 3:16, Mormon 3:20, 9:12.
15. Times and Seasons 4/6 (1 February 1843): 83, stanzas 19-20.
16. “Joseph Smith, W. W. Phelps, and the Poetic Paraphrase of The Vision”, Journal of Mormon History 20/2 (1994): 63–84.
17. Perhaps referring to this George Q. Cannon taught that “under certain unknown conditions the benefits of the Saviour’s atonement extend to our entire solar system.” (Abraham H. Cannon, 23 June 1889) Benjamin F. Johnson said that “[Joseph Smith] gave us to understand that there were twelve kingdoms, or planets, revolving around our solar system, to which the Lord gave equal division of His time or ministry;” (Autobiography of Benjamin F. Johnson) and John Taylor in 1845 wrote of “successive visits of the Lord to twelve different kingdoms.” (Editorial, Times & Seasons, 1845)
18. Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 181.
19. Sermon of Brigham Young, 12 May 1867.
20. Sermon of Brigham Young, 10 July 1870.