Creation

God created other worlds

Mormons teach that God ‘created’ other worlds: ‘This earth was not the first of the Lord’s creations. An infinite number of worlds have come rolling into existence at his command. Each is an earth; many are inhabited with his spirit children; each abides the particular law given to it; and each will play its part in the redemption, salvation, and exaltation of that infinite host of the children of an Almighty God’ (Bruce McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 1993, page 169); ‘Mormons therefore accept the existence of other worlds created by God for a divine purpose that is the same as the purpose of earth life, ‘to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of God’s children (Moses 1:39). The inhabitants of these other planets are understood by Latter-day Saints to be children of God and created in his image, though they might differ from the earth’s inhabitants in unspecified ways …. There are now countless planets whose inhabitants – children of God – are progressing, as are human beings on this earth, according to eternal principles towards a Godlike life’ (Encyclopedia of Mormonism, New York-Toronto 1992, vol. 4, page 1595, 1596)

Seventh-Day Adventists also teach that God created other inhabited worlds. For Ellen G. White wrote: ‘The Lord has given me a view of other worlds. Wings were given me, and an angel attended me from the city to a place that was bright and glorious. The grass of the place was living green, and the birds there warbled a sweet song. The inhabitants of the place were of all sizes; they were noble, majestic, and lovely. They bore the express image of Jesus, and their countenances beamed with holy joy, expressive of the freedom and happiness of the place. I asked one of them why they were so much more lovely than those on the earth. The reply was, "We have lived in strict obedience to the commandments of God, and have not fallen by disobedience, like those on the earth." Then I saw two trees, one looked much like the tree of life in the city. The fruit of both looked beautiful, but of one they could not eat. They had power to eat of both, but were forbidden to eat of one. Then my attending angel said to me, "None in this place have tasted of the forbidden tree; but if they should eat, they would fall." Then I was taken to a world which had seven moons. There I saw good old Enoch, who had been translated. On his right arm he bore a glorious palm, and on each leaf was written "Victory." Around his head was a dazzling white wreath, and leaves on the wreath, and in the middle of each leaf was written "Purity," and around the wreath were stones of various colours, that shone brighter than the stars, and cast a reflection upon the letters and magnified them. On the back part of his head was a bow that confined the wreath, and upon the bow was written "Holiness." Above the wreath was a lovely crown that shone brighter than the sun. I asked him if this was the place he was taken to from the earth. He said, "It is not; the city is my home, and I have come to visit this place." He moved about the place as if perfectly at home. I begged of my attending angel to let me remain in that place. I could not bear the thought of coming back to this dark world again. Then the angel said, "You must go back, and if you are faithful, you, with the 144,000, shall have the privilege of visiting all the worlds and viewing the handiwork of God." (Ellen G. White, Early Writings, pages 39-40)

Confutation

According to the Holy Scriptures, the only inhabited planet is this one in which we live. There are no other inhabited worlds. God placed man in this world, and He sent His Son into this world to be the propitiation for our sins.

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