February 1, 2010 (written Feb 2009)
From: Richard M. Pratt
Re: 10th article of faith
We believe that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.
We must go back, so far as possible, to the beginning of the earth when it emerged from the six periods of time in which it was created. It is very apparent, from archeological remains that, when the creation was complete that the earth spun on its axis at the exact perpendicular. As it thus revolved all the earth was of a temperature from pole to pole that was tropical to semi-tropical in nature.
In fact over the past 200 years several thousands of mammals and especially mastodons (big elephants) have been found North of the Arctic Circle frozen in the ice and of such preservation that their flesh was used to feed the sled dogs and also eaten by the natives. In fact as a young man Nome, Alaska made world headlines by the restaurants advertising steaks and roasts from the bodies of these four thousand year old remains.
At the time of the great flood of Noah the earth reeled to and fro like a drunken man and when it finally stabilized it was tipped at an angle of 23 ½ degrees to its axis and has remained so until the present. Spinning at this steep angel produces the frozen North and South polar regions. Because it happened suddenly all life was frozen instantly and has remained so until the present.
But all things will be restored to its original perfection at the imminent second coming of the Lord as the scriptures amply state. The following is one that can be repeated from both the Old and New Testaments.
“For not many days hence and the earth shall tremble and reel to and fro as a drunken man; and the sun shall hide his face, and shall refuse to give light; and the moon shall be bathed in blood; and the stars shall become exceedingly angry, and shall cast themselves down as a fig that falleth from off a fig tree.” Doctrine and Covenants 88:87
Parley P. Pratt (My great grandfather) gives a beautiful description of the results of the fall and the restitution of all things at the coming of Christ. I will, for the lack of space just refer to the highlights. You can read the full account from his book, “A Voice of Warning” pages 83 ~
“When a prophet speaks of the restoration of all things. He means that all things have undergone a change and are to be restored to their primitive order, as first existed.
First then it becomes necessary for us to take a view of creation, as it rolled in purity from the hand of its Creator; and if we can discover the true state in which it then existed, and understand the changes that have taken place since, then we shall be able to understand what is to be restored...first, then, we will take a view of the earth, as to its surface, local situation and production...and God said, let the waters under the heaven be gathered together in one place. And let the dry land appear; and it was so. From this we learn a marvelous fact, which very few have ever realized or believed in this benighted age. We learn that the waters, which are now divided into oceans, seas, lakes, were then all gathered into one vast ocean, and consequently, that the land which is now torn asunder and divided into continents and islands almost innumerable was then one vast continent or body not separated as it now is.
Second we hear the Lord God pronounce the earth, as well as everything else, very good. From this we learn that there were neither deserts, barren places, stagnant swamps, rough, broken, rugged hills, nor vast mountains covered with eternal snow; and no part of it was located in the frigid zone so as to render its climate dreary and unproductive, subject to eternal frost, or everlasting chains of ice.
The whole earth was probably one vast plain, or interspersed with gently rising hills and sloping vales, well calculated for cultivation; while its climate was delightfully varied, with the moderate changes of heat and cold, or wet and dry, which only tended to crown the varied year with the great variety of productions, all for the good of man, animal, fowl or creeping thing; while on the flowery plain or spicy grove, sweet odors were wafted on every breeze, all the vast creation of animated beings breathed naught but health, and peace, and joy.
Neither noxious weeds nor poisonous plants nor useless thorns and thistles; everything that grew was calculated for the food of man, beast, fowl and creeping thing, and their food was all vegetable...the beasts of the earth were all in perfect harmony with each other; the lion ate straw like the ox, the wolf dwelt with the lamb, the leopard lay down with the kid, the cow and bear fed together in the same pasture, while their young ones reposed in perfect security under the shade of the same trees. All was peace and harmony, and nothing to disturb in all the holy mountains. (close quote) Satan, of course, was loosed by the fall and every phase every detail of this beautiful earth came under his defiling influence even obnoxious weeds were introduced upon the earth by him. Also enmity between man and beast and beast and beast.
“How far the flood may have contributed to produce the various changes as to the division of the earth into broken fragments, islands and continents, mountains and valleys, we have not been informed, tho changes must have been considerable. But after the flood in the days of Peleg the earth was divided. (Abraham was 8 years old at Peleg’s death.) A short history, to be sure, of so great an event, but still it will account for the mighty revolutions which rolled the sea from its own place in the North and brought it to interpose between different portions of the earth that were thus pared asunder and moved into some thing near their present form. This, together with the earthquakes, revolutions, and commotions that have since taken place, have all contributed to reduce the face of the earth to its present state, while the great curses that have fallen upon different portions because of the wickedness of men will account for the stagnant swamps, the sunken lakes, the dead seas and great deserts.
Witness also the plains fo Sodom, filled with towns, cities and flourishing gardens, well watered: but oh, how changed. A vast sea of stagnant water alone marks the place. Witness the land of Palestine in the days of Solomon: it was capable of sustaining millions of people besides yielding a surplus of wheat and other production, whereas now it is desolate and hardly capable of sustaining a few miserable inhabitants. (This is true in Parley’s day 1807-1857, then barely 200,000 people were eking out a bare subsistence. But with the blessing of apostle Orson Hyde, Palestine has again become a fertile and productive land now supporting 5,000,000 million plus people and exporting food.)
(My comments) because of wickedness the earth as we now know it has been so many times afflicted by floods, earthquakes and other natural resistance of the earth towards its filthy inhabitants that at present about two thirds of the earths surface is covered with water and the other one third with uninhabited mountains, endless deserts and lack of water, with all its apparent abundance. That only about six percent of the earths surface will support man and much of that is marginal.
Plus part of the original earth has been broken off and taken away in the days of Enoch, seventh from Adam, and lived most of his 375 years before the death of Adam and the translation of Enoch and his people and a portion of the earth with it were separated from the earth and taken to a better place until the Lord comes to redeem the earth and at such a time Enoch and his people and land will rejoin the earth.
Parley continues: “but men have greatly changed and degenerated, as well as the earth, the sins, the abominations, and the many evil habits of the latter ages have added to the miseries, toils, and sufferings of human life. The idleness, extravagance, pride, covetousness, drunkenness, and other abominations, which are characteristic of the latter times, have all combined to sink mankind to the lowest state of wretchedness and degradation; while priestcraft and false doctrines have greatly tended to lull mankind to sleep and cause them to rest infinitely short of the powers and attainments that the ancients enjoyed, and which are alone calculated to exalt the intellectual powers of the human mind.
Compare this intelligence with the low smatterings of education and worldly wisdom that seem to satisfy the narrow mind of man in our generation yea, behold the narrow minded, calculating, trading, overreaching, penurious sycophant of the nineteenth century who dreams of nothing here but how to increase his goods, or take advantage of his neighbor, and whose only religious exercise or duties consist of going to meeting, paying the priest his hire, or praying to his God, without expecting to be heard or answered, supposing that God has been deaf and dumb for many centuries, or altogether stupid and indifferent like himself. Having seen the two contrasted, you will be able to form some idea of the vast elevation from which man has fallen. You will also learn how infinitely beneath his former glory and dignity he is now living and your heart will mourn and be exceedingly sorrowful when you contemplate him in his low estate and then think that he is your brother.”
Now let us turn and see what is to be restored. The apostle Peter, while preaching to the Jews, says, “and he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.” Acts 3:20-21 It appears from the above that all the holy prophets, from Adam to Christ, and those that followed after, had their eyes upon a certain time, when all things should be restored to their primitive beauty and excellence. We also learn that the time of restitution was to be at or near the time of Christ’s second coming, for the heavens are to receive him until the time of restitution, and then the Father will send him again to the earth.
About the time for his second coming that every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain, and hill shall be made low. And the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain, and then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the Lord hath spoken it.
Thus we see ~ every mountain being made low, and every valley exalted, and the rough places being made plain, and the crooked places straight ~ that these mighty revolutions will begin to restore the face of the earth to its former beauty. But all this done, we have not yet gone thru our restoration. There are many more great things to be done in order to restore all things.
Suffice it to say ALL will be restored and the Savior will rule personally upon the earth. Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth with all the saints of the most High, not only one thousand years but forever and forever!
Let’s be there!
My love,
Dad, Grandpa Pratt (Richard M. Pratt)
P.S. It’s been a thrill to write with my great grandpa!
Remember I’m Here
By Dawn Pratt Taylor
In despair from the depths of my fear
I poured out my heart. I pled, “Are You there?”
Who would win out? Darkness or Light?
Faith gave a shout, “Things will be all right.”
Then I felt His dear presence drawing me near.
My face in His hands, my thoughts became clear.
A blanket of Love warmed my body clear through.
Peace freshened my soul like a heavenly dew.
“Lord, I’m a sinner; my trespasses are great.”
“I know,” crooned His voice, “But it’s never too late.
Take my hand, Little one. Grab on really tight.
Do your best in your efforts to win this fight.”
“Your loved Ones stand by you and so do I.
So lift up your head and do not cry.
Face forward! March on! My hand is in yours.
Trials bring growth when one endures.”
“Look up, little Child. Leave off with your fear.
Hold to the Rod! Take comfort ~ I’m here!
Arise, Little Child, and be of good cheer.
Hold to the Promises. Remember I’m here!”
