The Creation
What was used to create the world? (Abraham 4:1)
Matter. It was formed and organised, not magically created from nothing.
Sing or quote the first verse and chorus of 'I am a Child of God."
I am a child of God, and He has sent me here. Has given me an earthly home, with parents kind and dear. Lead me, Guide me, walk beside me, help me find the way. Teach me all that I must do, to live with him someday.
What tree were Adam and Eve not allowed to eat from?
The tree of knowledge of good and evil.
What does the song 'My Heavenly Father loves me' teach us about nature.
God created many things to for the use of man, for us to see beauty, to hear lovely things, to be clothed, and housed. God created a very beautiful world for us to live in.
D&C 59:9 - what are we resting from?
Worldly pursuits. It is a day from us to put aside the things of the world and remember God. This does not mean that we have nothing to do all day. The Lord has commanded up to 'be anxiously engaged in a good cause' and Sundays are often quite busy, but they are a rest for our worldly concerns.
The Lord 'Sanctified' the sabbath day which means to make holy, to consecrate or 'belonging to God'.
Who created the earth? (Abraham 4:1 and Moses 2:26)
"the Gods" - The phrase “Let us make man in our image” suggests that God did not work alone in the Creation process. The book of Moses clarifies that Heavenly Father was speaking to Jesus Christ in this verse. From Abraham’s account and other prophetic sources, we have reason to believe that others may have assisted Jesus Christ with the Creation.
Who are we talking about when we refer to our Heavenly Parents?
Both Heavenly Father and Heavenly Mother. The title 'Elohim' refers to both the female and the male.
What was the consequence for eating from the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
They would surely die. And they did... 900 years later!
What is a steward or what does it mean to have a 'stewardship' over something?
What does Jesus mean in Mark 2:27
That the Sabbath day is a gift unto man and we should recognise what a blessing it is.
Does the church believe in the theory of evolution?
President Jeffrey R. Holland taught, “I do not know the details of what happened on this planet before [the Fall of Adam and Eve], but I do know these two were created under the divine hand of God, that for a time they lived alone in a paradisiacal setting where there was neither human death nor future family, and that through a sequence of choices they transgressed a commandment of God which required that they leave their garden setting but which allowed them to have children before facing physical death.”
When studying the Creation, it is important to keep in mind that the scriptures do not provide details about how or when the earth was created. But they do testify of why the earth was created and who the Creator was.
What does it mean to be created in the image or likeness of God? (Moses 2:27)
We have Godly DNA within us. We are literally His children, as real as we are the children of our earthly parents.
Genesis 2:18 - What is a 'help meet'.
Elder Ulisses Soares taught that “in the Lord’s plan, a ‘help meet’ was a companion who would walk shoulder to shoulder with Adam in full partnership.”
“The unique combination of spiritual, physical, mental, and emotional capacities of both males and females were needed to implement the plan of happiness. Alone, neither the man nor the woman could fulfil the purposes of his or her creation.”
Doctrine and Covenants 104:13-15, who has ownership over all things?
The Lord has ownership, we are stewards, but not owners.
What are some things that you can do on the Sabbath to keep it Holy, and to enjoy and appreciate it more?
Open answers.....
How long did creation take?
Using our measurement of time, we do not know how long it took God to create the earth. President Russell M. Nelson explained: “The physical Creation itself was staged through ordered periods of time. In Genesis and Moses, those periods are called days. But in the book of Abraham, each period is referred to as a time. Whether termed a day, a time, or an age, each phase was a period between two identifiable events—a division of eternity.”
How does knowing that you are a Child of God affect the way you see yourself?
Open answers...
Did God give Adam and Eve conflicting commandments in the Garden of Eden?
President Joseph Fielding Smith explained, “Now this is the way I interpret [Moses 3:16–17]: The Lord said to Adam, here is the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you want to stay here, then you cannot eat of that fruit. If you want to stay here, then I forbid you to eat it. But you may act for yourself, and you may eat of it if you want to. And if you eat it, you will die.”
The Fall of Adam and Eve was a necessary part of Heavenly Father’s plan of salvation, but it could only be introduced to the world through the exercise of agency. President Boyd K. Packer taught, “There was too much at issue to introduce man into mortality by force. That would contravene the very law essential to the plan.”
Doctrine and Covenants 49:19-21. Are there enough resources for everyone on the planet?
The earth has many natural resources that will provide for the human family if they are used as the Lord instructed—to care for the poor and those in need and to not use more than is required, to avoid waste, and to not forcibly take resources from another. The fulness of the earth is to be used with wisdom and restraint.
Find me a scripture from any of the standard works (Bible, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, Pearl of Great Price) that teach about the Sabbath Day.
Lots of options :) Check in the topical guide of the Bible or the index in the Book of Mormon, or the bible dictionary in the back of the Bible.
What was organised/formed/created in each of the creative periods (also called days).
Matter was formed and organised into a world...
Day 1 - Divided the light from the dark
Day 2 - Divided the waters between the clouds in the sky and the oceans of the earth
Day 3 - Divided the land and the oceans and placed all manner of plants and seeds on the earth
Day 4 - Created the sun to shine during the day and the moon and stars to shine at night (he organised the solar system with the sun at the centre, and the earths rotation to create day and night.)
Day 5 - They made the animals of the oceans and skies.
Day 6 - They made land animals and humans.
Day 7 - They rested.
How does knowing you are a literal child of our Heavenly Father, impact the choices you make? Consider the statement... "Because I know I am created in God's image, I choose to...."
Open answers....
Was Eve 'literally' taken from Adam's rib? What does the rib symbolise?
President Spencer W. Kimball taught that Eve was not literally created from Adam’s rib. He said, “The story of the rib, of course, is figurative.” President Russell M. Nelson described what we can learn from this symbolism: “The rib, coming as it does from the side, seems to denote partnership. The rib signifies neither dominion nor subservience, but a lateral relationship as partners, to work and to live, side by side.”
List ways that you can be more environmentally sustainable
Conserve water, improve energy efficiency, avoid material waste and reuse/repair/recycle/donate where possible, reduce transportation emissions, protect biodiversity meaning bugs/ecosystems/not dropping rubbish, grow a garden, be self sustaining.
What are the blessings of keeping the Sabbath Day Holy?
Read D&C 59:16-20