Worthless Creature

Listen to these descriptions given by King Benjamin about himself and his audience:

"...he cast his eyes round about on the multitude, and behold they had fallen to the earth for the fear of the Lord had come upon them."

"...they viewed themselves in their own carnal state, even less than the dust of the earth."

"...your nothingness, and your worthless and fallen state..."

"always retain in rememberance... your own nothingness... unworthy creatures..."

This would be pretty debilitating to the heart and mind if these were doctrines he was enforcing to them. Incredibly, these feelings of nothingness that led them to refer to themselves as unworthy creatures (not even human or sons and daughters of God) was what they naturally felt, together, from hearing the words of the angel sent to King Benjamin about Christ and His atonement. The Spirit that fell upon them brought them to a state of fear and trembling. Not because they thought they were in mortal danger, but because they had God revealed to them. 

Their knowledge of God gave them a perspective reflected in the sentiments of many prophets around the world in many different ages of time. Few people have had the opportunity to have the Glory of God revealed to them. And each one of them were surprised by the contrast of God to themselves and how little and nothing they were. These are not stupid people either that could not comprehend the contrasts of power and worthlessness. Moses, trained in Egypt in all sciences (that we are still trying to figure out) ran an empire, wars, and wrote laws and governed peoples and then was exiled, lost all, was a farmer, and when he was shown God, exclaimed, "Now, for this cause I know that man is nothing, which thing I never had supposed." To have him say this, is significant. Imagine being shown all of God's creations. Countless worlds and galaxies. All with countless peoples. I can imagine Moses' sentiments of our insignificance like our planet is a penny and a billionaire looses that penny, why would he care? Yet, God not only cares about each planet, but each individual and creature. Even the birds and fish.

In pondering on the phrase, "creatures" I couldn't help but wonder why God would entice people, engulfed in the Spirit of God, to describe themselves as creatures. Is He really that different? Are we really that debased and insignificant compared to Him?

1579 drawing of the Great Chain of Being from Didacus Valades, Rhetorica Christiana

I pictured the animal food chain. This image depicts God at the top of the food chain as imagined by the Catholic follower Didacus in 1579. Not exactly what I pictured but kinda similar.

I then recalled an old notion I had years ago. A notion revealed while studying in school about types of governments. I asked myself, "How would God's kingdom be defined as a type of government?"

I asked a few questions to help me riddle it down. Remember that we are talking about the ruler of all that exists which is God the Father's kingdom. So don't get confused and think we are talking about our church government, our family government, or even Christ's government. Here are some questions I asked and answered myself:

1. Is the governing power a group of individuals or just one person? One person rules all. He assigns others to rule under his rule over portions and those are split into portions and so on until we come to the individual.
2. Does this person organize His kingdom into states that are sub-governed with their own laws? Yes.
3. Are there checks and balances on the top governing power? No.
4. Is there a voting system? No. We can elect and sustain but the choice is the Father's.
5. Do we have representatives in heaven? Yes.
6. Do we elect these representatives? No.
7. What is the position of these representatives? They plead our cause before the powers above us.
8. Are we free to live how we want? Yes and No.
1. We are ejected from a kingdom if we brake it's laws thereby making us free and yet losing choice as the power to make certain choices are removed through falling to lower kingdoms which have less power. Death is the consequence of any broken law (death of the spirit or separation from God/the kingdom you dwell in).
9. Does this ruling power decide for us who governs us locally? Yes.
10. Who judges those who brake laws? The author of that law. Final judgment is given to the Father.
11. The governing power has judicial, legislative, and executive powers contained within one person? Yes.
12. Can we write laws or change them? No.
13. Can we rule the kingdom or a kingdom? Yes, if called and chosen.
14. Is there a structure to who is called and chosen? Yes.
15. Is it by familial ties that rulers are called? Yes. But we are all begotten through the Father, therefore there is nobody He calls except they are family.
16. Can anyone run for 'office'? Yes.
17. Why is there a "run for office" if there is no voting system? God the Father asks who to call and those willing offer themselves. God then chooses who to send.

The neat thing here is that anyone can respond to the call of God but must accept the choice God makes. 

In reviewing this information, I decided that God's kingdom represents almost every type of kingdom out there. I don't understand government types very well so my opinion may have objections. It's mostly an autocracy (Dictatorship/Absolute Monarchistic) but has oligarchic properties. Yet, it is governed by laws that even God cannot break, therefore it is constitutional. The few that are definitely not representative of God's government are anarchistic or democratic. God's creations have no say as to how things should be governed. They are governed by laws made by those above them. And they are powerless to become laws unto themselves (D&C 88:35).

This leads to my next thought, wouldn't this create a caste system? A feudal system based upon position obtained from God the Father? Where God sits on top of all His creation, supported by everyone below. Those in power, in there differing levels, are supported by those below them. This would all depend on if God the Father depends upon us to sustain Himself. A feudal or pyramid power system is based upon some force visually represented by gravity that pulls us all down thereby revealing the force that allows a mortal to reign without worrying about their next meal. They live off the work and efforts of those below them. If 'gravity' didn't exist, these images would have no meaning. There would be no 'weight' upon the masses below the rulers. What would be this 'gravity' force for God the Father's kingdom? Is there such a force weighted upon us for His support?



My answer is no. For the Father has overcome all things and, like His son, Jesus Christ, has fallen below all things and risen above all things having overcome all things that he may rule all things. There is no force that holds Him down nor need that must be satisfied to continue his existence or power. Therefore, He does not need us to sustain Himself. In fact, I believe the blessing and ultimate purpose of God's power, we call priesthood, is that "...thy dominion shall be an everlasting dominion, and without compulsory means it shall flow unto thee forever and ever." (Oath and Covenant of the Priesthood, D&C 121:46) Meaning, like a black hole, God cannot get smaller, He just grows in everything. Imagine if he stopped caring or doing things with this increase. He would be the universe's worst hoarder surrounded with stuff until he couldn't move. Funny thought.

There is a force like 'gravity' that holds us to God though. It's just not the system painted by our cartoonists to show the horrible nature of wealth, or power, or some government system. And the interesting part is this 'gravity' works the same way, just in a different direction. The 'gravity' still pushes us down, we are not on the bottom. We are supported by our God. Here is my depiction of it below in blue...

God needs no support. He does not feed off of our labor. He loves it when we help in his efforts, but in truth, He just has to speak, and the very rocks and earth would declare His truths so all could learn and know of the laws that would save them. Gods power system is the mortal system flipped up-side-down. When we flip mortal power systems up-side-down we visually understand why He that is least is greatest in the Kingdom of heaven (Luke 9:48, Mathew 11:11). I am the weight in the system supported by God. This is another way to show the plan of exaltation.

(I chose those levels (God, Angels, Prophets, and Man) because Joseph Smith received an answer about these four differing groups having differing times according to the sphere on which they reside meaning time dilation meaning these spheres are of differing glories and grow in glory from one to the next until they come to God whose time is dilated the greatest. This is in D&C 130:4-5)

What is fun is to place the mortal power pyramid on top of my pyramid. This shows how Satan's systems (man's systems) are so adverse to God's systems. It also shows the weight held by God. I could get very technical and include space for God the Father, then Christ, then the Holy Ghost, then angels, prophets, parents, self. This could be modified in so many ways.


For those who find it interesting, remember the triangle pointed up is male and the triangle pointed down is female. These stars are all over our temples. Fun to see that the world's power system is male oriented while the Celestial system is female oriented? Fun to ponder and I'm not suggesting anything, just saw it.

God's governing system naturally brings with it a caste system where some are chosen and others are not. Each step towards God increases the weight from above as I am given more responsibility. This responsibility is literally the weight of mankind. That weight grows the greater the glory one enjoys (further down the pyramid we progress). The price of joy and glory becomes greater and greater and the bitter cup becomes more bitter until I have overcome all things and can support the weight of all mankind.

I have always wondered at God giving blessings to people that haven't done things to deserve them yet. I have discovered some enjoy God given privileges by blood, birthright, or no seeming consequence of their own choices. I believe this pyramid system shows how these chosen few have not only a greater responsibility that grants them more help and power to accomplish their tasks, but also their character and previous choices granted them these things making their 'birthright' or fore-ordination justly deserved rather than arbitrarily dished out. For some, their work is heavy and the reward great but also their temptations are great and their loss even greater if they fail.

I was brought into this life without a knowledge of my endless life before this. It helps me to know that not everyone made choices that gave them privilege to be a prophet of God. Not everyone made choices that brought them into homes where the Gospel already was. And can I say choice brought consequences? I can. Does it stand to reason then that a consequence exists because of choice? If it doesn't, God is not the God He says He is. God is a just God. God will justify the righteous and curse the wicked. Think about this. It's not because the righteous are more privileged or the people labeled 'wicked' were persons God didn't like, it's because they knew laws that had consequences and made choices on that knowledge. I hear a lot of talk of the 'next life' and I often ponder on the outcome of that life with choices I make today. How much better would it be if I knew more of God's laws and how to keep them?

This celestial power system is so perfect it allows everyone to be affected by other's choices for a mortal duration but eternally, in heavenly politics, all my choices are my own to bear because I will be judged for what I did with what I had. Judged by the one who understands the laws, helped everyone to get it done when they asked, and knew before hand what would be needed leaving nothing to chance or chaos. If one does not make the cut to a glory, they deserve it admittedly and knowingly. Nobody will be missed. I will be judged by an all knowing, all powerful being and placed into kingdoms and positions of power according to His design. A design everyone agrees with or all of us would not be here since everyone has the choice to leave at any time. I am not bound to remain within His kingdom but I cannot 'rebel' or decide to be anarchistic and think I can remain and enjoy the same life (privileges) of those who abide by laws. 

I am not condoning caste systems.We have been taught to rid caste systems from our cultures (Elder Richard G. Scott, 'Removing Barriers to Happiness' May 1998). I'm also not condoning government systems of absolute monarchy or dictatorship. In truth, any government system works for the work of God and the joy/peace of mankind when run by righteous people. (Remember, righteousness is not arbitrary. It only exists with those who know God's laws and keep them. righteousness does not exist in ignorance or innocence. So a righteous leader is one who knows God and obeys Him.)

So, back to the natural consequence of coming to know God where people feel less than the dust of the earth, worthless creatures... I am glad this poked out at me so I could picture and understand better the structure of God's kingdom. I understand better what it means to be as a little child. A child is excited for life, vigilant and obedient to their parents (for the most part), and lives with the knowledge and complete understanding that they depend entirely upon their parents for their existence. They know without even pondering it or discovering it, that they are less in power, knowledge, wisdom, and stature. And if this is true, it is no wonder they are saved through the grace of Christ's atonement until they are old enough to have pride in self.

I know this is true!!