While I am not an eco-extremist, I do think we fail to connect the dots between our respect for the Creation and our individual and collective behaviors towards all of the things created by God for our use and which were declared “Good” by him.

I am not sure at this point that I believe that “agency” is eternal in the sense that intelligences have always had it-because scripture and revelation indicate that it was “given” to us by our Father…but as an eternal principle that has always existed-then yes, I’d believe that.

What I meant by agency being present on the earth before man was that obviously Lucifer and the 1/3 were “given” their agency in the premortal realm and their choices were what led to them being banished from heaven. IOW, their “agency” was present.

I don’t have references handy, but I recall being taught that Satan “rules” the waters, and that is part of the reason missionaries are not allowed to swim etc. while on their missions. Could be folklore for all I know…I just wanted to toss that out there in this context.

Second, the idea of agency as an eternal concept really is fascinating. I think there was indeed agency from the elements during days 1-5. As for the light, I cannot help but read that word in the context of the writings of John.

Moreover, I agree, this is all very intriguing.

Your wording set this idea into motion-

Leviathan=Satan and the 1/3? If they were cast to earth prior to “earth” being separated into land/sea/sky-then there was “agency” on earth prior to the creation of man in the flesh.

I’ve also always wondered about the usage of the word “light” when God says “Let there be light” and yet the creation of the sun/moon/and stars does not occur until day 4 (according to Moses 2).

What if the word light here doesn’t refer to the kind of light we normally assume-that of visibility-but rather the “light” that corresponds with the power and influence of God and Christ?
If that is a closer interpretation, then it fits well with the idea juxtaposed in Moses 2:2 and Abraham 4:2 that God had caused “darkness” to “reign” upon the face of the deep.

Could Satan and his minions be the “darkness” referred to? Did God’s command “Let there be light” indicate that His power and priesthood were now present and that the Gods were now taking control of the physical elements of earth?

soooooooooooooo intriguing

Before I started posting regularly on this forum I enjoyed reading the answers other came up with for your question. Hopefully I am returning the favor in some way to all those who read these questions without ever posting as I did. Therefore, I just jot down my thoughts as I study just in case.

Good discussions have arisen on these question threads in the past due to great insights.

I’m not sure of the answer for this, but I wonder if this is an illusion to the final judgment? Will we, as couples, stand before the Lord “naked”? Naked=nothing to hide us or our sins from god. Here, Adam and Eve had no sins of which to be ashamed.

As an eternal couple, if we repent and cleave unto one another, we will not be ashamed to stand in front of God either.

Ok, that’s all I can answer for now. Jim, those are tough questions this week, I do not have a clue about most of them!

The answer to this is related to my above post (#6). Sleep=spiritual blindness. Adam did not yet understand who he was. After the creation of Eve, he did (v23).

We all go through this same process in our lives of trying to figure out who we are in blindness. How many of us have felt we have become a better person because of our spouse? I know I have. Your husband/wife completes you.

This story reminds me of the Blind Man in John 9. In eternal marriage Christ anoints our eyes with clay so we can see things how they really are.

It appears that after Adam names all the animals he finds out that none of them are like him. Reading between the lines here, I think he is confused. That is why in v23 he says, “this I know now” in relation to who he is.

Could this have relation to 2:20-23? Could naturally refer to both trees growing at this time, and thus, refer to agency as a natural phenomenon, rather than something that just happened to occur?

If these scriptures are related, then that is a fascinating concept. Leviathan in Isa. 27:1 is described in the LDS footnote as, “a legendary seamonster representing the forces of chaos that opposed the Creator.” Isaiah appears to have used imagery from neighboring nations in this verse. In myth Leviathan seeks to stop the gods from creating life to begin with.

Is this then an illusion to agency occurring on the “earth” before man is even formed?

Jim, there is no 56:14?