Dear Gramps,
Do you think that Heavenly Father may have placed Jupiter and the other gas giants in our solar system (which consist mainly of Hydrogen and other useful gasses) to be a source of fuel for us during the Millennium, ready and available for us when we advance that far? Otherwise, they are kind of just useless sitting out there for no purpose. It seems to me that if He had the foresight to provide the earth’s oil reserves in advance to be ready for us when we needed them, then he might also have other more advanced resources sitting in reserve waiting for the time when we might be able to use those as well. What do you think?
Robert, from Portland, Oregon

Dear Robert,
Think for just a minute about how such useful gasses could be transported from one of the outer planets to the earth. Containers would have to be transported to the planet of interest, a technology developed for filling the containers while in orbit, then transporting them back to the earth. With the most efficient propulsion system that you can imagine, the energy required to escape the earth’s gravitation field, transport the container across space, fill the container, overcome the gravity of the donor planet, return to and re-enter the earth, would be many, many times the energy in the gaseous fuels that would be captured and returned to the earth.
I would find it very difficult to believe that any of the other planets were created for the sole purpose of serving the earth. The fact that we don’t know the mind of God in this matter, does not mean that there is no purpose for the existence of the other planets in our solar system. His creations as infinite and His purposes never fail. The earth is not the center of the universe, nor is the earth the only planet populated by the children of God. As the scriptures say—
And again, verily I say unto you, he hath given a law unto all things, by which they move in their times and their seasons; And their courses are fixed, even the courses of the heavens and the earth, which comprehend the earth and all the planets. And they give light to each other in their times and in their seasons, in their minutes, in their hours, in their days, in their weeks, in their months, in their years–all these are one year with God, but not with man. The earth rolls upon her wings, and the sun giveth his light by day, and the moon giveth her light by night, and the stars also give their light, as they roll upon their wings in their glory, in the midst of the power of God. Unto what shall I liken these kingdoms, that ye may understand? Behold, all these are kingdoms, and any man who hath seen any or the least of these hath seen God moving in his majesty and power (D&C 88:42-47)
Gramps

 

 Standard Podcast [3:26m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download