Element and Intelligence

"You ask the learned doctors why they say the world ws made out of nothing and they will answer "Doesn't the Bible say he created the world?" They infer from the word create, that it must have been made out of nothing. Now, the word create came from the word baurau (sic), which does not mean ot create out of nothing, it means to organize the world out of chaos - chaotic matter, which is element and in which dwells all the glory. Element had an existence from the time he (God) had. The pure principles of element which can never be destroyed; they may be organized and reorganized, but not destroyed. They had no beginning and can have no end." - History of the Church 6:308-9

"Intelligence is eternal and exists upon a self-existent principle. It is a spirit from age to age and there is no creation about it." -The King Follett Sermon, Joseph Smith Jr.

2 Ne 2:14 And now, my sons, I speak unto you these things for your profit and learning; for there is a God, and he hath created all things, both the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are, both things to act and things to be acted upon.

D&C 93:27-36 And no man receiveth a fulness unless he keepeth his commandments. He that keepeth his commandments receiveth truth and light, until he is glorified in truth and knoweth all things. Man was also in the beginning with God. Intelligence, or the light of truth, was not created or made, neither indeed can be. All truth is independent in that sphere in which God has placed it, to act for itself, as all intelligence also; otherwise there is no existence. Behold, here is the agency of man, and here is the condemnation of man; because that which was from the beginning is plainly manifest unto them, and they receive not the light. And every man whose spirit receiveth not the light is under condemnation. For man is spirit. The elements are eternal, and spirit and element, inseparably connected, receive a fulness of joy; And when separated, man cannot receive a fulness of joy. The elements are the tabernacle of God; yea, man is the tabernacle of God, even temples; and whatsoever temple is defiled, God shall destroy that temple.The glory of God is intelligence, or, in other words, light and truth.

After reading some more about what Joseph Smith was taught and taught about creation and matter. There is some interesting stuff here. It seems that Joseph Smith identifies two primordial and eternal substances that on one hand are called light/spirit/intelligence and on the other is element. Both are eternal. Element can be recycled. I don't think intelligence is recycled as there is no reincarnation. The relationship of these things I don't know. Whether one can be converted into the other I don't know. Joseph says element is the substance "in which dwells all the glory". Well the glory of God is intelligence. So again, maybe it is the intelligence/spirit/light that is the eternal part. I thought it interesting that both light and element are required to come together to achieve a fullness of joy.

LDS Doctrine teaches of the eternal nature of the spirit and that all mankind are spirit children of God who is our Heavenly Father. Joseph Smith taught that intelligence or the spirit of man was not created but is self-existent and co-eternal with God. However, beyond this, it is unclear by what mechanism (adoption or gestation) man is considered spirit children of God. This question is like the ultimate nature vs. nurture debate. Recent LDS General Authorites have said that our “intelligence was clothed in spirit bodies.” Brigham Young is quoted as saying, “He created man, as we create our children; for there is no other process ” (JoD 11:122-123). Joseph Smith “But if I am right, I might with boldness proclaim from the house tops that God never did have power to create the spirit of man at all” (Follett).

Whether man is inherently composed of a similar eternal substance as God, man was spiritually gestated and generated by God or both, the philosophical importance of either scenario is the equality and eternal potential of man. Once you start believing that man is a created being not unlike the dungbettle or the ape, it doesn’t take long for some to begin believing that God made them better then others.

There are some out there which may criticize a belief in eternal element or eternal intelligence by appealing to science. Current science claims they have discovered the background radiation thought to be left behind from the Big Bang which scientist believe was a creation of everything out of nothing. Personally, I don't think that LDS need to argue over over the Big Bang because these same scientist are also looking for "dark energy" and "dark matter" which they theorize to make up over 96% of the mass-energy of the Universe. Therefore, if scientists can't even see, measure, or explain 96% of the Universe, then I am sure we have much to learn still about the 4% we can see.

Eternal Spirit, Reincarnation and Ex-Nihilo Creation

LDS doctrine is distinct from other Christian doctrines in that we do not believe that God created the Universe out of nothing (ex nihilo). That said, I think LDS need to be careful about what the implications of this belief are. When the eternal nature of matter was taught to Joseph Smith, the Big Bang Theory did not exist. And despite the failings of the Big Bang to explain why man has never observed the edge of the universe which forces us to conclude that the universe is not only expanding but accelerating due to some unmeasurable "dark energy"; most Christians like the Big Bang because the Bible clearly declares there was a beginning.

That said, LDS need not fall into the trap of arguing for the eternal nature of boron, strontium and rubidium. LDS belief is not necessarily contrary to the Big Bang or some other theory. What the Big Bang theory says is: In the Beginning there was nothing, which speaks of nothing as a something. And due to quantum mechanics, sometimes there can be small magnetic fluctuations in a nothing. Well, if you have a magnetic fluctuation, then you have somthing => Bang. While there remain many unanswered questions, It is important to understand what Joseph Smith actually taught on the subject.

First, Joseph Smith never was trying to argue for the eternal nature of dirt, rocks, or even sub-atomic particles like quarks, pions, and anti-neutrinos. What Joseph Smith taught was that spirit is eternal and that all things were created spiritually before they were made physically. Therefore, because we know that God is eternal, and God is spirit, therefore we know that spirit is eternal. We should also remember that the Creation story never discusses the creation of angels. This is precisely because, like Christ, the angels as well as the spirits of all mankind were with God in the beginning. Also, because, Joseph Smith was taught that there is no such thing as immaterial matter, He understood in the Doctrine and Covenants that spirit is a kind of pure and refined matter.

D&C 131: 7 There is no such thing as immaterial matter. All spirit is matter, but it is more fine or pure, and can only be discerned by purer eyes;

Therefore, if something like the Big Bang did occur as the measurement of the Background Radiation of the Universe suggests, it could be that creation simply involved the conversion of unorganized spirit material into organized physical material. Such a conversion of spirit matter into physical matter would resolve the problem of trying to explain how nothing can be a something. This process of conversion would also resolve the issue of violating the laws of thermodynamics and the conservation of energy. Some may argue that laws didn't exist until after the moment of creation and there was something to both govern and mediate the laws. But according to the Big Bang if quantum mechanics didn't exist first, then there would have never been that magnetic fluctuation in the nothing which resulted in the Bang.

But according to LDS theology, law as well as spirit is self-existent and co-eternal with God. The example that law is co-eternal with God is that the Bible teaches that the Son was with the Father in the beginning, So, therefore, the love of the Father for the Son also existed and is eternal. According to Ravi Zacharias, in all other world views, love follows life because God can't love until there is something to love. But only in Christianity does love precede life. Remember that God is love. And therefore, because all other laws are derived from love, love and law are eternal.

In both the Old and New Testaments, the words used in Hebrew and Greek for creation no not connote that God brought creation into existence from nothing. The several words in Greek and Hebrew suggest that the creative act involved "forming", "cutting out", "putting together" and "organizing" the elements. The Greek verbs for create connote that the elements were brought "into being" as opposed to being brought "into existence." In fact, everywhere modern NT translations use the word "exist" in creation verses, the translators ignored both the verb and the tense in the original Greek. Furthermore, the Bible likens God to the builder of a house or a potter of the clay. Even the title of YHWH which He gave to Moses of I AM THAT I AM can be interpreted to mean that God is the "Self-Existent of self-existent". So, if the Bible runs contrary to ex-nihilo creation, where did this idea originate?

One source of this doctrine could be from 2 Maccabees 7:28. The New American Bible version reads, "I beg you, child, to look at the heavens and the earth and see all that is in them; then you will know that God did not make them out of existing things; and in the same way the human race came into existence."

The Jerusalem Bible says: "My son, have pity on me; I carried you nine months in the womb and suckled you three years.... I implore you, my child, observe heaven and earth, consider all that is in them, and acknowledge that God made them out of what did not exist, and that mankind comes into being in the same way. Do not fear this executioner, but prove yourself worthy of your brothers, and make death welcome, so that in the day of mercy I may receive you back in your brothers' company."

2 Maccabees is one of several books which are part of the Apocrypha. While they are considered scripture by the Catholic Church, these books are not considered inspired by most other Christians. However, this didn't stop several Evangelical friends from using it during a conversion on this subject. As far as Joseph Smith's view an the Apocrypha is concerned, God told him the interpretation of it was correct and while there are many inspired things within these books, there are also some uninspiring things also. (as a side note, I really like that this verse teaches about the eternal nature of family relationships).

The interesting and pertinent part of the verse is the phrase "God made them out of what did not exist" or "God did not make them out of existing things." Other than the problem of these 2 translation's speaking of a "nothing" as a "something" this verse really does teach something quite extraordinary that I only now realized. This verse is not talking about God creating something out of nothing. Again, according to the Greek, the verb suggests that God made the heaven and the Earth from material that wasn't already something else. [οὐκ ἐξ ὄντων - not from things that are] In other words, this is teaching that there was no reincarnation of matter involved in the creation. While we observe physical matter recycled in the Universe as stars eat other stars, when it comes to the creation of heaven, Earth, and of man, God did not take material that was from a prior creation and reuse it in this creation. 2 Maccabees makes much more sense that Mom would be saying, "Son, don't fear death, God won't recycle your spirit/consciousness/essence, and we will again be together as a family"

Another source of the ex-nihilo doctrine could be from Shepherd of Hermas First Vision Chapter 1 which reads: "but hear the words which I am going to speak to you. God, who dwells in the heavens, and made out of nothing the things that exist". This verse at the very beginning of the Shepherd of Hermas has been translated to support ex-nihilo creation all the way. It would be interesting to see what the original Geek text says, the big issue with the Shepherd of Hermas is that it was written in the 2nd Century probably by the brother of Pope Pius 1. According to the LDS, because Hermas was not a martyr, he necessarily becomes part of the Apostasy.

My point in this post is to not let LDS critics lure LDS in trying to defend what we do not believe. LDS do not need to defend the eternal nature of dirt. Nor should we be lured into arguing against scientific theories such as the Big Bang. LDS can stand behind the belief of the eternal nature of spirit. God is eternal, God is spirit, therefore spirit is eternal.

As far as what this mysterious matter is that has not been something else; could it be dark matter and dark energy? Wiki describes dark matter as: "The vast majority of the dark matter in the universe is believed to be nonbaryonic, which means that it contains no atoms and that it does not interact with ordinary matter via electromagnetic forces. The nonbaryonic dark matter includes neutrinos, and possibly hypothetical entities such as axions, or supersymmetric particles. " So, according to Wiki, Dark matter composes most of the mass and energy of the galaxy that has no atoms therefore it has never been regular physical measurable matter. Dark Matter may not be the correct candidate to constitute eternal matter, but its existence is an example and analogy of what 2 Maccabees was talking about.

Also, remember that the Bible says that "without God nothing was made, that was made." If this were Hebrew, the redundancy would be considered emphasis. But this verse was written in Greek and not Hebrew. So, the redundancy is not emphasis but an adverbial clause that serves to modify (adjunct or disjunct) the subject and the verb of the sentence. Again, Bible says that "without God nothing was made, that was made" Therefore the redundancy here suggests that not everything required making.

The Bible says that God created all things both visible and invisible. While some interpret invisible as referring to spirit, LDS interpret invisible as referring to forces like gravity, and electromagnetism, and wind and invisible gases etc. We should not forget that spirit is visible in many cases so it would not fall under the category of invisible necessarily

The rejection of ex-nihlo creation has one major benefit. It is the only rational way to deal with the problem of evil and suffering that atheists bring up again and again. If God made Satan out of nothing, than He is responsible for a defective creation. Doesn't the Bible ask, "will the pot say against the potter, he made me not or he hath no understanding." But God said that after the creation, everything was good. If you say, that God didn't mess up but gave Satan his agency and let him go wild, then you have to confess that God was an accomplice to murder and gave the gun to a known murderer and God knew exactly what Lucifer would do with it.

Isa 29:16 Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter’s clay: for shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not? or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, He had no understanding?

Instead knowing that the spirit of Lucifer/Satan aways existed and was evil from the beginning by nature, God gave Lucifer every opportunity to choose good as Lucifer was like an archangel like Gabriel or Michael, but Satan fell, and Satan is only allowed to rebel for a short time for Gods purposes so that his other children can be exposed to good and evil and discover for ourselves what what we are made of. And we are promised through Christ all our loses will be made up to us and God will wipe away every tear.

You ask the learned doctors why they say the world ws made out of nothing and they will answer "Doesn't the Bible say he created the world?" They infer from the word create, that it must have been made out of nothing. Now, the word create came from the word baurau (sic), which does not mean ot create out of nothing, it means to organize the world out of chaos - chaotic matter, which is element and in which dwells all the glory. Element had an existence from the time he (God) had. The pure principles of element which can never be destroyed; they may be organized and reorganized, but not destroyed. They had no beginning and can have no end. - History of the Church 6:308-9

Intelligence is eternal and exists upon a self-existent principle. It is a spirit from age to age and there is no creation about it. -The King Follett Sermon, Joseph Smith Jr.

I don't believe Element refers to the same state of matter as the word connotes today. I believe that Joseph Smith is using the terms "element" "spirit" and "intelligence" interchangeably. What Joseph Smith calls "element" is not what we call "element" because he says his element is that substance "in which dwells all the glory." Or it may be that Joseph Smith differentiate between two primordial substances; element and intelligence. From these come two types of creation, one which is created to act, and that which was created to be acted upon. Therefore, I would say that that which was created to act is never recycled or reincarnated while that which was created to be acted upon can be reused, reformed, recycled, etc.

2 Ne 2:14 And now, my sons, I speak unto you these things for your profit and learning; for there is a God, and he hath created all things, both the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are, both things to act and things to be acted upon.

looking back at 2 Maccabees 7:28 where it says "God made them out of what did not exist" or "God did not make them out of existing things." This could be assuring the son that God does not take living material that is sentient and is intelligence, destroy the sentience, and use that material in another creation. Christ did change water to wine but this kind of "element", I suppose, is created to be acted upon and is not living.

I was asked, If God is Spirit and God is eternal and only spirit is eternal, the only way you can claim matter is eternal is to say matter is spirit. What is the nature of spirit? Is it alive? Does it have consciousness? Can it think? I don't know about thinking, but some scientists now believe that all matter has a degree of free will. A mathematical proof for this was recently derived called the "free will theorem." Some scientist believe that it is free will of matter that gives rise to quantum mechanics. Quantum mechanics is the explanation for why when 99.99999 etc% of all the particles do one thing, just a few particles decide that they are going to do something else.

Neanderthal, Cro-Magnon, Humans and Giants

I was watching PBS the other day and a NOVA-like show was visiting an institute of human evolution which had numerous remains of Neanderthal and Cro-Magnon (not called that any more). It is currently believed as far as I can tell that scientists believe that Neanderthals and Early Man (Cro-Magnon), lived in Europe at the same time but didn't mix. And then by some unexplained mystery Neanderthals who are believed to have lived on the Earth as early as 600,000 bc died out after Cro-Magnon moved in about 30,000 bc.

First, I am of the opinion that all radioactive isotopic dating is wrong as the rate of cosmic rays hitting the Earth which produces isoptopes is never constant and therefore the ratio of radioactive isotopes is not constant. Therefore, these dating techniques together with DNA mutation rates in mtDNA and yDNA studies are unfortunately incorrect.

However, I think the Bible may give us some clues to who are and what happened to what scientists call Neanderthal, Cro-Magnon, and Humans. John in Revelation was shown 4 beasts who stood around the throne of God. Joseph Smith asked God if these 4 beasts represented 4 individuals or classes. Joseph Smith was told that they represented both individuals and classes. The interesting thing about these 4 magnificent beasts full of eyes and wings (knowledge and power) is that one of the 4 had the face of a man. The significance of this is that this beast with the face of a man, was not a man. Could this beast have represented the Neanderthal?

Thinking along these lines, if Neanderthal and Human's lived together, did Humans and Neanderthal ever mix? The NOVA program said no but scientists are mixed on this issue because they now consider Cro-Magnon to be human and not hybrid. However, the Genesis story may suggest Humans and Neanderthal did mix. Genesis tells a bazaar tale of the sons of god intermixing with the daughters of man. The result of this forbidden mixing were offspring referred to as the Giants. Could the 6-7 ft Cro-Magnon remains represent the Giants spoken of in the Bible? If Cro-Magnon are the Giants, the Bible tells us that most if not all did not survive the global flood (see Gen 6:4, Deut 2:20-21).

Adam and Evolution

The LDS Church has as a core doctrine that all mankind are spirit children of our Heavenly Father. It is absolutely essential to our religion that men understand our relationship to God. Men, regardless of race, bond or free, are never to be compared to animals. Men are not just the highest animal creation. Like Christ, men are the literal spiritual offspring of God. Like Christ we were with God in the beginning and like Christ, who is the Firstborn, men are considered gods and children of god.

Rom 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Acts 17:29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device.
Ps 82:6 I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.

Now, I have made a declaration that men are not to be compared to animals. However, science via evolution has been making these comparisons not long after this theory was first conceived. However, when Darwin first detailed evolution in his "Origin of the Species", the theory did not involve man. However, I am trained in the biological and physical sciences, and I am not ignorant of a few facts. First, animals have an almost miraculous capacity to adapt to their environment. Darwin correctly observed adaptation with regard to finch beak size in the Galapagos. The law of survival of the fittest is a true concept. The individual with the highest reproductive fitness will pass on their genes. Interesting concept here is that reproductive fitness benifits the individual, it doesn't necessarily benefit a population. Genetic variation is what benefits a population and may allow a select minority to resist or adapt to a disease or new environmental stress. These survivors may not be the considered the most reproductively fit during times of plenty, but when it comes to reproduction, nothing beats survival.

What science has not definitively shown is that while animals can adapt to a variety of environmental factors, one kind of animal has never been observed changing into another type of animal. Science has seen a squirrel adapt to living in trees and another adapt to living on the ground even until they reach the point of reproductive isolation. While reproductive isolation determines the creation of a new species, the new species in these cases is not another type of animal. In a, nother example, geneticists have determined that in some cases a single gene can result in the formation of wings in an insect or no wings. Obviously, the presence of wings vs. no wings makes a huge difference. However, also remember that while one gene can turn wings on or off, it takes many more genes for any species to form wings even if one or another genes disrupt the whole process.

Some may be surprised to discover that the LDS church does not have an official doctrine with regard to evolution itself. While the LDS Church does not have an official policy for or against animal evolution and there has been some debate over whether death in other animals existed prior to Adam, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints does maintain that man is not part of the evolutionary process. LDS would absolutely reject the notion that man are "evolved from pond scum" or that mankind are just a "pack of neurons." How God formed the body of Adam from the dust of the Earth, has not been revealed specifically.

"Diversity of opinion does not necessitate intolerance of spirit, nor should it embitter or set rational beings against each other. ... Our religion is not hostile to real science. That which is demonstrated, we accept with joy; but vain philosophy, human theory and mere speculations of men, we do not accept nor do we adopt anything contrary to divine revelation or to good common sense."

This is an interesting example of why sometimes God does not reveal everything to us. BH Roberts was one of the most outspoken proponents in favor of death before Adam. While most LDS prophets and apostles have commented that they were of the opinion that the Fall of Adam brought death into the world, the LDS Church came to the conclusion the answer to this issue was not of eternal significance to the salvation of man, and by not taking sides, this avoided contention and made sufficient room in the LDS tent for religious scientists that have faith in God and believe that science and religion can harmonize.

I was watching PBS the other day and a NOVA-like show was visiting an institute of human evolution which had numerous remains of Neanderthal and Cro-Magnon (not called that any more). It is currently believed as far as I can tell that scientists believe that Neanderthals and Early Man (Cro-Magnon), lived in Europe at the same time but didn't mix. And then by some unexplained mystery Neanderthals who are believed to have lived on the Earth as early as 600,000 bc died out after Cro-Magnon moved in about 30,000 bc.

However, I think the Bible tells us exactly what really happened. John in Revelation was shown 4 beasts who stood around the throne of God. Joseph Smith asked God if these 4 beasts represented 4 individuals or classes. Joseph Smith was told that they represented both individuals and classes. The interesting thing about these 4 magnificent beasts full of eyes and wings (knowledge and power) is that one of the 4 had the face of a man. The significance of this is that this beast with the face of a man, was not a man. Could this beast have represented the Neanderthal?

Thinking along these lines, if Neanderthal and Human's lived together, did Humans and Neanderthal ever mix? Science says no, but the Genesis story may suggest they did. Genesis tells a bazaar tale of the sons of god intermixing with the daughters of man. The result of this forbidden mixing were offspring referred to as the Giants. Could the 6-7 ft Cro-Magnon remains represent the Giants spoken of in the Bible? If Cro-Magnon are the Giants, the Bible tells us that most if not all did not survive the global flood (see Gen 6:4, Deut 2:20-21).

Creation: Bring Into Being

One major theological difference between Evangelicals and members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is on the meaning of creation. Evangelicals interpret the Bible to say that God is eternal and self-existent and that everything in the universe came into existence out of nothing "ex nihlo." LDS on the other hand understand the Bible to teach that God brought everything in the universe into being. Or that in other words, God formed, organized, put together, and arranged everything both visible and invisible for operation in the Universe. But which is called spirit or intelligence is, according to universal law, self-existent and eternal and therefore does not need to be brought into existence because intelligence and spirit has always existed. If the LDS view is correct, then what is the Biblical and logical support for the LDS view?

John 1: 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
Not anything was made that was made, suggests not everything that exists needed making. Spirit or what is called intelligence is self-existent. The verb for make here, which is used 3 times in this verse, is ginomai" or "gegonen." This word means "to make" which means "bring into being" and not "bring into existence." The root is used in the phrase "and it came to pass" or "it happened that." Some Bible version render this "without him nothing exists which exists" but this interpretion ignores the meaning of the Greek verb and the proper Greek tense.

Col. 1: 16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
Here the Greek verb for create is "ektisthe" or root "ktizo" means to fabricate, form, or make. Again this is the same as the Hebrew word "bara." And yes, God did arrange all things visible and invisible (like physical laws and forces) for operation in this universe. But this does not exclude that other things are eternal and self-existent as God is.

Col. 1: 17 . . . all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist (were put together).
The verb for "consist" is "sunesteken" or root "sunistao" again in the Perfect tense which means "are set together" or "were put together."

Zech 12:1 The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel, saith the LORD, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him.
God formed man within him like a potter forms a pot or a builder builds a house.

Rev 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
Some versions say "they are and do exist" but to say that would ignore the proper Greek tense.

Rom 4:17 As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.
Some version again try to use the word exist by saying "and calls into existence things that don't yet exist." However, to do that requires them to ignore the Greek tense.

Heb. 3: 4 For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God.
The author of Hebrews says God is the Great Builder of all things. No blasphemy there.

Rom. 9: 21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?
Isa. 64: 8 But now, O Lord, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.”
Paul and Isaiah say God is the Great Potter. No blasphemy here either.

D&C 93: 29 Man was also in the beginning with God. Intelligence, or the light of truth, was not created or made, neither indeed can be.
John 6: 6 And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do.
Remember, the story of creation does not discuss the creation of angels. If you believe that there are no other self-existent things in the universe, then you have to explain how it is that God brought Satan into existence out of nothing. Did God mess up? Did God give a mass murderer a gun knowing full well what Satan would do with his free will? Rabbi Kushner in his book "Why bad things happen to good people" that you either have to accept that God doesn't care, or that the universe is like a clock and God can't stop it. But the intelligence and will of Satan had no beginning as do all self-existent souls. God did not give satan Satan will. Instead, God gave Satan agency or every chance to choose good, but Satan proved to himself and all of us just what he is made of.

Exodus 3:14 (KJV) And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.
Just as God says He is a God of gods, a Lord of lords, and King of kings; is Christ saying that He is the Great Self-Existent One of all self-existent beings?

Creation: Examples in Greek and Hebrew

John 1: 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

According to John, God made everything both visible and invisible that needed making. But according to this, not everything needed making. Somethings are self-existent like God is. Interesting how the creation story does not discuss the creation of the angels in heaven or of Lucifer, Michael, and Gabriel. Now, do not misunderstand. God did form or organize the spirits, but not from nothing. Why is that important? Because it means that God is not responsible for creating evil. Satan is the father of lies.

Zech 12:1 The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel, saith the LORD, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him.

God formed or brought into being the sprit of man. We are the spiritual offspring of god. But this doesnt mean it was formed from nothing. In fact the word used for create is "yatsar". According to Hebrew lexicons, yatsar (yaw-tsar') means to mould into a form; especially as a potter; to determine, fashion, form, frame, or make.

The Hebrew word "bara" is often translated "create".
The Hebrew word "asah" is often translated "make".
The Hebrew word "yasar" is often translated "form".

"bara" may include the idea of bringing something into existence or into being like the earth and the body of man. However, the body of man was formed from the dust of the earth. And we know that the Earth was formed from dust in the universe which came together (Col. 1: 17 consist = sunesteken = put together). But the mind or intelligence of man, or spirit is self-existent, and is formed and not made like the physical elements. God is spirit and God is self-existent. Therefore all spirit is self-existent. Like the spirit of Jesus Christ, the Bible says was begotten and not made; the spirits of man were generated from God, formed, brought into being, and not brought into existence from non-existence.

The mind and intelligence of Lucifer is self-existent as all intelligences are. So, when it came to God creating Lucifer, it wasnt a matter of God messing up, or giving a killer a weapon. God knew what Lucifer would become and could have skipped him or designed him better. Lucifer's mind always existed and God did know that mind would rebell against Him, but God gave Lucifer every opportunity to do rightly. God gave Lucifer free agency, but Lucifer always possessed will which is an inherit characteristic of self-existence. Consequently Lucifer alone is responsible for his own rebellion.

This is also how Christ bought us and we are said to be God's purchased possessions. The Apostles said that false teachers would enter into the church and deny that Christ purchased them. What would there be for God to buy if God had made us from nothing. God would already own us. But our will is our own, and all of us have given ourselves away for nothing to Satan. But through the grace of Jesus Christ, we have been redeemed by the price of His blood. And all that God expects now is that we deliver to Him the goods. God expects that we turn over to him what He has paid for in full-- our will, without holding anything back.

2 Pet. 2: 1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

ΠΕΤΡΟΥ Β΄ 2:1 Greek NT: WH / NA27 / UBS4 ἐγένοντο δὲ καὶ ψευδοπροφῆται ἐν τῷ λαῷ ὡς καὶ ἐν ὑμῖν ἔσονται ψευδοδιδάσκαλοι, οἵτινες παρεισάξουσιν αἱρέσεις ἀπωλείας καὶ τὸν ἀγοράσαντα αὐτοὺς δεσπότην ἀρνούμενοι. ἐπάγοντες ἑαυτοῖς ταχινὴν ἀπώλειαν,

= also the/that/[omit] bought them Master denying (transliteration).
= denying that the Master bought them. (the KJV incorrectly refers to the Living God using the word "that" instead of "who". Also, my translation places the emphasis of Peter's words on the denial of being purchased by Christ, in contrast to the KJV version which places the emphasis on a denial of Christ, and then adding the "that bought them" as almost an afterthought instead of the basis of their denial).

Becoming vs. Existing: Examples from the Greek and Hebrew

Joseph Smith taught that we should believe that Bible as far as it is translated or interpreted correctly. What does Joseph Smith mean by this statement. Is he trying to destroy faith in the Bible? No, he is reminding us that that are many Bible translations and even many versions in the original languages. So, we have to study the scriptures out carefully to understand the original intent of the authors. And in case you think there are no significant differences in Bible translations or version; the following is a brief example of how a few words can change a whole theology, understanding of God, and how man fits into it.

As I stated in my last post, there exists a major theological difference between LDS and Evangelicals with regards to the eternal nature of the spirit of man, and with regards to the process of creation. Evangelicals believe that God creates from nothing. Or in other words He brings things in to existence from nothing. LDS believe that God made everything "that was made" (John 1:3), which suggests there are some things in this universe that are co-eternal and self-existent as God is.

In my last post, I pointed out how John 1:3 talks about God bringing things into being as opposed to bringing things into existence. A friend of mine brought to my attention two additional scriptures that in recent Bible versions support creation "ex nihlo" by saying that God brought things into existence." However, the KJV and older Bible versions do not use this language or convey this idea. In this post I will look at the original Greek using the online resource Biblos.com and BlueletterBible.com to see if these modern translations are justified in their alterations to the Bible.

John 1:3 (GWT) Everything came into existence through him. Not one thing that exists was made without him.
John 1:3 (WNT) All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing that exists came into being.
John 1:3 (KJV) All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
Greek (WH / NA27 / UBS4) πάντα δι' αὐτοῦ ἐγένετο, καὶ χωρὶς αὐτοῦ ἐγένετο οὐδὲ ἕν ὃ γέγονεν

LEXICON
kai - kai and, also, even, so then, too
choris - choris beside, by itself, without.
autau - autos him
egeneto - ginomai to cause to be, to become, come into being (aorist tense)
oude - oude not however, neither, nor, not even, never, no
en - heis one, only, other, some.
0 - hos who, which, what, that, other, some, that, what, which
gegonen - ginomai happen, to cause to be, to become, come into being (perfect active indicative)

John, in this verse, sounds very redundant. John uses the verb "ginomai," which means "come into being," "happen," or "made" 3 times. Here John says that God brought into being all things. And that without God nothing was brought into being, that was brought into being. What this suggests is that not all things needed to be made or brought into being. Some things already existed or are self-existent and eternal.

Evangelicals interpret this to say this should read "and without him was not anything made that exists." Meaning, if it exists at all, that God brought it into existence. But there are 2 big problems with this. First, "ginomai" or "gegonen" does not mean "come into existence". "ginomai" means "come into being" or "happened." "being" has an entirely different connotation than "existing." I might become something, while still existing before becoming what I became. But if you came into existence, there was nothing before that.

Second, the tense is all wrong. The verb in the Greek is in the 3rd person perfect tense. The word "egeneto" is the Greek word for "made" in the 1st and 2nd use which is in the Aorist tense which suggests a simple occurance (ntgreek). But the last use of the verb "gimomai" or "gegonen" is in the perfect tense which suggests the progress of an action has been completed and the results of the action are continuing on (ntgreek). "exists" is infinitive tense (non-finite) and is considered a verbal noun. Therefore, the Evangelical interpretation is contrary to the Biblical Greek.

Col. 1: 16-17 (ISV) For by him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, . . . All things have been created through him and for him. He himself existed before anything else did, and he holds all things together.
Col. 1: 16-17 (KJV) For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, . . . all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
Greek (WH / NA27 / UBS4) καὶ αὐτός ἐστιν πρὸ πάντων καὶ τὰ πάντα ἐν αὐτῷ συνέστηκεν,

LEXICON
kai - kai and, also, even, so then, too
autos - autos him
estin - esti he, she, it, is; also, they are (present indicative)
pro - pro prior to, above, ago, before, or ever.
panton - pas all, any, every, the whole
kai - kai and, also, even, so then, too
ta - ho the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.
panta - pas all, any, every, the whole
en - en in, at, (up-)on, by
autos - autos him
sunesteken - sunistao to set together, to put together, to constitute (perfect active indicative)

Here in 1 Col 1:16 the Greek verb for create is "ektisthe" or root "ktizo" means to fabricate, form, or make. Again this is the same as the Hebrew word "bara." And yes, God did arrange all things visible and invisible for operation in this universe. But this does not exclude that other things are eternal and self-existent as God is

In 1 Col 1:17 The verb for "consist" is "sunesteken" or root "sunistao" again in the Perfect tense which means "are set together" or "were put together." Consist is again the infinitive tense or a verbal noun. The proper tense would say [And he is before all things, and by him all things were put together]. Again, applying the appropriate Perfect tense to the translation suggest that creating involved forming, arranging, organizing and shaping and not bringing somthing into existence from nothing.

Rom 4:17 (SIV) As it is written, "I have made you the father of many nations." Abraham acted in faith when he stood in the presence of God, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence things that don't yet exist.
Rom 4:17 (KJV) As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.
Greek (WH / NA27 / UBS4) καθὼς γέγραπται ὅτι πατέρα πολλῶν ἐθνῶν τέθεικά σε, κατέναντι οὗ ἐπίστευσε Θεοῦ τοῦ ζωοποιοῦντος τοὺς νεκροὺς καὶ καλοῦντος τὰ μὴ ὄντα ὡς ὄντα·

LEXICON
kai - kai and, also, even, so then, too
kalountos - kaleo to call, call (forth) (present active)
ta - ho the, this, one, things
me - me neither, never, no wise, none, nor, nothing, that not,without.
onta - on being, be, come, have. (present active).
os - hos though, which how, in that manner
onta - on being, be, come, have.(present active)

My translation is [and calls those things which are not as though they are]. This speaks of the Justification of Christ and not creation out of nothing. I'm not sure how you "and calls into existence things that don't yet exist." from the text. Also, you cannot get "and calls the nonexistent into existence" because nonexistent would be the infinitive tense or a noun verb.

Rev 4:11 (NASB) Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.
Rev 4:11 (KJV) Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
Greek (WH / NA27 / UBS4) Ἄξιος εἶ, ὁ Κύριος καὶ ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν, λαβεῖν τὴν δόξαν καὶ τὴν τιμὴν καὶ τὴν δύναμιν, ὅτι σὺ ἔκτισας τὰ πάντα, καὶ διὰ τὸ θέλημά σου ἦσαν καὶ ἐκτίσθησαν.
Greek (Tischendorf 8th Ed.) εἰσιν καὶ ἐκτίσθησαν
Greek (Byzantine / Majority Text) εἰμί καί κτίζω

LEXICON
kia - kai and, also, even, so then, too
dia - dia through, for, because
to - ho the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.
thelema - thelema a determination, choice, desire, pleasure, will.
sou - sou of thee, thy, thee, thine (own), thou, thy.
esan - eisi were, they are, are, be, is (imperfect indicative)
kia - kai and, also, even, so then, too, etc.
ektisthesan - ktizo to fabricate, found, create, make (aorist passive indicative)

My translation is [and because of thy will, they were and are created]. This cannot read "they existed and were created" because the tense is messed up. "existed" would be the infinitive tense again. However, "esan" is in the imperfect past tense and the "ektisthesan" is in the aorist tense which is a past tense giving no indication of duration. It is also often referred to as the 'punctiliar' tense. 'Punctiliar' in this sense means 'viewed as a single, collective whole,' a "one-point-in-time" action (ntgreek).

Zech 12:1 The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel, saith the LORD, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him.

God formed or brought into being the sprit of man. We are the spiritual offspring of god. But this doesnt mean it was formed from nothing. In fact the word used for create is "yatsar" yatsar (yaw-tsar') to mould into a form; especially as a potter; figuratively, to determine (i.e. form a resolution) -- earthen, fashion, form, frame, make(-r), potter, purpose.

Exodus 3:14 (KJV) And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.
Exodus 3:14 (NASB) God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM"; and He said, "Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.'"
Greek OT: Septuagint καὶ εἶπεν ὁ θεὸς πρὸς μωυσῆν ἐγώ εἰμι ὁ ὤν καὶ εἶπεν οὕτως ἐρεῖς τοῖς υἱοῖς ισραηλ ὁ ὢν ἀπέσταλκέν με πρὸς ὑμᾶς
Hebrew Bible ויאמר אלהים אל משה אהיה אשר אהיה ויאמר כה תאמר לבני ישראל אהיה שלחני אליכם׃

LEXICON
ehyeh - hayah to be or become, come to pass, self-existent one
asher - asher A relativizer, used to introduce a relative clause used as a conjunction rather than a pronoun; that, which, who, whom
ehyeh - hayah to be or become, come to pass, to happen, self-existent

There has been a lot of speculation about just what the name "I AM THAT I AM" is supposed to mean. Many see this as a declaration of God's self-existent and eternal nature. It is interesting that the verb used in the title for God is the same verb used in the beginning of many verses in the Bible and the Book of Mormon which translates to "It came to pass" or "It happened that" and which is the same kind of verb the New Testament Apostles used to describe the creative process of God.

Additionally, the parallel structure in the title reminds me of other titles for God such as "God of gods, Lord of lords, and King of kings." I wonder if this name for God isn't also a title like these other names for God. Could "I AM THAT I AM" be translated the "Self Existent of self existent?" It maybe, that this sacred name for God could coinside with several scriptures in the New and Old Testaments that also refer to God as the God of gods, Judge of judges, King of kings, Lord of lords, the Most High God and the Most High Priest. If this were the case, the name would reveal a great deal about the eternal nature of man as well as our relationship with God as spirit children of Our Heavenly Father.

Creation means bring into being, not bring into existence

One major theological difference between Evangelicals and members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is on the meaning of creation. Evangelicals interpret the Bible to say that God is eternal and self-existent and that everything in the universe was conjured or came into existence out of nothing. LDS on the other hand understand the Bible to teach that God brought everything in the universe into being. Or that in other words, God formed, organized, and arranged everything both visible and invisible for operation in the Universe. But that element and spirit are, according to universal law, self-existent and eternal and therefore do not need to be brought into existence because those things have always existed. If the LDS view is correct, then what is the Biblical and logical support for the LDS view?

#1 if you believe that God started bringing things into existence at the Beginning out of nothing, then you have to explain how you logically can reject the law of conservation of energy and mass which says that energy and mass are not created nor destroyed but just converted from one form to another.

#2 If you believe that there are no other self-existent things in the universe, then you have to explain how it is that God brought Satan into existence out of nothing. Did God mess up? Did God give a mass murderer a gun knowing full well what Satan would do with it? Rabbi Kushner in his book "Why bad things happen to good people" that you either have to accept that God doesn't care, or that the universe is like a clock and God can't stop it.

#3 LDS on the other hand understand that "to create" or the Hebrew word "bara" in the Bible means to "cut out, form, shape, organize, and arrange" and not to "conjure" from nothing "ex nihlo."

#4 LDS understand that God did create, organize, and arrange all thing in heaven and Earth but from self-existent eternal material. Spirit is an example of purified material that is eternal and has no beginning or end. God is spirit. God is eternal. Therefore spirit is eternal. Spirit is element (ta stoicheia tou kosmou). Joseph Smith taught there is no such thing as immaterial matter and that even spirit is matter, but just more refined.

#5 John 1: 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. To some, John is being very redundant. Is he just saying the same thing 3 times? John uses the verb "ginomai," which means "come into being" 3 times. Here John says that God brought into being all things. And that without God nothing was brought into being, that was brought into being. What this suggests is that not all things needed to be made or brought into being. Some things already existed or are self-existent and eternal.

#6 Evangelicals interpret this to say this should read "and without him was not anything made that exists." Meaning, if it exists at all, that God brought it into existence. But there are 2 big problems with this. First, "ginomai" or "gegonen" does not mean "come into existence". "ginomai" means "come into being." "being" has an entirely different connotation than "existing." I might become something, while still existing before becoming what I became. But if you came into existence, there was nothing before that.

#7 Second, the tense is all wrong. The verb in the Greek is in the 3rd person perfect tense. The word "egeneto" is the Greek word for "made" in the 1st and 2nd use which is in the Aorist tense which suggests a simple occurance (ntgreek). But the last use of the verb "gimomai" or "gegonen" is in the perfect tense which suggests the progress of an action has been completed and the results of the action are continuing on (ntgreek). "exists" is infinitive tense (non-finite) and is considered a verbal noun. Therefore, the Evangelical interpretation is contrary to the Biblical Greek.

#8 Col. 1: 16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, . . . all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. Here the Greek verb for create is "ektisthe" or root "ktizo" means to fabricate, form, or make. Again this is the same as the Hebrew word "bara." And yes, God did arrange all things visible and invisible for operation in this universe. But this does not exclude that other things are eternal and self-existent as God is.

#9 The verb for "consist" is "sunesteken" or root "sunistao" again in the Perfect tense which means "are set together, stands together, recommends, or demonstrates" Consist is again the infinitive tense or a verbal noun. The proper tense would say "And he is before all things, and by him all things were set together" Again, applying the appropriate Perfect tense to the translation suggest that creating involved forming and shaping and not conjuring into existence from nothing.

#10 The idea that God creates by bringing things into being as opposed to bringing things into existence fits with the Biblical description of God as a builder of a house or the potter of clay. Paul says “Heb. 3: 4 For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God.” and “Rom. 9: 21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? “ Isaiah uses similar language, “Isa. 64: 8 But now, O Lord, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.”

#11 Yet, another Biblical example that suggests that creation was from pre-existing co-eternal materials is the miracles of Jesus. When the creator made wine at the wedding. Jesus didn't conjure or bring the wine into existence from nothing, but He changed water into wine. Also, when Jesus fed the 5000, He didn't conjure bread and fish but multiplied and expanded the bread and fish that were available.

#12 Why is the eternal nature of matter so important? Because, it means that the soul or spirit that resides in our bodies existed before we were born. The spirits of man came from God and dwelt with God in heaven before coming to Earth and that our spirits did not just come into existence at birth. And what is significant about that? That means that the goal of this life is not just to get back to God. We were with God before. The goal of this life is to be empowered by Christ to become like God. Therefore, the definition of eternal life is not just life with God but life as God lives. This is what it means to know God.

#13 Also, the eternal nature of matter means that the spirit or intelligence of man is self-existent and had no being just as it will have no end. And that our will, which is the essence of existence and which is associated with our mind and intelligence was not given to us but is ours. And this is why the Bible says that God bought us with the price, and that we are His purchased possessions. If God created us from nothing and brought us into existence, God wouldn't have to buy us. But this is why the souls of man are of great worth in the sight of God. While our souls are worthless, in our current fallen state, each of us have infinite potential and the seeds of divinity within us through Christ as children of God. And since Christ has purchased us with the price of His blood, what He expects is that we deliver what is bought and paid for; our whole will, heart, mind, and soul.

#14 In fact Peter warned that false teachers would deny that Christ really purchased us. 2 Pet. 2: 1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them. The emphasis here is not just the denial of the Lord, but that denial of the doctrine that Christ purchased us. In Greek is says “καὶ τὸν ἀγοράσαντα αὐτοὺς δεσπότην ἀρνούμενοι.” or “even denying the Lord purchased them”. The extra “that” changes the emphasis of the statement, the meaning and is unwarranted in the Greek text.

#15 Knowing this, only the LDS can adequately answer the atheists when they demand that Christians explain the existence of evil in the universe. Evil has always existed. Lucifer was not given will but given agency and full opportunity to choose the right. God knew Lucifer would rebel, and gave him every opportunity making him an archangel beside Michael and Gabriel and others. Lucifer rejected God and Christ of his own free will and was cast out of heaven. Lucifer acts of his own free will, and is only permitted to operate for a little season for Gods higher purposes. But Lucifer who became Satan is the Father of lies and not God. God did not bring into existence a defective creation. And we shouldn't say that God didn't know what Lucifer would become.

#16 Finally, some suggest that the belief that God did not bring all things into existence, even co-eternal things, and self-existent things means that the LDS concept of God is inferior. Somehow, God has to do what doesn't have to be done to be God. It is sort of like saying God isn't all powerful if He can't lie and get away with it. God is the sole creator of the universe, but the fact of reality is that there are self-existent things who God is Master and Lord over. And, that the opposite of created is not eternal. Something can be both created and eternal. Things can have pre-existed while still becoming later. If there really was a distinction between things that are eternal and things that are created, then man who is created could never become eternal and receive eternal life.

Biblical Evidence Against "Ex Nihilo" Creation

Many Christians interpret the Bible as teaching that God created the heavens and earth "from nothing" or "ex nihilo"(John 1:3, Romans 4:17, 1 Corinthians 1:28, Hebrews 11:3). However, surprisingly, while this detail may seem trivial, it is integrally linked to the understanding of the nature of God and the eternal potential of man. Why? Because if mankind really are children of God and if man can literally become like our Heavenly Father as the Bible promises; then the spirits of man need to have existed forever and not have been created children of God from nothing. Why? Because to become like the eternal God, man would also have to be co-existent and co-eternal with Him. Gods are not created, they ARE OR ARE NOT. Christ is the great I AM THAT I AM or self-existent one. Therefore, the spirits of man would have to have been created children but not gods. Gods in embryo would be our species; what we are, what we have always been. And, becoming spiritual fathers like the Eternal Father would be our destiny. If, however, man were made from nothing as some believe, then man is nothing whatever like the Eternal Father. God is not our father, and we are not really children. We are instead, something closer to pets or toys.

Gen 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

The whole debate begins in Genesis 1:1 which the word "create." The word "created" in Hebrew is "bara" which according to most Lexicons means to "form, carve out, cut out, and to plane and polish." The word is used in Hebrew is synonymous with the verb "to build". Therefore, it makes sense that Paul would talk about creation in terms of building when he says that God is "he that built all things". Also, Paul refers to God as the "potter" and us as "the clay." Both examples involve forming and creating from pre-existing materials.

Heb. 3: 4 For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God.

Rom. 9: 21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?

Aside from these examples, there are even more compelling evidences that creation was not "ex nihilo." Where is that? The evidence resides in the several creative miracles of the creator, even Jesus Christ Himself, during His earthly ministry. When Christ formed wine at the marriage in Cana, Christ didn't create the wine from nothing, but created the wine from water. Again, in the feeding of the 4 and 5,000. Christ didn't merely conjure the food, but multiplied the fishes and barley loaves from pre-existing materials.

Despite these examples, there is even a more fundamental evidence against "ex nihilo" creation which was made by Ravi Zacharias a prominent Evangelical apologeticist who believes in "ex nihilo" creation. While explaining how the Evangelical concept of the trinity being 1 and 3 doesn't violate the law of non-contradiction which would say that God can't be 1 and not 1 at the same time; he said that the love of God was not created but because the Son is co-existent with the Father from the beginning, so the love of the Father for the Son was also co-eternal and uncreated. Therefore, only in Christianity does "love precede life" or creation. Only in Christianity is love uncreated and one with God. If God had been alone, then there would have been nothing to love until after creation. And this is why the Bible says "God is love."

But if you have love which was uncreated and co-existent with God, well then you have something. The love of God is like infinite potential energy. And if you have infinite potential energy, then that potential energy can be converted into kinetic energy, and that kinetic energy can be in the form of mechanical, chemical, inertial and thermal energy. And if you have energy then you can have matter; Number 1, because all energy is mediated by intangible force carrier particles (e.g. photons, gluons, bosons, gravitons, Higgs), and number 2, because energy can be converted into tangible matter and visa versa (E = mc2).