Bruce R. McConkie - Millennial Messiah
As to the plan of salvation for the earth, it also calls for successive
phases of existence and for whatever else is involved for the earth to
abide the law and fill the full measure of its creation. This earth was
first created as a spirit planet. Then came the Edenic or paradisiacal
or terrestrial creation, during which period all forms of life were
placed on its surface, in its waters, or in the atmospheric heavens that
surround it. Next came the fall—the fall of man, the fall of all forms
of life, and the fall of the earth. The fallen earth became a telestial
sphere, which it now is. In the coming millennial day it will be renewed
and receive again its paradisaical glory and will thus return to its
terrestrial or Edenic state. And its final destiny is to become a
celestial globe and shine like the sun in the firmament. In the process
of abiding a celestial law, the earth was baptized by immersion in the
days of Noah; and it will be baptized by fire at the Second Coming. This
old earth is also destined to die and to be resurrected in the day of
quickening. During the Millennium it will, in effect, be in a translated
state, which, as pertaining to men, is the state Enoch and his people
and some others attained. Thus, the earth was first a spirit planet and
then a terrestrial globe. It is now a telestial earth; during the
Millennium it will become terrestrial again; and finally, it will become
a celestial earth. With an awareness of all this, we are ready to
consider the new heaven and new earth that is soon to be.
Joseph Fielding Smith - Man, His Origin and Destiny
(Regarding the flood:) We learn from the revelations given to the Prophet Joseph Smith, that the
earth is a living being. It is obedient to every command, therefore it
is entitled to be sanctified, just as human beings who keep the
commandments of the Lord are to be sanctified. "And again," said the
Lord, "the earth abideth the law of a celestial kingdom, for it filleth
the measure of its creation, and transgresseth not the law—Wherefore, it
shall be sanctified; yea, notwithstanding it shall die, it shall be
quickened again, and shall abide the power by which it is quickened, and
the righteous shall inherit it." Therefore, in order to sanctify the earth and cleanse it, it had to
pass through the water of baptism, and by water be cleansed. Then, at a
later day, it will be baptized with the fire and the Holy Ghost, just
the same for the earth as for humanity who will possess it forever. Now
we begin to see why there had to be a flood. It had to be a complete
immersion, just the same as any other baptism, so the Lord did two
things, first, he cleansed the earth of all of its corruption brought
upon it by the wickedness of "all flesh," and second, the earth having
reached the age for such an ordinance, was cleansed from all the sin
upon its face.
