What is the proper interpretation of
God’s command to Adam and Eve? In addition to the commission to fill up the
earth with their offspring, Adam was given the position of lord and master over
it. This delegated position essentially made him the caretaker for the Lord’s
creation. Thus, Adam was Michael, the name meaning “he who is God.” Adam bequeathed
the same powers to his children. But, as the words of the Bible uses show,
dominion could take two forms. This seems very fitting, because God put us here
as a rest to see how we could use His powers and respond to the earth. This
freedom allowed individuals to show to themselves and their fellows, and to God
and His witnesses, just how they would behave when entrusted with the powers of
procreation and of dominion. Those who violate the earth and others, who
disregard and oppress nature, will find themselves forever banned from the
powers of both creation and procreation. On the other hand, those who cherish the
earth and subdue it with their own sweat and love, and strive to fill it up,
will possess both powers forever (Hugh Nibley, “Man’s Dominion,” New Era,
October 1972, 24-28). The promise was that if Adam and his posterity took care
of the earth, the earth would respond with her bounty. Obedience to God’s laws
assured Adam that he would subdue and rule over the earth in a proper manner,
with everyone benefitting. Obedience guaranteed he would not harm but rather
would cherish and better that which God had given him. (Richard D. Draper, “Institutes
of Biblical Law,” in The Ten Commandments For Today, ed. John G. Scott [Salt
Lake City: Bookcraft, 1997], 11)
