Wow - I really just don't know what to say without really giving it some serious thought how to put it. Except how sad to think of life in these terms.....

As far as the creation, Russell, there was, first, a spiritual creation and then physical. Of course that isn't going to make sense to someone who doesn't even believe WE have spirits. I'll have to look it up to find exactly where that is, but it explains some of the confusion. As far as the order and what can and can't be....I guess you were there??? And I don't think your interpretation is right anyway.

I just found an excellent article. Actually I've copied it on here before. If either of you care to read it....you must read it very carefully, but it goes into more of an explanation of the creation and its purposes. It's about a page long. Give it a go.....

http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.j...10VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&hideNav=1