Kolob: The Governing Star of the Universe

John Cassinat

Kolob in the Book of Abraham

The Book of Abraham includes Facsimile 2, which is a reproduction of an Egyptian hypocephalus from Thebes that dates back to 380-343 BC. This hypocephalus (which means “under the head”) contains hieroglyphic symbols that Joseph Smith interpreted by revelation. The center of the facsimile contains an image of Kolob, which signifies “the first creation, nearest to the celestial, or the residence of God. First in government.” (Facsimile 2, fig. 1; see also Abr 3:2-3) 

“By means of the Urim and Thummim, Abraham had revealed to him many great secrets concerning the governing planets in our universe…. The Lord showed to him the stars, and among them many that were very great. These were great not only in size, but also in their importance as governing worlds. Among these, one named Kolob was revealed as the great governing star of our universe.”

— Joseph Fielding Smith, Church History and Modern Revelation, Vol. 3, p. 60

Kolob: The First World of the Spirit Creation

Joseph Smith’s inspired explanation of Facsimile 2 states that Kolob was “the first creation.” This means:

• Kolob was the first world of the spirit creation by God the Father,
• Not the first world of the physical creation by Jesus Christ.

This is clear because Abraham 3 places Kolob in the context of premortal events, while Abraham 4 describes the physical creation.

“These six days of creation are those mentioned in Genesis 1, Moses 2, and Abraham 4. The statements found in these chapters therefore are concerned with the creation of the physical earth, not the previous spirit creation.”

— Hyrum Andrus, God, Man, and the Universe, p. 306

As the first and most intelligent world of the spirit creation, Kolob is the first in government over all other worlds of this generation.

Abraham 3:2–3 states:

“[Abraham] saw the stars ... and the name of the great one is Kolob.... I have set this one to govern all those which belong to the same order as that upon which thou standest.”
Abraham 3:2–3

This means that all celestial spirit worlds created by God receive their light from and through Kolob (Facsimile 2, Fig. 5).

Kolob: The Spirit World Within This Earth

During the physical creation, Kolob became the celestial spirit world within this earth.

It is no coincidence that:

• Christ was born on this earth,
• And will govern the universe from this earth,
  Because the earth’s inward spirit is the governing star of the universe.

Several factors confirm that Kolob is the spirit world within this earth:

1. Abraham 3:4 states that Kolob and earth share the same reckoning of time.

2. The Grand Council took place on Kolob, and we lived there in our premortal first estate.

   • Parley P. Pratt taught:

“The science of history…. will trace our race in all its successive emigrations, colonies, states, kingdoms and empires; from their first existence on the great, central, governing planet, or sun, called Kolob.”

— Parley P. Pratt, The Key to the Science of Theology, p. 101

3. The postmortal spirit world for this earth is also within or upon this earth. When we die, we return to the world of spirit from whence we came (Ecclesiastes 12:7).

We might ask ourselves:
If Kolob is not the spirit world within this earth, why did the Lord reveal it to Abraham at all?

Find out the answer to this and other questions about Kolob in my podcasts from:

🎧 September 28, 2025 – Click here to listen.

🎧 September 30, 2025 – Click here to listen.

(Also available wherever you get your podcasts 🎧)

John Cassinat
Unveiling Jesus Christ