Among the many one-liners critics throw at Latter-day Saints, one of the most enduring is the idea that faithful members expect to “own their own planet.” It’s usually said with a laugh, as if believers picture themselves lounging on a celestial beach chair, sipping root beer floats while looking over a personal Star Wars–style empire.

But is the idea really so silly? Or is it actually closer to the longings of humanity—and the teachings of scripture—than people realize?

1. Tolkien, Lucas, and Teenagers with Xboxes

Human beings have always been world-builders. J.R.R. Tolkien didn’t just write The Lord of the Rings; he created entire languages, histories, and genealogies. George Lucas didn’t just film a space opera; he imagined an entire galaxy with its own politics, religions, and cultures.

And what about today’s teens? Many spend hours in “engines” like Unreal or the Xbox creation suites, designing maps, ecosystems, and multiplayer worlds. These players aren’t mocked as delusional. They’re praised as creative. If mortals can design whole universes for fun, why would it be absurd to believe God might invite His children to one day participate in His grand creative work on an infinitely higher level?

2. Biblical Roots of Divine Inheritance

Far from being alien to Christianity, the idea of divine inheritance saturates the Bible.

• Romans 8:17 calls believers “heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ.”
• Revelation 3:21 promises the faithful will sit with Christ in His throne.
• Matthew 25:34 pictures the righteous inheriting “the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”

The whole story of the gospel is that humanity is meant to grow up into the likeness of Christ (Ephesians 4:13). If the Father gave His Son “all power in heaven and in earth” (Matthew 28:18), and if Christ then shares His inheritance with us, why should the notion of participating in creation itself be out of bounds?

3. The Latter-day Saint Clarification

Now, to be clear: the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints does not officially teach a cartoonish doctrine of “getting your own planet.” What prophets and apostles have taught is much more expansive: exalted beings become like God, participating in His eternal work of bringing about “immortality and eternal life” (Moses 1:39). That could include stewardship, creation, and eternal family growth—but it isn’t reducible to a sci-fi punchline.

4. The Simulation Vibe

Interestingly, some of the very same critics who chuckle about “planet ownership” also find it plausible that we live in a cosmic simulation. Philosophers and scientists have written entire books arguing that advanced beings might be running a universe on a supercomputer.

If people are willing to entertain that, why dismiss the idea that an infinitely wise God could invite His children into creative partnership? Latter-day Saints simply take the simulation hypothesis and point it upward: if creation looks like code, it’s because God is the Master Architect.

5. Not Absurd, but Inevitable

When mockery fades, the core truth remains: humanity is designed for glory. Whether in Tolkien’s Middle-earth, Lucas’s galaxy, or your neighbor’s Minecraft map, people can’t help but imagine worlds beyond their own. The Bible doesn’t just say we might be partakers of the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4)—it declares we already are.

So the next time someone jokes about “owning your own planet,” smile. Maybe it’s not such a silly idea after all. Maybe it’s one of the most beautiful promises of God—that His children will someday join Him in the joyous work of creation, not as rivals, but as heirs and partners in eternity.

✨ Owning a planet? Call it what you want. The real doctrine is far grander: becoming like our Heavenly Parents, creating, serving, and rejoicing forever in the expanding work of God’s love.