For some time now I have been wanting to write about the awesome grandeur of the Plan of Salvation. When I was a teenager, I read quite a few fantasy books. They were very captivating because of the epic journeys and heroes and great struggles for the survival of humanity, a la Lord of the Rings. But as I began to prepare for a mission, and especially once I left, I realized that the most epic story ever is the one we are living. No author can ever come close to the greatness of the plan of our God (2 Nephi 9:13). There have been many epic journeys throughout time, and many heroes, as recorded in the scriptures. But beyond that, there is a battle raging for the souls of men. It began long ago, and it will continue until the end of the world. This is the plan of salvation; the most epic story you will ever hear.
It has been my goal to write something for this blog once every week. When I started contemplating writing about the plan of salvation, it occurred to me that this is so vast a topic, it cannot be covered in one, or even a couple days of writing. After creating a chart of the overall scheme of the Plan of Salvation, I decided to break it up into component parts. Once I have finished, I will provide a summary, as well as a list of resources and references to expand your learning on the subject even further. This week, I will begin with the question: what is the origin of the soul of man? Or, in other words, where did I come from before I was born?
Just as we have been born to earthly parents into a physical body, we were all born as spirits of Heavenly Parents. (1) During this time we "received [our] first lessons in the world of spirits and were prepared to come forth in the due time of the Lord" to be born on the earth. What is the purpose of all of this?
"God himself, finding he was in the midst of spirits and glory, because he was more intelligent, saw proper to institute laws whereby the rest could have a privilege to advance like himself" (Teachings, JS). Or, as God Himself said, "For behold, this is my work and my glory — to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man." (Moses 1:39) Also (2).
While in this state of existence, we did not simply wander aimlessly, rather it was a period of progression. Elder Bruce R. McConkie said,
"Being subject to law, and having their agency, all the spirits of men, while yet in the Eternal Presence, developed aptitudes, talents, capacities, and abilities of every sort, kinds, and degree. During the long expanse of life which then was, an infinite variety of talents and abilities came into being. As the ages rolled, no two spirits remained alike. Mozart became a musician; Einstein centered his interest in mathematics; Michelangelo turned his attention to painting. Cain was a liar, a schemer, a rebel who maintained a close affinity to Lucifer. Abraham and Moses and all of the prophets sought and obtained the talent for spirituality. Mary and Eve were two of the greatest of all the spirit daughters of the Father....
"The Lord endowed us all with agency; he gave us laws that would enable us to advance and progress and become like him; and he counseled and exhorted us to pursue the course leading to glory and exaltation. He himself was the embodiment and personification of all good things. Every desirable characteristic and trait dwelt in him in its eternal fulness. All of his obedient children started to become like him in one way or another. There was as great a variety and degree of talent and ability among us there as there is among us here. Some excelled in one way, others in another. The firstborn excelled all of us in all things."
Have you ever wondered where you got your personality? Why, even as babies, children exhibit different personalities? It is because of the spirit of man; you developed your personality through long ages of time before this earth was formed.
Despite this progress, to posses the fulness of joy, we had to obtain a body. (3) We were told that this earth life would give us necessary experiences, and also provide us with a tangible body so that we could become like God (D&C 130:22). Because we would make mistakes, the Father would provide a Savior so we could be redeemed and brought back into the presence of God. Otherwise "all mankind must unavoidably perish... yea, all are fallen and are lost, and must perish except it be through the atonement which it is expedient should be made."
As the Father presented this plan to all of His children, there was some serious resistance. We read about it in the Book of Moses:
"And I, the Lord God, spake unto Moses, saying: That Satan... is the same which was from the beginning, and he came before me, saying--Behold, here am I, send me, I will be thy son, and I will redeem all mankind, that one soul shall not be lost, and surely I will do it; wherefore give me thine honor.
But, behold, my Beloved Son, which was my Beloved and Chosen from the beginning, said unto me--Father, thy will be done, and the glory be thine forever.
Wherefore, because that Satan rebelled against me, and sought to destroy the agency of man, which I, the Lord God, had given him, and also, that I should give unto him mine own power; by the power of mine Only Begotten, I caused that he should be cast down;
And he became Satan, yea, even the devil, the father of all lies, to deceive and to blind men, and to lead them captive at his will, even as many as would not hearken unto my voice."
(Moses 4:1-4)
Satan will show up more throughout this story, but for now, suffice it to say that when he was defeated and cast out, he took with him "the third part of the stars [spirits] of heaven," (Rev. 12:4). How terrible! Someone so influential as Lucifer turned his gift to evil, and awful were the consequences. This event is recorded in the Doctrine and Covenants in these words:
"And this we saw also, and bear record, that an angel of God who was in authority in the presence of God, who rebelled against the Only Begotten Son whom the Father loved and who was in the bosom of the Father, was thrust down from the presence of God and the Son,
And was called Perdition, for the heavens wept over him--he was Lucifer, a son of the morning.
And we beheld, and lo, he is fallen! is fallen, even a son of the morning!"
(D&C 76:25-27)
Next time, we will discuss the Creation, and perhaps the Garden of Eden. For now, here are some sources for additional study:
Abraham 3:22-23,25-28
D&C 93:23,29
Revelation 12:3-4,7-11
http://emp.byui.edu/huffr/Plan%20of%20Salvation/Premortal%20Existence/Quotes%20concerning.pdf
I hope that having a knowledge of our divine heritage as spirit sons and daughters of God will help each of us to stand a little taller as we go throughout our day, knowing that we are of a royal lineage.
(1) "All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny."
(https://www.lds.org/topics/family-proclamation?lang=eng&old=true)
(2) "The design of God before the foundation of the world was that we should take tabernacles [bodies], that through faithfulness we should overcome and thereby obtain a resurrection from the dead, in this wise obtaining glory, honor, power, and dominion."
(Teachings of Joseph Smith, Ch. 17)
(3) "We came to this earth that we might have a body and present it pure before God in the celestial kingdom. The great principle of happiness consists in having a body."
(Teachings of Joseph Smith, Ch. 17)
It has been my goal to write something for this blog once every week. When I started contemplating writing about the plan of salvation, it occurred to me that this is so vast a topic, it cannot be covered in one, or even a couple days of writing. After creating a chart of the overall scheme of the Plan of Salvation, I decided to break it up into component parts. Once I have finished, I will provide a summary, as well as a list of resources and references to expand your learning on the subject even further. This week, I will begin with the question: what is the origin of the soul of man? Or, in other words, where did I come from before I was born?
Just as we have been born to earthly parents into a physical body, we were all born as spirits of Heavenly Parents. (1) During this time we "received [our] first lessons in the world of spirits and were prepared to come forth in the due time of the Lord" to be born on the earth. What is the purpose of all of this?
"God himself, finding he was in the midst of spirits and glory, because he was more intelligent, saw proper to institute laws whereby the rest could have a privilege to advance like himself" (Teachings, JS). Or, as God Himself said, "For behold, this is my work and my glory — to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man." (Moses 1:39) Also (2).
While in this state of existence, we did not simply wander aimlessly, rather it was a period of progression. Elder Bruce R. McConkie said,
"Being subject to law, and having their agency, all the spirits of men, while yet in the Eternal Presence, developed aptitudes, talents, capacities, and abilities of every sort, kinds, and degree. During the long expanse of life which then was, an infinite variety of talents and abilities came into being. As the ages rolled, no two spirits remained alike. Mozart became a musician; Einstein centered his interest in mathematics; Michelangelo turned his attention to painting. Cain was a liar, a schemer, a rebel who maintained a close affinity to Lucifer. Abraham and Moses and all of the prophets sought and obtained the talent for spirituality. Mary and Eve were two of the greatest of all the spirit daughters of the Father....
"The Lord endowed us all with agency; he gave us laws that would enable us to advance and progress and become like him; and he counseled and exhorted us to pursue the course leading to glory and exaltation. He himself was the embodiment and personification of all good things. Every desirable characteristic and trait dwelt in him in its eternal fulness. All of his obedient children started to become like him in one way or another. There was as great a variety and degree of talent and ability among us there as there is among us here. Some excelled in one way, others in another. The firstborn excelled all of us in all things."
Have you ever wondered where you got your personality? Why, even as babies, children exhibit different personalities? It is because of the spirit of man; you developed your personality through long ages of time before this earth was formed.
Despite this progress, to posses the fulness of joy, we had to obtain a body. (3) We were told that this earth life would give us necessary experiences, and also provide us with a tangible body so that we could become like God (D&C 130:22). Because we would make mistakes, the Father would provide a Savior so we could be redeemed and brought back into the presence of God. Otherwise "all mankind must unavoidably perish... yea, all are fallen and are lost, and must perish except it be through the atonement which it is expedient should be made."
As the Father presented this plan to all of His children, there was some serious resistance. We read about it in the Book of Moses:
"And I, the Lord God, spake unto Moses, saying: That Satan... is the same which was from the beginning, and he came before me, saying--Behold, here am I, send me, I will be thy son, and I will redeem all mankind, that one soul shall not be lost, and surely I will do it; wherefore give me thine honor.
But, behold, my Beloved Son, which was my Beloved and Chosen from the beginning, said unto me--Father, thy will be done, and the glory be thine forever.
Wherefore, because that Satan rebelled against me, and sought to destroy the agency of man, which I, the Lord God, had given him, and also, that I should give unto him mine own power; by the power of mine Only Begotten, I caused that he should be cast down;
And he became Satan, yea, even the devil, the father of all lies, to deceive and to blind men, and to lead them captive at his will, even as many as would not hearken unto my voice."
(Moses 4:1-4)
Satan will show up more throughout this story, but for now, suffice it to say that when he was defeated and cast out, he took with him "the third part of the stars [spirits] of heaven," (Rev. 12:4). How terrible! Someone so influential as Lucifer turned his gift to evil, and awful were the consequences. This event is recorded in the Doctrine and Covenants in these words:
"And this we saw also, and bear record, that an angel of God who was in authority in the presence of God, who rebelled against the Only Begotten Son whom the Father loved and who was in the bosom of the Father, was thrust down from the presence of God and the Son,
And was called Perdition, for the heavens wept over him--he was Lucifer, a son of the morning.
And we beheld, and lo, he is fallen! is fallen, even a son of the morning!"
(D&C 76:25-27)
Next time, we will discuss the Creation, and perhaps the Garden of Eden. For now, here are some sources for additional study:
Abraham 3:22-23,25-28
D&C 93:23,29
Revelation 12:3-4,7-11
http://emp.byui.edu/huffr/Plan%20of%20Salvation/Premortal%20Existence/Quotes%20concerning.pdf
I hope that having a knowledge of our divine heritage as spirit sons and daughters of God will help each of us to stand a little taller as we go throughout our day, knowing that we are of a royal lineage.
(1) "All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny."
(https://www.lds.org/topics/family-proclamation?lang=eng&old=true)
(2) "The design of God before the foundation of the world was that we should take tabernacles [bodies], that through faithfulness we should overcome and thereby obtain a resurrection from the dead, in this wise obtaining glory, honor, power, and dominion."
(Teachings of Joseph Smith, Ch. 17)
(3) "We came to this earth that we might have a body and present it pure before God in the celestial kingdom. The great principle of happiness consists in having a body."
(Teachings of Joseph Smith, Ch. 17)
I failed to mention a common misconception about the council on heaven. When people explain the beginning of the plan of salvation, I often hear them say something like "Jesus presented His plan, then Satan presented his plan. God chose Jesus' plan." This teaching is not correct.
ReplyDeleteThe Father and the Son are perfectly united, and were both very much aware of the plan before the council was convened. In Abraham 3:25, the plan was presented as a way for man to prove himself to God. As I quoted in the article above, Moses 4:1-4 gives us some important information about this meeting. Satan wanted to take the honor of God for himself, usurping the position of the Son, so he offered to save all men. Was this a viable offer? It certainly sounds pretty good, come to earth without the worry of failing. Satan is called "the father of lies," so he is not a reliable source. This plan could never have worked.
We are told in the scriptures that this "rebellion" would have "destroy[ed] the agency of man." Satan knew what he was proposing, and that he was trying to "exalt [his] throne above the stars of God," and "be like the most High" (Isa. 14:13-14). Satan unfortunately was able to persuade 1/3 of the hosts of heaven to follow him, and they were also cast out of heaven with him. But those of us born onto the earth have a great consolation: we chose Christ in the beginning. We were able to overcome Satan and his deceptions "by the word of [our] testimony" (Rev. 12:11). If we chose Christ in the beginning, why can't we do it again?
There is a well-written article in the March 2015 Ensign called Satan's Rebellion on this subject. I encourage you all to read it.