The Unauthorized Investigator's Guide to
The Church of JESUS CHRIST of Latter-day Saints

Lesson 2

Pre-Earth Life: God's Purpose and Plan for Us

The Missionaries Will Teach...

Have you ever wondered about the following questions:

  • Where did we come from?
  • Why are we here?
  • Where are we going?

The plan of salvation has the answers to these questions.

God is the literal father of our spirits.  We are literally God's children and he loves us.  Before we were born on Earth, we had a pre-earth life where we lived with God.  However, we weren't exactly like God, and couldn't grow to become like him and enjoy all of the blessings that he enjoys without the experience of coming to earth and getting a mortal body.

God's work and glory--his whole purpose--is to help each of us enjoy all of his blessings, and he's provided us with the perfect plan in order to accomplish this.  Before we came to earth, we understood this plan and agreed to it.  This plan has several names: the plan of happiness, the plan of redemption, and the plan of salvation.

Jesus Christ is central to the plan of salvation.  By way of the atonement, Jesus fulfilled his part in the plan and makes it possible for each of us to enjoy immortality and eternal life.  Satan--the devil--is an enemy of God's plan.

One of the greatest gifts that God gave us is agency: our ability to choose.  How we progress eternally depends upon what we do with this gift.  There are only two choices: we must choose to follow Jesus Christ or choose to follow Satan.

While we are here on earth, we are physically separated from God.  Nevertheless, God wants every one of his children to have peace in this life and complete joy with him in the next life.  He wants us to become like him.

Some Additional Thoughts...

Orphan by maz.  How would you feel if you cherished the beliefs in this principle and then found out that it really isn't true?

 


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If you have a question or would like to discuss these topics, I suggest that you go to a Mormon-related bulletin board (here are some recommendations). If you'd like to contact me with comments or feedback, you may send an email to analytics@lds4u.com.