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

  "Where did I come from?" "What is my purpose here on earth?" "Where do I go after I die?" These are some examples of great questions of the soul that many people have asked themselves. I am grateful for God's plan of salvation that answers these questions.

 

    It is important to understand where we were before we came to this earth. We are all literal sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father and we dwelt with God before we came to earth. However, we did not have bodies -we were all spirits. We were not like our Heavenly Father nor could we ever become like Him and enjoy all the blessings that He enjoys without the experience of living in mortality with a physical body.   

  God’s whole purpose—His work and His glory—is to enable each of us to enjoy all His blessings. He has provided a perfect plan to accomplish His purpose. In the scriptures, this plan is also referred to as the "plan of happiness" or the "plan of redemption." We understood and accepted this plan before we came to the earth. In order for us to return to live with God some day, we must be clean from sin, and we must have a body. All of us are human - we make mistakes and sin every day. Also, that inevitable time will come when we will die. That is why our Heavenly Father provided a Savior for us to overcome these obstacles. Jesus Christ is central to God’s plan. Through His Atonement, Jesus Christ fulfilled His Father’s purpose and overcame death. He made it possible for each of us to repent of our sins and to be clean, and also to one day raise up from death. Satan, or the devil, is an enemy to God’s plan.
   Agency, or the ability to choose, is one of God’s greatest gifts to His children. Our eternal progression depends on how we use this gift. We must choose whether to follow Jesus Christ or follow Satan.
   We are physically separated from God during life on earth, but He wants every one of His children to find peace in this life and a fulness of joy in His presence after this life. He wants us to become like Him. This can be made possible as we repent of our sins, are baptized, receive the Holy Ghost, and endure to the end of our lives in righteousness.

Pre-Earth Life Scripture References: Jeremiah 1:5, Abraham 3:22-26, Moses 3:5, Moses 1:39, Ecclesiastes 12:7, D&C 138: 53-56