Our Premortal Experience

Growth and development of Heavenly Father’s children in the

premortal existence.

Dallin H. Oaks Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Our theology begins with heavenly parents. Our highest aspiration is to be like them.(“Apostasy and Restoration,” Ensign, May 1995, p.84)

D&C 11:30

But verily, verily, I say unto you, that as many as receive me, to them will I give power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on my name. (see also John 1:12; 3 Ne. 9:17; Moroni 7:26, 48; D&C 34:3; 35:2; 45:8; Moses 7:1)

D&C 11:30

But verily, verily, I say unto you, that as many as receive me, to them will I give power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on my name. (see also John 1:12; 3 Ne. 9:17; Moroni 7:26, 48; D&C 34:3; 35:2; 45:8; Moses 7:1)

Speaking of those who attain celestial glory, D&C 76:58 states:

“Wherefore, as it is written, they are gods, even the sons of God—”

David A. Bednar Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

The gospel and the Atonement of Jesus Christ fundamentally are about change—about helping us as sons and daughters of God to progress in becoming more like Him. Heavenly Father’s plan of happiness establishes the framework for eternal progression, and the Savior’s gospel provides the doctrines, covenants, and ordinances necessary to become what children of God are intended to become. (Power to Become [2104], p. 40; emphasis added)

Progression towards godhood is achieved through various stages of existence

Progression Achieved Through Various Stages of Existence

Orson F. Whitney (1855-1931) Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Progression Achieved Through Various Stages of Existence

Orson F. Whitney (1855-1931) Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Paul defines the Gospel of Christ as “the power of God unto salvation” (Romans 1:16). He might have gone further, had he so desired, or had it been timely, and shown that the Gospel of Christ is the power of God unto exaltation—a plan devised by Omnipotent Wisdom whereby man, the child of God, may advance from stage to stage of soul development, until eventually he becomes like unto his Heavenly Parent, inheriting eternal thrones and dominions, and receiving “a fulness of joy.” (Gospel Themes: A Treatise on Salient Features of Mormonism [1914], pp. 3-4; emphasis added)

Progression Achieved Through Various Stages of Existence

Harold B. Lee (1899-1973) President

This life we speak of did not begin with mortal birth. This life does not end with mortal death. There is something that is not created or made. The Scriptures called it ”intelligence,” which at a certain stage in the pre‑existence was organized into a “spirit.” After that spirit had grown to a certain stature it then was given the opportunity by an all‑wise Father to come into another stage for its development. It was added upon [with a mortal body], and after having lived its span and having attained to its purpose in mortality, another change took place [i.e.,death and eventually resurrection]. We go, not into another life in fact, but into another stage of the same life. There is something which was not created or made, and something which does not die, and that something shall live on forever. (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Harold B. Lee [2000], p. 9; emphasis added )

The Premortal Stage of Existence

Our Understanding of the premortal existence is very limited

Boyd K. Packer Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

• Essential facts about our premortal life have been revealed. Although they are sketchy, they unravel the mystery of life. (“The Mystery of Life,” Ensign, Nov. 1983, p. 17; emphasis added)

• No more profound truth has been conveyed to us in the Restoration than the knowledge of our premortal existence. No other church knows or teaches this truth. The doctrine is give only in outline form, but salient facts are repeated often enough in the revelations to assure us of certain fundamental truths. (Mine Errand from the Lord: Selections from the Sermons and Writings of Boyd K. Packer [2008], pp 7-8; italics are original, underling added)

Our Understanding of the premortal existence is very limited

Boyd K. Packer Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

While our knowledge is limited on our premortal state, we do know

1. That we were individual; 2. That we were intelligent; 3. That we had spirit bodies; 4. That we had, and yet have, a child-parent

relationship with God, the Father; 5. That Jesus Christ was chosen from before the

world was; 6. That as He is a Son of God, that likewise we, all

mankind, are sons and daughters of God; 7. We, therefore, at times, refer to Him as our

Elder Brother. (Mine Errand from the Lord: Selections from the Sermons and Writings of Boyd K. Packer [2008], pp 7-8; emphasis added)

What do we know about development and progression

while in the premortal existence?

Joseph Smith (1805-44) President

I wish to go back to the beginning – to the morn of creation. There is the starting point for us to look to, in order to understand and be fully acquainted with the mind, purposes and decrees of the Great Elohim, who sits in yonder heavens as he did at the creation of this world. It is necessary for us to have an understanding of God himself in the beginning. If we start right, it is easy to go right all the time; .... If a man learns nothing more than to eat, drink and sleep, and does not comprehend any of the designs of God, the beast comprehends the same things. . . I want to go back to the beginning, and so lift your minds into a more lofty sphere and a more exalted understanding than what the human mind generally aspires to. …

Joseph Smith (1805-44) President

God himself, finding he was in the midst of spirits and glory, because he was more intelligent, saw proper toinstitute laws whereby the rest could have a privilege to advance like himself. The relationship we have with God places us in a situation to advance in knowledge. He has power to institute laws to instruct the weaker intelligences, that they may be exalted with himself, so that they might have one glory upon another, and all that knowledge, power, glory, and intelligence, which is requisite in order to save them in the world of spirits. (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, [1976], pp. 343, 354; emphasis added)

The First Stage in Our Advancement Towards

Becoming as Heavenly Father:Spiritual Organization

or

Spirit Birth

• D&C 93:29, 33-34 Man was also in the beginning with God. Intelligence, or the light of truth, was not created* nor made, neither indeed can be .... For man is spirit. The elements are eternal, and spirit and element inseparably connected, receive a fulness of joy; and when separated, man cannot receive a fulness of joy.

*1828 American Dictionary of the English Language:Create: To produce; to bring into being from nothing; to cause to exist.

• Abraham 3:18 . . . spirits . . . have no beginning; they existed before, they shall have no end, they shall exist after, for they are gnolaum, or eternal.

• D&C 131:7There is no such thing as immaterial matter. All spirit is matter, but it is more fine or pure, and can only be discerned by purer eyes.

•Nauvoo, Ill., July, 1839The spirit of man is not a created being; it existed from eternity, and will exist to eternity. Anything created cannot be eternal; and earth, water, etc., had their existence in an elementary state, from eternity. (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, sel. Joseph Fielding Smith [1976], p. 158; emphasis added).

•Nauvoo, Ill., April, 1844, Conference of the ChurchThe mind or the intelligence which man possesses is co-[eternal] with God himself. I know that my testimony is true . . . I am dwelling on the immortality of the spirit [i.e., intelligence] of man. Is it logical to say that the intelligence of spirits is immortal, and yet that it had a beginning? The intelligence of spirits had no beginning, neither will it have an end. That is good logic . That which has a beginning may have an end. There never was a time when there were not spirits [i.e., intelligences]; for they are co-[eternal] with our Father in heaven. … Intelligence is eternal and exists upon a self-existent principle. (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith [1976], pp.353-354)

Boundless Infinitude of Space and Self-Existing Elements

Parley P. Pratt (1807-57) Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

[T]he following [are] self‑evident and incontrovertible facts–- First. There has always existed a boundless infinitude of space. Second. Intermingled with this space there exist all the varieties of the elements, properties, or things of which intelligence takes cognizance; which elements or things taken altogether compose what is called Universe. Third. The elements of all these properties or things are eternal, uncreated, self‑existing. Not one particle can be added to them by creative power. Neither can one particle be diminished or annihilated. Fourth. These eternal, self‑existing elements possess in themselves certain inherent properties or attributes, in a greater or less degree; or, in other words, they possess intelligence, adapted to their several spheres. (Key to the Science of Theology [1891], pp. 43-44)

Why is it important to understand that God did not

create our intelligence?

Spirits are Organized IntelligenceFirst Presidency Statement (Joseph F. Smith, President)

The scriptures plainly and repeatedly affirm that God is the Creator of the earth and the heavens and all things that in them are. In the sense so expressed the Creator is an Organizer. God created the earth as an organized sphere; but He certainly did not create, in the sense of bringing into primal existence, the ultimate elements of the materials of which the earth consists, for “the elements are eternal” (D&C 93:33).

So also life is eternal, and not created, but life, or the vital force, may be infused into organized matter, though the details of the process have not been revealed unto man. . . God showed unto Abraham “the intelligences that were organized before the world was”; and by “intelligences” we are to understand personal “spirits” (Abr. 3:22,23); nevertheless, we are expressly told that “intelligence” that is, “the light of truth was not created or made, neither indeed can be” (D&C 93:29). (“The Father and the Son: A Doctrinal Exposition by the First Presidency and the Twelve” in Messages of the First Presidency, 6 vols., comp. by James R. Clark [1965-75], 5:26, emphasis added)

Spirits are Organized Intelligence

Harold B. Lee (1899-1973) President

A spirit, Abraham says, is an organized intelligence. (The Teachings of Harold B. Lee, ed. by Clyde J. Williams [1996], p.28; emphasis added)

Brigham Young (1801-1877) President

The life that is within us is a part of an eternity of life, and is organized spirit, which is clothed upon by tabernacles [i.e., mortal bodies], thereby constituting our present being, which is designed for the attainment of further intelligence. The matter composing our bodies and spirits has been organized from the eternity of matter that fills immensity. (Discourses of Brigham Young, sel. John A. Widtsoe [1941], p.49; emphasis added)

Spirits are Organized Intelligence

So . . . . . . spirits have potential to become like our

Heavenly Parents.

Consider the following statements:

Spirits are Organized IntelligenceBruce R. McConkie (1915-85) Quorum of the Twelve Apostles Abraham used the name intelligences to apply to the spirit children of the Eternal Father. The intelligence or spirit element became intelligences after the spirits were born as individual entities. (Abra. 3:22‑24.) Use of this name designates both the primal element from which the spirit offspring were created and also their inherited capacity to grow in grace, knowledge power and intelligence itself, until such intelligences, gaining the fulness of all things, become like their Father, the Supreme Intelligence. (Mormon Doctrine, 2nd Ed. [1966], p. 387)

So . . . spirits are organized with both potential and capacity to become like Heavenly Father.

Consider the following statements. . .

First Presidency StatementJoseph F. Smith, John R. Winder,

Anthon H. Lund

First Presidency StatementJoseph F. Smith, John R. Winder,

Anthon H. Lund All men and women are in the similitude of the universal Father and Mother, and are literally the sons and daughters of Deity. … The doctrine of the pre-existence,-revealed so plainly, particularly in latter days, pours a wonderful flood of light upon the otherwise mysterious problem of man's origin. It shows that man, as a spirit, was begotten and born of heavenly parents, and reared to maturity in the eternal mansions of the Father, prior to coming upon the earth in a temporal body to undergo an experience in mortality....

First Presidency StatementJoseph F. Smith, John R. Winder,

Anthon H. Lund

Man is the child of God, formed in the divine image and endowed with divine attributes, and even as the infant of an earthly father and mother is capable in due time of becoming a man, so the undeveloped offspring of celestial parentage is capable, by experience through ages and aeons, of evolving into a God. (“Origin of Man,” November 1909 Messages of the First Presidency, 6 vols. comp. James R. Clark, comp., [1965-75), 4:203 -6; emphasis added).

The Family: A Proclamation to the World First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

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. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose. (Ensign,Nov. 1995, p. 101; emphasis added)

M. Russell Ballard Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Before the world was created, we all lived as the spirit children of our Heavenly Father. Through a natural process of inheritance we received in embryo the traits and attributes of our Heavenly Father. We are His spirit children. Some of what our Eternal Father is, we have inherited. What he has become we may become. (Our Search for Happiness [1993], p.70;emphasis added)

Growth and Development of the Spirit in the

Premortal Stage of Existence

Alma 13:3-5 3 And this is the manner after which they were ordained--being called and

prepared from the foundation of the world according to the foreknowledge of God, on account of their exceeding faith and good works; in the first place being left to choose good or evil; therefore they having chosen good, and exercising exceedingly great faith, are called with a holy calling, yea, with that holy calling which was prepared with, and according to, a preparatory redemption for such.

Alma 13:3-5 3 And this is the manner after which they were ordained--being called and

prepared from the foundation of the world according to the foreknowledge of God, on account of their exceeding faith and good works; in the first place being left to choose good or evil; therefore they having chosen good, and exercising exceedingly great faith, are called with a holy calling, yea, with that holy calling which was prepared with, and according to, a preparatory redemption for such.

Alma 13:3-5 3 And this is the manner after which they were ordained--being called and

prepared from the foundation of the world according to the foreknowledge of God, on account of their exceeding faith and good works; in the first place being left to choose good or evil; therefore they having chosen good, and exercising exceedingly great faith, are called with a holy calling, yea, with that holy calling which was prepared with, and according to, a preparatory redemption for such.

Alma 13:3-5 3 And this is the manner after which they were ordained--being called and

prepared from the foundation of the world according to the foreknowledge of God, on account of their exceeding faith and good works; in the first place being left to choose good or evil; therefore they having chosen good, and exercising exceedingly great faith, are called with a holy calling, yea, with that holy calling which was prepared with, and according to, a preparatory redemption for such.

Alma 13:3-5 3 And this is the manner after which they were ordained--being called and

prepared from the foundation of the world according to the foreknowledge of God, on account of their exceeding faith and good works; in the first place being left to choose good or evil; therefore they having chosen good, and exercising exceedingly great faith, are called with a holy calling, yea, with that holy calling which was prepared with, and according to, a preparatory redemption for such.

Alma 13:3-5 3 And this is the manner after which they were ordained--being called and

prepared from the foundation of the world according to the foreknowledge of God, on account of their exceeding faith and good works; in the first place being left to choose good or evil; therefore they having chosen good, and exercising exceedingly great faith, are called with a holy calling, yea, with that holy calling which was prepared with, and according to, a preparatory redemption for such. 4 And thus they have been called to this holy calling on account of their faith, while others would reject the Spirit of God on account of the hardness of their hearts and blindness of their minds, while, if it had not been for this they might have had as great privilege as their brethren.

Alma 13:3-5 3 And this is the manner after which they were ordained--being called and

prepared from the foundation of the world according to the foreknowledge of God, on account of their exceeding faith and good works; in the first place being left to choose good or evil; therefore they having chosen good, and exercising exceedingly great faith, are called with a holy calling, yea, with that holy calling which was prepared with, and according to, a preparatory redemption for such. 4 And thus they have been called to this holy calling on account of their faith, while others would reject the Spirit of God on account of the hardness of their hearts and blindness of their minds, while, if it had not been for this they might have had as great privilege as their brethren. 5 Or in fine, in the first place they were on the same standing with their brethren; thus this holy calling being prepared from the foundation of the world for such as would not harden their hearts . . .

Alma 13:3-5 3 And this is the manner after which they were ordained--being called and

prepared from the foundation of the world according to the foreknowledge of God, on account of their exceeding faith and good works; in the first place being left to choose good or evil; therefore they having chosen good, and exercising exceedingly great faith, are called with a holy calling, yea, with that holy calling which was prepared with, and according to, a preparatory redemption for such. 4 And thus they have been called to this holy calling on account of their faith, while others would reject the Spirit of God on account of the hardness of their hearts and blindness of their minds, while, if it had not been for this they might have had as great privilege as their brethren. 5 Or in fine, in the first place they were on the same standing with their brethren; thus this holy calling being prepared from the foundation of the world for such as would not harden their hearts . . .

Abraham 3:22-23

Abraham 3:22-23 22 Now the Lord had shown unto me, Abraham, the intelligences that were organized before the world was; and among all these there were many of the noble and great ones;

Abraham 3:22-23 22 Now the Lord had shown unto me, Abraham, the intelligences that were organized before the world was; and among all these there were many of the noble and great ones;

Abraham 3:22-23 22 Now the Lord had shown unto me, Abraham, the intelligences that were organized before the world was; and among all these there were many of the noble and great ones;

Abraham 3:22-23 22 Now the Lord had shown unto me, Abraham, the intelligences that were organized before the world was; and among all these there were many of the noble and great ones; 23 And God saw these souls that they were good*, and he stood in the midst of them, and he said: These I will make my rulers; for he stood among those that were spirits, and he saw that they were good; and he said unto me: Abraham, thou art one of them; thou wast chosen before thou wast born.

Abraham 3:22-23 22 Now the Lord had shown unto me, Abraham, the intelligences that were organized before the world was; and among all these there were many of the noble and great ones; 23 And God saw these souls that they were good*, and he stood in the midst of them, and he said: These I will make my rulers; for he stood among those that were spirits, and he saw that they were good; and he said unto me: Abraham, thou art one of them; thou wast chosen before thou wast born.

Abraham 3:22-23 22 Now the Lord had shown unto me, Abraham, the intelligences that were organized before the world was; and among all these there were many of the noble and great ones; 23 And God saw these souls that they were good*, and he stood in the midst of them, and he said: These I will make my rulers; for he stood among those that were spirits, and he saw that they were good; and he said unto me: Abraham, thou art one of them; thou wast chosen before thou wast born.

Abraham 3:22-23 22 Now the Lord had shown unto me, Abraham, the intelligences that were organized before the world was; and among all these there were many of the noble and great ones; 23 And God saw these souls that they were good*, and he stood in the midst of them, and he said: These I will make my rulers; for he stood among those that were spirits, and he saw that they were good; and he said unto me: Abraham, thou art one of them; thou wast chosen before thou wast born.

* 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language

Abraham 3:22-23 22 Now the Lord had shown unto me, Abraham, the intelligences that were organized before the world was; and among all these there were many of the noble and great ones; 23 And God saw these souls that they were good*, and he stood in the midst of them, and he said: These I will make my rulers; for he stood among those that were spirits, and he saw that they were good; and he said unto me: Abraham, thou art one of them; thou wast chosen before thou wast born.

* 1828 American Dictionary of the English LanguageGood: 1. Valid; legally firm; not weak or defective; 2. Valid; sound; not weak, false; 3. Complete or sufficiently perfect in its kind; 4. Having moral qualities best adapted to . . . the qualities which God's law requires.

Spirits are Given Instruction and Training

Spencer W. Kimball (1895-1985) President

God has taken these intelligences, given to them spirit bodies, and given them instructions and training. (“Our Great Potential,” Ensign, May 1977, p.49)

Life in the Premortal Spirit WorldM. Russell Ballard Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Before the world was created, we all lived as the spirit children of our Heavenly Father. … Life in our heavenly home was a little different from life on earth, as we weren't subject to the frailties and challenges of mortality. But we were still very much involved with learning and growing, maturing and developing; and we had meaningful association with one another. We had the opportunity in our premortal existence to make decisions and choices, and some of us proved to be better at that than others. (Our Search for Happiness [1993], p.70)

The time came . . . when through the intervention of the Lord, personal intelligences became invested with spirit bodies. Man was born as it were into the spirit world. God became the Father of our spirits. . . This event, our birth into the spirit world, into our First Estate, is but dimly understood. We can comprehend that the spirit body became a tool for the exploration of spiritual things–the world of spirits–and that, thereby, increased power over the universe was given the rising personal intelligences. An extended education into the things of the spiritual world was made possible by the possession of the spirit body. Long ages, marked by progress, were spent in the spirit world. (Program of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints [1941], pp. 200-201; emphasis added)

We Learned of Spiritual Realities

John A. Widstoe (1872-1952) Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Time to Move OnSpencer W. Kimball (1895-1995) President

When we were spiritual beings, fully organized and able to think and study and understand with him, our Heavenly Father said to us, in effect: “Now, my beloved children, in your spirit state you have progressed about as far as you can. To continue your development, you need physical bodies. I intend to provide a plan whereby you may continue your growth. As you know, one can grow only by overcoming. (“Absolute Truth,” Ensign, Sept. 1978, p. 5)