We are the only religious organization in the entire world that subscribes to a previous or premortal existence for humankind. Not only do we say that we had a premortal existence (that is, we existed as who we are before we were born here on this earth), but that we, each of us individually, has always existed as an entity. That means that we weren't created and that we can never be destroyed. We have always existed and we will always exist. That's pretty powerful and radical doctrine. But, it is what was revealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith in the early 1800's and what he taught the Church during his lifetime.
As it states in D&C 93: 29
Joseph taught that we existed as an "Intelligence", which the scripture above says is the "light of truth." We are not told the exact nature of Intelligence, other that we existed in this state for eons until our Father in Heaven and Mother in Heaven "created" a Spiritual body for our intelligence, so that we looked like or had the form that they both have. This is in essence "a beginning" for us in that we were now organized into a different state, capable of growth, learning and progression.
If you look at the chart above, this state of existence was termed our "First Estate" or our premortal existence. We don't know how long we were in this state -- it could have been the equivalent of millions of years. But, we know that we were acquiring knowledge of all kinds and we were also expanding the capacities and capabilities of our spirit bodies.
One of the precepts we learned in our premortal existence was that we had the capacity to become like our Heavenly Father and Mother. They are resurrected, glorified, perfect beings. In order for us to become like them, we were taught that we would be born on an world to earthly parents. We would be given a body of flesh and blood (which would be similar to theirs except it would be mortal). We also were told that we would also be tried or tested on this world. In scriptural terms, we would be tested to see if we would do all things that Heavenly Father would command us to do (Abraham 2:25).
We also understood that a part of this mortal test would be having our memories from Heaven taken away from us. We would be placed in position where we would be acted upon by good and evil, and we would be judged by our choices.Righteous choices would be rewarded with blessings, both during our mortal life and in the eternities. We were also taught about the principle of Justice, which would require a "payment" in terms of suffering for unrighteous choices. We also were taught that we would be unable to pay the price of suffering for our sins.In fact, we would be eternally damned. This all is entailed in the precepts behind the "demands of Justice."
Because we couldn't couldn't rescue ourselves, Heavenly Father would provide one of his children who would be so spiritually developed that he would be able to live a sinless life, who would also, because of his great love, would act as a "surrogate" sufferer to pay for our sins. Because of this "purchase" or "buying us back", he would be known as the REDEEMER.:His sacrificial offering of suffering (or paying) for our sins would overoame or satisfy Justice's demands. It also meant that he could offer us innocence or justification for our acts..His GIFT of forgiveness would come to us as an act of Grace. He gives us forgiveness that we could never, worlds without end, earn, win or pay for.
But, it is the eternal nature of things that we are not just given a pass on our sins in mortality. The Savior doesn't offer this grace, just for the asking. He requires change in us. So, he has set conditions upon the receipt of forgiveness. This is not a matter of caprice on his part. There is a far greater plan behind all of this state we call mortality.
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