Essential Questions that the Plan of Salvation Answers

In order to understand Mormon doctrine and theology we must first understand, what Mormons call, the Plan of Salvation.  The Plan of Salvation, in essence, requires us to view God’s plan for man on earth through a bird's eye view.  It is the plan that God created for us so that we could return to live in his presence in heaven as exalted and glorified beings.

Since the Plan of Salvation is so all encompassing, we can find bits and pieces relating to the Plan of Salvation throughout all of scripture, including the Old Testament and New Testament books of the Bible. But it was through the Prophet Joseph Smith, born in the year 1805 in Vermont, that we received greater knowledge about God’s Plan.  Joseph Smith recorded the revelations he received and published them in a book called the Doctrine and Covenants.[1]  

Illustrated below is a diagram representing the Plan of Salvation:



[2]

Here are 7 Essential Questions that the Plan of Salvation Answers:

    1.) Where did we come from?
We started out as spirit living in a place called the Premortal Life. God was the father of our Spirits, this is why mormons often refer to him as “Heavenly Father”.  Here we grew in knowledge and understanding.  We did not have bodies, we were only spirits.  We lived with God the Father and Jesus Christ.  In the Premortal Life God presented to us the Plan of Salvation, teaching us that we must go to earth to receive a body, be tested, be united in families, gain experience, and accept the teachings and atonement of Jesus Christ.[3]

After the plan was presented our spirit brother Lucifer, also one of the spirit children of God, rebelled from the Plan of Salvation. He wanted to implement another plan that would take away our agency to sin or to rebel against God. He also was jealous of Jesus and wanted the glory of being the redeemer instead of giving the glory to God the Father. This started the “War in Heaven” where Lucifer persuaded ⅓ of the host of heaven, that is ⅓ of our spirit brothers and sisters, to join his side. Lucifer’s name was changed to Satan. Satan and all his followers were cast out of the Premortal life down to earth without bodies. They are miserable. They tempt us on earth and want us to become miserable like themselves.[4]

God the Father, Jesus Christ, and Michael the archangel carried on the task of creating the earth and forming men and women.  They created a body out of the dust from the ground and put a spirit into the body. The first spirit to be put into a body was the archangel Michael who became known as Adam. Next they created a woman named Eve. Adam and Eve lived in a place called the Garden of Eden and were given two commandments. To multiply and replenish the earth (make babies), and to not eat of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Satan tempted Eve with a piece of the forbidden fruit. Eve may have also realized that they couldn’t keep the first commandment without transgressing and breaking the second commandment.  Eve gave some of the fruit to Adam and he also ate some.[5] Adam and Eve were then cast out of the Garden and were able to have kids.[6]


     2.) Why are we here?
We came to this life to learn about Jesus Christ and to make sacred covenants to follow him. We also came here to learn how to become more like God.[7] God has a body of flesh and bones therefore, in order to become more like him, he allowed us to receive a body as well, and Earth is the place where we get to gain experience using it.[8] In order to return to live in God’s presence we must accept the Gospel of Jesus Christ, meaning we must:

1. Have Faith in Jesus Christ
2. Repent of our Sins
3. Be Baptized
4. Receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost
5. Endure to the End

On earth we also have the opportunity to be sealed to our families in the Holy Temple.[9]  Through a paper you receive from your courthouse you are organized as a family recognized by the United States Government. In the Holy Temple through a sacred sealing ceremony we can be recognized and organized as a family by the authority of God.

     3.) What happens to our spirits in between the time that we die and the time we are resurrected?
As you may have noticed the Mormon’s Plan of Salvation doesn’t immediately go from living on earth to the final judgment. Instead there is an intermediate world called the Spirit World.  After a person passes away on earth their spirit goes on to the Spirit World.  In the Spirit World there is a division. One side is called Spirit Paradise and it is where the righteous spirits go. The other side is called Spirit Prison and it is where the unrighteous spirits go.  Anyone who is not a baptized member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (The official name of the Mormon church) will automatically go to Spirit Prison.  In the Spirit World there will be missionary work going on where the spirits in paradise will be ministering and teaching the spirits who are in prison.  If a Spirit converts to the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the Spirit world he will have the opportunity to accept baptism and all other ordinances and blessings of the Gospel.[10]

Jesus Christ came to the Spirit World during the 3 days between his crucifixion and his resurrection.[11] 

The Apostle Paul also saw paradise in a vision.[12]

Eventually Jesus Christ will come back to the Earth and reign as the king over the whole earth for 1000 years.  At this time everyone who ever has lived on earth will be resurrected and brought back to life.  Then the final judgment will happen where God will judge as to where we will spend the rest of eternity.[13]  

     4.) Where are we going?
For the Final Judgment there are 4 possible places that we may be sent to.  

The first is called the Celestial Kingdom. This is where God the Father and Jesus Christ live.  Those who are sent there will become exalted and glorified beings.  There will be no suffering and no pain. This is Heaven and no unclean person or thing is allowed inside. People who go to the Celestial Kingdom are fully saved.[14]

The second is called the Terrestrial Kingdom. This is a place for people who did not fully accept Jesus Christ on earth or in the Spirit World.  It is a place for people who did not repent of their sins or did not make and keep covenants with God.  It will be a place of peace, happiness, and some regret. People who go to the Terrestrial Kingdom are not clearly saved nor are they clearly damned.[15] 

The third is called the Telestial Kingdom. This is a place for people who were evil and fought against the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They rejected Jesus Christ while on earth and also in the Spirit World. Unrepentant murderers, adulterers, and other sinners will go here. It will be a place of peace but it contains far less happiness than the Terrestrial or Celestial Kingdoms can bring. People who go to the Telestial Kingdom are not clearly saved nor are they clearly damned.[16]

The fourth is called Outer Darkness. This is a place for the ⅓ of the host of heaven who followed Satan from the beginning. It is also for people who become sons of perdition on earth.  These are the people who had a good knowledge and understanding of God and still fully rebelled against him.  This is Hell. There is no peace here. There is no happiness here.  People who go to the Outer Darkness are damned.[17]

The Apostle Paul also saw the Celestial Kingdom of God and wrote about it in one of his epistles.[18]


     5.) What happens to babies and small children who die without much life experience or the choice to follow Christ?
If you were to ask a Christian Minister this question they may respond with. “I don’t know?” Or they may even tell you that the child is damned to Hell because they weren’t baptized and never confessed that Jesus was their saviour.[19]

From the Book of Mormon we know that anyone who dies without reaching the age of accountability (8 years old) are received up into the Celestial Kingdom of God.  We also learn that any older children or adults who are unaccountable (mentally ill or physically unable) are not held under the same obligation to get baptized and receive the ordinances and covenants of the Gospel.[20] 


     6.) What happens to our non-christian or non mormon friends when they die?

We know that God loves everyone despite their religious affiliation or life circumstances.  Many Christians believe that if a person does not accept Christ in this life by praying and confessing that Jesus is their saviour than that person is going to Hell. To me this doctrine seems harsh and unbecoming of a God who is suppose to love everyone.  But because of the Plan of Salvation, as revealed through the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants, we learn that even people who don’t accept the gospel in this life may have a chance to accept it in the Spirit World.  Thus our non-christian and non-mormon friends may still receive the same blessings as anyone else.


     7.) What happens to the millions of people who   lived hundreds or thousands of years ago before The Bible, or the name Jesus Christ, was common knowledge? People who lived on remote islands where a knowledge of Christ was limited or nonexistent? And what about people who live now in countries like North Korea, where any Christians are imprisoned in death camps, or Sudan where being Christian is illegal and can be punishable by death?

The same answer in question 5 applies to this question.  God is a God of love and with that comes many many chances.[21] God isn’t going to damn someone just because of a few sins, nor is he going to damn someone because they were raised in a bad environment.  When he judges us he will look at everything that happened to us in our life and everything we did with the knowledge and experience we had. He doesn’t compare us to our neighbor but he sees each of us as unique individuals with unique circumstances.  

By now you should have a pretty good understanding of what the Plan of Salvation is and why understanding it is essential to understanding mormon doctrine and theology.  Please leave a comment if you have any questions or if you see any corrections that need to be made.

Written by,

Brett Reynolds

For more information call 1-888-537-6600 to speak to a representative of the church.
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[1] https://www.lds.org/scriptures/gs/doctrine-and-covenants?lang=eng#
[2] http://blacksheep.parry.org/archives/category/philosophy
[3] Moses 3:5; Abraham 3:22-26; Jeremiah 1:5; Acts 17:29
[4] https://www.lds.org/scriptures/gs/war-in-heaven?lang=eng#; Rev 12:4, 7-9; D&C 29:36-37; Isa 14:12-14; 
[5] Gen 3:6
[6] Abr 3:26; https://www.lds.org/scriptures/gs/michael?lang=eng#;   https://www.lds.org/scriptures/gs/fall-of-adam-and-eve?lang=eng; Gen 2:17; 
[7] 1 John 3:1-2; Psalms 82:6
[8] Gen 1:27
[9] https://www.lds.org/church/temples?lang=eng; https://www.lds.org/scriptures/gs/temple-house-of-the-lord?lang=eng 
[10] D&C 138; 1 Peter 3:19-20; 1 Peter 4:6; Alma 34:34
[11] Luke 23:39-45; D&C 138
[12] 2 Cor 12:3-4
[13] https://www.lds.org/scriptures/gs/second-coming-of-jesus-christ?lang=eng; Job 19:26; Ezek 37:12
[14] https://www.lds.org/scriptures/gs/celestial-glory?lang=eng#; D&C 76:50-70
[15] D&C 76:71-80
[16] D&C 76:81-90
[17] D&C 19:10-12; D&C 29:37-38
[18] 2 Cor 12:2
[19] http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Infant_damnation
[20] Moroni 8
[21] https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2009/10/the-love-of-god?lang=eng&query=God+loves+us