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 Did we come to this earth from
some other place? Did we come here with a plan? If such a plan
exists, is there any hope of finding it? If it’s found, is
there any hope of understanding it? If it is understood, is
there any hope of following it to its end?
When one considers the plethora of scriptures and doctrines in
Christianity, there is a Plan of Salvation that emerges—a Plan
of Happiness. It is God’s plan. We came to earth knowing this
plan, but with our birth came a forgetting. This forgetting
was an important step in the plan, and the process of
remembering and then following the plan is the purpose of our
lives. See the chart on the final page for a graphical
depiction of the Plan of Salvation with its reference
scriptures.
Premortal Life
The Lord said he knew the prophet Jeremiah before Jeremiah
came forth out of the womb (Jer. 1:5). Paul wrote that our
Heavenly Father is the father of our spirits (Heb. 12:9). As
spirit children, we existed as intelligences with our Heavenly
Father (D&C 93:21, 23, 29, and 38) and were organized in the
premortal existence (Abr. 3:22-28). We were called and
prepared before the foundation of the world (Alma 13:3 and
Eph. 1:3-5), and our spirit will return to our Heavenly Father
as the one who gave it (Ecc. 12:7). See the website section
and Sword Series™ essay on
the premortal existence.
War in Heaven
Lucifer, son of the morning, wanted to be the savior of the
world and proposed to save mankind by usurping our free will
(agency)—insisting he receive all of the glory for his efforts
(Moses 4:1-3 and D&C 76:23-27). Jesus proposed another plan,
in which all in the world kept their agency and could choose
freely for themselves whom they would serve. Jesus also
asserted that all glory should go to the Father, not to him.
The Father chose the plan of Jesus. This enraged Lucifer and
sparked the war in heaven. All of us were there, in the
premortal existence, when Michael rose up to oppose Lucifer
(the dragon) and defeated him along with the angels who
followed him. (Rev. 12:3, 7-8).
Satan and One-Third of the Host of Heaven are Cast Out
Without Bodies
In his staggering defeat, Lucifer took upon him the name of
Satan (or the devil) and drew away one-third of the spirits in
the pre-existence, and they were cast to the earth (Rev. 12:4,
9 and D&C 29:36-40). Having been cast out (Isa. 14:12),
Lucifer, once a strong and valiant heavenly spirit, and those
who followed him, lost their first estate and relinquished
their opportunity to gain a body of flesh and bone on earth (2
Pet. 2:4 and Jude 6). See the website section and Sword
Series™ essay on Satan and his minions.
Two-Thirds of the Host of Heaven Obtain Bodies
Seeing that one-third of the spirits lost their first estate
in being cast to the earth without a body, the other
two-thirds kept their first estate and were given the
opportunity to gain a body and come to the earth to experience
mortality. Every human who has been or will be conceived in
the flesh on the earth is one of the two-thirds who rejected
Lucifer in the premortal existence and chose the side of
Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.
Mortality
Adam and Eve, the first man and woman on the earth, disobeyed
God and were cast out of the Garden of Eden. The repercussions
of their disobedience include the tribulations of mortal life
and the physical death that follows (Gen 3:17-18). The fall
also made it necessary to rely utterly on the mercy of
Heavenly Father and the Atonement of Jesus Christ to avoid
spiritual death. Our time on the earth will be spent learning
and experiencing mortality in the flesh, while preparing
ourselves to return to our Heavenly Father (Alma 34:32-33).
Satan’s Spirits Remember Their Premortal Existence
While on the earth we will be subject to temptation from Satan
and those who were cast to the earth without a body. These
wretched, bodiless spirits desire us to be miserable with them
and tempt us to choose that which is contrary to the
commandments of our Heavenly Father. They have an advantage
over us: They retain their knowledge of the premortal
existence, much like the evil spirit who confronted Jesus as
the “Son of God” before Jesus had announced this publicly
(Mark 5:7).
Temporal Death
When our time on the earth has come to an end, we will die a
physical death and our body will return to the earth (Gen.
3:19); however, our spirits will progress forward into the
spirit world until the time of the Resurrections (plural) and
Final Judgment.
Partial Judgment
The first step in our post-mortal journey is to be “partially
judged.” In the partial judgment, it will be decided where we
will reside in the spirit world until the Resurrections. Those
who have been faithful will be granted a state of rest, while
those who have been unfaithful will enter into a form of
punishment and refinement (2 Pet. 2:9). See the website
section or Sword Series™ essay on
partial judgment.
Spirit World
The mainstream Christian notion of dying and going directly to
heaven or hell is often misunderstood. The ultimate heaven or
hell comes after the Final Judgment, which is not until after
the Resurrections and second coming of Jesus Christ. Before
that time those who pass away go into the spirit world, where
they will wait until the Second Coming and the subsequent
Resurrections.
The spirit world is physically located on the earth. However,
our limited human capacity does not usually enable us
experience this world or interact with those who occupy it,
although some have occasionally done so.
The spirit world is segmented into three different realms:
Paradise, Spirit Prison, and Temporary Hell. Each are
separated by a gulf (Luke 16:20-26) that prevents those in one
realm from interfering with those in another. Still, there are
those in Paradise who are teaching those in the Spirit Prison,
much like missionaries teach people all over the world today.
Paradise
Paradise is the first realm of the spirit world and is
immediately obtainable the moment one passes away on earth
(Luke 23:43 and Alma 40:11-12). Paul was privileged to gain an
understanding of paradise, but was not permitted to write
about the experience (2 Cor. 12:4). Although there is work
that will be done by those in Paradise, there will also be
rest given to these individuals and their deeds on earth will
follow them (Rev. 14:13).
Spirit Prison
The second realm of the spirit world is called the Spirit
Prison (1 Pet 3:19, 4-6 and D&C 138:28). Although Spirit
Prison does not appear to be a particularly pleasant place (Isa.
24:22), those who are sent there will have the opportunity to
hear the gospel and choose for themselves (John 5:25). Without
bodies, those in the spirit prison—who have not been baptized
by proper authority or experienced the saving ordinances of
the gospel—can be given those ordinances by proxy in the Holy
Temple.
Temporary Hell
Not to be confused with outer darkness, where torment is
everlasting, temporary hell is a place of punishment for
wicked spirits who await their Resurrection (Alma 40:14) with
the hope of ultimate salvation. Although this state is
temporary (Acts 2:27, 31), it will still be a horrible and
tormenting experience and will fulfill the purposes of the
plan of salvation (D&C 76:106) before the Second Resurrection
and Final Judgment.
See the website section or Sword Series™ essay on the
spirit
world.
First Resurrection
Every person who has ever lived on the earth will experience
Resurrection (1 Cor. 15:21-22). Those who are living on the
earth at the second coming will be changed in the twinkling of
an eye (3 Nep. 28:8, D&C 43:32, and 1 Cor. 15:52) as a type of
resurrection. Those who are good and just, dwelling in
Paradise at the second coming of Jesus Christ, will come forth
in the First Resurrection (John 5:29 and D&C 76:16-17) and
will serve Christ during his thousand year millennial reign
(Rev. 20:6). A second resurrection takes place before the
rendering of the Final Judgment to those left in the Spirit
World. See the website section and Sword Series™ essay on
the
resurrection.
Millennium: Second Coming of Jesus Christ
The second coming of Jesus Christ is the single most
anticipated event in all Christendom. In the second coming,
Christ will assume his throne of glory (Matt. 25:31) and
gsather his children from the four quarters of the earth (1
Nep. 22:25-26). As the word millennium suggests, this period
will last one thousand years (Rev. 20:4-6 and Moses 7:64-65),
with Satan having no power during this period to tempt those
upon the earth (D&C 43:29-33). See the website section and
Sword Series™ essay on the second coming.
Satan Loosed: The Final Conflict
At the end of the one thousand year millennial reign of
Christ, Satan will be let loose (Rev 20:2-3, 7-8) and there
will be a final conflict of great tribulation for all mankind
on the earth (Dan. 12:1). Michael will once again command the
army of angels against Satan and will level a final crushing
blow upon him and his army for all eternity (D&C 88:110-114).
Second Resurrection
To fulfill the necessity that all humankind will be
resurrected, those who did not come forth in the First
Resurrection from the spirit world—those abiding in the Spirit
Prison and Temporary Hell (Rev 20:5)—will come forth in the
Second Resurrection, or the Resurrection of Damnation (John
5:28-29 and D&C 76:16-17) following the end of the millennium
and final conflict.
Final Judgment
When all are finally resurrected, there will be a final
judgment in which we must give an account of our stewardship
(D&C 72:3-4). We will be judged according to our works (Matt.
16:27 and 3 Nep. 27:25-26). And while the vast majority will
be found in the books to be judged, there will be those who
were cast to the earth without a body and a select few who
will be cast into outer darkness as part of their second death
(Rev. 20:12-14). See the website section and Sword Series™
essay on the final judgment.
Many Mansions
After the renewing of the earth (Article of Faith 1:10 and
Ezek. 36:35), there will not be a single heaven, but many
mansions in the house of our Heavenly Father (John 14:2).
There will be those who will come forth from the final
judgment as bright as the sun and inherit the Celestial
Kingdom; those who will come forth as bright as the moon and
inherit the Terrestrial Kingdom; and those who will exit as
bright as the stars and inherit the Telestial Kingdom (1 Cor.
15:40-42, Dan 12:2-3, and D&C 76: 50-90). Each resurrected
being will ultimately go to that kingdom they are most
comfortable with (and earned through their faith and works),
with all those outside of the celestial kingdom being “dammed”
from progressing above the kingdom of their inheritance.
Celestial Kingdom
Those who will inherit the Celestial Kingdom are those “who
received the testimony of Jesus, and believed on his name and
were baptized after the manner of his burial, being buried in
the water in his name, and this according to the commandment
which he has given—That by keeping the commandments they might
be washed and cleansed from all their sins, and receive the
Holy Spirit by the laying on of the hands of him who is
ordained and sealed unto this power; And who overcome by
faith, and are sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, which the
Father sheds forth upon all those who are just and true” (D&C
76:52-53).
As the glory of the sun, the Celestial Kingdom is sometimes
referred to as the third heaven (2 Cor. 12:2), and those who
enter will inherit all things (Rev. 21:7) and be in the
presence of our Heavenly Father. These individuals “will be
gods, even the sons of God—Wherefore, all things are theirs,
whether life or death, or things present, or things to come,
all are theirs and they are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s. And
they shall overcome all things. Wherefore, let no man glory in
man, but rather let him glory in God, who shall subdue all
enemies under his feet. These shall dwell in the presence of
God and his Christ forever and ever…” (D&C 76:50-70). There
are three levels (or degrees) of the Celestial Kingdom (D&C
131:1), but little has been revealed to describe these three
degrees.
For those uncomfortable with the term “gods,” consider such
scriptures as 1 John 3:2, 2 Thess. 2:14, Col. 3:2-4, Romans
8:16-18, Rev. 3:21 and many other Biblical scriptures that
reference our becoming like Christ, being exalted, and
obtaining a form of glory. As resurrected perfected beings
with the glory of Christ we will be “gods,” with an emphasis
on the lower case “g.”
Terrestrial Kingdom
Those who inherit the Terrestrial Kingdom are those who “…died
without law; And also they who are the spirits of men kept in
prison, whom the Son visited, and preached the gospel unto
them, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh;
Who received not the testimony of Jesus in the flesh, but
afterwards received it. These are they who are honorable men
of the earth, who were blinded by the craftiness of men” (D&C
76:72-75).
As the glory of the moon, the Terrestrial Kingdom will be a
glorious existence, having the presence of Jesus Christ, the
son of God, but not of the fullness of our Heavenly Father
(D&C 76:76-80).
Telestial Kingdom
Those who inherit the Telestial Kingdom “are they who received
not the gospel of Christ, neither the testimony of Jesus.
These are they who deny not the Holy Spirit. These are they
who are thrust down to hell. These are they who shall not be
redeemed from the devil until the last resurrection, until the
Lord, even Christ the Lamb, shall have finished his work” (D&C
76:82-85).
As the glory of the stars, the Telestial Kingdom is said to be
a beautiful place, having the presence of the “Holy Ghost
through the ministration of the Terrestrial, and the
terrestrial through the ministration of the celestial…” (D&C
76:86-89). Those in the Telestial Kingdom will enjoy the
presence of the Holy Ghost through a process of ministry that
flows from the Celestial kingdom, to the Terrestrial Kingdom,
to the Telestial Kingdom.
See the website section and Sword Series™ essay on
heaven.
Outer Darkness
Those with the mark of the beast (Rev. 19:20), who were wicked
beyond all comprehension (Rev. 21:8 and Alma 40:13) and did so
without ignorance in denial of the Holy Ghost (Matt. 12:
31-32), will be cast into outer darkness to experience endless
torment as a second death (Rev 20:10, 14-15). These
unfortunate souls are not redeemed by the Atonement of Christ
and are relegated to the dwelling place of the devil, his
angels, and the sons of perdition (D&C 29:36–38; 76:28–33).
Click
Image Below to Enlarge as PDF.
Conclusion
This section is a summary of the Great Plan of Happiness, or
The Plan of Salvation. It answers all the questions asked at
the beginning of this document as to where we came from and
where we are going in our eternal journey. The restored gospel
of Jesus Christ illuminated this plan into full view for the
world to see. The Plan of Salvation should motivate each one
of us to dedicate our lives to worshipping the Savior Jesus
Christ, to cleansing ourselves through the Atonement of Christ
on a daily basis, to keep the commandments of God, and to
serve our fellow men. The Plan of Salvation should give us
confidence that our Heavenly Father has a plan for us in our
eternal journey, and that his plan includes our own
involvement and stewardship in faith and service.
Doctrinal
Study: The Plan
of Salvation
Download the
Sword Series™ essay on the Plan of Salvation
Download the Plan
of Salvation Chart
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