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Chapter 11

The Plan of Salvation: The Pre-Mortal Life

Welcome to the Mormon Mann YouTube Channel where I, Kendall am challenging over 80 of Joseph Smith’s teachings using only the Bible.

Most Christian religions generally agree that heaven—the dwelling place of God—is where the righteous go after death. However, disagreement begins when we ask a deeper question:

When did mankind begin to exist?

Some churches teach that the spirit of man existed before this life. Others believe human existence begins at birth.

And when we zoom out further, many religions struggle to answer the full scope of what is often called the “Plan of Salvation” without internal contradictions.

As for a complete Christian “Plan of Salvation” that answers the following questions, most religions cannot sufficiently answer them all without Biblical contradictions.  Some of the most frequently asked questions are:

·       Where did we come from?

·       Why are we here on earth?

·       Where are we going after this life?

·       What happens to our family after this life?

·       What happens to the many people who lived on this earth and never heard of Jesus Christ?

One of the most controversial teachings of Joseph Smith is his complete “Plan of Salvation.” 

It is the purpose of these next three chapters to find out just how Joseph Smith’s “Plan of Salvation” will stand up to the Bible.  Over the next several chapters, we will test that plan against the Bible:

Chapter 11:  The Plan of Salvation – The Pre-Mortal Life

Chapter 12a:  The Plan of Salvation – The Post-Mortal Life Part 1

Chapter 12b:  The Plan of Salvation – The Post-Mortal Life Part 2

Chapter 13a:  The Plan of Salvation – The Earth Life Part 1

Chapter 13b:  The Plan of Salvation – The Earth Life Part 2

Joseph Smith, the self proclaimed prophet of God, taught his “Plan of Salvation” from the beginning of his ministry.  Some of these teachings were and still are called blasphemous by many other Christian religious leaders.

 But the Bible gives us a standard:

Matthew 7:15, 16

15. Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 

16. Ye shall know them by their fruits.  Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

Christ also gave prophets for the “perfecting of the saints” and “for the work of the ministry.”

Ephesians 4:11-14

11. And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 

12. For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 

13. Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:

14. That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

By calling true prophets, God also gave a way for Christians to know the difference between a false prophet and a true prophet or perhaps to make clear the confusion in the Bible.

Matthew 7:20

Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

The Controversial Teachings

Joseph Smith, in regards to his “Plan of Salvation” taught some real controversial teachings that contradict, in many ways, all other Christian religious teachings.  Many religious leaders have charged that Joseph Smith and the Mormons do not believe in the Bible.  It is the author’s position that if Joseph Smith were a true prophet of God, then there would be support in the Bible for all of his “Plan of Salvation” teachings.  These controversial teachings of Joseph Smith are:

#1: All mankind existed before this earth life in the kingdom of God as children of God.

#2:  Earth life is a trial period for eternal progression.

#3:  There are multiple heavens that include the “spirit prison,” paradise, the celestial kingdom, the terrestrial kingdom, and the telestial kingdom.

#4:  All people inherit kingdoms based on their faith and works.

In this chapter, we focus on one question:

Did We Exist Before This Life?

#1:  Joseph Smith’s teaching that all mankind existed before this earth life in the kingdom of God as children of God.

Christ’s Pre-Existence (Foundation)

Before discussing mankind, we must establish something nearly all Christians agree on:

Jesus Christ existed before this life.

Scripture teaches:

John 1:1-3, 14

1. In the beginning was the Word (Christ), and the Word (Christ) was with God, and the Word (Christ) was God. 

2.  The same (Christ) was in the beginning with God.

3.  All things were made by him (Christ); and without him (Christ) was not any thing made that was made.

John 6:38

For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.

John 6:51

I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.

John 6:62

What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?

John 8:58

Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.

John 16:28-33

I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.

John 17:4,5

4, I have glorified thee on the earth; I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. 

5.  And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.

I Peter 1:18-20

18. Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;

19.  But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

20.  Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,

These scriptures teach us the following about Christ:

• Christ was in the beginning with God.

• Christ created all things.

• Christ came down from heaven and returned there.

Christ is the Beloved Son

Having placed Christ in the pre-existence with God, what was Christ’s relationship to God? 

The following scriptures are just a few that testify that Christ was the literal Son of God.

Matthew 3:17

And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, In whom I am well pleased.

Matthew 17:5

While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.

Mark 9:7

And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a  voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.

Luke 9:35

And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.

2 Peter 1:17

For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Christ as the Firstborn

Now that we know that Jesus Christ was the Son of God, which Son was he?

Psalms 89:27

Also I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth.

Romans 8:29

For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

Having learned that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, we now know that He is the first Son of God. This raises an important question:

If Christ is the firstborn… who are the rest?

Are We Also Children of God?

The answer to this question is found in the following scriptures.

Psalms 82:6

I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.

Hosea 1:10

Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God.

Malachi 2:10

Have we not all one father?  Hath not one God created us?  Why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers?

Acts 17:28, 29

28. For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.

29. Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device.

Romans 8:16

The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

Ephesians 4:6

One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

Hebrews 12:9

Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?

Job 32:8

But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.

The Bible clearly teaches:

• God is the Father of our spirits

• We are His children

So the real question becomes:

When Did Our Spirits Begin?

The Debate

According to some Christians, the spirit begins to exist at birth. They use this scripture as evidence:

1 Corinthians 15:45,46

45. And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.

46. Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.

Per the teachings of Joseph Smith, our Father in Heaven formed Christ’s spirit first then he formed many other spirits which includes all those spirits who have been born here on the earth. 

Evidence of Pre-Mortal Existence

The following scriptures testify of mortal man’s existence before the world was created, this includes everybody born on this earth and even Lucifer and his angels.

Job 38:4, 7

4. Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if thou hast understanding….7.  When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy? 

When God made the final plans for the creation of the earth, all of us, the sons of God, shouted for joy.

Ecclesiastes 12:7

Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was; and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it. 

The spirit “returns unto God,” who first gave it to us.  So if we return, we must have been there before.

John 3:13

And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. 

As Christ came down from heaven, no man can ascend up to heaven unless we came down from heaven.  Some claim that John was talking only about Christ, but with the previous three scriptures quoted, this can include all men.  Therefore, all men will also go back to heaven, as did Jesus Christ.

Jeremiah 1:4,5

4. Then the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, 

5.  Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. 

This is another scripture revealing the fact that the Lord actually knew Jeremiah before Jeremiah was born.  Then after Jeremiah was born, God ordained him a prophet.

Job 1:6

Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them.

While in the pre-existence, all of the sons of God presented themselves before the Lord, which included Satan.

We now have five scriptures that support Joseph Smith’s teachings that we as spirits lived in heaven before the earth was created and that we must “return” to God.

There is even mention of Satan living in heaven before the earth.

The War in Heaven

Joseph Smith taught that:

• All spirits lived with God

• A plan was presented for earth life

• Christ offered a plan with free agency

  • Lucifer offered a plan to save all mankind

• Heavenly Father chose Christ’s Plan

• Lucifer rebelled

• A war occurred in heaven

• Lucifer and his followers were cast out of heaven

Joseph Smith received these additional teachings on this subject from the Book of Moses and the Book of Abraham.

Moses 4:1-5

1. And I, the Lord God, spake unto Moses, saying: That Satan, whom thou hast commanded in the name of mine Only Begotten, is the same which was from the beginning, and he came before me, saying—Behold, here am I, send me, I will be thy son, and I will redeem all mankind, that one soul shall not be lost, and surely I will do it; wherefore give me thine honor. 

2. But, behold, my Beloved Son, which was my Beloved and Chosen from the beginning, said unto me—Father, thy will be done, and the glory be thine forever. 

3. Wherefore, because that Satan rebelled against me, and sought to destroy the agency of man, which I, the Lord God, had given him, and mine own power; by the power of mine Only Begotten, I caused that he should be cast down; 

4. And he became Satan, yea, even the devil, the father of all lies, to deceive and to blind men, and to lead them captive at his will, even as many as would not hearken unto my voice. 

5. And now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which I, the Lord God, had made.

Abraham 3:22-28

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. 

24. And there stood one among them that was like unto God, and he said unto those who were with him: We will go down, for there is space there, and we will take of these materials, and we will make an earth whereon these may dwell;

25. And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them;

26. And they who keep their first estate shall be added upon; and they who keep not their first estate shall not have glory in the same kingdom with those who keep their first estate; and they who keep their second estate shall have glory added upon their heads for ever and ever. 

27. And the Lord said: Whom shall I send? And one answered like unto the Son of Man: Here am I, send me.  And another answered and said: Here am I, send me.  And the Lord said: I will send the first. 

28. And the second was angry, and kept not his first estate; and, at that day, many followed after him.

Biblical Support for the War in Heaven

These teachings are from revealed scriptures and revelations that Joseph Smith received and are not from the Bible.  The important factor here is that the Bible supports all of these new teachings.  The war in heaven is supported in The Book of Revelation.

Revelation 12:7-9

7. And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels.  8.  And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.  9.  And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

In this passage from Revelation, John teaches the fact that Satan was living in heaven before the world was created.  He rebelled against God the Father and Jesus Christ and was cast out with his angels or spirit children of God.

Revelation 8:10-12

10. And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters;

11. And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter.

12.And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise.

From Revelation, chapter 8, we learn that a “great star” from heaven fell, which was Lucifer.  That star fell on one third of the waters, the sun, the moon, and the stars. The Mormons believe this one third is actually one third of the host of heaven, or one third of Heavenly Father’s spirit children.

Isaiah 14:12-16

12. How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!

13. For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:

14. I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.

15. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.

16. They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms;

Here, Isaiah saw Lucifer as “the son of the morning.”  He saw Lucifer wanting to exalt himself above everything and make himself equal to our Heavenly Father.  He saw Lucifer, because of his pride, fall from heaven. 

We also read that the apostle Luke saw Lucifer, or Satan, fall from heaven.

Luke 10:18

And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.

These passages confirm:

• Satan was once in heaven

• He rebelled and was cast out

Key Conclusion

From these scriptures, the following ideas emerge:

• Christ existed before this life ✔

• Christ is the firstborn ✔

• We are children of God ✔

• God is the Father of spirits ✔

• Spirits existed before birth ✔

• Satan was in heaven before falling ✔

When Joseph Smith saw God the Father and His son Jesus Christ, Joseph Smith learned that they were two separate beings and God the Father introduced Jesus Christ as His “beloved son”.  As Joseph Smith continued to be taught by Jesus Christ, he learned that we are all spirit children of our Heavenly Father.  Jesus Christ was the first-born and then we all came afterwards, to include Lucifer, commonly known as Satan.  The Bible supports all Joseph Smith’s teachings on the pre-mortal life.

The Biblical Support Chart

Is the following topic supported in the Bible? Yes or No

1. Does the Bible support Joseph Smith’s teaching that Jesus Christ existed before this life? Yes

(John 1:1-3,14; 6:38; 6:51,62; 8:58; 16:28-30; 17:4,5; 1 Pet 1:18-20; Col 1:17)

2. Does the Bible support Joseph Smith’s teaching that Jesus Christ is the literal son of God? Yes

(Matt 3:17; 17:5; Mark 9:7; Luke 9:35; 2 Pet 1:17)

3. Does the Bible support Joseph Smith’s teaching that Jesus Christ is literally God’s first born?  Yes

(Psm 89:27; Rom 8:29; Col 1:15; Heb 1:6)

4. Does the Bible support Joseph Smith’s teaching that we are all sons of God? Yes

(Psm 82:6; Hos 1:10; Mal 2:10; Matt 5:48; Acts 17:28,29; Rom 8:16; Eph 4:6; Heb 12:9; Job 32:8)

5. Does the Bible support Joseph Smith’s teaching that our spirits were first in heaven with God before this life? Yes

(1 Cor 15:45,46; Job 38:4-7; Eccl 12:7; John 3:13; Jer 1:4,5; Job 1:6)

6. Does the Bible support Joseph Smith’s teaching that there was a war in heaven that included Lucifer and all men who are born on earth? Yes

Job 1:6; Rev 12:7-9; 8:10-12; Isa 14:12-16; Luke 10:18)

Final Thought

Matthew 7:20

Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

Here we have six major doctrines about the pre-mortal life—each with biblical support.

That is a significant claim.

Especially when it suggests that we existed before this life.

Closing

Thanks for joining me. In the next two videos, we’ll continue this journey:

The Plan of Salvation – The Post-Mortal Life (Chapters 12a and 12b).