As we commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ two millennia ago, we offer our testimony of the reality of His matchless life and the infinite virtue of His great atoning sacrifice. None other has had so profound an influence upon all who have lived and will yet live upon the earth.

He was the Great Jehovah of the Old Testament, the Messiah of the New. Under the direction of His Father, He was the creator of the earth. “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made” (John 1:3). Though sinless, He was baptized to fulfill all righteousness. He “went about doing good” (Acts 10:38), yet was despised for it. His gospel was a message of peace and goodwill. He entreated all to follow His example. He walked the roads of Palestine, healing the sick, causing the blind to see, and raising the dead. He taught the truths of eternity, the reality of our premortal existence, the purpose of our life on earth, and the potential for the sons and daughters of God in the life to come.

He instituted the sacrament as a reminder of His great atoning sacrifice. He was arrested and condemned on spurious charges, convicted to satisfy a mob, and sentenced to die on Calvary’s cross. He gave His life to atone for the sins of all mankind. His was a great vicarious gift in behalf of all who would ever live upon the earth.

We solemnly testify that His life, which is central to all human history, neither began in Bethlehem nor concluded on Calvary. He was the Firstborn of the Father, the Only Begotten Son in the flesh, the Redeemer of the world.

He rose from the grave to “become the firstfruits of them that slept” (1 Corinthians 15:20). As Risen Lord, He visited among those He had loved in life. He also ministered among His “other sheep” (John 10:16) in ancient America. In the modern world, He and His Father appeared to the boy Joseph Smith, ushering in the long-promised “dispensation of the fulness of times” (Ephesians 1:10).

Of the Living Christ, the Prophet Joseph wrote: “His eyes were as a flame of fire; the hair of his head was white like the pure snow; his countenance shone above the brightness of the sun; and his voice was as the sound of the rushing of great waters, even the voice of Jehovah, saying:

“I am the first and the last; I am he who liveth, I am he who was slain; I am your advocate with the Father” (D&C 110:3–4).

Of Him the Prophet also declared: “And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives!

“For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father—

“That by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God” (D&C 76:22–24).

We declare in words of solemnity that His priesthood and His Church have been restored upon the earth—“built upon the foundation of … apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone” (Ephesians 2:20).

We testify that He will someday return to earth. “And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together” (Isaiah 40:5). He will rule as King of Kings and reign as Lord of Lords, and every knee shall bend and every tongue shall speak in worship before Him. Each of us will stand to be judged of Him according to our works and the desires of our hearts.

We bear testimony, as His duly ordained Apostles—that Jesus is the Living Christ, the immortal Son of God. He is the great King Immanuel, who stands today on the right hand of His Father. He is the light, the life, and the hope of the world. His way is the path that leads to happiness in this life and eternal life in the world to come. God be thanked for the matchless gift of His divine Son.

The First Presidency

January 1, 2000

The Quorum of the Twelve

THE FAMILY

A PROCLAMATION TO THE WORLD

The First Presidency and Council of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

WE, THE FIRST PRESIDENCY and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children.

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.

IN THE PREMORTAL REALM, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshipped God as their Eternal Father and accepted His plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize their divine destiny as heirs of eternal life. The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally.

THE FIRST COMMANDMENT that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife. We declare that God’s commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force. We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife.

WE DECLARE the means by which mortal life is created to be divinely appointed. We affirm the sanctity of life and of its importance in God’s eternal plan.

HUSBAND AND WIFE have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. “Children are an heritage of the Lord” (Psalm 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, and to teach them to love and serve one another, observe the commandments of God, and be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations.

THE FAMILY is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation. Extended families should lend support when needed.

WE WARN that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.

WE CALL UPON responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society.

This proclamation was read by President Gordon B. Hinckley as part of his message at the General Relief Society Meeting held September 23, 1995, in Salt Lake City, Utah.

“Mormon” is a nickname for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.They believe in, hope in, rejoice in, and testify of Jesus Christ as the Savior of the World. Mormons attest to the validity of the Bible and modern-day revelation and have a core belief in the importance of eternal families. They assert that Jesus Christ appeared to Joseph Smith in 1820 with the express purpose of restoring His Church and gospel in its purity and fullness to the earth. Mormons represent the fourth largest religious denomination in the United States.

WHAT DO MORMONS BELIEVE ABOUT CHRIST?

The Living Christ, an inspired proclamation for the world written by modern-day apostles and a living prophet, reveals what members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believe about Jesus Christ.

THE LIVING CHRIST

As we commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ two millennia ago, we offer our testimony of the reality of His matchless life and the infinite virtue of His great atoning sacrifice. None other has had so profound an influence upon all who have lived and will yet live upon the earth.

He was the Great Jehovah of the Old Testament, the Messiah of the New. Under the direction of His Father, He was the creator of the earth. “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made” (John 1:3). Though sinless, He was baptized to fulfill all righteousness. He “went about doing good” (Acts 10:38), yet was despised for it. His gospel was a message of peace and goodwill….

Read more from The Living Christ.

_________________________

WHAT DO MORMONS BELIEVE ABOUT REVELATION, GOSPEL ORDINANCES, AND SALVATION?

Mormons believe that God has a plan for each of us, which began before we came to earth, and which will continue after this life. Those beliefs are set forth in thirteen clear declarations known as The Articles of Faith. The first Article of Faith is:

We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.

Read the complete Articles of Faith.

__________________________

WHAT DO MORMONS BELIEVE ABOUT THE FAMILY?

Members of the Church of Jesus Christ believe that the family unit is fundamental and eternal. Marriage between worthy individuals is intended by the Lord to be forever by virtue of a sealing ordinance in holy temples. Modern-day apostles and a living prophet have issued a The Family: A Proclamation to the World, declaring our beliefs about the nature of families, gender, parenting, and marriage.

THE FAMILY: A PROCLAMATION TO THE WORLD

We, the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children.

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.

In the premortal realm, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshiped God as their Eternal Father and accepted His plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize his or her divine destiny as an heir of eternal life. The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally.

Read the complete declaration: The Family: A Proclamation to the World.

______________________________________________________________________

Click on the link below for additional study of the doctrine of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints:

Basic Beliefs of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (aka Mormons)

Joseph Smith the Prophet

Mormon Missionaries

Mormon Temples and Families

The Articles of Faith by Elder James E. Talmage

Ask a question and read comments on Mormon Beliefs

CNN on Mormon Beliefs

LDS.org on Mormon Beliefs

The Creation

Mormonism teaches more truths regarding the creation than any other faith.  Much information is available in the Pearl of Great Price.

Under the direction of Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ created the heavens and the earth (see Mosiah 3:8; Moses 2:1). From scripture revealed through the Prophet Joseph Smith, we know that in the work of the Creation, the Lord organized elements that had already existed (see Abraham 3:24). He did not create the world “out of nothing,” as some people believe.

“Now the word create came from the word baurau, which does not mean to create out of nothing; it means to organize; the same as a man would organize materials and build a ship.  Hence we infer that God had materials to organize the world out of chaos—chaotic matter, which is element, and in which dwells all the glory.  Element had an existence from the time He had.  The pure principles of element are principles which can never be destroyed; they may be organized and reorganized, but not destroyed.  They had no beginning, and can have no end” (Teachings of Joseph Smith, pp. 350-352).

Scriptures declare that heaven, earth, and all things upon the earth are divinely created.  Scriptures also help us to know more about the partnership of God and His Son, Jesus Christ, in the Creation.

“Behold, I am Jesus Christ the Son of God. I created the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are. I was with the Father from the beginning” (3 Nephi 9:15).

The first words in the Bible state, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth,” and, “God created man in his own image, … male and female created he them.”  Scripture records the feelings of Heavenly Father for His Beloved Son and for each human being: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  The creation is an integral part of the Plan of Salvation.

The Creation and the Plan of Salvation

God himself, the Father of us all, established a plan of salvation whereby his spirit children might progress and become like him. It is the gospel of God, the plan of Eternal Elohim, the system that saves and exalts, and it consists of three things. These three are the very pillars of eternity itself. They are the Creation, the Fall, and the Atonement.

Before we can even begin to understand the temporal creation of all things, we must know how these three eternal truths—the Creation, the Fall, and the Atonement—are inseparably woven together. No one of them stands alone; each of them ties into the other two; and without a knowledge of all of them, it is not possible to know the truth about any one of them.

The Fall was made possible because an infinite Creator made the earth and man and all forms of life in such a state that they could fall. This fall involved a change of status. All things were so created that they could fall or change, and thus was introduced the kind of existence needed to put into operation all of the terms of the Father’s eternal plan of salvation.

The first temporal creation of all things was paradisiacal in nature. In the Edenic day all forms of life lived in a higher and different state than now prevails. The coming fall would take them downward and forward and onward. Death and procreation had yet to enter the world. Death would be Adam’s gift to man, and the gift of God would be eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Knowing that the Creation is the father of the Fall, and that the Fall made possible the Atonement, and that salvation itself comes because of the Atonement, we are in a position to put the revealed knowledge about the Creation in a proper perspective.

“When the Lord shall come, he shall reveal all things,” our latter-day revelations tell us—“Things which have passed, and hidden things which no man knew, things of the earth, by which it was made, and the purpose and the end thereof” (Doctrine and Covenants 101:32–33). Pending the Millennium, it is our responsibility to believe and accept that portion of the truth about the Creation that has been dispensed to us.

Christ is the Creator and Redeemer of worlds so numerous that they cannot be numbered by man. As to his infinite and eternal creative and redemptive enterprises the divine word attests: “And worlds without number have I created,” saith the Father, “and I also created them for mine own purpose; and by the Son I created them, which is mine Only Begotten. … But only an account of this earth, and the inhabitants thereof, give I unto you.” As to all of the other worlds of the Lord’s creating we know only that it is his work and his glory “to bring to pass”—through the Redeemer—“the immortality and eternal life” of all their inhabitants (Moses 1:33, 35, 39).

The Plan of Salvation teaches us about the “pre-existence,” when we dwelled with God as His spirit-children.  This spiritual existence actually included all of God’s earthly creations:

The Lord says that he created “every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew. … And I, the Lord God, had created all the children of men; and not yet a man to till the ground; for in heaven created I them” (Moses 3:5). Clearly he is speaking of the premortal existence of all things. This earth, all men, animals, fish, fowls, plants, all things—all lived first as spirit entities. Their home was heaven, and the earth was created to be the place where they could take upon themselves mortality.

“For I, the Lord God, created all things, of which I have spoken, spiritually, before they were naturally upon the face of the earth.” Apply these words to the spirit creation, if you will, and they will be true in such a context. But they have a much more pointed and important meaning. They are followed by the statement: “For I, the Lord God, had not caused it to rain upon the face of the earth; … and there was not yet flesh upon the earth, neither in the water, neither in the air; But I, the Lord God, spake, and there went up a mist [on the earth], and watered the whole face of the ground” (Moses 3:5–6). The Lord is here telling us about the events of which he has spoken, about the events of the “six days,” about the account of the physical or tangible or temporal creation set forth in chapter 2 of Moses. He says the things so made were “spiritually” created and were not “naturally upon the face of the earth.”

Continuing the divine commentary about the Creation, we read: “And I, the Lord God, formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul, the first flesh upon the earth, the first man also; nevertheless, all things were before created; but spiritually were they created and made according to my word” (Moses 3:7).  How filled with meaning are these words! The physical body of Adam is made from the dust of the very earth to which the Gods came down to form him. His “spirit” enters his body, as Abraham expresses it.  (See Abraham 5:7.) Man becomes a living, immortal soul; body and spirit are joined together. He has been created “spiritually,” as all things were because there is as yet no mortality. Then Adam falls; mortality and procreation and death commence. Fallen man is mortal; he has mortal flesh; he is “the first flesh upon the earth.” And the effects of his fall pass upon all created things. They fall in that they too become mortal. Death enters the world; mortality reigns; procreation commences; and the Lord’s great and eternal purposes roll onward.

Thus, “all things” were created as spirit entities in heaven; then “all things” were created in a paradisiacal state upon the earth; that is, “spiritually were they created,” for there was as yet no death. They had spiritual bodies made of the elements of the earth as distinguished from the mortal bodies they would receive after the Fall when death would enter the scheme of things. Natural bodies are subject to the natural death; spiritual bodies, being paradisiacal in nature, are not subject to death. Hence the need for a fall and the mortality and death that grows out of it.

Thus, as the scripture explains, “I, the Lord God, planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there I put the man whom I had formed” (Moses 3:8).  Adam, our father, dwelt in the Garden of Eden. He was the first man of all men in the day of his creation, and he became the first flesh of all flesh through the Fall. Because of the Fall, “all things changed from their spiritual state to a natural state. And thus we read: “And out of the ground made I, the Lord God, to grow every tree, naturally, that is pleasant to the sight of man; and man could behold it. And it became also a living soul. For it was spiritual in the day that I created it” (Moses 3:9; italics added). [1]

A summary of what we know about the Creation

• The Lord has created worlds without number, but they are numbered unto Him.  As one earth passes away, another is being created (Moses 1:37).
• The earth was created out of unorganized matter and not created ex nihilo, or out of nothing. 
• All of God’s creations were created through Jesus Christ.
• The Lord reveals knowledge about the creation to His prophets, but only knowledge relating to this earth (Moses 1:33).
• All living things upon the earth were created spiritually in a premortal existence before they were created physically upon the earth.  (All living things will also be resurrected, because of the atonement of Christ.)
• The creation, the fall, and the atonement are all major elements of the Plan of Salvation.
• Adam and Eve were created in the image of God.  In the Garden of Eden, they were immortal.  After the fall, they became mortal.
• The six “days” of creation were actually six consecutive creative periods of unknown length.

The Plan of Salvation: The Degrees of Glory

The Lord has revealed to His prophets something regarding heaven and what we can expect to find there.  We have a few writings from ancient prophets who were “caught up” to see in vision the realms of glory.  But for most of Christendom, information regarding the nature of heaven is vague.  We know there is an afterlife, and most Christian faiths preach that there will be a resurrection and judgment, and that the righteous will dwell with God.

Fortunately, we have the testimony of a Latter-day Prophet, Joseph Smith, who saw in vision the three degrees of glory.  He has recorded this vision in the Doctrine and Covenants, one of the volumes of Mormon scripture.  Joseph said, “By the power of the Spirit our eyes were opened and our understandings were enlightened, so as to see and understand the things of God—Even those things which were from the beginning before the world was, which were ordained of the Father, through his Only Begotten Son, who was in the bosom of the Father, even from the beginning; Of whom we bear record; and the record which we bear is the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ, who is the Son, whom we saw and with whom we conversed in the heavenly vision” (Doctrine and Covenants 76:12-14).

The Lord revealed to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery the following truths:

• In the Lord’s house there are many mansions, but there are three main divisions in heaven, or three degrees of glory. 
• The highest degree is called the “Celestial Kingdom.”  The Celestial Kingdom is where God Himself dwells.
• The middle degree is called the “Terrestrial Kingdom.”
• The lowest degree is called the “Telestial Kingdom.”
• The kingdom which most people would call “hell” is called by the Lord “outer darkness.”  This is the only kingdom without glory and is where the devil and his angels will be cast out to after the Millennium.  The only people who will inherit this kingdom are those who commit the unpardonable sin, which is called “the sin against the Holy Ghost.”  The sin against the Holy Ghost is to have a perfect knowledge of Christ (such as the prophets have, because of their visions) and then to deny Him, crucifying Him anew.

This is how Joseph Smith described the kingdoms of glory:

The Celestial Kingdom is to be compared to the glory of the sun and is where God dwells.  People who inherit celestial glory 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.”  They have kept the commandments of God and have been cleansed from all their sins.   Their names are written in the books of heaven.  They have 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.” The Father gives them all things.  In heaven, they are priests and kings and receive of His fulness, and of His glory.  They shall dwell in the presence of God and Christ forever.  These are they whom Christ shall bring with Him when He comes in His glory.  They will “come in the clouds of heaven to reign on the earth over his people.”  They shall have part in the first resurrection.  The glory of their bodies is as the sun.

The Terrestrial Kingdom can be compared to the glory of the moon.  The people who inherit the terrestrial kingdom may have died without learning the laws of Christ.  They are those who inherited spirit prison rather than spirit paradise in the Spirit World.  They are those who were preached to in the Spirit World, and who, though they did not receive the testimony of Jesus while on earth, were willing to receive it in the Spirit World.  They are the honorable men of the earth, who were “blinded by the craftiness of men.”  These are they who receive of the glory of God and Christ in heaven, but not of their fulness.  ”These are they who receive of the presence of the Son, but not of the fulness of the Father.”  Some are those who were not valiant in the testimony of Jesus while they dwelled on earth.    

The Telestial Kingdom can be compared to the glory of the stars (which appear dimmer than the moon in the night sky).  Even this, the lowest kingdom of glory, is so glorious that it “surpasses all understanding.”  These are those who would not receive the gospel of Christ or the testimony of Jesus.  But they have not denied the Holy Spirit, as those who are sent to ”outer darkness.”   Because they have chosen not to repent while on earth, there is some degree of suffering involved in the Spirit World before inheriting this kingdom.   The people who inherit this kingdom will not be resurrected until Christ finishes His work, in other words, until the last resurrection.  Christ does not visit this kingdom.  These people are ministered to by the Holy Ghost through ministers sent to them from the terrestrial kingdom.   The people who inherit telestial glory are of any persuasion except the correct one…” For these are they who are of Paul, and of Apollos, and of Cephas.  These are they who say they are some of one and some of another,” but they receive not the gospel of Christ.  They are liars, sorcerers, adulterers, and whoremongers.  They refuse to receive help from the Lord on earth. 

The Plan of Salvation is often called the Plan of Progression, not only because we progress from the premortal world to earth life to the Spirit World to a kingdom of glory, but because we are meant to learn, grow, and serve throughout all eternity.  Those who inherit the Celestial Kingdom will eventually comprehend everything and thus will be called gods.  However, there is no progression from one heavenly kingdom to another; all learning and progress takes place within the kingdom of glory assigned.

To read Joseph Smith’s vision in its entirety, click here.

See also:  Mormon Beliefs: The Plan of Salvation

The Plan of Salvation: The Pre-existence

The Plan of Salvation: The Purpose of Life on Earth

The Plan of Salvation: The Spirit World

The Plan of Salvation: The Spirit World

Death is the portal to the remainder of eternity, after “premortal existence” and life on earth.  At death, the spirit leaves the body and goes to a place called “the Spirit World,” where he or she awaits resurrection and judgment. (A resurrection of the righteous occurred when Christ was resurrected, and another resurrection of the righteous will occur at His Second Coming.  Another resurrection will follow, and finally a resurrection of the wicked will occur after the Millennium.)

Even before the fall of Adam, which ushered death into this world, our Heavenly Father had prepared a place for the spirits who would eventually depart this mortal life. At the time of Jesus’ death, the spirit world was occupied by hosts of our Father’s children who had died—from Adam’s posterity to the death of Jesus—both the righteous and the wicked.

There were two grand divisions in the world of spirits. Spirits of the righteous (the just) had gone to paradise, a state of happiness, peace, and restful work. The spirits of the wicked (the unjust) had gone to prison, a state of darkness and misery. (See Alma 40:12–15.) Jesus went only to the righteous—to paradise—to teach the gospel to those who had departed.  This visit took place after Christ’s crucifixion and before His resurrection.

Following is a portion of the glorious Vision of the Redemption of the Dead given to President Joseph F. Smith and sustained and accepted by the Church as holy scripture in April 1976:

“Gathered together in one place [was] an innumerable company of the spirits of the just, who had been faithful in the testimony of Jesus while they lived in mortality;

“And who had … suffered tribulation in their Redeemer’s name.

“All these had departed mortal life, firm in the hope of a glorious resurrection. …

“They were filled with joy and gladness, and were rejoicing together because the day of their deliverance was at hand.

“They were assembled awaiting the advent of the Son of God into the spirit world, to declare their redemption from the bands of death. …

“While this vast multitude waited and conversed, rejoicing in the hour of their deliverance from the chains of death, the Son of God appeared, declaring liberty to the captives who had been faithful;

“And there he preached to them the everlasting gospel, the doctrine of the resurrection and the redemption of mankind from the fall, and from individual sins on conditions of repentance. …

“And the saints rejoiced in their redemption, and bowed the knee and acknowledged the Son of God as their Redeemer and Deliverer from death and the chains of hell.

“Their countenances shone, and the radiance from the presence of the Lord rested upon them, and they sang praises unto his holy name.” (Doctrine and Covenants 138:12–16, 18–19, 23–24.)

Jesus did not go to the wicked, or to prison. They were those who were unrepentant and who “had defiled themselves while in the flesh.” (Doctrine and Covenants 138:20.)

Moreover, “from among the righteous, [the Lord] organized his forces and appointed messengers, clothed with power and authority, and commissioned them to go forth and carry the light of the gospel to them that were in darkness. …

“These were taught faith in God, repentance from sin, vicarious baptism for the remission of sins, the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands,

“And all other principles of the gospel that were necessary for them to know in order to qualify themselves that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.” (Doctrine and Covenants 138:30, 33–34.)

The spirit world is not far away. From the Lord’s point of view, it is all one great program on both sides of the veil. Sometimes the veil between this life and the life beyond becomes very thin. This I know! Our loved ones who have passed on are not far from us.

One Church President asked, “Where is the spirit world?” and then answered his own question: “It is right here. … Do [spirits] go beyond the boundaries of this organized earth? No, they do not. They are brought forth upon this earth, for the express purpose of inhabiting it to all eternity.” He also said, “When the spirits leave their bodies they are in the presence of our Father and God, they are prepared then to see, hear and understand spiritual things. … If the Lord would permit it, and it was His will that it should be done, you could see the spirits that have departed from this world, as plainly as you now see bodies with your natural eyes.” (Brigham Young, in Journal of Discourses, 3:369, 368.)

Yes, indisputably there is life after death. Mortality is a place of temporary duration—and so is the spirit world. As inevitable as death is to mortals, so also is an eventual resurrection to those in the spirit world. [1]

President Smith also saw the leaders the Savior called to take the gospel to Heavenly Father’s children in the spirit world. He named some of them: Father Adam, Mother Eve, Noah, Abraham, Ezekiel, Elijah, prophets that Latter-day Saints know from the Book of Mormon, and some from the last days, including Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, John Taylor, and Wilford Woodruff.  These would be some powerful missionaries to teach the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Many of our deceased ancestors will have received a testimony that the message of the missionaries is true. A person living on earth who receives that testimony could ask missionaries for baptism. But those who are in the spirit world cannot. The ordinances of baptism and the temple ordinances are offered only in this world. Someone in this world must go to a holy temple and accept the covenants on behalf of the person in the spirit world. That is why Mormons are under obligation to find the names of their ancestors and ensure that they are offered what they cannot receive there without help.

To read the entire vision of Joseph F. Smith, click here.

See also:  Mormon Beliefs: The Plan of Salvation

The Plan of Salvation: The Pre-existence

The Plan of Salvation: The Purpose of Life on Earth

The Plan of Salvation: The Degrees of Glory

The Plan of Salvation: The Purpose of Life on Earth

The purpose of mortality is unknown to many of God’s children on earth.  Many of those who believe in some sort of afterlife are unaware that there was also a premortal life before we existed on earth.  The Bible speaks of a war in heaven, and says that God created the earth through The Word (Christ), but very little else is available in the Bible that speaks of premortal life.  The Plan of Salvation and information regarding premortal life has been revealed to us mostly from other scriptures and latter-day revelation.

The knowledge that we lived with God before we were born on earth changes everything.  We are literally children of God and have the potential to be like Him and to dwell with Him after our lives on earth are finished.  Imagining the eternities before and after earth life impresses upon us the temporary nature of life on earth. (See Mormon Beliefs: Death.)  Much of what we do on earth is of little import in the eternal sense.  Our most important acts on earth have to do with learning, developing faith in Christ and helping others to do so, and establishing relationships with other people that can last eternally.  Such relationships are not founded on carnal desires or the fulfillment of lusts, but on eternal principles of unselfish service.  Family bonds properly nurtured can continue forever.

During our premortal life, we existed as spirits.  This status falls short of the perfected, resurrected body that God has.  Not only did we need to progress to be like Him in personality and glory; we needed to progress to be like God physically.  Thus, part of the purpose of earth life is to gain a mortal body.  The mortal body is intentionally temporary, subject to corruption, injury, sickness, and death.  At death, the spirit separates from the body.  At resurrection, body and spirit are joined perfectly—absolutely incorruptible and immortal.  Only then can men experience a fulness of joy.

There were risks for Father in Heaven in sending His children to mortal life on earth.  One third of the host of heaven, who followed Satan in premortal life, had already been cast out and had lost the opportunity to progress or to gain mortal bodies.  Because of the veil of forgetfulness that keeps us from remembering our premortal existence, we are largely left to find our Father in Heaven again through searching and faith.  Some of us use our gift of agency unwisely and even wickedly.  Heavenly Father has provided a plan to help us return to Him.  He wishes to reclaim every one of His children. Heavenly Father knew from the beginning that we would sin and fall short of the purity and perfection necessary to inherit the kingdom of heaven.  His plan provides for us a Savior to bridge the gap between our own failings and God’s perfection.

The Fall of Adam

Mormon doctrine proposes a different view of Adam’s fall than does all the rest of Christendom.  The Fall of Adam was a necessary step in the Plan of Salvation.  In some ways, Adam was foreordained to fall:

Adam fell that men might be; and men are that they might have joy (2 Nephi 2:25).

True joy can only be experienced in a perfected, resurrected body.  So Adam’s fall was the first step towards that goal.

One of the first principles of the Plan of Salvation is agency.  The free agency of man is central to God’s plan, and the Lord stands aside sometimes to enable us to use our agency and learn to be responsible with it.  The Garden of Eden was a paradise on a different plane than the world in which we now live.  Mormons call this plane “terrestrial”; it is the same quality of life we will enjoy during the Millennium.  Earth life as we know it now is on a lower level, which Mormons call “telestial.”  Life in the garden was free of pain and sorrow, injury and death.  But the normal functioning of the human body, as far as procreation is concerned, was also absent.  Adam and Eve could bear no children in the Garden of Eden.  Agency, however, was guaranteed by the Lord by giving Adam and Eve opposing choices—the Lord commanded them to multiply and replenish the earth; He also commanded them not to partake of the forbidden fruit. But partaking of the fruit is what resulted in their banishment, enabling them to procreate.

Once banished from the garden, Adam and Eve became subject to two kinds of death—physical death, and spiritual death.  Physical death is the death of the body, the separation of body and spirit.  Spiritual death is the separation from God, who walked and talked with Adam and Eve in the garden.  All of us are subject to these two deaths.  The Plan of Salvation provides a way for us to overcome them both.

What about original sin?

Mormons do not believe in original sin.  Mormon doctrine teaches that babies are born innocent and have no need of baptism until they reach an age when they are accountable for their own actions, can discern between right and wrong, and can understand the repentance process (understood to the be age of eight years).  The second Article of Faith says, “We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression.”

Little children cannot repent; wherefore, it is awful wickedness to deny the pure mercies of God unto them, for they are all alive in him because of his mercy.

And he that saith that little children need baptism denieth the mercies of Christ, and setteth at naught the atonement of him and the power of his redemption (Moroni 8:19-20).

The atonement of Christ

The most important event in earth’s history is the atonement of Jesus Christ.  The atonement covers every living thing on the planet, guaranteeing the resurrection of every living person, plant, and creature.  Resurrection is a free gift granted all of us by the atonement.  Exaltation to a kingdom of glory, however, is a conditional gift, and depends upon our worthiness and faith unto repentance.  Jesus suffered in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the cross at Golgotha for the sins of the world, yes, but also for all the sorrows, regrets, trials, and stupid mistakes of the world.  Christ suffered not only our sorrows, but also God’s wrath for every sin committed throughout time, so that we might not suffer, if we would only lay hold upon His sacrifice and lay our sins upon the altar.

The only way for us to be saved is for someone else to rescue us. We need someone who can satisfy the demands of justice—standing in our place to assume the burden of the Fall and to pay the price for our sins. Jesus Christ has always been the only one capable of making such a sacrifice.

From before the Creation of the earth, the Savior has been our only hope for “peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to come” (Doctrine and Covenants 59:23).

Only He had the power to lay down His life and take it up again. From His mortal mother, Mary, He inherited the ability to die. From His immortal Father, He inherited the power to overcome death. He declared, “As the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself” (John 5:26).

Only He could redeem us from our sins. God the Father gave Him this power (see Helaman 5:11). The Savior was able to receive this power and carry out the Atonement because He kept Himself free from sin: “He suffered temptations but gave no heed unto them” (Doctrine and Covenants 20:22). Having lived a perfect, sinless life, He was free from the demands of justice. Because He had the power of redemption and because He had no debt to justice, he could pay the debt for those who repent (Gospel Topics: Atonement).

Ending life on earth: Death

Death is the portal through which we must pass to move to the next stage of our eternal existence.  Though it brings the grief of separation to those we leave behind, it is a temporary separation.  Mormons rejoice in the knowledge that not only is there life beyond this one, but also that we are meant to be reunited with our loved ones beyond the veil.  Christ’s atonement covered both forms of death, both physical and spiritual.  Our physical death lasts only as long as we have to wait for resurrection, and spiritual death is banished, if we only avail ourselves of the Lord’s grace through the atonement of Christ.

See also:

Mormon Beliefs: The Plan of Salvation

The Plan of Salvation: The Pre-existence

The Plan of Salvation: The Spirit World

The Plan of Salvation: The Degrees of Glory

The Plan of Salvation: The Pre-existence

Mormons believe in a life preceding our existence on earth.  Mormons call this the “pre-existence,” “pre-earth-life,” or “premortal existence.”

Before we were born on the earth, we lived in the presence of our Heavenly Father as His spirit children. In this premortal existence, we attended a council with Heavenly Father’s other spirit children. At that council, Heavenly Father presented His great plan of happiness  or the “Plan of Salvation, which was ratified by all of us.”

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;

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

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;

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

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 (Abraham 3:22–26).

In harmony with the plan of happiness, the premortal Jesus Christ, the Firstborn Son of the Father in the spirit, covenanted to be the Savior (see Moses 4:2; Abraham 3:27). Those who followed Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ were permitted to come to the earth to experience mortality and progress toward eternal life. Lucifer, another spirit son of God, rebelled against the plan and “sought to destroy the agency of man” (Moses 4:3). He became Satan, and he and his followers were cast out of heaven and denied the privileges of receiving a physical body and experiencing mortality.

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.

And the second was angry, and kept not his first estate; and, at that day, many followed after him (Abraham 3:27–28).

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.

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.

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

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 (Moses 1-4).

Throughout our premortal lives, we developed our identity and increased our spiritual capabilities. Blessed with the gift of agency, we made important decisions, such as the decision to follow Heavenly Father’s plan. These decisions affected our life then and now. We grew in intelligence and learned to love the truth, and we prepared to come to the earth, where we could continue to progress.

None of us on earth has a memory of the premortal existence.  This is because a “veil of forgetfulness” has been drawn over our minds.  This veil is important for our progress.  If we remembered the pre-existence, we would have no need to exercise faith during our lives on earth.  For those of us who struggle, this seems at times unfair.  But the Lord does not leave us comfortless.  Each of us comes to earth with the Light of Christ as our guide and consience.  That light grows brighter as we become more like Him.  However, our conscience dulls as we indulge in wickedness.  The Holy Ghost can visit us from time to time to enlighten our minds, testify of truth, and help us to feel the love of God.  Baptism into the true church by one who holds the proper Priesthood Authority leads to confirmation, and the bestowal of the Holy Ghost as the permanent companion of the baptized member who continues to live worthily.  Through the power of the Holy Ghost, one begins to get an inkling of one’s role and identity as an eternal being.

See also the following:

Mormon Beliefs: The Plan of Salvation

The Plan of Salvation: The Purpose of Life on Earth

The Plan of Salvation: The Spirit World

The Plan of Salvation: The Degrees of Glory

Pre-Existence — Not Only a Mormon Idea

Heavenly Father has prepared a plan to enable us to become like Him and receive a fulness of joy. The scriptures refer to this plan as “the plan of salvation” (Alma 24:14; Moses 6:62), “the great plan of happiness” (Alma 42:8), “the plan of redemption” (Jacob 6:8; Alma 12:30), and “the plan of mercy” (Alma 42:15). The plan of salvation is the fulness of the gospel. It includes the Creation, the Fall, the Atonement of Jesus Christ, and all the laws, ordinances, and doctrines of the gospel. Moral agency, the ability to choose and act for ourselves, is also essential in Heavenly Father’s plan. Because of this plan, we can be perfected through the Atonement, receive a fulness of joy, and live forever in the presence of God. Our family relationships can last throughout the eternities.

We are participants in Heavenly Father’s plan, and our eternal experience can be divided into three main parts: premortal life, mortal life, and life after death. As we come to understand the plan, we find answers to questions asked by so many: Where did we come from? Why are we here? Where do we go after this life (Gospel Topics: Plan of Salvation)?

These three questions burn in the hearts of many people, who wonder whether there is something beyond our experience on earth.  Many new converts to Mormonism refer to a sense of emptiness and yearning that seemed to go along with living a material life.  Learning the Plan of Salvation expands the heart and mind to encompass the eternities, stretching to infinity before and after this brief existence on earth.  Once one learns the Plan of Salvation and embraces it as a life-guide, the unseen eternal world becomes real and connected to life on earth, and one’s world-view gains an eternal perspective.  The Plan of Salvation is simple, but it embraces the most profound philosophical questions ever posed.

We have always existed

In the Pearl of Great Price, in the Book of Abraham, it says,

Thus I, Abraham, talked with the Lord, face to face, as one man talketh with another; and he told me of the works which his hands had made;

And he said unto me: My son, my son (and his hand was stretched out), behold I will show you all these. And he put his hand upon mine eyes, and I saw those things which his hands had made, which were many; and they multiplied before mine eyes, and I could not see the end thereof (Abraham 3:11, 12).

…if there be two spirits, and one shall be more intelligent than the other, yet these two spirits, notwithstanding one is more intelligent than the other, have no beginning; they existed before, they shall have no end, they shall exist after, for they are…eternal.

And the Lord said unto me: These two facts do exist, that there are two spirits, one being more intelligent than the other; there shall be another more intelligent than they; I am the Lord thy God, I am more intelligent than they all.

I dwell in the midst of them all; I now, therefore, have come down unto thee to declare unto thee the works which my hands have made, wherein my wisdom excelleth them all, for I rule in the heavens above, and in the earth beneath, in all wisdom and prudence, over all the intelligences thine eyes have seen from the beginning; I came down in the beginning in the midst of all the intelligences thou hast seen (Abraham 3:18, 19, 21).

The Plan of Salvation reveals that we have always existed, first as intelligences in the eternities, then as organized spirits, actual spirit-children of our Father in Heaven.  The period during which we lived with God as spirits is called the “pre-existence” or “premortal life.”

The purpose of earth-life

For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man (Moses 1:39).

And there stood one among them (Jesus Christ) 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;

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

And they who keep their first estate (premortal life) 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 (earth life) shall have glory added upon their heads for ever and ever (Abraham 3:24-26, parentheticals added).

The importance of agency

Free agency, the freedom to chose or reject the Lord’s plan, has always been of prime importance to the plan.  The Lord will never do anything to compromise the agency of man, and always strives to uphold it.  That is why Adam and Eve were allowed to be tempted and given a choice of behavior in the Garden of Eden.  The Fall of Adam was actually necessary to the plan.  The Pearl of Great Price talks about Adam after the Fall:

And in that day the Holy Ghost fell upon Adam, which beareth record of the Father and the Son, saying: I am the Only Begotten of the Father from the beginning, henceforth and forever, that as thou hast fallen thou mayest be redeemed, and all mankind, even as many as will.

And in that day Adam blessed God and was filled, and began to prophesy concerning all the families of the earth, saying: Blessed be the name of God, for because of my transgression my eyes are opened, and in this life I shall have joy, and again in the flesh I shall see God.

And Eve, his wife, heard all these things and was glad, saying: Were it not for our transgression we never should have had seed, and never should have known good and evil, and the joy of our redemption, and the eternal life which God giveth unto all the obedient (Moses 5:9-11).

The Lord knew we would sin

The Lord knew we would all fall short of meriting exaltation; only the pure and righteous can dwell in His presence after earth life.  Thus, He provided a savior, Jesus Christ, to complete an atonement for our sins, if we would only repent and lay hold upon His eternal sacrifice.  The atonement compensates for the Fall of Adam and obviates original sin.  It provides a way for all men and women to be resurrected in preparation for exaltation. All on earth have the agency to chose Christ or reject him.  Every prophet since (and including) Adam have known and testified of Christ and the atonement:

And unto him that repenteth and sanctifieth himself before the Lord shall be given eternal life (Doctrine and Covenants 133:62).

But learn that he who doeth the works of righteousness shall receive his reward, even peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to come (Doctrine and Covenants 59:23).

I came unto mine own, and mine own received me not; but unto as many as received me gave I power to do many miracles, and to become the sons of God; and even unto them that believed on my name gave I power to obtain eternal life (Doctrine and Covenants 45:8).

And what is it that ye shall hope for? Behold I say unto you that ye shall have hope through the atonement of Christ and the power of his resurrection, to be raised unto life eternal, and this because of your faith in him according to the promise (Moroni 7:41).

But, behold, ye not only deny my words, but ye also deny all the words which have been spoken by our fathers, and also the words which were spoken by this man, Moses, who had such great power given unto him, yea, the words which he hath spoken concerning the coming of the Messiah.

Yea, did he not bear record that the Son of God should come? And as he lifted up the brazen serpent in the wilderness, even so shall he be lifted up who should come.

And as many as should look upon that serpent should live, even so as many as should look upon the Son of God with faith, having a contrite spirit, might live, even unto that life which is eternal (Helaman 8:13-15).

Mormon Scriptures: The Pearl of Great Price

The Pearl of Great Price contains the book of Moses, the book of Abraham, the Prophet Joseph Smith‘s inspired translation of Matthew chapter 24, and some writings of the Prophet Joseph.

The book of Moses is a small excerpt from Joseph Smith‘s inspired translation of the Bible. It is a more complete record of Moses’s writings at the beginning of the book of Genesis in the Old Testament. It contains many doctrines and teachings that were lost from the Bible and gives additional information about the plan of salvation, the creation of the earth, and the Lord’s dealings with Adam and Enoch.

The book of Abraham is a translation of ancient records written on papyrus that came into the possession of the Church in 1835. The Prophet Joseph Smith translated the records by revelation. This book contains truths about the premortal Council in Heaven, the creation of the earth, the nature of God, and the priesthood.

Joseph Smith—Matthew is an excerpt (Matthew 24) from Joseph Smith’s inspired revision of the Bible and adds to our knowledge of the Savior’s teachings about His Second Coming.

The writings of Joseph Smith in the Pearl of Great Price include:

•  Joseph Smith—History, which is an excerpt from the Prophet’s history of the Church. It is a narrative of the events leading to the restoration of the Church, including the First Vision, the visits of Moroni to the Prophet Joseph, the obtaining of the gold plates, and the restoration of the Aaronic Priesthood.  
• The Articles of Faith, which the Prophet Joseph Smith wrote as basic statements of belief and doctrine.

The text of the Book of Mormon makes it clear that many plain and precious things were deleted from the Bible. (See 1 Ne. 13:26, 28, 32.) Would there be a restoration of the lost material? (See 1 Ne. 13:34.) Would the text of the Bible be restored?

By June 1830, Joseph Smith and the infant church had been the object of considerable persecution. To strengthen and sustain them in their hour of trouble, the Lord gave them a revelation that Orson Pratt later titled the Visions of Moses. This revelation was eventually to have great impact upon the doctrinal development of the Church and had the immediate effect of strengthening the Prophet and his friends amid the trials and tribulations they were called to endure. In his journal, the Prophet prefaced the revelation with these words:

“I will say, however, that amid all the trials and tribulations we had to wade through, the Lord, who well knew our infantile and delicate situation, vouchsafed for us a supply of strength, and granted us ‘line upon line of knowledge—here a little,’ and there a little of which the following (Moses 1:1–42) was a precious morsel.”

In the eight chapters that comprise the Book of Moses we have large sections that are complete restorations of material not found anywhere else in scripture. The so-called extracts from the Prophecy of Enoch comprise the largest restoration of material in the Book of Moses and possibly in the entire inspired revision of the Bible. Just preceding his journal record of this revelation, the Prophet commented:

Soon after this revelation was given, Joseph Smith began a project that was to occupy much of his time, study, and prayerful thought during many years to come. This project was to complete an inspired revision of the Bible. The Book of Moses is an extract from the inspired revision of Genesis, while Joseph Smith 1 is the Prophet’s revision of the twenty-fourth chapter of Matthew [JS—M 1; Matt. 24]. The extracts of the Book of Moses were prepared and printed piecemeal during the Prophet’s lifetime.

The Book of Abraham contains what may be the most accurate account of the creation now available in print. The preface to that account is both unique and delightfully informative. From it we read that the Lord had shown unto Abraham “the intelligences that were organized before the world was.” (Abr. 3:22.)

These intelligences (speaking of those who were spirits) were the noble and great ones, those who were potential kings and queens of heaven. Abraham was told that he was one of them, chosen before he had been born into mortality. Among the noble and great spirits was one “like unto God.” This personage said, “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.” (Abr. 4:1.)

“… And they went down at the beginning, and they, that is the Gods, organized and formed the heavens and the earth.” (Abr. 4:1.)

These scriptures indicate that noble and great spirits participated in the creation of the earth upon which they would dwell (See Philip. 2:12). [1]

Some truths revealed in the Pearl of Great Price

• Adam was taught the Plan of Salvation and made sacrifices in the similitude of Christ’s eternal sacrifice.
• All prophets, beginning with Adam, have known of and testified of Jesus the Christ and His atonement.
• Moses was shown many visions by the Lord and saw all the inhabitants of the earth.  Moses was tempted by Satan, but withstood Satan’s influence Moses 1:12–23.
• “As far as men on this earth are concerned, evil had its beginning in pre-(mortal) existence. The Eternal Father begat spirit children, ordained laws to enable them to progress, and endowed them with free agency. Disobedience to those laws was in its nature evil, and consequently without the possibility of committing evil there could be no hope of progression toward exaltation. Lucifer and one-third of the spirit hosts of heaven chose evil rather than good, failed to exercise their free agency in righteousness, and finally coming out in open rebellion against the Lord, they were cast out onto the earth and denied (mortal) bodies. (Moses 4:1–4; Abr. 3:24–28; D&C 29:36–40; Rev. 12:7–13.)” (Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, [Bookcraft, 1966], p. 245.)
• “Secret combinations,” or evil oaths, began with Cain and have been in existence on the earth from the beginning.  These combinations are revealed and encouraged by Satan himself (Moses 5:29–30; Moses 5:51–55).
• We lived with God before we were born onto the earth (Abraham 3:22).
• Enoch preached of Christ, established a city, and led a people so righteous, that they were “translated” and taken into heaven ( Moses 7).
• Adam kept a book of remembrance that was passed down through the prophets to Abraham (Abraham 1:28, 31).
• Adam was baptized and came to understand the fall, the atonement, faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism, and the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost, as well as the doctrines of justification and sanctification. Adam’s spiritual rebirth was attested to and his possession of priesthood after the order of the Son of God was announced. (See Moses 6:15–68.)
• Abraham was taught principles of astronomy by God.  Abraham traveled to Egypt and conveyed this knowledge in the high courts of the Egyptians.

To read the Pearl of Great Price, click here.