I Will Prepare to Live With Heavenly Faher Again

Introduction

Heavenly Begetter desires a fulness of joy for all of His children. He provided a program whereby His children may become like Him and receive a fulness of joy. This programme is often referred to every bit the program of conservancy, the plan of redemption, or the plan of happiness. Jesus Christ and His atoning cede are essential in this plan.

There are three stages of Heavenly Father'south program: premortal, mortal, and postmortal. Iii vital elements that make the plan possible are the Cosmos, the Autumn, and the Atonement. In our premortal beingness as spirit children of Heavenly Begetter, we could non go fully like Him without the experience of living in mortality with a physical body. Appropriately, under the management of the Father, Jesus Christ created the globe (see Hebrews ane:i–3). The Fall of Adam and Eve made it possible for usa to exist born of mortal parents, receive a physical body, and practice bureau in choosing between practiced and evil (see 2 Nephi 2:25–27). The Atonement of Jesus Christ provides for a resurrection, forgiveness of sin, and a judgment into a caste of celebrity (see 1 Corinthians fifteen:40–42; Revelation 20:12–13; two Nephi ix:22; Alma 42:23).

Jesus Christ is central to all parts of our Heavenly Father'south plan. He suffered and died to bring to pass our immortality and eternal life (come across Moses 1:39). Nosotros have His atoning sacrifice by having organized religion in Him, repenting, existence baptized by one having authority from God, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and living in harmony with His commandments.

The Amende of Jesus Christ makes salvation possible

Premortal Life

World Life

Spirit Globe

Celestial

Terrestrial

Telestial

Creation and Fall

Concrete Death

Resurrection and Judgment

Faith in Jesus Christ

Repentance

Baptism

Gift of the Holy Ghost

Endure to the terminate

Doctrines and Principles to Empathise

• At that place are three stages of Heavenly Male parent's program: premortal, mortal, and postmortal.

• Jesus Christ is central to Heavenly Father's plan.

• The Atonement of Jesus Christ makes information technology possible to overcome the obstacles of spiritual and physical expiry.

• Heavenly Male parent prepared degrees of glory for His children.

Supporting Scriptures and Statements

There are three stages of Heavenly Begetter'due south plan: premortal, mortal, and postmortal.

■ Knowing where we came from and why we are hither in this mortal life helps the states sympathise that we are living in a iii-stage journey. The commencement phase was our premortal life, the second is mortality, and the third is our postmortal life. Mortality prepares the faithful to return to live in the presence of our Heavenly Male parent.

■ As a member of the Quorum of the 70, Elder Alexander B. Morrison taught that there is a plan that volition enable the states to render to the presence of our Heavenly Male parent: "Latter-day Saints affirm that life is a three-stage process, to be viewed within the context of the Father'due south 'great programme of happiness' (Alma 42:8). Long ago, before the world on which we now dwell came into existence, God our Father, the mighty Elohim whose children we are, established a plan whereby his offspring would experience life in mortality, with all its trials, temptations, and opportunities, and and so render to dwell with Him in eternal glory. The plan provided the perfect way for all of God's children to receive immortality and gain eternal life. Indeed, the very purpose of God'south being—His piece of work and glory—is to 'bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of human being' (Moses one:39)" ("Life—the Gift Each Is Given," Ensign, Dec. 1998, 15–16).

■ Elderberry Joseph B. Wirthlin of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles gave the post-obit analogy: "This is the day of our mortal probation. We might compare our eternal journeying to a race of 3 laps effectually the rail. We take completed the first lap [our pre-earth life] successfully and take fabricated wonderful progress. We have started on the 2nd lap. Tin you lot imagine a world-class runner stopping along the track at this signal to choice flowers or chase a rabbit that crossed his path? Yet this is what we are doing when we occupy our time with worldly pursuits that do not move us closer to the third lap toward eternal life, the greatest of all the gifts of God [see D&C xiv:seven]" (in Conference Report, Apr. 1998, 15; or Ensign, May 1998, fourteen).

■ Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles gave perspective and hope regarding man's eternal beingness: "Life does non begin with birth, nor does information technology end with decease. Prior to our birth, nosotros dwelled as spirit children with our Father in Heaven. There we eagerly predictable the possibility of coming to earth and obtaining a physical body. Knowingly we wanted the risks of bloodshed, which would allow the do of bureau and accountability. 'This life [was to become] a probationary state; a time to prepare to meet God' (Alma 12:24). Just we regarded the returning dwelling equally the best part of that long-awaited trip, just as nosotros do now. Before embarking on whatever journey, nosotros like to accept some assurance of a circular-trip ticket. Returning from earth to life in our heavenly home requires passage through—and not around—the doors of death. Nosotros were born to die, and we die to live (encounter 2 Corinthians 6:9). Equally seedlings of God, nosotros barely blossom on earth; we fully flower in sky" (in Briefing Written report, Apr. 1992, 102; or Ensign, May 1992, 72).

■ President Thomas Due south. Monson, a advisor in the First Presidency, described some of the reasons we chose to come to mortality and exist separated from our Heavenly Father: "Clearly, one primary purpose of our existence upon the world is to obtain bodies of flesh and basic. We are here to proceeds feel that could come only through separation from our heavenly parents. In a thousand ways, we are privileged to choose for ourselves. Hither we larn from the difficult taskmaster of experience. We discern between good and evil. We differentiate as to the bitter and the sweet. We learn that decisions determine destiny" ("Invitation to Exaltation," Ensign, June 1993, 4).

■ Elder Richard G. Scott of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles spoke about our feelings in the premortal life regarding our coming to mortality:

"One of the most exhilarating moments of your life—when you were filled with anticipation, excitement, and gratitude—y'all are not able to remember. That experience occurred in the premortal life when you were informed that finally your fourth dimension had come to leave the spirit world to dwell on earth with a mortal body.

"You knew you could learn through personal experience the lessons that would bring happiness on world—lessons that would eventually lead yous to exaltation and eternal life as a glorified, angelic being in the presence of your Holy Begetter and His Beloved Son.

"Y'all understood that in that location would be challenges, for you would live in an environment of both righteous and evil influences. Yet surely you resolved that no matter what the cost, no affair what the effort, suffering, and testing, you would return victorious" (in Conference Report, Mar.–April. 2001, 5; or Ensign, May 2001, vi).

Jesus Christ is central to Heavenly Father'south program.

■ The Prophet Joseph Smith taught that the Savior's Atonement was essential to the programme of conservancy: "The fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that He died, was buried, and rose over again the third day, and ascended into sky; and all other things which pertain to our religion are only appendages to it" (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, sel. Joseph Fielding Smith [1976], 121).

■ Elder Earl C. Tingey of the Presidency of the Seventy taught: "When nosotros speak of the Atonement, we speak of the voluntary deed of Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, who came to globe to provide a means whereby all flesh could elect to return to their loving Father. This 'cracking plan of happiness' is important to u.s. and should inspire united states of america to qualify under the provisions of the Atonement to receive conservancy and eternal life" (The Atonement: Fulfilling God's Peachy Program of Happiness [2000], viii).

Recognizing that Jesus Christ was foreordained every bit the Redeeming Messiah before the foundation of this globe enables us to ameliorate recognize our dependence upon Him. He was primal to Heavenly Father's plan in our first manor and is central to His programme in our second estate and postmortal being. Without the Amende of Christ, immortality and eternal life would not exist possible. Only in and through Christ can the Father'south programme for our salvation be accomplished.

■ Elder L. Tom Perry of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught that Christ is the fundamental figure in the plan of salvation:

"Our Father in Heaven understood the need for His children to exist reminded of the promises He has made to us if nosotros would obey His laws. In making such covenants, the Lord offered blessings in substitution for obedience to item commandments. A plan was laid out for usa from the very beginning. The fundamental figure in His plan of salvation is our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. His atoning sacrifice for all mankind is the centerpiece of the history of our Father in Heaven's children here on earth.

"Each of the states who accepts the divine plan must accept the function of our Savior and covenant to keep His laws that our Begetter has developed for us. As we accept Christ in spirit and in human action, we may win our salvation. We read in the scriptures: 'Wherefore, thou shalt do all that thousand doest in the name of the Son, and grand shalt apologize and telephone call upon God in the proper noun of the Son forevermore' (Moses five:8)" (in Briefing Study, Apr. 1996, 77–78; or Ensign, May 1996, 53).

■ From the showtime, Jesus Christ was the key to Heavenly Father's programme for His children:

"Earlier you lot were born on the globe, y'all lived in the presence of your Heavenly Male parent as ane of His spirit children. In this premortal existence, you attended a council with Heavenly Father's other spirit children. At that council, Heavenly Father presented His great program of happiness (run into Abraham 3:22–26).

"In harmony with the plan of happiness, the premortal Jesus Christ, the Firstborn Son of the Begetter in the spirit, covenanted to be the Savior (see Moses 4:2; Abraham iii:27). Those who followed Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ were permitted to come up to the earth to experience mortality and progress toward eternal life. Lucifer, another spirit son of God, rebelled confronting the plan and 'sought to destroy the agency of man' (Moses 4:3). He became Satan, and he and his followers were bandage out of heaven and denied the privileges of receiving a physical body and experiencing mortality (see Moses 4:iv; Abraham iii:27–28)" (True to the Faith: A Gospel Reference [2004], 115–xvi).

■ Elder Bruce R. McConkie, who was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, explained the roles Christ plays in the salvation of man:

"Before we can even begin to understand the temporal creation of all things, we must know how and in what manner these iii eternal verities—the Creation, the Fall, and the Atonement—are inseparably woven together to form 1 plan of salvation. No one of them stands lonely; each of them ties into the other two; and without a cognition of all of them, it is not possible to know the truth almost any one of them.

"Be it known, then, that conservancy is in Christ and comes because of his atoning cede. The Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ is the center and core and center of revealed organized religion. Information technology ransoms men from the temporal and spiritual death brought into the earth by the Fall of Adam. All men will be resurrected because our blessed Lord himself died and rose over again, condign thus the firstfruits of them that slept.

"And farther: Christ died to relieve sinners. He took upon himself the sins of all men on atmospheric condition of repentance. Eternal life, the greatest of all the gifts of God, is available because of what Christ did in Gethsemane and at Golgotha. He is both the resurrection and the life. Immortality and eternal life are the children of the Atonement. In that location is no language or ability of expression given to man which can set up forth the celebrity and wonder and space import of the ransoming power of the groovy Redeemer" ("Christ and the Creation," Ensign, June 1982, nine).

The Amende of Jesus Christ makes information technology possible to overcome the obstacles of spiritual and physical death.

■ Why practise nosotros need the Atonement to return to Heavenly Male parent's presence? Is not our best endeavor enough to return us to our Male parent? President Joseph Fielding Smith described our condition and the reason for our dependence on the Savior's sacrifice:

"A human being walking along the road happens to fall into a pit so deep and dark that he cannot climb to the surface and regain his freedom. How can he salvage himself from his predicament? Non by any exertions on his office, for there is no means of escape in the pit. He calls for assistance and some kindly disposed soul, hearing his cries for relief, hastens to his aid and by lowering a ladder, gives to him the means past which he may climb again to the surface of the earth.

"This was precisely the condition that Adam placed himself and his posterity in, when he partook of the forbidden fruit. All existence together in the pit, none could gain the surface and salve the others. The pit was banishment from the presence of the Lord and temporal death, the dissolution of the body. And all being subject to decease, none could provide the means of escape.

"Therefore, in his infinite mercy, the Father heard the cries of his children and sent his Only Begotten Son, who was non subject to death nor to sin, to provide the means of escape. This he did through his space atonement and the everlasting gospel" (Doctrines of Salvation, comp. Bruce R. McConkie, 3 vols. [1954–56], 1:126–27).

The great joy and good news of the gospel is that we will live over again because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Through Jesus Christ all obstacles tin be overcome by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel. He alone can succor and salve the children of men because He "descended beneath all things, in that he comprehended all things" (D&C 88:6). He paid the price for our sins; therefore, as we come unto Christ with a broken eye and a contrite spirit, we can render to the presence of the Male parent (see D&C 45:3–5). In addition, "as we rely on the Atonement of Jesus Christ, He tin help us endure our trials, sicknesses, and pain. We tin be filled with joy, peace, and consolation. All that is unfair most life tin can exist fabricated right through the Atonement of Jesus Christ" (Preach My Gospel [2004], 52).

■ Elder Russell One thousand. Nelson shared his feelings near the Atonement:

"I weep for joy when I contemplate the significance of information technology all. To be redeemed is to exist atoned—received in the close embrace of God with an expression not just of His forgiveness, but of our oneness of heart and heed. What a privilege! And what a condolement to those of united states of america with loved ones who have already passed from our family circle through the gateway we call decease!" (in Conference Report, Oct. 1996, 46; or Ensign, Nov. 1996, 34).

■ "Equally used in the scriptures, to absolve is to suffer the penalty for an deed of sin, thereby removing the effects of sin from the repentant sinners and allowing them to be reconciled to God. Jesus Christ suffered in Gethsemane and on the cross. He was the only one capable of making a perfect Atonement for all mankind. He suffered the penalty for our sins in Gethsemane and died on the cross. He took upon Himself the pains, sicknesses, temptations, afflictions, and infirmities of us all (run across Alma 7:11–12)" (Preach My Gospel, 58).

■ Spiritual death is described every bit "separation from God and his influences; to dice as to things pertaining to righteousness. Match and a third part of the hosts of heaven suffered a spiritual death when they were bandage out of heaven (D&C 29:36–37).

"Spiritual decease was introduced into the world by the autumn of Adam (Moses 6:48). Mortals with evil thoughts, words, and works are spiritually dead while still alive on earth (1 Tim. v:half dozen). Through the atonement of Jesus Christ and by obedience to the principles and ordinances of the gospel, men and women can become clean from sin and overcome spiritual death" (Guide to the Scriptures, "Death, Spiritual," 62–63).

■ Elder Earl C. Tingey explained the demand for overcoming concrete death:

"Concrete decease is the separation of the spirit from the physical body. At death, the body is laid in the ground, and the righteous spirit is received into a state of happiness called paradise (Alma 40:11–12). Those who are wicked and choose evil rather than adept while in mortality go to a place within the postmortal spirit globe referred to as 'darkness' (Alma forty:13–xiv) or spirit prison. From among the righteous in paradise, missionaries are selected to teach the gospel to those in spirit prison (D&C 138:30).

"It was never intended that the spirit and the body remain forever separated. Later on all, 'the spirit and the body are the soul of human' (D&C 88:xv). Man was created in the prototype and likeness of God (Genesis one:26–27), who is a glorified personage possessing a spirit and a perfected physical body (Joseph Smith—History i:17). When we, as personages of spirit, were in the pre-earthly existence, we recognized that God had a spirit and a perfected torso. Could nosotros, in a spirit country only, become similar God? No. Nosotros had to proceeds physical bodies through birth on a physical globe. That process began when Adam and Eve became the first physical beings on earth, possessing bodies that housed their spirits (Moses 3:7). When Adam and Eve died physically, as does every other human being, their spirits were separated from their bodies.

"One of the missions of Jesus Christ was to overcome physical death by providing a literal and universal resurrection for all mankind" (The Atonement, 56–57).

■ Elderberry Joseph B. Wirthlin of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles bore testimony of the Savior: "The Atonement of Jesus Christ, an act of pure love, overcame the effects of the Fall and provided the way for all mankind to return to the presence of God. Equally part of the Atonement, the Savior overcame concrete death and provided immortality for every one of God's children through the Resurrection. He as well overcame spiritual death and provided the possibility of eternal life, the life that God lives and the greatest of all the gifts of God. This He did past taking upon Himself the suffering for the sins of all humankind" (in Conference Study, October. 1996, 96–97; or Ensign, Nov. 1996, 71).

■ The Savior's suffering for our sins was a part of His Atonement. We needed the Atonement to exist rescued from our physical and spiritual deaths. Elderberry Bruce R. McConkie described the Lord'due south ordeal:

"We do non know, we cannot tell, no mortal heed tin conceive the full import of what Christ did in Gethsemane. …

"Nosotros know that in some way, incomprehensible to u.s., his suffering satisfied the demands of justice, ransomed penitent souls from the pains and penalties of sin, and made mercy available to those who believe in his holy name. …

"… On a hill called Calvary … the Roman soldiers laid him upon the cantankerous.

"With groovy mallets they collection spikes of iron through his feet and easily and wrists. Truly he was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities. …

"… While he was hanging on the cross … all the space agonies and merciless pains of Gethsemane recurred.

"And, finally, when the apologetic agonies had taken their toll—when the victory had been won, when the Son of God had fulfilled the will of his Father in all things—then he said, 'It is finished' (John 19:30), and he voluntarily gave up the ghost. …

"His rising from death on the 3rd day crowned the Atonement. Once again, in some manner incomprehensible to us, the effects of his resurrection pass upon all men then that all shall rise from the grave" (in Briefing Study, Apr. 1985, 9–eleven; or Ensign, May 1985, 9–ten).

■ Elder Bruce C. Hafen of the Seventy taught what we must do to overcome spiritual death: "The Savior has atoned for our personal sins on the condition of our repentance. Personal repentance is a necessary status of salvation simply is not by itself sufficient to clinch salvation. Without the Atonement, our repentance volition non salvage usa. One must also accept the ordinances of baptism and receive the Holy Ghost, by which ane is born again every bit a spiritual kid of Christ" ("The Restored Doctrine of the Atonement," Ensign, Dec. 1993, 12).

Heavenly Male parent prepared degrees of glory for His children.

■ Both aboriginal and modern scripture help us empathize that all the children of God, except the sons of perdition, will be saved in a caste of glory (run into D&C 76:41–43). The glories of the celestial, terrestrial, and telestial kingdoms surpass our ability to encompass. The celestial kingdom is the highest degree of celebrity and is the only kingdom where we tin can become like our Heavenly Father.

■ Elderberry Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles described how comprehensive the restored gospel of Jesus Christ is: "The theology of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ is comprehensive, universal, merciful, and true. Following the necessary experience of mortal life, all sons and daughters of God will ultimately be resurrected and become to a kingdom of celebrity. The righteous—regardless of current religious denomination or belief—will ultimately get to a kingdom of glory more wonderful than whatever of us can comprehend. Even the wicked, or almost all of them, will ultimately go to a marvelous—though lesser—kingdom of glory. All of that will occur because of God'south love for his children and considering of the amende and resurrection of Jesus Christ, 'who glorifies the Father, and saves all the works of his hands' (D&C 76:43)" (in Briefing Report, April. 1995, 115; or Ensign, May 1995, 87).

■ Elder David B. Haight, who was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, taught how we are all equal as we seek to inherit the celestial kingdom:

"Revelations to Joseph Smith aggrandize human's noesis that Jesus Christ was crucified to save the world from sin, that through his act of redemption all flesh will be resurrected from the grave and given the possibility of eternal life if obedient to gospel principles.

"We are taught further enlightenment on Jesus' statement 'In my Father'south firm are many mansions' (John 14:2). Nosotros learn not only of the degrees of glory and those eligible, merely that man should strive for the highest 'heaven' which is available, and is reachable only through obedience to all of God's commandments. President George Albert Smith said: 'One of the beautiful things to me in the Gospel of Jesus Christ is that it brings u.s. all to a common level. It is not necessary for a man to be a president of a pale, or a member of the Quorum of the Twelve, in social club to achieve a high place in the celestial kingdom. The humblest fellow member of the Church building, if he keeps the commandments of God, volition obtain an exaltation just as much as whatever other human being in the celestial kingdom. The beauty of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is that information technology makes u.s.a. all equal. … As we proceed the commandments of the Lord … we have equal opportunities for exaltation' (in Conference Report, Oct. 1933, p. 25)" (in Briefing Report, Oct. 1979, 33–34; or Ensign, November. 1979, 23–24).

Points to Ponder

• What is the importance of agency and accountability in the iii stages of our eternal existence?

• How does our immortality and eternal life depend upon Jesus Christ?

• In what ways tin can the Fall be considered a positive event for mankind?

• Why is the combining of spirit and trunk essential to our salvation?

Suggested Assignments

• Study "Atonement" in the Bible Dictionary (p. 617) or "Absolve, Atonement" in the Guide to the Scriptures (pp. 22–23). You may want to mark information you intend to use when yous teach most the Atonement.

• Make a one-page summary or illustration of the programme of salvation.

Recommended Additional Reading

True to the Faith: A Gospel Reference

• "Programme of Conservancy" (pp. 115–17)

• "Jesus Christ" (pp. 87–89)

• "Spirit" (pp. 164–65)

• "Cosmos" (pp. 44–45)

• "Autumn" (pp. 56–59)

• "Amende of Jesus Christ" (pp. 14–21)

• "Expiry, Physical" (pp. 46–47)

• "Death, Spiritual" (p. 48)

• "Resurrection" (pp. 139–xl)

• "Kingdoms of Glory" (pp. 92–95)

Notes and Impressions

Pre-Being, past Jerry Harston, © IRI

The Greatest of All, by Del Parson, © 1987 IRI

The City Eternal, © 2000 Keith Larson. Do not copy

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Source: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/manual/missionary-preparation-student-manual/chapter-7-heavenly-fathers-plan?lang=eng

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