PLAN OF SALVATION

Pre-Earth Life:

God’s Purpose and Plan for Us
Many people wonder, “Where did we come from? Why are we here? Where are we
going?” The plan of salvation gives us the answers to these questions.
God is the Father of our spirits. We are literally His children, and He loves us. We lived
as spirit children of our Father in Heaven before we were born on this earth. We were not,
however, like our Heavenly Father, nor could we ever become like Him and enjoy all the
blessings that He enjoys without the experience of living in mortality with a physical body.
God’s whole purpose—His work and His glory—is to enable each of us to enjoy all
His blessings. He has provided a perfect plan to accomplish His purpose. We understood
and accepted this plan before we came to the earth. In the scriptures God’s plan is called
a merciful plan, the plan of happiness, the plan of redemption, and the plan of salvation.
Jesus Christ is central to God’s plan. Through His Atonement, Jesus Christ fulfilled His
Father’s purpose and made it possible for each of us to enjoy immortality and eternal life.
Satan, or the devil, is an enemy to God’s plan.
Agency, or the ability to choose, is one of God’s greatest gifts to His children. Our eternal
progression depends on how we use this gift. We must choose whether to follow Jesus
Christ or follow Satan.
We are physically separated from God during life on earth, but He wants every one of
His children to find peace in this life and a fulness of joy in His presence after this life.
He wants us to become like Him.
2 Nephi 2 Lehi testifies of the Savior as Redeemer.
2 Nephi 9 Jacob testifies of the Atonement.
2 Nephi 31–33 Nephi teaches the doctrine of Christ.
Enos Enos experiences the power of the Atonement.
Mosiah 2–5 King Benjamin teaches of Christ.
Mosiah 12–16 Abinadi gives his life in testifying of Jesus Christ.
Alma 5, 7 Alma testifies of the Savior.
Alma 17–22 Lamanites receive the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Alma 34 Amulek testifies of the Atonement.
Alma 36 Alma experiences the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
Alma 40–42 Alma testifies of the resurrection and Atonement.
Helaman 5 Nephi and Lehi are instruments in God’s hands to witness of the Savior.
3 Nephi 9–10 The Savior invites people to come to Him.
3 Nephi 11–18 The Savior teaches the Nephites of the Father and of His doctrine.
3 Nephi 27 The Savior teaches His gospel.
Ether 3 The brother of Jared sees the Savior.
Ether 12 Ether and Moroni testify of the Savior and the power of His Atonement.
Moroni 7–8 Mormon teaches of the pure love of Christ and His Atonement.
Moroni 10 Moroni invites all to come unto Christ and be perfected in Him.
The Living Christ Prophets and apostles testify of the Savior.


The Creation
Under the direction of the Father, Jesus Christ created the earth as a place for us to live
and gain experience. In order to progress and become like God, each of us had to obtain
a body and be tested during a time of probation on the earth. While on the earth we are
out of God’s physical presence. We do not remember our pre-earth life. We must walk by
faith rather than by sight.
Agency and the Fall of Adam and Eve
Adam and Eve were the first of God’s children to come to the earth. God created
Adam and Eve and placed them in the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve were created in
God’s image, with bodies of flesh and bones. While Adam and Eve were in the garden,
they were still in God’s presence and could have lived forever. They lived in innocence,
and God provided for their needs.
In the Garden of Eden, God gave Adam and Eve their agency. He commanded them
not to eat the forbidden fruit, or the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
Obeying this commandment meant that they could remain in the garden, but they could
not progress by experiencing opposition in mortality. They could not know joy because
they could not experience sorrow and pain.
Satan tempted Adam and Eve to eat the forbidden fruit, and they chose to do so. This
was part of God’s plan. Because of this choice, they were cast from the garden and out of
God’s physical presence. This event is called the Fall. Separation from God’s presence is
spiritual death. Adam and Eve became mortal—subject to physical death, or separation
of the body and spirit. They could now experience disease and all types of suffering.
They had moral agency or the ability to choose between good and evil. This made it
possible for them to learn and progress. It also made it possible for them to make wrong
choices and to sin. In addition, they could now have children, so the rest of God’s spirit
children could come to earth, obtain physical bodies, and be tested. Only in this way
could God’s children progress and become like Him.
1 Nephi 17:36 Moses 2:1 JST, John 1:1–3
Alma 30:44 Moses 6:63 2 Corinthians 5:6–7
D&C 88:41–47 Abraham 3:24–25Children of God God’s Purpose
D&C 93:29 Hebrews 12:9 Moses 1:39 John 17:3
Acts 17:29
Premortal Life
D&C 138:53–56 Abraham 3:22–26
Moses 3:5 Jeremiah 1:5
In The Garden:
2 Nephi 2 Moses 3:15–17 Genesis 1:26–31
Moses 2:26–31 Moses 5:11 Genesis 2:15–17
The Fall
2 Nephi 2:25 Moses 4 Genesis 3
Alma 12:22–34 Moses 5:10–12