The Pre-Mortal Existence of Mankind
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Abraham 3; Moses 4:1-4 The Pre-Mortal Existence of Mankind Bruce K. Satterfield, PhD Department of Religious Education Brigham Young University-Idaho Notes and Teachings All non-scriptural quotes are highlighted in blue. Introduction His children. And they further teach intelligence, or spirit, has Abraham 3 and Moses 4:1-4 focus on teachings existed from all eternity. We know also that we were regarding the pre-mortal existence of man. The doctrine individuals. We are told more than once in the of premortality is essential to maintaining a proper revelations that we were clothed in a spirit body. We perspective of mortal life. Of this, President Boyd K. know no more than that the spirit body was created in Packer of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said: the image of our Father. I don’t know of any idea that helps us make sense The most fundamental of all endowments given to out of life as much as this fundamental truth: We us is agency. To repeat, the few crucial facts we lived as spirit children–individual, intelligent sons and know about our status in premortal life: “man was also daughters of God–before our mortal birth. So many in the beginning with God.” We lived in the presence things in llife can be understood only if we know of God our Eternal Father; we are His offspring. there was a premortal life, and so many things can Intelligence, or spirit, was organized as spirit bodies never be understood without that knowledge. (Mine before the world was. We were endowed with Errand from the Lord: Selections from the Sermons and Writings agency. Authority had been conferred and leaders of Boyd K. Packer [2008], p. 9) chosen. So important is the understanding of this doctrine that From the scriptures: Satan constantly tries to distinguish it’s light among “God saw these souls that they were good, and he mortals. Neal A. Maxwell (1926-2004), member of the stood in the midst of them, and he said: These I will Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, taught that make my rulers; for he stood among those that were spirits, and he saw that they were good.” (Abraham the adversary relentlessly uses the absence or 3:22) disbelief of this doctrine to shrink man’s perspective. In the words of the Prophet Joseph Smith: One-dimensional man with only a one-dimensional “God himself, finding he was in the midst of spirits view of the world will surely focus upon the cares of and glory, because he was more intelligent, saw the world, yielding to the things of the moment. proper to institute laws whereby the rest could have (“Premortality, a Glorious Reality,” Ensign, Nov. 1985, p.17). privilege to advance like himself.” [Teachings of the Though we lack full understanding of the pre-mortal Prophet Joseph Smith, sel. Joseph Fielding Smith, realm of mankind, the scriptures gives us certain vital (1976), p. 354] information that is essential to understand. President We know little more than this of what our conditions Boyd K. Packer of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles was then. Nor does it serve useful purpose to observed: speculate or wrest the scriptures seeking after mysteries. (Mine Errand from the Lord: Selections from the No more profound truth has been conveyed to us Sermons and Writings of Boyd K. Packer [2008], pp. 7-8; in the Restoration than the knowledge of our emphasis added) premortal existence. No other church knows or The teachings found in Abraham 3 and Moses 4 are teaches this truth. The doctrine is give only in outline crucial. These verses speak of (1) the growth and form, but salient facts are repeated often enough in development of God’s spirit offspring, (2) a council that the revelations to assure us of certain fundamental was held regarding the creation of the earth, and (3) a truths. war! The facts are these. Abraham 3 introduces us to all three of these important We lived in the presence of God our Eternal teachings. Joseph Fielding McConkie, Professor of Father prior to our mortal birth. Religion at Brigham Young University, describes the We use such words as omnipotent and omniscient layout of this chapter in these words: to describe Him and feel them inadequate. Should not the word God be enough? Does it not bespeak No teaching device is used more effectively or such glory that without the presence of priesthood frequently in the scriptures to expand understanding power of godliness, mortal man could not behold His than "likening" the principle being taught to something face and live? already understood by those being instructed. This is He is Elohim our father. The familiar word father what is taking place in Abraham 3. The chapter reverently spoken does not demean him but greatly divides itself into very natural parts: the first lifts us up. seventeen verses deal with planets and their The scriptures teach us that we are His offspring, relationship one to another; the last eleven verses speak of pre-earth spirits and their relationships one to another. At first glance, it may appear that 7. Joseph and Hyrum Smith, along with Brigham Abraham is dealing with two separate ideas, each Young, John Taylor, and Wilford Woodruff, are deserving a chapter of its own. A more careful specifically mentioned as being "among the noble and reading, however, reveals that the second part of the great ones who were chosen in the beginning to be chapter is a deliberate restatement of the first. Each rulers in the Church of God" (D&C 138:55). 8. Christ is the source of "light which is in all things, principle describing the relationship of one star or which giveth life to all things, which is the law by which planet to another proves to be equally descriptive of all things are governed" (D&C 88:13). the nature and relationship of pre-earth spirits one to 9. Christ was the greatest of all the pre-earth spirits. another. The revelation on planets ends in the He is described as being "like unto God" (Abr. 3:24). eighteenth verse where the revelation on pre-earth Kolob in this revelation is an obvious symbol or spirits begins. The two parts of the revelation are representation of Christ. (“The Heavens Testify of Christ,” welded at that point with the words "as, also," which in Studies in Scripture, Vol. 2: The Pearl of Great Price. Ed.s is simply to say what is true of the stars is "also" true Robert L. Millet and Kent P. Jackson [1998], pp. 240-241) of the spirits. (“The Heavens Testify of Christ,” in Studies in Scripture, Vol. 2: The Pearl of Great Price, ed.s Robert L. Millet Abraham 3:2-18. Stars and Spirits and Kent P. Jackson [1998], p. 240) Abraham was also shown both stars and spirits in the Abraham 3:2-5. Christ and Kolob vision. Joseph Fielding McConkie has noted the following similarities between them: Abraham learned of premortality through an object lesson. The object from which the lessons were derived The stars or planets in Abraham 3, with their was a vision of the universe, which was used as a type various rotations, provide a natural parallel with the and shadow of Christ and the premortal spirits. Abraham "noble and great ones" described in the latter part of was first shown many great (large) stars with one star, the chapter. Kolob, being “nearest unto the throne of God” (Abraham W e can summarize this likeness as follows 3:2). Joseph Fielding McConkie offered the following concerning the nature and order of the planets: observations regarding the symbolism of Kolob: 1. "The stars . were very great" (v. 2). There were The leading role in the vision of the planets "many great ones . near unto" Kolob (Christ) (v. 2). 2. These stars were the "governing ones" (v. 3). obviously goes to Kolob. We can summarize what 3. All stars are to sustain or be governed by "the great we learn about Kolob from the text and Facsimile #2 one" (v. 3). Each ruling star has a "set time" for its as follows: revolutions. 1. "The name of the great one is Kolob, because it is 4. The star with the longer "set time" rules above the near unto [God]" (v. 3). star with the lesser "set time" (vv. 4-7). 5. Anytime there is a star with a set time that has 2. Kolob is "after the manner" or in the likeness of the another star above it, then there will be another "planet Lord (v. 4). whose reckoning of time shall be longer still" (v. 8). That 3. Kolob is the "first creation" (v. 2; Fac. 2:1). is, for every star there is a greater star until we come to Kolob (Christ), for Kolob (Christ) "is set nigh unto the 4. Kolob is the "nearest unto the throne of God" (v. 2; throne of God, to govern all those planets which belong Fac. 2:1). to the same order" (v. 9). 5. Kolob is "first in government" (Fac. 2:1) and is "to 6. To Abraham the Lord said: "It is given unto thee to govern all those which belong to the same order" (v. 3). know the set time of all the stars that are set to give light, until thou come near unto the throne of God" (v. 10). 6. Kolob holds "the key of power" (Fac. 2:2). Now note what Abraham is taught concerning the 7. There are "many great ones" near Kolob; these are pre-earth spirits: the governing ones (vv.