The Grand Council Reading Assignment No. 7 and the Election of Jesus Christ and the House of Israel Introduction stated but implied. • Moses 4:1-4; D&C 29:36-37; 76:25-27; 2 Ne. 2:17- Preview of the Second Estate: 18–A rebellion took place. As our progression as spirits in the “first estate” came C Alma 13:1-9; Jeremiah 1:5; Abraham 3:22-23; to an end, it was time to advance to the next stage of D&C 138:53-56–Foreordinations were made. existence–the “second estate” (Abr. 3:26). President Summation of the Grand Council Spencer W. Kimball (1895-1985): The following a summations of what occurred in When we were spiritual beings, fully organized and able the Grand Council: to think and study and understand with him, our Heavenly Joseph Smith (1805-44) President Father said to us, in effect: “Now, my beloved children, in At the first organization in heaven we were all present your spirit state you have progressed about as far as you and saw the Savior chosen and appointed and the plan of can. To continue your development, you need physical salvation made, and we sanctioned it. (Teachings of bodies. I intend to provide a plan whereby you may Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith [2007], p.209) continue your growth. As you know, one can grow only by overcoming.” (“Absolute Truth,” Ensign, Sept. 1978, 5) L. Tom Perry (1922-2015) Quorum of the Twelve Apostles We also know that our Father held a great council to Elder Neal A. Maxwell (1926-2004) of the Quorum of explain the purpose of earth life. We had the opportunity the Twelve Apostles also observed: of accepting or rejecting the plan of salvation. It was not Our purposeful coming here reflects a premortal forced upon us. The essence of the plan was that man existence (a first estate) in which man had reached a point would have an opportunity of working out his own when, in the wisdom of God, this second estate became salvation on earth, with God’s help. A leader was necessary to prepare man for a third and final resurrected selected to teach us how to follow the plan and to redeem estate wherein he might be "added upon" (see Abraham us from sin and death. Jesus Christ, our Elder 3:25-26). (But for a Small Moment [1986], p.75; emphasis added) Brother, became the leader in advocating the plan designed by the Father, and we accepted the plan and its The focus of this reading assignment concerns the conditions. With that choice we earned the right to come grand council held in preparation and the call and to earth and enter our second estate. (“The Plan of Salvation,” election of Jesus Christ and the House of Israel. Ensign, Nov. 2006, 70) II. Callings and Foreordinations Key Principles In the grand council covenants were made. Also there were callings and foreordinations. The following I. The Grand Council are question and answers about the principle of The scriptures speak of this council but in a foreordination. Each question is followed by teachings fragmented and incomplete way. Through latter-day from latter-day prophets and apostles. prophets and apostles we have a more complete picture of what took place. From the scriptures we What does foreordination mean? are told the following: True to the Faith: A Gospel Reference (2004) produced by • D&C 121:32--Heavenly Father held a council about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: the secod estate with it’s goal of “every man” entering In the premortal spirit world, God appointed certain God’ “eternal presence” where they will dwell spirits to fulfill specific missions during their mortal eternally. lives. This is called foreordination. (“Foreordination” in True to the Faith [2004], 69) • Abraham 3:22-26–the purpose of mortality discussed. Bruce R. McConkie (1915-85) Quorum of the Twelve Apostles • Moses 4:1–The need for a redeemer–never directly To carry forward his own purposes among men and nations, the Lord foreordained chosen spirit children in in True to the Faith [2004], 69) pre-existence and assigned them to come to earth at James E. Talmage (1862-1933) Quorum of the Twelve Apostles particular times and places so that they might aid in The doctrine of absolute predestination, resulting in a furthering the divine will. These pre-existence appointments nullification of man's free agency, has been advocated with made "according to the foreknowledge of God the Father" various modifications by different [religious] sects. (1 Pet. 1:2), simply designated certain individuals to Nevertheless, such teachings are wholly unjustified by both perform missions which the Lord in his wisdom knew they the letter and the spirit of sacred writ. God's foreknowledge had the talents and capacities to do. (“Foreordination,” in concerning the natures and capacities of His children Mormon Doctrine, 2nd Ed. [1966], 290) enables Him to see the end of their earthly career even Do the scriptures speak of foreordination? from the first . Many people have been led to regard this foreknowledge of God as a predestination whereby souls Jeremiah 1:4-5 Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, are designated for glory or condemnation even before their Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before birth in the flesh, and irrespective of individual merit or thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I demerit. This heretical doctrine seeks to rob Deity of ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. mercy, justice, and love; it would make God appear capricious and selfish . God's knowledge of spiritual and Ephesians 1:3-5 of human nature enables Him to conclude with certainty as Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to the actions of any of His children under given who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly conditions; yet that knowledge is not of compelling force places in Christ: upon the creature. (Articles of Faith [1984], 173) According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without Were we foreordained to be born into the dispensation blame before him in love: we live in? Having predestinated [Gr., decide beforehand] us unto Wilford Woodruff’(1807-1898) President of the Church the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, And we have been reserved in the spirit world for according to the good pleasure of his will. thousands of years, to stand in the flesh in the latter days, Abraham 3:22-23 and to take God's kingdom and build it up. Understanding Now the Lord had shown unto me, Abraham, the these things then, what are we, as Latter-day Saints, intelligences that were organized before the world was; and thinking about? We have got a great warfare to fight. among all these there were many of the noble and great Lucifer, the son of the morning, and all his hosts, are united ones; against us. We are but a little handful, compared with the And God saw these souls that they were good, and he inhabitants of the earth. There never were but few men and stood in the midst of them, and he said: These I will make women, in any age of the world, who were independent my rulers; for he stood among those that were spirits, and enough to reject evil and to serve the Lord. But we have he saw that they were good; and he said unto me: Abraham, been counted worthy to be numbered as His people. It is thou art one of them; thou wast chosen before thou wast time, therefore, that we arose, that we awoke, and that, born. clothed upon with the power of God and the Holy Priesthood, we should magnify this Priesthood and obtain Alma 13:3 the blessings belonging thereto. This people have power to And this is the manner after which they were contend with the heavens, and to control the heavens, in a ordained--being called and prepared from the foundation of measure. (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Wilford Woodruff the world according to the foreknowledge of God, on [2004], 29-30) account of their exceeding faith and good works; in the first place being left to choose good or evil; therefore they Do all members of the church have foreordinations? having chosen good, and exercising exceedingly great faith, True to the Faith: A Gospel Reference (2004) produced by are called with a holy calling, yea, with that holy calling The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: which was prepared with, and according to, a preparatory The doctrine of foreordination applies to all members redemption for such. of the Church, not just to the Savior and His prophets. Is foreordination a predestination, meaning it will Before the creation of the earth, faithful women were happen? given certain responsibilities and faithful men were foreordained to certain priesthood duties. Although you True to the Faith: A Gospel Reference (2004) produced by do not remember that time, you surely agreed to fulfill The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: significant tasks in the service of your Father. As you Foreordination does not guarantee that individuals will prove yourself worthy, you will be given opportunities to receive certain callings or responsibilities. Such fulfill the assignments you then received. (“Foreordination” opportunities come in this life as a result of the righteous in True to the Faith [2004], 70) exercise of agency, just as foreordination came as a result Joseph Smith (1805-1844) President of the Church of righteousness in the premortal existence.