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Guide Home > Doctrinal Issues > Plan of Salvation > Pre-Mortal Life
Additional TopicsThe following are additional topic areas related to Pre-Mortal Life. If there is a bracket number after the topic, that number indicates how many actual articles there are related to that subject. If the link for the topic is not live, it simply means the topic is a 'planned area' for future growth.
FAIR ResourcesThese links are either to Web pages hosted on the FAIR Website, or to FAIR Papers. FAIR Papers are short articles about specific topics or questions, written by members of FAIR. These articles can be downloaded and read in PDF format and are intended to be distributed by e-mail or print for the general use of our patrons. (To read FAIR Papers you will need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader. It can be downloaded free from the Adobe Web site.) Click on a title below to visit a FAIR Web page or to read the latest version of a FAIR Paper. John A. Tvedtnes, "The King Follett Discourse in the Light of Ancient and Medieval Jewish and Christian Beliefs," (Mesa, Arizona: FAIR) In April 1844 Joseph Smith delivered a sermon at the funeral of Elder King Follett. This sermon, heard by up to 20,000 people, has been one of the most controversial discourses given by the Prophet and is one that is frequently cited by critics of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. During his lengthy discourse, Joseph Smith discussed the nature of God the Father as an Exalted Man, the heavenly council who participated with God in the creation, the premortal existence of man, and the creation by "organization" rather than "ex nihilo" as was the accepted interpretation of Genesis 1 by Christians of his day. Joseph Smith's revelations of God, man, and creation are often greeted by detractors with scorn, indignation, and charges of blasphemy. Most anti-Mormon writers insist that the Prophet Joseph grossly misinterpreted and mistranslated the biblical text, and that his teachings are completely out of harmony with both Christian and Jewish theology, both modern and ancient. In his presentation, Tvedtnes looks at ancient Christian and Jewish writings pertaining to a heavenly council and creation by ordering chaotic matter. It is clear that though the Prophet Joseph was at odds with the theology of nineteenth century Christendom, he was teaching concepts remarkably close to beliefs held by some early Christians and ancient Hebrews. Joseph's interpretation and translation of Genesis chapter 1 is surprisingly consistent with traditions to be found in both extrabiblical Jewish writings and within the Bible itself, and his teachings can clearly be seen as part of the "restoration of all things." Allen L. Wyatt, "Preexistence and the Second Estate," Mormonism 201 (Mesa, Arizona: FAIR) Wyatt looks at the Biblical evidence for the LDS doctrine of a preexistence and demonstrates that the anti-Mormon authors of Mormonism 101 are in error when they claim that this concept is foreign to the Gospel. Encyclopedia of MormonismThe resources listed below are articles available in the Encyclopedia of Mormonism. These links are to information not located on the FAIR Web site. Gayle Oblad Brown, "Premortal Life," Encyclopedia of Mormonism, Edited by Daniel H. Ludlow (New York: Macmillan Publishing, 1992), 1123-1125 Charles Harrell, "The Development of the Doctrine of Preexistence, 1830-1844," BYU Studies 28:2 Perhaps no doctrine has had greater impact on Latter-day Saint theology than the doctrine of preexistence, or the belief in the existence of the human spirit before its mortal birth. Fundamental concepts such as the nature of man as an eternal being, his singular relationship as the offspring of Deity and concomitant brotherhood with all mankind, the talents and privileges with which he is born into the world, and his potential godhood are all inextricably connected to the doctrine of preexistence. This distinctive LDS doctrine was not immediately comprehended by the early Saints in the more fully developed form in which it is understood today. Like many of the other teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, it was revealed line upon line and adapted to the Saints’ understanding. Moreover, there was a natural tendency to view initial teachings on preexistence in light of previously held beliefs until greater clarity was given to the doctrine. This study traces the early development of the doctrine by examining chronologically the revelations and recorded sermons and writings on preexistence by the Prophet Joseph Smith in light of contemporary commentary by his associates. Seeing how early Saints perceived preexistence enhances our own understanding of the doctrine and leads to a greater appreciation of our theological heritage. Other ResourcesThe resources listed below are related items available on the Web that should be of interest. These links are to information not located on the FAIR Web site. Michael R. Ash, Pre-mortal Existence. Dr. Richard Hopkins, "The Relationship Between God and Man," Ed., Kevin Graham How are we chidren of God and how might we inherit what the Father has? Kent P. Jackson, "“Never Have I Showed Myself unto Man”: A Suggestion for Understanding Ether 3:15a," BYU Studies (1990) Ether 3:15a contains a statement from the Lord that sets the brother of Jared apart from everyone who had lived on earth up to his time: “Never have I showed myself unto man whom I have created, for never has man believed in me as thou hast.” The uniqueness of Mahonri Moriancumer’s faith justified the uniqueness of the Lord’s revelation to him. Never, the Lord told him, had anyone experienced such a manifestation—a statement made even more remarkable when we consider that such great individuals as Adam, Eve, Enoch, and Noah had preceded the brother of Jared, and each of these, according to the scriptures, had conversed with God. In this brief essay I will present some ideas concerning the Lord’s statement in Ether 3:15a. After sketching the common explanations proposed for the verse, I will suggest an alternative point of view that is, in my opinion, true to the text and consistent with what we know of the doctrine of God. Daniel C. Peterson, ""Ye Are Gods": Psalm 82 and John 10 as Witnesses to the Divine Nature of Humankind," The Disciple as a Scholar (City Unknown: FARMS), 471-594 Dr. Daniel Peterson shows how the LDS belief in a divine council is as home in the Bible.
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