The Pre-Mortal Spirit World The First Estate

1. The Pre-Mortal Spirit World The First Estate Bro. Bruce K. Satterfield Faculty, Department of Religious Education BYU-Idaho http://emp.byui.edu/satterfieldb/

2. Successive States of Existence

3. Successive States of Existence Howard W. Hunter (1907-95) President We are children of God, our Eternal Father. We are eternal beings, at the present time passing through an earthly estate, one of the several successive estates of a continuing eternal existence. Life did not begin with birth into this mortal sphere nor does it end with death. As children of God we lived with him in a premortal state, and there we were taught and prepared to come to earth where we would receive bodies and be given the opportunity for spiritual growth. (The Teachings of Howard W. Hunter, ed. Clyde J. Williams [2002], 15; emphasis added)

4. Successive States of Existence Parley P. Pratt(1807-57) Quorum of the Twelve Apostles The very germs of these Godlike attributes, being engendered in man, the offspring of Deity, only need cultivating, improving, developing and advancing by means of a series of progressive changes, in order to arrive at the fountain "Head," the standard, the climax of Divine Humanity. (Key to the Science of Theology [1891], p. 32;emphasis added)

5. Successive States of Existence Joseph F. Smith (1838-1918) President So far as the stages of eternal progressionand attainment have been made known through divine revelation, we are to understand that only resurrected and glorified beings can become parents of spirit offspring. Only such exalted souls have reached maturity in the appointed course of eternal life; and the spirits born to them in the eternal worlds will pass in due sequence through the several stages or estates by which the glorified parents have attained exaltation. (Gospel Doctrine, comp.John A. Widtsoe[1919, 1939, 1986], 69; emphasis added)

6. The Mystery of Origin John A. Widstoe(1872-1952) Quorum of the Twelve Apostles The origin of man is known only in part. It is so with all ultimate questions. In every department of human knowledge, from mathematics to literature, some things are beyond human comprehension. These transcendental matters remain shrouded in mystery until more knowledge is obtained. There are doubtless many truths which are beyond the power of the finite human mind to comprehend. A great change must come over man before all things shall be known and understood.

7. The Mystery of Origin However, much is known of the origin of man. Personal intelligences, or intelligent personalities, are among the indestructible units of the universe. The essential part of man has always existed.(Program of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter‑day Saints [1941], 195)

8. Our Understanding is Limited, Sketchy, Outline Boyd K. Packer(1924-2015) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles • [O]ur knowledge is limited on our premortal state (Mine Errand from the Lord [2008], 7; emphasis added) • Essential facts about our premortal life have been revealed. Although they are sketchy, they unravel the mystery of life.(“The Mystery of Life,” Ensign, Nov. 1983, p. 17; emphasis added) • No more profound truth has been conveyed to us in the Restoration than the knowledge of our premortal existence. No other church knows or teaches this truth. The doctrine is give only in outline form, but salient facts are repeated often enough in the revelations to assure us of certain fundamental truths. (Mine Errand from the Lord [2008], 7-8)

9. General Outline of the Pre-Mortal Existence I. Unorganized Intelligence State II. Organized Intelligence(Spirit offspring of Heavenly Parents) III. Period of Growth and Development (Learning about Spirit Matter) IV. “Grand Council”–Regarding Advancement to the Second Estate

10. I. Unorganized Intelligence State

11. A fundament truth restored to mankind through the Prophet Joseph Smith is that we have always existed!!

12. Eternal Nature of our Existence • D&C 93:21, 23, 29, 33 • Abraham 3:18 • Joseph Smith (1805-44) President • The spirit of man is not a created* being; it existed from eternity, and will exist to eternity. Anything created cannot be eternal; and earth, water, etc., had their existence in an elementary state, from eternity. (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, sel. Joseph Fielding Smith [1976], p. 158) • *Noah Webster’s 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language defines create as “To produce; to bring into being from nothing; to cause to exist” (emphasis added).

13. First Presidency Statement June 30, 1916 The scriptures plainly and repeatedly affirm that God is the Creator of the earth and the heavens and all things that in them are. In the sense so expressed the Creator is an Organizer. God created the earth as an organized sphere; but He certainly did not create, in the sense of bringing into primal existence, the ultimate elements of the materials of which the earth consists, for "the elements are eternal" (Doc. & Cov. 93:33).So also life is eternal, and not created; but life, or the vital force, may be infused into organized matter, though the details of the process have not been revealed unto man.(“The Father and the Son: A Doctrinal Exposition by The First Presidency and the Twelve” reprinted Ensign; Apr. 2002, 13-17; emphasis added)

14. John A. Widstoe(1872-1952) Quorum of the Twelve Apostles Personalities in the Unseen Universe. There are hosts of personal intelligences in the universe. Their number is not known, neither is the quantity of universal matter known. These intelligences are in all stages and rates of progression or retrogression. There are ascending personal intelligences, who may be spoken of as potential Gods, since they are striving to become more and more like their Father in Heaven; there are descending personal intelligences, who are approaching from day to day the likeness of the evil one, and may be spoken of as potential devils. The gradation from the lowest to the highest of the personal intelligences in the universe appears to be continuous. (D. & C.93:11,20.)

15. John A. Widstoe(1872-1952) Quorum of the Twelve Apostles Man on Earth. Man is a part of the host of universal personal intelligences. He lives under the special and peculiar conditions of earth existence. Man on the earth may be ascending or descending, for the laws of life that operate in the spiritual world are also operative on the material earth. It is of first importance that man realize that he is not the only one on earth or elsewhere favored by the Lord, but that the message and the plan are for all who belong by birth to this earth.(Program of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter‑day Saints [1941], 197-8)

16. Let’s turn to Abraham 3:21—

17. Let’s turn to Abraham 3:21— I rule in the heavens above, and in the earth beneath, in all wisdom and prudence, over all the intelligences thine eyes have seen from the beginning; I came down in the beginning in the midst of all the intelligences thou hast seen.

18. Let’s turn to Abraham 3:21— I rule in the heavens above, and in the earth beneath, in all wisdom and prudence, over all the intelligences thine eyes have seen from the beginning; I came down in the beginning in the midst of all the intelligences thou hast seen. What did He do when He came down in the midst of all the intelligences?

19. John A. Widstoe(1872-1952) Quorum of the Twelve Apostles God, The Highest Intelligence. (D.& C.76:92, 93; 88:40; 109:77.) The foremost intelligence in the universe is God. Him whom we address in our prayers as Father. (D.& C. 20:17.) He is infinite to finite minds, yet he may be understood in part by mortal man. To expect to comprehend Him in full would be futile; to hope to know Him in essence is within the reach of all who would follow the path laid out.

20. God, the highest Intelligence, possesses supreme knowledge and power. Indeed, we have reason to believe that His knowledge is the sum of the knowledge possessed by all existing personal intelligences and His power the sum of the powers of such personal beings. (Abraham 3:19.) Moreover, God is the goal of all other intelligences. To become like Him, in every attribute, is the highest human goal. To become increasingly more God-like is the aim of every person with a will tempered for righteousness. (Program of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter‑day Saints [1941], 196-7)

21. Joseph Smith (1805-44) President I wish to go back to the beginning—to the morn of creation. There is the starting point for us to look to, in order to understand and be fully acquainted with the mind, purposes and decrees of the Great Elohim . ... God himself, finding he was in the midst of spirits and glory, because he was more intelligent, saw proper to institute laws whereby the rest could have a privilege to advance like himself. The relationship we have with God places us in a situation to advance in knowledge. He has power to institute laws to instruct the weaker intelligences, that they may be exalted with himself (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith  [2007], 210)

22. II. Organized Intelligence(Spirit offspring of Heavenly Parents)

23. Dallin H. Oaks of the First Presidency Our theology begins with heavenly parents. Our highest aspiration is to be like them. Under the merciful plan of the Father, all of this is possible through the atonement of the Only Begotten of the Father, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. (“Apostasy and Restoration,” Ensign, May 1995, 84; emphasis added)

24. First Presidency Statement – 1909 All men and women are in the similitude of the universal Father and Mother, and are literally the sons and daughters of Deity. ... The doctrine of the pre‑existence,‑revealed so plainly, particularly in latter days, pours a wonderful flood of light upon the otherwise mysterious problem of man's origin. It shows that man, as a spirit, was begotten and born ofheavenly parents, and reared to maturity in the eternal mansions of the Father, prior to coming upon the earth in a temporal body to undergo an experience in mortality. ...

25. First Presidency Statement – Nov. 1909 -continued- Man is the child of God, formed in the divine image and endowed with divine attributes, and even as the infant of an earthly father and mother is capable in due time of becoming a man, so the undeveloped offspring of celestial parentage is capable, by experience through ages and aeons, of evolving into a God. (“Origin of Man, November 1909" reprinted in Ensign, Feb. 2002, 26-30; emphasis added)."

26. As offspring of Heavenly Parents, all acquire divine potential!

27. Lorenzo Snow (1814-1901) President We were born in the image of God our Father; He begot us like unto Himself. There is the nature of deity in the composition of our spiritual organization; in our spiritual birth our Father transmitted to us the capabilities, powers and faculties which He Himself possessed–as much so as the child on its mother’s bosom possesses, although in an undeveloped state, the faculties, powers, and susceptibilities of its parent. (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Lorenzo Snow [2012), 84; emphasis added)

28. Ezra Taft Benson (1899-1994) President As God’s offspring, we have His attributes in us. We are gods in embryo, and thus have an unlimited potential for progress and attainment. (Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson [1988], 21; emphasis added)

29. M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles Before the world was created, we all lived as the spirit children of our Heavenly Father. Through a natural process of inheritance we received in embryo the traits and attributes of our Heavenly Father. We are His spirit children. Some of what our Eternal Father is, we have inherited. What he has become we may become. (Our Search for Happiness [1993], 70; emphasis added)

30. John A. Widstoe(1872-1952) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles What is the plan of salvation? The plan of salvation is a plan or system by which personal intelligences are enabled to progress rapidly and continuously . . .Those who have accepted the plan must strive with all their might to secure personal progression. ... The plan of salvation provides that all who live under it shall receive help from a higher source. God is the Author of the full plan. It was devised for man’s progress and ultimate salvation and exaltation. . . The Lord has no higher purpose. “Behold, this is my work and my glory–to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.” (Moses 1:39)

31. John A. Widstoe(1872-1952) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles The extent of God’s love has no bounds. Every living creature is included. This implies that all men are of the same origin and of equal possible destiny. (Program of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter‑day Saints [1941], pp. 199-200; emphasis added)

32. III. Period of Growth and Development

33. Howard W. Hunter (1907-1995) President While on earth, we are dual beings comprised of a physical body and a spirit. Our bodies are of recent origin and come to us from mortal elements. Our spirits were begotten by God and have had an extensive period of growth and development in the spirit world, where we came to know God and to comprehend the nature of spiritual realities. (The Teachings of Howard W. Hunter [1997], p. 12; emphasis added)

34. Abraham 3:22 Now the Lord had shown unto me, Abraham, the intelligences that were organized before the world was; and among all these there were many of the noble and great ones.

35. Alma 13:3 And this is the manner after which they were ordained–beingcalled and prepared from the foundation of the world according to the foreknowledge of God, on account of their exceeding faith and good works; in the first place being left to choose good or evil; therefore they having chosen good, and exercising exceedingly great faith, are called with a holy calling, yea, with that holy calling which was prepared with, and according to, a preparatory redemption for such.

36. Spencer W. Kimball (1895-1985) President God has taken these intelligences, given to them spirit bodies, and given them instructions and training. (“Our Great Potential,” Ensign, May 1977, p.49)

37. M. Russell Ballard Quorum of the Twelve Apostles Before the world was created, we all lived as the spirit children of our Heavenly Father. ... Life in our heavenly home was a little different from life on earth, as we weren't subject to the frailties and challenges of mortality. But we were still very much involved with learning and growing, maturing and developing; and we had meaningful association with one another. We had the opportunity in our premortal existence to make decisions and choices, and some of us proved to be better at that than others. (Our Search for Happiness [1993], p.70)

38. John A. Widstoe(1872-1952) Quorum of the Twelve Apostles This event, our birth into the spirit world, into our First Estate, is but dimly understood. We can comprehend that the spirit body became a tool for the exploration of spiritual things–the world of spirits–and that, thereby, increased power over the universe was given the rising personal intelligences. An extended education into the things of the spiritual world was made possible by the possession of the spirit body. Long ages, marked by progress, were spent in the spirit world. (Program of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter‑day Saints [1941], pp. 200-201; emphasis added)

39. John A. Widstoe(1872-1952) Quorum of the Twelve Apostles Matter exists, perhaps, in many forms, but may be classified as the ponderable matter of earth, known directly through the senses, and as the imponderable matter which cannot be sensed directly by man. This second class, often called spirit matter, is perhaps most important, for it is not unlikely that from it are derived all other forms of matter. It was of first importance that intelligent beings, aiming to conquer the universe, should learn to understand and to use correctly the properties of universal matter in all of its forms. As nearly as can be learned, the efforts of man were at first devoted to education in the properties of spirit matter. We were begotten spirits by God, who thus became our Father, and we his sons and daughters. Our career in the spirit world is often spoken of as man's first estate.

40. How long man remained in the first estate is not known. Undoubtedly, however, it was long enough to enable him to become thoroughly familiar with all manifestations of spirit substance. Only when education in this division of the universe was completed were we permitted to enter the next estate. (A Rational Theology, [1915], 31‑32)

41. Joseph B. Wirthlin(1917-2008) Quorum of the Twelve Apostles Every person on the earth today lived at one time in heavenly realms. We walked with our Heavenly Father. We knew Him. We heard His voice. We loved Him. And although we were eager to enter mortality and continue our progression, we must have regretted the separation that would accompany it. We must have sorrowed that a veil would cover our eyes and the bright memories of our lives would be cloaked in the forgetfulness of mortality. How we must have yearned to stay close to our Father in Heaven. How we must have covenanted to ever reach after Him and commune with Him.

42. Undoubtedly our separation from our Heavenly Father was softened when He promised that as we sought after Him in prayer, He would reach toward us. Now we are here. Our memories of our premortal life are dim and dark. We have forgotten those things we supposed we could never forget. Unfortunately and tragically we sometimes even forget our Heavenly Father, whom we loved so dearly.(“Improving Our Prayers,” Ensign, Mar. 2004, 24)

43. Brigham Young (1801-77) President I want to tell you, each and every one of you, that you are well acquainted with God our heavenly Father, or the great Eloheim. You are all well acquainted with Him, for there is not a soul of you but what has lived in His house and dwelt with Him year after year; and yet you are seeking to become acquainted with Him, when the fact is, you have merely forgotten what you did know.(Discourses of Brigham Young, sel John A. Widstoe[1954], 50)

44. George Q. Cannon (1827-1901) First Presidency Now, this is the truth. We humble people; we who feel ourselves sometimes so worthless, so good‑for‑nothing; we are not so worthless as we think. There is not one of us but what God's love has been expended upon. There is not one of us that He has not cared for and caressed. There is not one of us that He has not desired to save, and that He has not devised means to save. (Collected Discourses, 5 vols., comp.and ed.ted by Brian H. Stuy, B.H.S. Publishing, Woodland Hills, UT, Nov. 1890; 2:143‑4)

45. IV.“Grand Council”–Regarding Advancement to the Second Estate