The Plan of Salvation
Where did I come from? Why am I here? Where am I going?
What is the purpose of life?
Where do I come from? Why am I here? Where am I going? At some point you have asked yourself: what is the point of life exactly? Is it about going to school and getting an education, working hard and getting a good job, or leaving behind an impressive legacy? Is our existence merely a time on earth that could end in 50 years, 1 year or even tomorrow? How did it all come to existence, did it just appear? Does God have a plan for me?
If you've ever asked yourself these questions, then you're not alone. And your questions don't have to remain unanswered. When you are in the right state of mind to understand your purpose in life, you will be able to find answers.
The first step to being guided to these answers is understanding that your life didn't start when you were born, and it won't end when you die. God wants you to be happy and he has an individual plan just for you.
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Pre-Earth Existence
Your Divine Identity
You are literally a child of God! God is the father of your spirit, so that makes him your Heavenly Father. Before this life, you lived with him as a spirit, without a body. Without a physical body and the experience of this mortal life, you could never become like our Heavenly Father and feel the joy that he feels.
Gods Plan For You
"For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man." -Moses 1:39
God's goal - his work and his glory - is that you will one day enjoy the same blessings that God enjoys. God would like you to come back to him and become as he is. That's why he made a perfect plan that you understood and accepted. This plan is known as by names such as the Plan of Happiness, the Plan of Salvation, and the Plan of Redemption.
But not everyone accepted this plan. Satan, also known as the devil, is an enemy to this perfect plan. Satan rejected God's plan and works actively to try and confuse us or lead us into confusion.
Your Purpose:
Life On Earth
This life on earth is a blessing and an opportunity to grow. God has given you two very special gifts for your journey here on earth: a physical body and moral agency.
Gift 1: Your Physical Body
"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them." -Genesis 1:27
God has a perfect, immortal, glorified body of flesh and bone. We have an imperfect, mortal body. This is because of the Fall of Adam and Eve. That means we will all die one day, but that's okay, it's an essential part of God's plan.
Jesus Christ Overcame Death
Dying is a part of the path back to our Father in Heaven, but no mortal can overcome death alone. That is why God sent his Son, Jesus Christ, to be the first to overcome physical death and be resurrected. Without a Savior our future chances of living with God again, are crushed by the reality of death.
When Jesus Christ died on the cross his body and spirit were separated. On the third day his body and spirit were reunited, never to be separated again. This process is what is called, "the resurrection". It is a gift from God promised to all of his children.
The resurrection enables us to return back to the presence of God, but it does not guarantee that we will live in his presence. To receive this blessing, you have to be cleansed of sin.
Gift #2: Your Moral Agency
God has given you the ability to make your own decisions. This is one way he shows us how much he trusts and loves us. During this life you will have to learn how to use this gift, whether to make good decisions and follow the example of Jesus Christ, or act against God and his commandments. Acting against God is what is called "Sin".
Sin hinders your progress and journey in becoming more like God and returning back to his presence. In this fallen and mortal state, that we are all in, you will fall into temptation, break the commandments of God and make mistakes. Even if you can't see it now, sin always leads to unhappiness, guilt and shame.
Throughout your life you will have experiences that bring you joy and happiness, and others that bring pain and trouble. No matter how hard these moments are, that's all they are, moments. They are opportunities to learn and grow and recognize good from evil. God influences us to do good, Satan influences us to sin and turn away from God.
"… choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." -Joshua 24:15
Jesus Christ Overcame Sin
Sin makes it impossible to return back to the presence of God. Just like physical death, we cannot overcome sin alone. Only in and through the mercy and grace of the Savior can you be cleansed of sin and love with God again.
When you sincerely repent, God will forgive you. There is always hope for a new start. Repentance frees you from the burden of guilt and shame. It's through Jesus Christ that you can become worthy to enter into the presence of God.
Life After Death
The Spirit World
Even though Christ overcame death, it is still essential that we all die. It is a part in transforming from mortal to immortal.
When you die your spirit goes to the spirit world. Death does not change your personality, or your desire that you had while on earth. If you choose to obey God in this life you will rest in a state of peace and happiness, free from your worries. If you choose to not obey God and not repent, you will stay in a state of unhappiness.
In the spirit World the Gospel of Jesus Christ will be preached to those who didn't obey and those who didn't have the opportunity to hear his gospel on earth. You will stay in the spirit world until you're resurrected.
"For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit." -1 Peter 4,6
Immortality: A Free Gift For Everyone
Through the grave of the Savior we will all be saved from physical death. That means you will be resurrected with a body of flesh and bone and become immortal. Your body will be perfect without any more burdens of sickness, disease, and pain. This is a free gift from our Savior, regardless if you chose to do good or evil.
Through the power and grace of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, you will also be saved from individual spiritual death.
"For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." -1. Corinthians 15,22
The Judgement: Will I Go To Heaven Or Hell?
After your resurrection, you will be brought into God's presence to be judged. You will remember exactly all your good deeds and your bad decisions. If you have repented, you will experience grace.
"For I, the Lord, will judge all men according to their works, according to the desire of their hearts." -Doctrine and Covenants 137:9
At the judgment, the decision will not be whether you go to "heaven" or "hell. God loves you and each of His children and would not condemn anyone to go to "hell" instead, He has provided three realms of glory for all His children, according to their earthly desires and deeds.
Celestial Kingdom
If you have repented of your sins, received the ordinances of the gospel, and kept the covenants associated with them, you will inherit a certain degree of glory in the heavenly kingdom. This kingdom is compared to the glory or brightness of the sun.
Terrestrial Kingdom
People who do not accept the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ either in this life or in the world to come, but who live honorable lives, receive a place in the earthly kingdom. This kingdom is compared to the glory of the moon.
Telestial Kingdom
Those who persisted in their sins and neither repented in this life nor accepted the gospel in the world to come will receive their reward in the lowest realm, which is called the heavenly realm. This realm is compared to the glory of the stars.
"There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory." -1. Corinthians 15,40-41
Eternal life: Your life with God
Your goal from the beginning, before you came to earth, is to live with God again and enjoy eternal life. That means your goal right now on earth is to prepare yourself in order to recieve these blessings. When you learn to believe in Jesus Christ and learn to rely on his grace, you will become more like him and inherit all that he has.
Pray to God to find out for yourself if this really is God's plan for you and pray to see God's personal plan for you. Your Father in Heaven will answer your prayers when you sincerely and humbly seek him.
"Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life." -2 Nephi 31:20
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