The Plan of Salvation provides answers for all of life’s questions. All of them. It helps us to contemplate the love of God, the need for a Savior, and why we experience trials. It gives us purpose, hope, and the courage to endure when life’s challenges seem overwhelming.
Often, when we have questions, we tend to look for answers to just those questions. But if we limit our perspective to one topic, we may be missing the opportunity to find answers in unexpected places. Considering our questions in the context of the plan of salvation can help us find not only answers, but perspective.
In Alma 39 through 42, we read Alma’s teachings to his son Corianton, a missionary who failed to keep the law of chastity.1 In an effort to correct his son, Alma taught very little about the law of chastity. Instead, he taught Corianton about the coming of Christ,2 the love that God has for his children,3 the plan of redemption,4 the resurrection,5 the justice of God,6 and why “wickedness never was happiness.”7 Why would he teach these things, but so little about the law of chastity? I believe that he was not just giving him the “what,” but that he wanted Corianton to understand the “why.”
The Plan of Salvation answers our questions. As we study the gospel of Jesus Christ, we need to see the big picture, and the Plan of Salvation offers us that perspective.
A house of order
“Behold, mine house is a house of order, saith the Lord God, and not a house of confusion.”8 During his mortal ministry, the Savior cast out devils and the Pharisees accused him of doing it by the power of the devil. In response, the Savior said, “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand.”9
God’s kingdom is one of order. He is “the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.”10 And so his plan of salvation, which was “prepared from the foundation of the world,”11 is the same now as when it was prepared. The doctrines of the gospel do not conflict, the principles of salvation are consistent, whether taught in the Old Testament, New Testament, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, Pearl of Great Price, or by modern prophets and apostles. They build upon each other, and understanding one principle can help us understand another. In fact, “all truth may be circumscribed into one great whole.”12
Because all truth comes from God, all truth is consistent, and fits within and can be explained by the Plan of Salvation. It is the great unifier that gives purpose and meaning to all truth.
Why?
We all want to know the “why” of everything. “[W]e are, all of us, meaning-seeking creatures. We seek not only to define the meaning of our lives by adopting, whether consciously or unconsciously, an over-arching purpose, but also to understand the reason for almost everything that happens in the course of each day.”13
Think about your experience in school: how often did you ask the question, “why do I need to learn this?” A google search of “why do I need to learn this” results in post after post from education websites giving advice on how to help students understand the “why” of education. When studying the gospel of Jesus Christ, we often run into questions and ask “why.” The Plan of Salvation gives us those answers.
What is the Plan of Salvation?
The following is my brief outline of the plan. I believe that as part of the plan, God gives us the opportunity to learn, to make mistakes, even to misunderstand at times, and to grow in our understanding. So it’s important to note that these are my thoughts, and I would encourage you to study the official teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on this topic.14
We are children of Heavenly Parents
God is our Heavenly Father. During his mortal ministry, Jesus Christ often referred to our “Father which is in heaven.”15 Paul taught that we are the “offspring of God.”16 Our Heavenly Father has all wisdom, all power, he knows all things, and as our father he loves us perfectly.17 He has a body of flesh and bones, and he prepared the plan of salvation to allow us to progress and become like him.18
God gave us agency and provided a Savior
A fundamental principle in the plan of salvation is agency. Our Father in Heaven knew that for us to reach our full potential, we had to have the opportunity to choose, to see if we would do “all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them.”19
I imagine that when our Father taught us the plan, it was a frightening prospect. Knowing we would have the opportunity to choose, we knew we were likely to make mistakes that would disqualify us to return to God’s presence. And so the focal point of the plan of salvation was a savior. God chose Jehovah, and his atonement was “prepared from the foundation of the world, that thereby salvation might come to him that should put his trust in the Lord, and should be diligent in keeping his commandments, and continue in the faith even unto the end of his life.”20
I believe that we rejoiced when we learned of the savior, and that through him we would have the opportunity to repent and be forgiven. I think that we knew him, we looked up to him, and we were filled with gratitude for the sacrifice that he would perform for us.
The War in Heaven
Not all rejoiced when Jehovah was chosen. Lucifer presented his own plan, saying, “here am I, send me, I will be thy son, and I will redeem all mankind, that one soul shall not be lost, and surely I will do it; wherefore give me thine honor.”21 The scriptures are not specific on the details of this plan, just that Satan rebelled and “sought to destroy the agency of man.”22
As eternal spirits, the war in heaven was not like wars fought on earth. I imagine it was a war of words, with missionaries from both sides trying to convince God’s children to follow one side or the other. I imagine that Lucifer tried to frighten us with what could happen if Jehovah failed. The Father’s plan required a savior, an atonement performed by one man, and if he made one mistake, it would be over for all of us. But we trusted and exercised faith in Christ, even in that premortal world. I imagine this was challenging, even fearsome, as it was described by John as “war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, and prevailed not.”23
Those of us born on this earth chose Jesus. We overcame Satan “by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.”24
In other words, we exercised faith in Jesus Christ. But there were many who did not. Because of their rebellion, Satan “was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.”25 His followers constituted a full third of God’s children.26 They would never have the opportunity to continue their progression. But those who exercised faith in Christ, those who kept “their first estate,”27 would progress by obtaining a mortal body.
The Creation and the Fall
The world was created as a place for us to grow and progress. Jehovah, who was to be born as the Messiah, known as Jesus Christ, created the heavens and the earth.28 Following the completion of the earth, God placed Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden, commanding them to not partake of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil.29
But Adam and Eve did partake of the fruit, and so were cast out of the garden. As a result of their actions, the earth itself became fallen: “I, the Lord God, said: Because thou hast . . . eaten of the fruit of the tree of which I commanded thee, saying—Thou shalt not eat of it, cursed shall be the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life. Thorns also, and thistles shall it bring forth to thee, and thou shalt eat the herb of the field. By the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, until thou shalt return unto the ground—for thou shalt surely die—for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou wast, and unto dust shalt thou return.”30
A time to repent
This plan, this great plan of happiness, was not put in place to cause us misery. We live in a fallen world, but God in his mercy has given us a great gifts, including a savior, and time to repent.
When God told Adam and Eve not to partake of the fruit, he warned them that if they did, they would die.31 As a consequence of their actions, they suffered a spiritual death, which was separation from the presence of God. As to the temporal death, it did not come immediately. Instead, they were given time: “And the days of the children of men were prolonged, according to the will of God, that they might repent while in the flesh; wherefore, their state became a state of probation, and their time was lengthened, according to the commandments which the Lord God gave unto the children of men. For he gave commandment that all men must repent; for he showed unto all men that they were lost, because of the transgression of their parents.”32
Time. God knew we would make mistakes and “come short of the glory of God.”33 And so he gave us time. Time to make those mistakes, time to repent, time to learn, time to progress. Some might wonder about children. What happens to children when they die? Why wouldn’t they have time? But even in that, we see the grace and mercy of God: “Behold, I came into the world not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance; the whole need no physician, but they that are sick; wherefore, little children are whole, for they are not capable of committing sin; wherefore the curse of Adam is taken from them in me, that it hath no power over them.”34
Agency and opposition in all things
During this time that we have on earth, agency still plays a major role. “For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. . . . it must needs be that there was an opposition; even the forbidden fruit in opposition to the tree of life; the one being sweet and the other bitter. Wherefore, the Lord God gave unto man that he should act for himself. Wherefore, man could not act for himself save it should be that he was enticed by the one or the other. . . . if Adam had not transgressed he would not have fallen, but he would have remained in the garden of Eden. . . . And they would have had no children; wherefore they would have remained in a state of innocence, having no joy, for they knew no misery; doing no good, for they knew no sin.”35
As quoted from that passage, the prophet Lehi explained agency in terms of opposition. I have come to think of agency as the law of resistance. In terms of physical fitness, “[r]esistance training increases muscle strength by making your muscles work against a weight or force.”36 If this life is a time to learn, grow, progess, and strengthen, it makes sense that we must face opposition, or resistance. Otherwise, we would not have the opportunity to exercise our agency. We wouldn’t learn, and we wouldn’t develop.
Jesus Christ and the Atonement
Jesus Christ is the central figure in the plan of salvation. Our Father in Heaven, knowing we would make mistakes, and knowing that because of the law of agency we would face trials, challenges, and difficulties, prepared a savior for us.
Before he came to earth, Jesus Christ was the premortal Jehovah. He was God, and he condescended to come to earth, receive a physical body, provide an example for us, and taken upon himself our sins and infirmities.37
“And behold, he shall be born of Mary, at Jerusalem which is the land of our forefathers, she being a virgin, a precious and chosen vessel, who shall be overshadowed and conceive by the power of the Holy Ghost, and bring forth a son, yea, even the Son of God.
“And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.
“And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.
“Now the Spirit knoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the flesh that he might take upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance.”38
The entirety of the scriptures are dedicated to teaching about Jesus Christ and his atonement. Because of his atonement, and his death and resurrection, we too will be resurrected. We can overcome death, both of the body and of the spirit. He makes it possible for us to return to the presence of God.
“O the greatness of the mercy of our God, the Holy One of Israel! For he delivereth his saints from that awful monster the devil, and death, and hell, and that lake of fire and brimstone, which is endless torment.
“O how great the holiness of our God! For he knoweth all things, and there is not anything save he knows it.
“And he cometh into the world that he may save all men if they will hearken unto his voice; for behold, he suffereth the pains of all men, yea, the pains of every living creature, both men, women, and children, who belong to the family of Adam.
“And he suffereth this that the resurrection might pass upon all men, that all might stand before him at the great and judgment day.”39
The doctrine of Christ
Jesus Christ performed the atonement, and he has established conditions that we have to satisfy to receive the blessings of his atonement: “[N]o unclean thing can enter into his kingdom; therefore nothing entereth into his rest save it be those who have washed their garments in my blood, because of their faith, and the repentance of all their sins, and their faithfulness unto the end. Now this is the commandment: Repent, all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me and be baptized in my name, that ye may be sanctified by the reception of the Holy Ghost, that ye may stand spotless before me at the last day.”40
The doctrine of Christ focuses on Jesus Christ. It teaches us to follow his example, to repent, be baptized, and receive the Holy Ghost. “And now, if the Lamb of God, he being holy, should have need to be baptized by water, to fulfil all righteousness, O then, how much more need have we, being unholy, to be baptized, yea, even by water!”41
“And he said unto the children of men: Follow thou me. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, can we follow Jesus save we shall be willing to keep the commandments of the Father? And the Father said: Repent ye, repent ye, and be baptized in the name of my Beloved Son. And also, the voice of the Son came unto me, saying: He that is baptized in my name, to him will the Father give the Holy Ghost, like unto me; wherefore, follow me, and do the things which ye have seen me do.”42
Jesus was perfect in every way. He kept the commandments given to him by his father, and he asks us to seek to live the same way he lived. The primary, and most significant commandment, is to repent: “And he hath power given unto him from the Father to redeem them from their sins because of repentance; therefore he hath sent his angels to declare the tidings of the conditions of repentance, which bringeth unto the power of the Redeemer, unto the salvation of their souls.”43
God calls prophets
How do we learn about Christ? How do we learn what we need to do to follow Christ? How do we know the conditions of repentance? From even before the foundation of the world, God has called prophets.
“And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels.”44 Michael is Adam, the first man on the earth, and the first prophet.45 Even in the preexistence, God called prophets. All scripture that we have has been given to us by prophets. Everything we know about Jesus Christ has been taught to us by prophets.
God is the same yesterday, today, and forever.46 He called prophets before the foundation of the world. He has called prophets in every age and every dispensation. In our day, he called Joseph Smith to restore the gospel after years of apostasy, and we have prophets and apostles today.
Death, resurrection, and judgment
Death comes to all of us. We cannot escape it. But because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, we will all be resurrected. “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?”47
After the resurrection, we will be judged according to our works, “and if their works were good in this life, and the desires of their hearts were good, that they should also, at the last day, be drestored unto that which is good.”48 “[A]ll men shall reap a reward of their works, according to that which they have been—if they have been righteous they shall reap the salvation of their souls, according to the power and deliverance of Jesus Christ; and if they have been evil they shall reap the damnation of their souls, according to the power and captivation of the devil.”49
Immortality and Eternal Life
Following judgment, we will receive glory, depending upon who we have become, either celestial, terrestrial, or telestial glory.50
The plan of salvation was prepared for us. “For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.”51 That scripture has brought me a significant amount of comfort. Everything God has done, he has done for our benefit. And he has done it because we are his children, and he loves us.
God’s love was made manifest in Jesus Christ, who performed his atonement to save us: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”52 This is not a plan of punishment, or a plan of judgment, or a plan of suffering. It is a plan of happiness, salvation, and mercy. As we contemplate the plan of salvation, we can see and feel the love of God.
The plan of salvation gives us hope
This outline of the plan of salvation has been a great blessing for me. As I have had questions, I’ve tried to find answers to them that fit within the plan of salvation. As I listen to the words of the prophets, or study the scriptures, I try and understand everythign I learn by studying it within the plan of salvation.
This plan really does answer all of life’s challenging questions. This is just an outline, and the details are found throughout the scriptures and the words of the prophets. As we better learn the doctrines of the gospel, and as we see how they fit within the plan, we will find answers to our questions.
References
- Alma 39:3-4. ↩︎
- Alma 39:15. ↩︎
- Alma 39:17. ↩︎
- Alma 39:18. ↩︎
- Alma 40:1. ↩︎
- Alma 41:2. ↩︎
- Alma 41:10. ↩︎
- Doctrine and Covenants 132:8. ↩︎
- Matthew 12:25. ↩︎
- Hebrews 13:8. ↩︎
- Alma 22:13. ↩︎
- Elder D. Todd Christofferson, “Truth Endures,” Address to CES Religious Educators, January 26, 2018, https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/broadcasts/article/evening-with-a-general-authority/2018/01/truth-endures?lang=eng. ↩︎
- Alex Lickerman M.D., “Why We Need to Know Why,” Psychology Today, Nov. 15, 2010, https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/happiness-in-world/201011/why-we-need-know-why. ↩︎
- See, for example, Gospel Topics, “Plan of Salvation,” https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics/plan-of-salvation?lang=eng&id=title1#title1; True to the Faith, “Plan of Salvation,” https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/true-to-the-faith/plan-of-salvation?lang=eng&id=title1#title1; Church Newsroom, “Plan of Salvation,” https://news-ph.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/plan-of-salvation; Teaching Pamphlet, “The Plan of Salvation,” https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/the-plan-of-salvation?lang=eng. ↩︎
- Matthew 5:48; Mark 11:25; Luke 11:2. ↩︎
- Acts 17:29. ↩︎
- Mosiah 4:9. ↩︎
- Doctrine and Covenants 130:22. ↩︎
- Abraham 3:25. ↩︎
- Mosiah 4:6. ↩︎
- Moses 4:1. ↩︎
- Moses 4:3. ↩︎
- Revelation 12:7. ↩︎
- Revelation 12:11. ↩︎
- Revelation 12:9. ↩︎
- Doctrine and Covenants 29:36. ↩︎
- Abraham 3:26. ↩︎
- 3 Nephi 9:15. ↩︎
- Abraham 5:9; Moses 4:9. ↩︎
- Moses 4:23-25. ↩︎
- Moses 4:9. ↩︎
- 2 Nephi 2:21. ↩︎
- Romans 3:23. ↩︎
- Moroni 8:8. ↩︎
- 2 Nephi 2:15-22. ↩︎
- Better Health, “Resistance training – health benefits,” https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/resistance-training-health-benefits. ↩︎
- 1 Nephi 11:16. ↩︎
- Alma 7:10-13. ↩︎
- 2 Nephi 9:19-22. ↩︎
- 3 Nephi 27:19-20. ↩︎
- 2 Nephi 31:5. ↩︎
- 2 Nephi 31:10-12. ↩︎
- Helaman 5:11. ↩︎
- Revelation 12:7. ↩︎
- Doctrine and Covenants 27:11. ↩︎
- Mormon 9:9; Hebrews 13:8. ↩︎
- 1 Corinthians 15:55. ↩︎
- Alma 41:3. ↩︎
- Alma 9:28. ↩︎
- Doctrine and Covenants 76. ↩︎
- Moses 1:39. ↩︎
- John 3:16-17. ↩︎
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