Lesson 19: The Plan of Salvation

Purpose
To help class members understand the grand scope of the plan of salvation and to encourage them to live according to their knowledge of the plan.

Preparation

Read the Following Scriptures:

• Moses 4:2
• D&C 19:16–19
• D&C 76:40–42
• Job 38:4–7
• D&C 138:55–56
• Abraham 3:22–28 
• Alma 42:9, 14 
• D&C 29:40–43 
• Articles of Faith 1:3 
• Alma 40:11–14 
• Alma 42:11–13, 15 
• D&C 76:111 
• D&C 88:14–16

To gain a greater understanding of historical events related to the doctrine in this lesson, consider reviewing the following:

• This article discusses an early revelation on the premortal existence that is now found in Doctrine and Covenants 93."Man Was Also in the Beginning with God"
• "The Vision": This article gives context for the vision about life after death and the three kingdoms of glory, which is now recorded in Doctrine and Covenants 76. 
• "Becoming like God": This Gospel Topics essay gives some historical context for Church teachings on exaltation. 
• "Accounts of the 'King Follett Sermon'": This page from the Joseph Smith Papers website links to accounts of Joseph Smith's last general conference address, which laid out some of his teachings about our divine nature and potential. 

Questions to Ponder

1. The plan of salvation is "one of heaven's best gifts to mankind."

• What do these words teach about Heavenly Father's plan?
  • Salvation (Alma 24:14; 42:5; Moses 6:62)
  • Happiness (Alma 42:8, 16)
  • Redemption (Jacob 6:8; Alma 12:25–33)
  • Restoration (Alma 41:2)
  • Mercy (Alma 42:15, 31)

The prophet Alma referred to Heavenly Father's plan as "the great plan of happiness" (Alma 42:8).

• How can the plan of salvation bring us happiness?

The Prophet Joseph Smith taught, "The great plan of salvation is a theme which ought to occupy our strict attention, and be regarded as one of heaven's best gifts to mankind" (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, sel. Joseph Fielding Smith [1976], 68).

• What can we do to give the plan of salvation "our strict attention"?

2. Premortal life

The plan of salvation can be divided into three parts: premortal life, mortal life, and life after death.

One significant blessing of the Restoration is our increased knowledge of our premortal life. This knowledge helps us understand life's purpose and our part in God's plan of salvation.

• We are sons and daughters of God, and we lived in a premortal existence as His spirit children (D&C 76:24;93:29). How does the knowledge that you are a child of God influence you?
• Before the earth was created, Heavenly Father called a council in heaven and presented the plan of salvation to all His spirit children. What were some elements of the plan that Heavenly Father presented in the premortal world? (See 2 Nephi 2:24–26; Alma 34:8–9; Abraham 3:24–25.)
• How did Jehovah, the Firstborn of the Father, respond to the plan of salvation? (See Moses 4:2, D&C 19:16–19 and D&C 76:40–42). 
• Lucifer rebelled against the plan of salvation, seeking to destroy our agency and gain Heavenly Father's power (Moses 4:1, 3; D&C 29:36). He became Satan, and he and his followers were cast out of the Father's presence and denied mortality (D&C 29:36–38; 76:25–27; Moses 4:4; Abraham 3:26). Why is it important for us to know about the existence of Satan and his followers?
• How did we respond to the plan of salvation? (See Job 38:4–7.)

In the premortal world, Heavenly Father chose and foreordained noble spirits to carry forth His work on the earth (D&C 138:55–56; Abraham 3:22–23; see also Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 365).

• In what ways might our knowledge of premortal life influence our daily decisions? How can our knowledge of our premortal life help us when we face trials?

3. Mortal life

When we accepted Heavenly Father's plan in our premortal life, we kept our "first estate." Because of our faithfulness, we were given the opportunity to come to earth, which is our "second estate" (Abraham 3:26).

Because of the Fall of Adam and Eve, we are in a fallen state in mortality (D&C 29:40). We are subject to physical death and also to spiritual death, or separation from the presence of God (D&C 29:41–42; Alma 42:9, 14;). From latter-day revelation we learn that the Fall is a necessary step in our eternal progress. Eve spoke of the blessings of the Fall: "Were it not for our transgression we never should have had seed, and never should have known good and evil, and the joy of our redemption, and the eternal life which God giveth unto all the obedient" (Moses 5:11).

• What are some purposes of mortal life?
  • The Prophet Joseph Smith said, "We came to this earth that we might have a body and present it pure before God in the celestial kingdom" (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 181).
  • Abraham 3:25–26, Alma 12:24; D&C 29:42–43;Articles of Faith 1:3
  • Moses 2:28;D&C 93:40; 131:1–4; 138:48
• The First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles proclaimed that "marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator's plan for the eternal destiny of His children. … The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally" ("The Family: A Proclamation to the World," Ensign, Nov. 1995, 102).
  • How does your understanding of the purposes of mortality make a difference in your life? How does your understanding of these purposes influence the decisions you make?
  • As part of our mortal life, Satan is allowed to tempt us (D&C 29:39). Why? (See D&C 29:39; see also 2 Nephi 2:11–13.) Why is agency an important part of the plan of salvation? (See D&C 58:27–28; 101:78;2 Nephi 2:25–27.)

4. Life after death

• When we die, our spirits will enter the spirit world (see Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 309–10.) How will our works during mortality influence our life in the postmortal spirit world? (See Alma 34:34;40:11–14.)
• People who do not receive the gospel on earth will have that opportunity in the spirit world (D&C 137:7–9; 138:30–34). What can we do to help them receive all the blessings of the plan of salvation? (See D&C 128:6–8, 15.
• The Fall brought physical and spiritual death into the world. How will we be delivered from physical death? (See Alma 11:42; D&C 88:14–16; 93:33.) How can we be delivered from spiritual death? (See Alma 42:11–13, 15; Articles of Faith 1:3.)

After we are resurrected, we will return to the presence of God to be judged according to our works (Alma 11:43–45; D&C 76:111). We will inherit a place in the celestial kingdom, the terrestrial kingdom, or the telestial kingdom based on the manner in which we have "received the testimony of Jesus" (D&C 76:51; see also verses D&C 76:50, 79–82).

• In what ways does the knowledge of life after death help us during mortality?