Lesson 32

The Plan of Salvation (Part 3)

Prepare to Learn

Prepare your mind and heart to learn. Remove any potential distractions and try to put your worries and troubles aside. This will help you invite the presence of the Holy Ghost.

Begin your study with prayer.

Have you ever had the opportunity to tell someone about the plan of salvation?

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, while serving in the First Presidency, described his experience of sharing the gospel as a young man. Look for some of the principles he shared with his friends as a youth as well as what he later testified of as an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ. You can read the text for this video here: “O How Great the Plan of Our God!” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2016, 20–21.

The Premortal Existence

Knowing and remembering our past can greatly affect our present and our future.

This lesson will provide an opportunity to discuss some of the experiences we had in our premortal lives. Our knowledge of these experiences can help us better understand who we are and who we can become.

The Plan of Salvation

Turn to doctrinal topic 2, “The Plan of Salvation,” in the Doctrinal Mastery Core Document. Read paragraphs 2.4–2.5, looking for some of the experiences we had before we were born.

What can you learn about yourself from reading about the experiences you had before you were born?

Premortal Life

Consider marking the following key statement of doctrine in paragraph 2.4: Before we were born on the earth, we lived in the presence of our Heavenly Father as His spirit children.

1. Answer one of the following questions:

• Why do you think Heavenly Father wants us to know and understand this truth?

• How can knowing that we were obedient to Heavenly Father in the premortal life influence the choices we make in this life?

Abraham, Chosen by the Lord

The fact that we are Heavenly Father’s spirit children is so important to Him that He has provided many examples of this truth in the scriptures. We can find one example of this in the doctrinal mastery scripture passage Abraham 3:22–23, which teaches us that before we were born on the earth, we lived in the presence of our Heavenly Father as His spirit children. Turn to Abraham 3:22–23 in your scriptures, and consider marking it in a distinctive way so you will be able to locate it more easily.

As recorded in Abraham 3, the Lord showed Abraham a vision of many different stars and planets, likening them to His spirit children. He taught important truths about mortal life and taught how the plan of salvation makes our eternal progression possible.

Read Abraham 3:22–23, looking for phrases that teach that we once lived in Heavenly Father’s presence.

How do you think it might have affected Abraham to learn that he was “chosen” by the Lord “before [he was] born” (verse 23)?

Spiritual Attributes

The following statement by President Russell M. Nelson gives insight into why you too were “chosen before [you were] born” (Abraham 3:23). Pay attention to words or phrases that can help you better understand who you are and who you can become.

The following statement by President Russell M. Nelson gives insight into why you too were “chosen before [you were] born” (Abraham 3:23). Pay attention to words or phrases that can help you better understand who you are and who you can become.

You can read the text for this video here: “Decisions for Eternity,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2013, 107).

“Your Heavenly Father has known you for a very long time. You, as His son or daughter, were chosen by Him to come to earth at this precise time, to be a leader in His great work on earth [see Alma 13:2–3; D&C 138:38–57]. You were chosen not for your bodily characteristics but for your spiritual attributes, such as bravery, courage, integrity of heart, a thirst for truth, a hunger for wisdom, and a desire to serve others.

“You developed some of these attributes premortally. Others you can develop here on earth [see D&C 4:6; Alma 5:14] as you persistently seek them [see 1 Corinthians 12; 14:1–12; Moroni 10:8–19; D&C 46:10–29]” (Russell M. Nelson, “Decisions for Eternity,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2013, 107).

What spiritual attributes do you think you might have developed before you were born?

A Plan to Develop Spiritual Attributes

President Nelson encouraged us to develop spiritual attributes here on the earth as well. Think of an attribute you would like to develop or improve so that you can better serve the Lord. Consider ways you can learn about and practice using this attribute. To help you follow through with your plans, write them in a personal journal or in your Notes on LDS.org.

Questions and Answers and Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge

Turn to the “Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge” section of the Doctrinal Mastery Core Document. Review the following three principles: act in faith, examine concepts and questions with an eternal perspective, and seek further understanding through divinely appointed sources. These principles will help you as you seek answers to your own questions or those asked by others.

Doctrinal Mastery Review

Take a moment to review each of the doctrinal mastery passages you have learned in connection with the doctrinal mastery lessons on the plan of salvation: Moses 1:39; Joshua 24:15; Abraham 3:22–23. If you have not already done so, consider marking these doctrinal mastery passages in a distinctive way so you will be able to locate them more easily.

Quiz 1

1. What doctrinal mastery passage invites us to “choose you this day” to “serve the Lord”?

   1. Moses 1:39

   2. Joshua 24:15

   3. Abraham 3:22–23

2. What doctrinal mastery passage reminds us that in the premortal existence God chose leaders to serve here on the earth?

   1. Moses 1:39

   2. Joshua 24:15

   3. Abraham 3:22–23

3. What doctrinal mastery passage tells us about God’s “work and [His] glory”?

   1. Moses 1:39

   2. Joshua 24:15

   3. Abraham 3:22–23

A Scenario

Read the following scenario:

You notice one of your friends, Jim, eating alone at lunch. As you sit down and join him, he seems deep in thought. Jim looks over at you and says, “Hey, at church on Sunday, my minister said something that I wanted to ask you about. I know we’ve talked about religious stuff before, but do Mormons really believe they can become gods?”

2. Answer the following questions:

What could you do to help Jim act in faith while he searches for an answer?

What do you know or understand about the plan of salvation that could help you respond to Jim’s question?

What key statements of doctrine and scripture passages found in the Doctrinal Mastery Core Document could help explain these teachings?

Are there any divinely appointed sources, such as prophetic statements, additional scripture passages, or other sources, that you might use to help explain the truths you want to share?

Your Choices

The following truth was identified in this lesson:

• Before we were born on the earth, we lived in the presence of our Heavenly Father as His spirit children.

How might your knowledge of your premortal identity influence the choices you make?

Answer Key

Quiz 1: (1) b; (2) c; (3) a