God, our loving Heavenly Father, wants us to feel happiness and joy. He created a plan for us to come to earth, grow, and return to live with Him forever. His plan gives meaning and context to our lives and answers the big questions: “Where did I come from?” “Why am I here?” and “What happens after I die?”
Where did you come from?
Your story starts before you were born. In heaven, you existed as a spirit with God and the rest of His spirit children. We are all members of His family, and in our premortal life, we chose to follow God’s plan. This meant coming to earth so we could take the next step in our eternal progression.
The Creation
Under God’s direction, Jesus Christ created the earth and all living things. Adam and Eve were the first of God’s spirit children to come to earth. God created their bodies to look like His and placed them in the Garden of Eden.
The Fall of Adam and Eve
While Adam and Eve were in the garden, God commanded them not to eat fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
If they obeyed this commandment, they could remain in the garden, but they wouldn’t be able to progress by learning from the opposition and challenges of a mortal life. They would never know joy because they could never experience sorrow and pain.
Satan tempted Adam and Eve to eat the forbidden fruit. Eve chose to eat the fruit and gave Adam some of the fruit. He also chose to eat it. Because of this choice, they were cast out of the garden and separated from God’s presence. This event is called the Fall.
The Fall was a step forward for humankind and a great blessing to all of us. The Fall made it possible for us to be born on earth and progress in Heavenly Father’s plan.
The Fall was a step forward for humankind and a blessing to all of us. Blessings of the Fall include:
- Adam and Eve became mortal.
- They experienced and could use their agency to choose between good and evil.
- Because Adam and Eve faced opposition, they were able to learn and progress.
- Because they experienced sorrow, they could also experience joy.
- The Fall made it possible for all of us to be born on earth and progress in Heavenly Father’s plan.
Because of the Fall, we are blessed with physical bodies, the right to choose between good and evil, and the opportunity to gain eternal life. None of this would have been possible if Adam and Eve remained in the garden.
Adam and Eve expressed their gratitude for the blessings that came as a result of the Fall:
“Adam blessed God and was filled, and began to prophesy concerning all the families of the earth, saying: Blessed be the name of God, for because of my transgression my eyes are opened, and in this life I shall have joy, and again in the flesh I shall see God.
“And Eve, his wife, heard all these things and was glad, saying: 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.”
Why are you here?
Life on earth is an essential part of God’s beautiful plan for each of us. The experiences we have here help us learn, grow, and prepare to return to our Father in Heaven.
The Atonement of Jesus Christ is central to God’s Plan of Happiness
- Because of the Fall of Adam and Eve, we are all subject to sin and death.
- Because God loves us, He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to earth to redeem us from sin and death.
- Because of Jesus’s atoning sacrifice, we can be forgiven and cleansed of our sins and our hearts can be changed. This makes it possible for us to return to God’s presence and have lasting joy.
Jesus Christ offers comfort, hope, and healing. His atoning sacrifice is the ultimate expression of His love. All that is unfair in life can be made right through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
What happens after you die?
Just as we lived before we came to earth, we will continue to live after we die. Knowing this can provide comfort and peace when we or our loved ones face death. While we mourn for those we’ve lost, there is hope because of Jesus Christ—death is not the end (see John 11:25–26).
The Spirit World
When we die, our spirit and body separate. Even though our body dies, our spirit—the essence of who we are—lives on. Our spirit goes to the spirit world, which is a waiting period of learning and preparation until we receive the gift of resurrection.
Resurrection
Resurrection is the reuniting of our body and spirit and is the next step in our eternal growth.
When we are resurrected, we will each have a perfected physical body, free of pain and sickness. We will be immortal, living forever.
Because of the Savior’s Atonement and Resurrection, every person who has ever lived will be resurrected (Alma 11:42–44).
Salvation Is Possible Because of Jesus Christ
Because we will all be resurrected, we will all be saved—or gain salvation—from physical death. But neither the Resurrection nor salvation from our sins would be possible without Jesus Christ.
He suffered for our sins so that when we pray for forgiveness and try to change, we can be clean. He also died on the cross and rose from the dead. Because of Jesus, death is not the end.
Judgment and Eternal Glory
At the time of resurrection, each of us will be judged individually by Jesus, our Savior. This final judgment will be based on our desires, actions, and choices.
Only God and Jesus know our hearts and our life circumstances perfectly, so only they can judge us perfectly. This judgment will be one of mercy, healing, and love (see Revelation 21:4).
God’s ultimate goal is to help all His children return to live with Him in the celestial kingdom.
God’s plan for us makes eternal life with Him and our families possible. Following God’s plan of happiness includes:
- Believing Jesus Christ.
- Repenting of our sins.
- Being baptized in His name.
- Receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit.
- Keeping God’s commandments.
- Repenting when we fall short.