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Did We All Blow It In The Pre Existence?

Ever since I can remember, I have been told I was born in the last days, in a free country, in an LDS home, all due to my faithfullnes in the preexistence. It was no accident that I wasn't born 1,000 years ago in Africa, I was placed in the world at a special place and time because I was one of the more valiant spirits. My friends were all told this, as my children and their friends. But lets look a little closer.

Was it possible to qualify for exaltation without experiencing the trials of Mortality? I think the answer is yes. Millions, perhaps billions of children have come to Earth and died prior to reaching 8 years old. According to LDS Doctrine, they are saved in the Kingdom of God. In other words, their actions, obedience and level of understanding in the pre mortal world were sufficient that they proved themselves worthy of exaltation without further testing. Their purpose in coming to Earth was to gain a physical body.

So, I assume those of us who did not die prior to the age of accountability are here because we did not qualify for exaltation like many of our brothers and sisters. In other words, we failed to progress as we could have. We lacked a level of righeousness. So, rather than be lost forever, a plan was created, a second chance so to speak for us, those who failed in our first attempt. All is not lost, we will be tested further in hopes we can pass this time. It reminds me of the time in 3rd grade when I had a particularly hard time understanding and mastering the various subjects. Rather than flunk me, a plan was provided, a second chance so to speak and I was sent to summer school.

Now, what of people like Joseph Smith, Pres. Hinckley, Noah etc. Are we to assume they failed also and were sent here to prove themselves? Or is it possible that God needed some of his best spirits to perform specific assignments on Earth and some of these men and women who did qualify for exaltation, were sent here anyway to fulfill assignments? And if so, is it just a few like Prophets and Apostles, or could there be thousands or millions of these righeous spirits among us? Maybe some of us were among those that qualified for exaltation in the pre mortal world but were chosen to come to earth now, to build up God's Kingdom.

This then, brings up another question. Suppose we did qualify for exaltation but were sent to Earth on special assignment and then mess up while here? Do we get exalted anyway? I remember a quote from an early church leader...Don't have the quote but it basically said those born under the covenenat are assured of exaltation. If they were rebellious in mortality, it may be a great while before they are exalted but they assuredly will be because it is promised in the covenant. Maybe someone has that quote.

Existence Pre The It Blow We Did

Hmmm I am not sure about that. What about if those children who died before the age of accountability were weak spirits in the pre-existence and were not as valiant as the ones living now and they just needed to obtain a "body" in order to "qualify"...they chose the plan pf Christ but they were not as strong as others. That's another way to see it.

I do not know if thousands or millions but there were several righteous spirits who have lived on this Earth. Many of them non-LDS. NONE of them were perfect, therefore they needed to prove themselves as any other child of God.

There is only one way to assure exaltation while on Earth and that's when you have made your "Call and Election Sure", there is a thread on the Mature LDS board regards to that topic.

Did We All Blow It In The Pre Existence? Studies Doctrine Mormon

I'm not sure I follow you here. It is my understanding that any child who dies before they are 8 years old is automatically saved in the Celestial Kingdom. The very reason they died was because they had already proven themselves in the preexistence. There are no weak spirits among those that die in infancy.

https://www.lightplanet.com/mormons/basic/f...lvation_eom.htm

Existence Pre The It Blow We Did

That's correct.

That's the point. Where does it say that *the* reason they died is because they had already proven themselves in the preexistance?. The same regards to there are no weak spirits among those that die in infancy?. That's just an assumption to me, but not Church doctrine...but I could be wrong, so I am open for scriptures references and so on.

Existence Pre The It Blow We Did

I agree with LDS in that I have heard before that among those who live long and are tried most are very strong and valiant spirits. The fact that prophets have declared over and over how special, righteous, and valiant many spirits who are born on the earth today makes that believable to me. Example: "I salute you young people as chosen, special spirits who have been reserved to come forth in this generation." James E Faust, Who Do You Think You Are. This statement is meant for youth, ages 12-18, not those who died before the age of 8. It would make sense to me that Heavenly Father couldn't possibly send only weaker spirits to this earth without plenty of valiant ones to combat the evil and to provide many things; ie love, knowledge, intelligence, compassion, example, and kindness, just to name a few.

What I am trying to imply by using this quote is that we may still need to grow and progress, even if we were totally valiant and obedient in the preexistence, if you can derive that from this quote like I can. I also think that the answers to your questions lie within the 'mysteries of God' and that we just won't have complete knowledge of the answers in this life.

Edited: dawnofthenew on 7th Feb, 2005 - 11:56pm

Did We All Blow It In The Pre Existence?

Nobody will inherit the CK without earning it. If children who die in infancy inherit the CK it must be because they already proved themselves worthy, it can't be just good luck that they died before they were accountable. Here are a couple of quotes that help explain this:

President Joseph Fielding Smith once told me that we must assume that the Lord knows and arranges beforehand who shall be taken in infancy and who shall remain on earth to undergo whatever tests are needed in their cases. This accords with Joseph Smith's statement: "The Lord takes many away, even in infancy, that they may escape the envy of man, and the sorrows and evils of this present world; they were too pure, too lovely, to live on earth." (Teachings, pp. 196-97.) It is implicit in the whole scheme of things that those of us who have arrived at the years of accountability need the tests and trials to which we are subject and that our problem is to overcome the world and attain that spotless and pure state which little children already possess.


Will children ever be tested?

Absolutely not! Any idea that they will be tested in paradise or during the millennium or after the millennium is pure fantasy. Why would a resurrected being, who has already come forth from the grave with a celestial body and whose salvation is guaranteed, be tested? Would the Lord test someone who cannot fail the test and whose exaltation is guaranteed? For that matter, all those billions of people who will be born during the millennium, when Satan is bound, "shall grow up without sin unto salvation" (D&C 45:58) and therefore will not be tested. "Satan cannot tempt little children in this life, nor in the spirit world, nor after their resurrection. Little children who die before reaching the years of accountability will not be tempted." (Doctrines of Salvation, 2:56-57.) Such is the emphatic language of President Joseph Fielding Smith.

Did We Blow It The Pre Existence

Gaucho, thanks for sharing those quotes with me and taking the time to explain. It does make a lot of sense to me.

Did We Blow It The Pre Existence Mormon Doctrine Studies

The way I see it, there are no weaker spirits. All of Heavely Father's children have strength in a number of areas. Some more than others, like his daughters..they are all multi-task. When my non-lds friends look at me they see a friendly and loving husband and peace maker who is threatening on a rugby field. An lds leader sees me as a team player, one that sees others thru the eyes of Christ, compassionate and stands by truth. My colleagues see different attributes as well.

What we should be thinking about is how I can better help bring more souls unto christ instead of thinking what if this is a second chance for me or I guess I wasn't valiant enough.

Like you said each of us was sent at different times because each of us hold the key to bringing someone else closer to Heavenly Father. Father in heaven knows each of us best and trials and tribulations helps to strengthen a man and a woman, and better focus our lives on the 'Eternal'

Hope that helps to shed more light