The Pre Mortal Existence of Mankind

I believe in the pre mortal existence of mankind and that we lived as spirit sons and daughters of God before our births here on the earth.  We lived for many ages of time in the presence of our Heavenly Father and we learned, grew and progressed in an attempt to become like Him.  In due course of time many had advanced as far as they could while in a spirit state and thus it was necessary for God to create a plan in order for us to continue forward.

To be sure, this is a doctrine that is not accepted by most of Christendom, yet it does not alter the fact that it is a common theme found not only in our scriptures but in writings and tradition from many cultures all over the world.

While the Bible and The Book of Mormon are not saturated with references to this pre-mortal state of existence, there are definitely some references to it.  Here are a few of my favorite;

Bible

• Job 38:4-7 The sons of God shouted for joy before the Earth was formed
• Ecclesiastes 1:11 No remembrance of former things
• Ecclesiastes 12:7 Return to that God
• Jeremiah 1:5 Before I formed thee in the belly, I knew thee
• John 20:17 My Father and your Father (Jesus has a Father)
• Hebrews 11:13 We are strangers here on the Earth

Book of Mormon

• Alma 40:11 The spirits will return to God after death

The Pearl of Great Price

• Abraham 2:22-23  Abraham was chosen before he was born

While this is not even close to being an exhaustive list of scriptures it does clearly indicate that a condition of life before our mortal births existed and is references in many books of holy writ.  

It is important to note that those who are opposed to this doctrine often say that it is just a Mormon interpretation of the scriptures. Yet, writings have come forth in recent years that were not available to any of the leadership of the church when the doctrine of pre-mortality was revealed.  In a talk given by Elder Neal A. Maxwell, then a Member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, we are given insight into apocryphal writings that indicate that our lives here are but a short time of our total existence thus far. 

A few ancient writings, unavailable to Joseph Smith or anyone else at that time, have since appeared. Apocryphal writings may contain truths to be discerned, for “whoso is enlightened by the Spirit shall obtain benefit therefrom.” (D&C 91:5.) This is an example from the Nag Hammadi Library. In the Apocryphon of James, Jesus reportedly told an afflicted Peter and James, “If you consider how long the world existed before you, and how long it will exist after you, you will find that your life is one single day and your sufferings one single hour” (“The Apocryphon of James,” in The Nag Hammadi Library in English, ed. James M. Robinson, San Francisco: Harper and Row, 1978, p. 31.) (1985 October General Conference, Premortality, a Glorious Reality, Sat. Morning Session - Neal A. Maxwell)

We have existed for ages and ages since before the world was created.  We lived, grew and were able to choose between good and bad.  This sheds much light on the reasoning behind why all of us are born into different conditions.  If God is no respecter of persons, how is it fair that some of His children are born into favorable conditions while others are born into poverty and sickness?  The answer to that is we have been placed here according to how we acted and who we chose to follow prior to our coming into mortality.  From the same talk I relate the following.

"Everything in our life happens as though we entered upon it with a load of obligations contracted in a previous existence ... obligations whose sanction is not of this present life, [which] seem to belong to a different world, founded on kindness, scruples, sacrifice, a world entirely different from this one, a world whence we emerge to be born on this earth, before returning thither."  (Marcel Proust, in Gabriel Marcel, Homo Viator, New York: Harper and Row, 1963, p. 8.)

Knowing this helps us to understand that, despite our circumstances, we are all brothers and sisters and ought to treat one another with love and mercy.  In fact, those who were born into better conditions than others may be under more scrutiny as to their behavior while in mortality than those who are born into less favorable conditions.

Premortality is not a relaxing doctrine.  For each of us, there are choices to be made, incessant and difficult chores to be done, ironies and acversities to be experiences, time to be well spent, talents and gifts to be well employed.  Just because we were chosen "there and then," surely does not mean that we can be indifferent "here and now."  Whether foreordination for me, or foredesignation for women, those called and prepared must also prove "chosen, and faithful."  In fact, adequacy in the first estate may merely have ensured a stern, second estate with more duties and no immunities!  Additional tutoring and suffering appears to be the pattern for the Lord's most apt pupils.  (1985 October General Conference, Premortality, a Glorious Reality, Sat. Morning Session - Neal A. Maxwell)

A final item I want to discuss is a document written by John Taylor, who was the third president of the Church.  It is titled "The Origin and Destiny of Women."  Although it was written to a woman, the underlying principles can be applied to men as well.

It is my testimony that we are brothers and sisters, here in the attempt to prove faithful to all the commandments of God.  When we see one another as literal children of God and literal brothers and sisters we cannot help but become more disposed to kindness, love and understanding for all the short-comings and foolish mistakes of those around us.  Let us ever be filled with charity.