THE PLAN OF LIBERTY

Post No. 7 Read Time: 11 minutes.

The Plan of Liberty

God’s aim is to develop human personality. In particular it is to create within men and women the priceless quality of intelligence, skill, and kindness. To succeed in this undertaking, he designed a world, with laws, suffering, risk, and free-will, where life is a training school for character. –James Gordon Gilkey

I have no way of knowing if this statement is still accurate, but years ago, it was claimed that as a religious institution only the LDS Church believed we existed in spirit form before birth. The writer also noted that most people believed that Jesus lived pre-birth, but not themselves.

With those thoughts in mind, and in the spirit of the above-quoted words of James Gordon Gilkey, there are four intellectual, spiritual, and universal truths that will advance our understanding of the structure and purposes of life on earth. First, man was in the beginning with God. Second, rather than a Spirit, our Heavenly Father is an exalted man in whose image and likeness we are created. Third, following his rebellion against God, Satan was thrust down from heaven along with those that followed him where he would continue his rebellion in the ongoing conflict between good and evil. Fourth, comprehending these eternal truths will lead to an understanding of God’s plan for his children where everything fits together and makes sense. In other words, the fact that God created a world for us where we could strive to fulfill our potential, prove ourselves, and gain experience, is not only theological it is logical.

Early Christians valued the doctrines of preexistence and an embodied God as crucial for understanding life in mortality. However, in the early centuries following the death of Christ and the apostles, these teachings were corrupted, ignored, and allowed to wither away. Alternatively driven by speculative thinking, the philosophies of men, so-called Christian scholars, and influenced by councils and creeds, civil and religious authorities exerted efforts to suppress individual freedom and control the populace through heresies and orthodoxy while excluding revealed truths.  

Fortunately, divine intention did not allow this spiritual disruption to continue. As the foundations of Western Civilization and the American nation were established, an extensive process of deconstruction and reconstruction occurred over centuries. This created the environment for Joseph Smith’s experience in the Sacred Grove in 1820. At 14-years-old, the young prophet bravely challenged conventional definitions of God that were unsupported by scripture or logic but upheld by powerful institutions and traditions. He also confronted falsehoods and advanced truths surpassing philosophy and science. With his assigned work underway, the Restoration reintroduced the interconnected structure of mankind’s preexistence.

First, it defines the true nature of both God and mankind. Second, it explains that the Fall was not just a seemingly negative occurrence—rather it initiated human progress. Third, possessing great knowledge and power, the Devil and his henchmen are continually trying to make us do anything and everything that is not right. Fourth, it highlights the Atonement of Jesus Christ as the centerpiece of the gospel by asserting that human effort alone cannot restore righteousness or our relationship with God. Only through divine intervention can we overcome sinfulness and be resurrected.

To better comprehend the interconnection between the Creation, the Fall, the temptations we face, and the Atonement, it is helpful to view God’s plan for humanity as a three-act play. Act One narrates the premortal existence. Act Two encompasses mortality. Act Three describes the postmortal experience.

Act One

In the beginning, as the future human family, we lived with Elohim, the name-title for our Father who is almighty, all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-loving. He is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. Jehovah is the name-title by which the premortal Jesus Christ was known. The Holy Ghost is a male spirit personage, the minister of the Father and the Son. These three distinct personages form the Godhead.

Wanting to be like God, we were taught that our mortal experience would continue our premortal opportunity to prove ourselves. Endowed with agency, having been told that we would come to earth and receive a physical body, we voted upon and accepted his plan. This announcement caused us to shout for joy.

Before mortal life, we learned about a governing structure based on loving God and others. We were taught that true freedom comes from following the law of Christ; that moral reasoning is essential for civic order and needs ongoing renewal. Possessing innate intelligence, having been well-instructed, and free to think and act independently, we grasped the concept that individual destiny lies in the one’s own hands, that freedom of choice is crucial for developing true values and making moral choices and that we could either accept truth when it is presented on earth or reject it.

Over the years, various figures have added perspective to the life before: President Harry S. Truman stated: “Human life comes from beyond this world. It is God-given and infinitely valuable.” William Wordsworth remarked: “Our birth is but a sleep and a forgetting.” Harry Kemp noted: “Chief of all thy wondrous works, O God, Supreme of all thy plan. Thou has put an upward reach; into the heart of man.” The Hebrew prophet Jeremiah expressed: “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou came forth out of the womb, I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.”

Acknowledging the natural man, God understood that resulting tensions would lead to a profound struggle between human and divine will. Because the doctrine of our premortal life was untaught due to periods of apostasy, it is a vital part of the restitution of all things.

With confidence in God’s plan, we believe in laws enabling us to progress. Anticipating mistakes and recognizing the need for a Redeemer, we see the importance of a Savior. Thus, Jesus Christ, stands as the central figure guiding the world’s progression.

Act Two

Mortal life is a probationary period whose primary purpose is to give us the opportunity to return to the presence of God. In our quest, we learn that truth is discovered, not created; that individual freedom is a core right and that we are individually responsible for living in harmony with divine and natural laws. We constantly face the choice between serving the body or developing the spirit, recognizing that some restraint is beneficial while absolute freedom is not.

Heraclitus (500 BCE) noted: “All things come into being by the conflict of opposites.” William Blake (1790) declared: “Without contraries there is no progression.” Comprehending that conflict drives progress, a Book of Mormon prophet wrote: “There must needs be an opposition in all things.”

Our divided nature leads to a mighty struggle between spiritual and carnal desires. While we admire human achievements in science, we frequently ignore wisdom and conscience. Ironically, many otherwise talented individuals oppose moral principles, such as the rule of law, the right to life, sound economic policies, and sacred teachings, the foundations of our prosperity and survival.

Cultural approbation may seem to improve society but can lead to the loss of valuable past insights. New morals do not guarantee enlightenment or happiness. We need thinkers who revive timeless truths through moral philosophy and sound economics, so each generation can reconnect with enduring principles.

Ancient wisdom can help us lead fulfilling lives. Humans need connection, love, purpose, and meaningful activity. As Buddha said, doing good brings joy. Strong leadership and respect for established laws also guide us toward a purposeful life.

Ultimately, finding happiness and meaning, regardless of the source, is an extension of The Golden Rule. Rabbi Hillel stated: “That which is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow; this, in a few words, is the entire Torah; all the rest is but an elaboration of this one, central point.”

Buddha, Lao Tzu, and other sages of the East discovered a method for achieving peace and tranquility through letting go. They explained how to follow this path using meditation and stillness. Many individuals in the West have adopted these practices, and although few have achieved Nirvana, many have experienced some level of peace, happiness, and spiritual growth.

Some people question the necessity of a church, believing they can feel spiritual in Nature. While Nature can be a wonderful source of spiritual renewal, Christ established his church with various offices and callings and encouraged his followers to be baptized into it. He knew happiness comes from internal feelings, external connections, and serving others.

Attending church, engaging in fellowship, and participating in service opportunities create a community of individuals who seek inspiration from stories about Christ, virtuous actions, and correct principles. When attendees leave such gatherings feeling hopeful and desiring to improve, they have been influenced by the Spirit of God.

A modern prophet has taught that the purpose of earthly existence is to develop spiritual qualities. Loyalty to ideals, helpfulness to humanity, suffering for righteousness, being and doing good for goodness’ sake, and unselfish expressions of love are all aspects of spirituality.

“Spirituality, our true aim, is the consciousness of victory over self and communion with the Infinite. Spirituality impels one to overcome difficulties and acquire more and more strength. To feel one’s faculties unfolding and truth expanding in the soul is one of life’s sublimest experiences” (McKay).

Our time on Earth consists of daily thoughts, spoken words, and actions, along with the need for spiritual renewal. Our goal is to uphold Christ, maintain individual and collective liberty, and support newly revealed truths that come into our lives by virtue of “the restitution of all things.”

Act Three

Through Jesus Christ’s Atonement, every person who has been or will be born will be resurrected with a perfected, immortal body. Known doctrinally as salvation, this future gift is due to our past choices, to God’s love, and to the mercy and grace of Jesus Christ.

SUMMARY

Big Idea

The text explores the interconnected doctrines central to understanding the purpose of life on earth from a Latter-day Saint perspective. It emphasizes the eternal nature of humanity, the development of spiritual and moral character, and the divinely orchestrated plan (often called the “Plan of Salvation”) that encompasses our premortal existence, mortal life, and eventual resurrection. This plan is logical, purposeful, and rooted in revealed truths that were once lost but restored through modern revelation.

Key Points

Premortal Existence:

Humans existed as spirits with God before birth. This doctrine, largely unique to the LDS Church among modern religious institutions, is foundational to understanding life’s purpose.

The Nature of God and Humanity:

God is an exalted man in whose likeness and image we are created. Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost, as distinct personages, form the Godhead. Understanding their true nature clarifies our own divine potential.

Mortal Experience as a Test:

Life on earth is a probationary period designed for personal growth, spiritual development, and moral choice. The existence of suffering, agency, and opposition is essential for learning and character formation.

Doctrinal Restoration:

Key doctrines—such as the premortal existence, the embodied nature of God, the true significance of the Fall and Atonement, and the role of Satan—were lost or corrupted after the time of Christ but were restored through modern revelation beginning with Joseph Smith.

The Three-Act Super Structure of God’s Plan:

Act One: Premortal life with God, learning and accepting his plan. Act Two: Mortal life as a time of testing, choice, and growth. Act Three: Life after life.

The Role of Opposition and Agency:

The ongoing struggle between good and evil, exemplified by Satan’s rebellion and temptations, is necessary for spiritual progress and the development of true values and character.

Importance of Eternal Truths:

Internalizing these restored and eternal truths provides coherence and meaning to life’s challenges, and places human experience within a logical and divinely orchestrated framework.

Spiritual Growth and Community:

Developing spiritual qualities, participating in church, and serving others are essential to fulfilling God’s plan and achieving lasting happiness.