Plan of Salvation - Earth life or Mortality

The middle section of the Plan of Salvation is called Mortality. It's the portion of the plan where our eternal spirits are housed in physical, mortal bodies. There is a lot of information about this part of the plan because its the part we are currently living. It's the part we actually remember.


After the council and subsequent war in heaven (see Plan of Salvation - Pre-mortal life), the earth and all things on it were created and organized. Man and woman were placed here. Gender plays an important part. Woman was given the right and power to create new physical bodies, with man's help, to ensure there would be bodies for other spirit children of God to receive and reside while going through this mortal life. Bodies are essential in the Plan to allow God's children to learn more and return to Him one day. Man was granted the right and power of the priesthood. The priesthood is God's power and authority given to man to act in His name to provide blessings and ordinances necessary for God's children to be able to return to Him. Men and women are not equal as in the same, but they are equal as in the both hold important roles in helping God's children. Without both, the plan would not work.

Adam and Eve were placed on Earth in the Garden of Eden. They were innocent and had no understanding of opposition. They were given commandments. After being tempted and beguiled by the serpent, or Satan, they partook of the fruit of the knowledge of Good and Evil. This allowed them to start learning about opposition which is needed in life. You can't understand joy without sorrow. Pleasure means nothing without pain. Good and evil have no meaning without each other. But because partaking of the fruit transgressed one of God's commands, they were kicked out of the Garden.

After they left the Garden, a veil of forgetfulness was placed over their minds (and subsequently ours as well) so that our desire to obey God's commands could be tested without the memories of the pre-mortal life and what it was like to be with God. God did send messengers to Adam, and other men after him, to share the truth about God and His plan. These messengers teach about God's commandments so that we won't disobey unknowingly and be punished, and so we can receive blessings (or rewards) for obedience. In this way we could prove we truly desired to be like Him. These men who are taught these things are referred to as prophets and their job is to then teach us.

Of course, more and more people were born to populate the Earth and other such details that aren't terribly important to the plan.

Here are some items I feel are more important about the plan:

1. We were born to receive bodies so we could be like God. But our bodies are mortal bodies meaning they will die, they are subject to temptations from Satan, and they often have things go wrong with them (i.e. sickness, injury, mental issues, etc.). Death would keep us from returning to God. 
2. Just like in the pre-mortal life, we continue to have agency. We are free to make our own choices. However, there are laws (sometimes referred to as commandments) in place and consequences (both rewards and punishments) assigned to each law. When we choose to keep or obey the law, we will receive a reward or blessing and we will remain free from punishments that might limit our freedom. When we break or disobey these laws, the assigned punished will take place either now or sometime in the future. Many of these punishments strip us of freedom to choose the next time, like habits which eventually turn into addictions. This is also referred to as sin. Sin will also keep us from God. Temptations and mental issues only keep us from God if we give into them and teach our body to accept them rather than focus on rejecting them by obeying God's commandments. 
3. Jesus was born of a mortal mother and a Godly father. He lived a perfect life and obeyed all of God's commandments. He experienced his own bodily afflictions. He was tempted by Satan, He suffered (experienced and felt) all of the sins, sorrows, ailments, illnesses, and temptations of the human race. This pain was so much that he bled from every pore in his body. (This is known as the Atonement of Jesus Christ.) He then suffered the painful death of crucifixion. But after all this, he was resurrected* and lives again. (*Resurrection refers to the reuniting of the physical body with the spirit but in such a way that the body now becomes perfect. It is no longer subject to death, sickness, temptation, etc.)
4. As part of the plan, God and Jesus Christ created the way that once Jesus broke the bands of death, they wouldn't be able to hold anyone forever. Meaning, because Jesus Christ was resurrected one day every person who receives a body will be resurrected also at an assigned time. We do not need to do anything to receive this. This resurrection will also correct any mortal problems we experienced while alive. No more cancer, broken bones, etc. The body will be returned to a perfect state. We will not stay dead forever. We will live again as Jesus Christ lives again. 
5. Through everything that Jesus Christ suffered, he experienced any and all trials that any person, male or female, could experience. Because he did this, he can help us overcome any struggles we may have; physical, mental, emotional, etc. He has perfect empathy and he can do this for us right now. All we need to do is ask. Also, because we sin and because God is just, and because justice will not be robbed, we would not be able to return and live with Him again. This justice makes it so God is impartial and not a respecter of persons. Each consequence we receive is of our own doing. On the other hand, God loves us and wants us to return, so Jesus Christ stepped in as a savior and mediator. He suffered and paid our debt of sin and will advocate for us before God during the time of judgment. Jesus is willing to do this as long as we meet his terms which are: have faith in him, repent of our sins, be baptized by immersion with the proper authority, and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. After that, we simply need to try our best to do our best, repenting when we mess up along the way. Through Jesus Christ our disobedience to God's laws and our sins are taken away. 

This part of the plan provides so much hope and joy. Our loved ones who have passed away will not remain dead forever. We will see and touch them again with perfect bodies. Even when we make mistakes, there is a way to be rid of those and feel joy and happiness. There is a way to have help from someone who knows exactly what we are dealing with; temptations, addictions, habits, depression, physical infirmities (genetic deformities, life long illnesses, prolong pain or injury), and anything else we might suffer. This is a glorious plan.

Listening to the Still, Small Voice

Often at church, we are instructed to be aware of the promptings (as inspiration or revelation) of the Holy Ghost to help us throughout life. Many times, this comes as feelings but sometimes it comes as a voice.  I always thought if I heard the voice, it would be one sent to keep me or family safe or that it would instruct me on how to make major decisions in my life. Until recently, I didn't ever think that voice would come as what seemed like random bits and pieces of information, that at times seemed to go against logic.

During times of the when I had major decisions to make, a combination of circumstance, logical thinking, and feelings worked together to guide my path. They all worked together. As I continue to study and learn more about the love that God has for us His children, I have learned He will give help for those things we ask for through prayer.

Many times I pray for help to make it through the day, keep organized so I can complete tasks I want, and for help in being a good mom. Most of the time, I do things I have learned, read, or been taught throughout my life and I see these things happen over time. Although it is not immediate or a huge change, these are still answers to my prayers.

Back to the point of this post, recently I have noticed a small voice or thought that prompts me to do something I wasn't planning on doing. Sometimes I follow through because it makes sense, I can follow the logic behind the thought. However there are some times when I ignore these thoughts or push them aside because "that doesn't make sense" or "someone would have said something". In the past, I have dismissed these thoughts as me being crazy because why would God be concerned with helping me on such everyday life things.

Here are the 2 examples that come to mind immediately. Back when we lived in another state, packing to visit was very stressful and I tried to do so carefully because of the distance traveled or amount a space available. One time I remember as I was packing, I had the thought to grab our swimsuits. I dismissed the thought with we won't be there long, that's extra packing (because it was swimsuits, swim diapers, etc), and it was winter. However, while we were here, my sister suggested that we go swimming instead of just hanging out playing. Had I listened to that voice instead of my logic, we would have been able to go. Was this life altering? Did not going swimming make me a bad mom? No, but it was still an answer to a prayer to be prepared.

The next one was just this week. In a place where cold weather and snow is common during the winter, this year has been unusually warm and dry. My daughter's preschool had done a unit on water, rain, and snow and as part of it wanted to play in the snow. Because there hadn't been a lot of snow, the outdoor activities kept getting pushed back until snow arrived. Over the weekend, we received that snow. I had remembered her teacher talking about playing in the snow once it happened but I figured she would notify us (by email or text) of the day they were going to play so we send the kids to school prepared. Since it had snowed, I had my daughter grab her coat and wear her snow boots. I placed her hat and snow gloves in her backpack just in case it was cold while they waited to be dropped off and picked up. As I was walking out the door, the thought "pack her snow pants" came to me. Of course I brushed it off as "the teacher would have said something." As I was dropping my daughter off, I noticed kids in the first car and second cars get out in full snow suits and carrying sleds. When it was our turn, I asked if the kids were going to play in the snow today and the teacher responded yes. My choices now were drive home and return with the pants (and the outside layer of her snow coat) or let her play in the snow with just her regular pants. Had I listened to the small thought (voice), I could have just handed the pants over and returned home. Again, an answer to help me use time wisely and be able to do everything I wanted that day and I had ignored it.

Again, these were not big situations or problems but they were responses from a loving father giving because I had asked for them. When they were given, I ignored them. I now have a goal to strive to follow those thoughts, no matter how silly, illogical, or small they seem. I have been grateful when I have followed those thoughts to "grab the Children's Tylenol and cold medicine", "pack sunscreen", or "make sure there are snacks and drinks in the car." When I follow, I am prepared for whatever comes my way; a quick onset cold, a random sunny day with a passerby in need of protection, or a snow storm combined with an accident that prevent us from eating a meal at a regular time. There will be times I may not see or understand how it was an answer to a prayer or a blessing for me and others it becomes quite obvious but at least I will have used the help giving to me when I asked for it.