Your “humor” came through quoting Boyd K Packer, suggesting we were absolved from doing Family History research. He was an avid advocate of finding generations of relatives.
S RichardsonOctober 13, 2025
Other scriptural insights into our pre-mortal existence come from the following:
Alma 13:3-5:
- "In the first place," we were all "on the same standing" (v. 5).
- However, "being left to choose good or evil," some "on account of their exceeding faith and good works" chose good, "exercising exceedingly great faith," and therefore were "called with a holy calling... prepared with, and according to, a preparatory redemption for such." (v. 3)
- Others "would reject the Spirit of God on account of the hardness of their hearts and blindness of their minds," but for which "they might have had as great privilege as their brethren." (v. 4)
- And all of this was "prepared from the foundation of the world, according to the foreknowledge of God." (v. 3,5)
In what would we have had this "exceedingly great faith"? Undoubtedly in Heavenly Father's Plan, that it would work, that the Savior would be successful in His mission! Hence He is referred to as "the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world" (Rev. 13:8), and the War in Heaven was won by relying on "the blood of the Lamb," and "the word of their testimony" (Rev. 12:11), as though the Savior's atonement had already been accomplished.
The Plan was truly glorious, and our faith in it and works related to it continue to see us through the trials of this life.
Bill WrigleyOctober 13, 2025
Not Tennyson; Wordsworth, written about a.d. 1800
Richard GardnerOctober 13, 2025
Thanks! I have had several of the same thoughts about the importance of understanding where we came from and how it affects us here. Nice to see them all organized into one essay.
Joni HiltonOctober 13, 2025
Love, love, love this! Comprehensive, logical, numerically organized. You must have learned this stuff in your pre-mortal life!
PamOctober 13, 2025
Ode on Intimations of Immortality was written by William Wordsworth, not Tennyson.
JoJean LoflinOctober 13, 2025
Just one correction. Ode on Intimations of Immortality was written by Wordsworth, not Tennison.
LauraOctober 13, 2025
Wordsworth wrote Ode Intimations of Immortality, not Tennyson.
Rochelle HaleOctober 13, 2025
My husband and I, and our scripture study group, often have this discussion. Our thoughts are that without a pre-earth existence and promises of eternal life yet to come, "What's the point?" Why live on earth at all if our life will be extinguished and forgotten? Most of us will never be remembered in the history books for our discoveries, inventions, or innovations. God's plan gives us purpose for being, now and forever.
Susan HansenOctober 13, 2025
It was William Wordsworth who wrote the poem, Intimations of Immortality", not Tennyson.
Diane PetersonOctober 13, 2025
What a great article! Thank you for your thorough and thought-provoking explanation of the doctrine of premortal life, as well as for the snippets of humor that are always sprinkled throughout your articles. They are always both informative and delightful to read.
wwOctober 13, 2025
William Wordsword, not Tennyson wrote the poem. Great article!
wwfOctober 13, 2025
William Wordsworth wrote the poem about A sleep and a forgetting.
Kathy WilsonOctober 13, 2025
Excellent presentation on our eternal nature? However, the poet quoted is Wordsworth, not Tennyson. (Just a tiny nit to pick.)
Abbie VianesOctober 13, 2025
As an adult convert the pre mortal existance made SO much sense to me. The Bible repeatly talks about returning to God - how can one return somewhere one has never been? It was a game changer for me. It made a personal relationship with God accessible.
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Myrna LiddellDecember 7, 2025
Your “humor” came through quoting Boyd K Packer, suggesting we were absolved from doing Family History research. He was an avid advocate of finding generations of relatives.
S RichardsonOctober 13, 2025
Other scriptural insights into our pre-mortal existence come from the following: Alma 13:3-5: - "In the first place," we were all "on the same standing" (v. 5). - However, "being left to choose good or evil," some "on account of their exceeding faith and good works" chose good, "exercising exceedingly great faith," and therefore were "called with a holy calling... prepared with, and according to, a preparatory redemption for such." (v. 3) - Others "would reject the Spirit of God on account of the hardness of their hearts and blindness of their minds," but for which "they might have had as great privilege as their brethren." (v. 4) - And all of this was "prepared from the foundation of the world, according to the foreknowledge of God." (v. 3,5) In what would we have had this "exceedingly great faith"? Undoubtedly in Heavenly Father's Plan, that it would work, that the Savior would be successful in His mission! Hence He is referred to as "the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world" (Rev. 13:8), and the War in Heaven was won by relying on "the blood of the Lamb," and "the word of their testimony" (Rev. 12:11), as though the Savior's atonement had already been accomplished. The Plan was truly glorious, and our faith in it and works related to it continue to see us through the trials of this life.
Bill WrigleyOctober 13, 2025
Not Tennyson; Wordsworth, written about a.d. 1800
Richard GardnerOctober 13, 2025
Thanks! I have had several of the same thoughts about the importance of understanding where we came from and how it affects us here. Nice to see them all organized into one essay.
Joni HiltonOctober 13, 2025
Love, love, love this! Comprehensive, logical, numerically organized. You must have learned this stuff in your pre-mortal life!
PamOctober 13, 2025
Ode on Intimations of Immortality was written by William Wordsworth, not Tennyson.
JoJean LoflinOctober 13, 2025
Just one correction. Ode on Intimations of Immortality was written by Wordsworth, not Tennison.
LauraOctober 13, 2025
Wordsworth wrote Ode Intimations of Immortality, not Tennyson.
Rochelle HaleOctober 13, 2025
My husband and I, and our scripture study group, often have this discussion. Our thoughts are that without a pre-earth existence and promises of eternal life yet to come, "What's the point?" Why live on earth at all if our life will be extinguished and forgotten? Most of us will never be remembered in the history books for our discoveries, inventions, or innovations. God's plan gives us purpose for being, now and forever.
Susan HansenOctober 13, 2025
It was William Wordsworth who wrote the poem, Intimations of Immortality", not Tennyson.
Diane PetersonOctober 13, 2025
What a great article! Thank you for your thorough and thought-provoking explanation of the doctrine of premortal life, as well as for the snippets of humor that are always sprinkled throughout your articles. They are always both informative and delightful to read.
wwOctober 13, 2025
William Wordsword, not Tennyson wrote the poem. Great article!
wwfOctober 13, 2025
William Wordsworth wrote the poem about A sleep and a forgetting.
Kathy WilsonOctober 13, 2025
Excellent presentation on our eternal nature? However, the poet quoted is Wordsworth, not Tennyson. (Just a tiny nit to pick.)
Abbie VianesOctober 13, 2025
As an adult convert the pre mortal existance made SO much sense to me. The Bible repeatly talks about returning to God - how can one return somewhere one has never been? It was a game changer for me. It made a personal relationship with God accessible.
D. Lynn JohnsonOctober 13, 2025
It was William Wordsworth who said "Our birth..."
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