OT 2: "Thou Wast Chosen Before Thou Wast Born"

Where Did We Come From?

Jehovah has revealed to several prophets the truths regarding our pre-mortal life. This week we'll focus on Abraham, Moses and Joseph F. Smith, with John the Revelator and Isaiah thrown in to spice things up (although there are several others).

Premortal versus Pre-existance

{TERMINOLOGY CORRECTION: The correct term for our lives before we were born is "pre-mortal." The Church has abandoned the term "pre-existence" that many of us grew up with because we actually existed before we came to earth, so "pre-existence" is not doctrinal. Besides, trying to think about what was happening before any of us existed makes steam start coming out of my ears.}

As we consider these revelations and scriptures, we should be asking ourselves the very profound question:

  So what? 

Why does knowing about our premortal life change the way we behave or believe?

We are Co-Eternal with God

As we discussed last week, we know that we are spirit children of God and not just his creations, as other Trinitarian Christians believe. In other words, part of our nature is co-eternal with God and therefore different from all other creation.
See the online (and searchable!) Encyclopedia of Mormonism under Intelligences for and expanded explanation.

Foreordination

God makes it abundantly clear in scripture that we existed and were prepared for this life before we were born. Abraham 3:22-23, Moses 4, Isaiah 14: 12-15, Jeremiah 5, Revelation 12 and Alma 13:3-5 all talk about various aspects of our premortal existence and the fact that many of Heavenly Father's valiant spirit children were foreordained to complete missions here on earth, while Satan and others rejected God's plan of salvation.
Here's a nice definition and explanation from True to the Faith. Here's a more extensive one from the Encyclopedia of Mormonism.
I used to be uncomfortable with the doctrine of foreordination. It put an added responsibility on me to try and figure out what God wanted me to do, other than just to try and survive each day. It made me anxious to think that on any given day, I might have messed up and missed my one opportunity to fulfill some specific mission I'd been given. (Like a secret agent who forgets her passport one day and blows the entire mission.)
I've also been tempted with the worry that I've already made so many mistakes that I've probably missed the chance to fulfill my missions here on earth. In fact, for a long time, I avoided reading my Patriarchal Blessing because I was sure I'd already made too many mistakes on too many days for it to still be valid.
But I've come to know that the Lord is a lot smarter and His amazing grace and can make up for my deficiencies on any day of the week, if I have a willing heart.
As long as we are still breathing and conscious and have a desire to help build the kingdom, God can put us to work if we ask Him for an assignment. 

An Epiphany: Foreordination to Missions Inside and Outside of the Church

So how can we find out what God has in store for us, what we've been foreordained to do? Did he simply foreordain us to certain Church callings or roles? I don't think so. Of course, we can and should also be anxiously engaged in temple work, family history, gospel study and in fulfilling our Church callings. But there is much work to be done for our beloved brothers and sisters outside the Church. God commands us to be "anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of [our] own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness." (D&C 58:27-28) As we pray, open our minds and hearts, I know God will lead us to fulfill many missions of righteousness, "for the power is in [us]." 
Here are a few videos that highlight Mormons getting involved in their communities to be "anxiously engaged."

I'm a Mormon, a Leader of a Non-Profit and a Texan

I'm a Mormon, Addict Caretaker, and Voice for the Homeless (I love how she says that she knows God can work through her even though she is not perfect!)

I'm a Mormon, Musician in Training, and Homeless Advocate (this is the husband of our realtor back in Seattle. My kids have gone out with his bus to help feed the homeless and encourage them to call home on donated cell phones.)
Pepe's Garden: Pepe had a large empty field that she could no longer care for. The ward came in and turned the field into a community garden where neighbors— members and nonmembers alike—work together to plant, tend, and harvest crops. (4:19)

I personally have felt called to write a book and a blog to help parents inoculate kids against pornography. We can all do something to make the world a better place. 

Christ was chosen in the Council of Heaven to be our Savior. Satan rebelled and was cast out.

The Scriptures teach us that in our premortal life, we attended a "Council in Heaven" where God, our Father, proposed a plan that required a Savior. (Abraham 3:24-28) Jesus offered to align his will with Heavenly Father's and give the glory to his Father. But Satan wanted the Savior's job. He also wanted a different plan and all the glory. His plan was to take away our agency and force our compliance to God's laws so we'd all return back to God. Problem is, this plan just won't work. Why? We can't become like Heavenly Father without a real test of our obedience. Satan's plan was a sham. 
I think this "war in heaven" was somewhat like a presidential election--a war of words, arguments, and deceptions (on the part of Satan, who is the father of all lies). As a result, Satan and the "third part" of Heavenly Father's children that he led away, were cast out to the earth. They are still here, tempting us, and trying to ruin Heavenly Father's plan. They did not keep their "first estate." They didn't pass their first test. And now they're trying to get us to fail our second test or "estate."

Here's my big epiphany on this topic: The same sins that got Satan cast out of heaven are the same sins that will keep us from returning to live with Heavenly Father:

• Not seeking God’s will
• Wanted the glory for himself
• Wanted to take away man’s agency
• Rebelled against God

How many times do I seek my own will instead of God's? How many times am I tempted to want glory for myself instead of keeping my eye single to the glory of God? How many times do I wish to control others (my kids!) instead of feeling comfortable with allowing them their agency? How many times have I rebelled or wished I didn't have to go to church at 2:30 in the afternoon. ;-) 
President Ezra Taft Benson called pride "enmity with God" and his great sermon Beware of Pride helps us learn how to follow Jesus Christ instead of giving in to the temptation of pride. 

Links to Church Articles and Lessons

Old Testament: Gospel Doctrine Lesson 2 "Thou Was Chosen Before Thou Wast Born"

Videos

Before the Old Testament: A simplified re-telling of our premortal life
Our Eternal Life: A more modern, hip version of The Plan of  Salvation for a general audience.
The Church is Governed through Councils Elder Ballard teaches us an eternal pattern

Other Resources You Might Find Interesting

The Lost Language of Symbolism by Alonzo L. Gaskill, published by Deseret Book.