The Plan of Salvation

Heavenly Father’s Plan of Salvation outlines the way in which we can progress through the Atonement of Jesus Christ and receive immortality and eternal life (Moses 1:39). Prior to coming to earth, we lived as spirit children of heavenly parents (Family Proclamation). As part of God’s plan, we needed to receive a physical body like He has (D&C 130:22). Under His Father’s direction, Jesus Christ created the earth for us to inhabit (1 Nephi 17:36). Adam and Eve were chosen as the first spirit children to live on earth and receive bodies (Alma 42:2).

To progress and be able to have children, they partook of the forbidden fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil (2 Nephi 2:22-23). As a result of this Fall, sin and death entered the world, which are obstacles that prevent us from returning to God’s presence (Romans 5:12, Alma 42:9). We have each been given moral agency and are free to choose (D&C 101:78, 2 Nephi 2:27). We have a knowledge of good and evil and are faced with opposing choices (2 Nephi 2:11, Alma 12:31). The Holy Spirit entices us to do good and the adversary entices us to do evil (2 Nephi 9:39, Mosiah 3:19).

Jesus Christ was chosen to be the Redeemer of the world to save us from sin and death (2 Nephi 2:26). Through His atoning sacrifice, He took upon Himself our pains, sicknesses, infirmities, sin, and death (Alma 7:11-13). If we repent through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, we can become cleansed of our sins (Alma 7:14, 42:13). When we die, our spirit is separated from our body, and we live in a spirit world as we await resurrection (Alma 40:11). Thanks to Christ’s Atonement, we’ll all be resurrected and return to His presence to be judged (Alma 42:23). He will judge us based on our desires and works (D&C 137:9). Based on this judgment and our ability to follow divine law, we will then inherit a kingdom to abide (D&C 88:20-24). Since we will all be resurrected, we will all receive immortality (Alma 11:41-45). Eternal life refers to abiding in God’s presence in the glory of the celestial kingdom (D&C 76:62, 88:4).