Question: What is the Plan of Salvation?

What?

While at school, I was often asked questions like: Why do Mormons believe you have to do certain things to get to heaven?  Do Mormons believe in heaven?  What is the Plan of Salvation?  Do Mormons really believe we existed before life on earth?  Are Mormons christian?  Do they believe in the Godhead? Do mormons consider themselves "saved"?

Us Mormons (Latter-day Saints) believe in what we call, "The Plan of Salvation."  It's also referred to "The Plan of Happiness," however, so don't get confused!

A:  The Pre-Mortal Existance.

Click Here to see more information about the Pre-Existence. :)

We believe that we existed with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ BEFORE the earth was created, as spirits.  It was here that it was decided for an earth to be created and our faith to be tested.  

"That Satan, whom thou hast commanded in the name of mine Only Begotten, is the same which was from the beginning, and he came before me, saying—Behold, here am I, send me, I will be thy son, and I will redeem all mankind, that one soul shall not be lost, and surely I will do it; wherefore give me thine honor. But, behold, my Beloved Son, which was my Beloved and Chosen from the beginning, said unto me— Father, thy will be done, and the glory be thine forever." (Moses 4:1,2)

"And there stood one among them that was like unto God, and he said unto those who were with him: We will go down, for there is space there, and we will take of these materials, and we will make an earth whereon these may dwell; And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them....And the Lord said: Whom shall I send? And one answered like unto the Son of Man: Here am I, send me. And another answered and said: Here am I, send me. And the Lord said: I will send the first. And the second was angry, and kept not his first estate; and, at that day, many followed after him." (Abraham 3: 24-25; 27-28)

Want to know how we got the Pearl of Great Price?  Click here, here, here.

B. Birth and Passing Through the Veil

When we were born, we passed through a veil of forgetfulness so to speak, so we wouldn't remember our time spent with Heavenly Father in the pre-mortal existence.  Why the Veil?  Read this to see why the veil was so important.

C. Life on Earth

It is here on earth (our time right now) that our faith and testimony is tested.  We live through trials, struggle with finding our faith and strive to be like Christ.  Life on earth is like walking along a path-- it is up to us where we turn, what bridges we take and what short cuts we take.  Mistakes take us off the path and right decisions bring us closer to the Saviour and our Father.  Think about the "Strait and Narrow Path" that is talked about a lot in the New Testament.

Not everyone while living on earth has the opportunity to learn about Christ and the Gospel.  Mormons believe that everyone-- no matter where, who, or what they came from will get the chance to hear the gospel and accept the message.  That is why Temples are so important to mormons-- it is where we do ordinances for ourselves and in proxy for others.

D. Death

Click here

When we die, we remember EVERYTHING again!  (yes!).  Mormons believe that marriage and family ties do not end in death-- rather it goes on forever.  Temple marriage is eternal marriage. :)

E. Spirit Paradise/ Prison

For more information, click here, here, here
Spirit Paradise/ Prison is where those who haven't heard the Gospel have the opportunity to hear it and accept it.  On earth, those who are living do Temple Ordinances in proxy (such as baptism, receiving the holy ghost, temple marriage, etc).  You don't have to accept the gospel-- you still have the choice! :)  We believe that everyone has the opportunity to gain "salvation" and that Christ and Heavenly Father gives multiple chances because he loves us so much.

F. Judgement

click here, 

Before we can be judged, Christ must first come again.  Heavenly Father is the Judge and Christ is our advocate.  We are judged into one of three Degrees of Glory.

Degrees of Glory: here 

"All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds. There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory." (1 Corinthians 15: 39-41)

G. The Celestial Kingdom- Glory of the Sun

 Click here.

H. Terrestrial Kingdom- Glory of the Moon

Click here.

I. Telestial Kingdom- Glory of the Stars 

click here

Videos:

The Plan of Salvation 
Are Mormons Christian?