Doctrinal Library

Lesson 2: The Plan of Salvation

Under the direction of the Father, Jesus Christ created the earth as a place for us to live and gain experience. In order to progress and become like God, each of us had to obtain a body and be tested during a time of probation on the earth. While on the earth we are out of God’s physical presence. We do not remember our premortal life. We must walk by faith rather than by sight.

Lesson 2: The Plan of Salvation

God is the Father of our spirits. We are literally His children, and He loves us. We lived as spirit children of our Father in Heaven before we were born on this earth. We were not, however, like our Heavenly Father, nor could we ever become like Him and enjoy all the blessings that He enjoys without the experience of living in mortality with a physical body.

Lesson 5: Laws and Ordinances

The basic unit of the Church is the family. Within the family, people experience many of life’s greatest joys and sorrows. Marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and is central to God’s eternal plan for the salvation of His children. The means by which mortal life is created is divinely appointed and is safeguarded by marriage.

Abortion

[Selected teachings from Spencer W. Kimball, Gordon B. Hinckley, Boyd K. Packer, Russell M. Nelson, and more.]

The Plan of Salvation

We used our agency to follow Heavenly Father’s plan. Those who followed Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ were permitted to come to the earth to experience mortality and progress toward eternal life. Lucifer, another spirit son of God, rebelled against the plan. ...
The Fall is an essential part of Heavenly Father’s plan of salvation. As a result of the Fall, Adam and Eve could have children. They and their posterity could experience joy and sorrow, know good from evil, and progress (see 2 Nephi 2:22–25).
In mortality our spirits are united with our physical bodies, giving us opportunities to grow and develop in ways that were not possible in the premortal life. Because our Father in Heaven has a tangible body of flesh and bone, our bodies are necessary for us to progress and become like Him. Our bodies are sacred and should be respected as a gift from our Heavenly Father (see 1 Corinthians 6:19–20).

The Family is of God

1. Our Father has a family. It’s me!
It’s you, all others too: we are His children.
He sent each one of us to earth, through birth,
To live and learn here in fam’lies.

2. A father’s place is to preside, provide,
To love and teach the gospel to his children.
A father leads in fam’ly prayer to share
Their love for Father in Heaven.

3. A mother’s purpose is to care, prepare,
To nurture and to strengthen all her children.
She teaches children to obey, to pray,
To love and serve in the fam’ly.

4. I’ll love and serve my family and be
A good example to each fam’ly member.
And when I am a mom or dad, so glad,
I’ll help my fam’ly remember:

[Chorus]
God gave us families to help us become what He wants us to be—
This is how He shares His love, for the fam’ly is of God.

Keep the Commandments

Keep the commandments; keep the commandments!
In this there is safety; in this there is peace.
He will send blessings; He will send blessings.
Words of a prophet: Keep the commandments.
In this there is safety and peace.

Walk Tall You're a Daughter

1. Right now I have a prayer deep with in my heart.
A prayer for each of you there is a special part.
That you remember who you are and Him who lives above.
Please seek for Him and live His way;
You’ll feel His love.

Chorus
Walk tall, you’re a daughter, a child of God.
Be strong please remember who you are.
Try to understand,
You’re part of His great plan.
He’s closer than you know
Reach up, he’ll take your hand.

2. Long before the time you can remember,
Our Father held you in His arms so tender,
Those loving arms released you as He sent you down to earth.
He said, “My child, I love you. Don’t forget your great worth”

3. This life on earth we knew would not be easy.
At times we lose our way
His path we may not see.
But please remember always- please-that you are not alone.
He’ll take your hand.
He loves you!
He will guide you home

Marriage and Family

God has commanded His children to multiply and replenish the earth (see Genesis 1:28). The sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between a man and a woman who have been lawfully wedded as husband and wife (see Genesis 39:9; Alma 39:9). Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. Parents are to rear their children in love and righteousness and provide for their physical and spiritual needs.

Abortion

In today’s society, abortion has become a common practice, defended by deceptive arguments. If you face questions about this matter, you can be secure in following the revealed will of the Lord. Latter-day prophets have denounced abortion, referring to the Lord’s declaration, “Thou shalt not … kill, nor do anything like unto it” (D&C 59:6).