Exposing Pre-Existence
One of the doctrines that Mormonism teaches is known as pre-existence. Pre-existence is the belief that humanity started out in heaven as spirit-beings prior to being born in the flesh, chose God’s plan of salvation, which according to their doctrine, meant taking the opportunity to live righteously on earth, in order to “become like” God the Father. In LDS’ Journal of Discourse, founder Joseph Smith claims, “We were first begotten as spirit babies in heaven and then born naturally on earth” (Journal of Discourse, Vol. 4, p. 218). In a pamphlet handed out at the temple on BYU Campus, this belief is further defined by saying, “ Life for you did not begin here on earth. You lived before you were born (how does one live before they are born?), you will live on in the spirit world after your mortal life is ended... We all once lived in the presence of God the eternal father... With this divine parentage, your destiny, through righteous living, is to become like your Fath...