Lessons on the Life and Ministry of Jesus Christ and His Apostles
Lesson No. Seventeen
“Jesus Taught the Truths of Eternity, the Reality of Our Premortal Existence”
The Living Christ – The Testimony of the Apostles
The premortal existence – In ancient days as well as in modern times many people do not understand the doctrine of the premortal existence – In John 8:33-50 Jewish leaders contended with Jesus about their assumed preferential status as the seed of Abraham. In this debate Jesus taught the doctrine of the premortal existence.
“To understand this discussion (in John 8:33-50) between Jesus and his Jewish detractors, it must be remembered that men are born in various families, nations, and races as a direct result of their preexistent life. Many choice spirits from the preexistence are sent to selected families. This enables them to undergo their mortal probations under circumstances where the gospel and its blessings will be more readily available to them” (Bruce R. McConkie, Mortal Messiah 3:161).
Elder McConkie is speaking of the doctrine of “election” which has to do with “God’s choice of the house of Israel to be the covenant people with privileges and responsibilities, that they might become a means or blessing the whole world.” It includes the blessing of “being born at a time, at a place, and in circumstances where one will come in favorable contact with the gospel. This election took place in the premortal existence” (Bible Dictionary, Election).
However, to receive the promised blessing of eternal life, given in the premortal existence to the children of Abraham, God’s covenant people, then and now, must continue faithful in this life. Jesus admonishes, “If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham” (John 8:37).
“Jesus says, Before Abraham was I, Jehovah” (John 8, Head note) – Jesus concluded His debate with these unbelieving Jewish leaders by reaffirming the doctrine of the premortal existence. He said: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:58). “He was the Great Jehovah of the Old Testament, the Messiah of the New” and in the premortal existence “He was the Firstborn of the Father” (The Living Christ). He was and is the God of Abraham. In these ways He was “before Abraham.”
In the healing of a man born blind Jesus also taught the doctrine of the premortal existence – “And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man or his parents, that he was born blind” (John 9:1-2).
“The question, propounded by spiritually enlightened disciples – men who, like Peter, James, and John, had seen within the veil and heard the voice of God – presupposes two verities: (1) that the sins of the fathers may be visited upon the children…and (2) that mortal souls are capable of committing sin before they ever breathe the breath of life. Both of these concepts are true…
“Children, though starting life in innocence, are born in one race or another, at one time or another, with one talent or another – all as a direct result of the life lived before mortal birth. The question asked is a good one that presupposes a knowledge of the plan of salvation (including the premortal existence).
“Jesus answers: ‘Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him’ (John 9:3). This is a special case, set apart from all others. This man was…born for a purpose so that Jesus may heal him and he may stand forever as a witness that Jesus is the Son of God. Through him the works of God shall be manifest forever to all those to whom the gospel comes” (Bruce R. McConkie, Mortal Messiah 3:199-200).
Believing the doctrine of premortal existence has a great influence on how we live and think – Knowing the doctrine of premortal existence to be true answers many questions our modern world struggles with. These include issues such as accountability, gender, marriage, roles, responsibility, family, children, abortion, and equality.
Knowing the doctrine of premortal existence to be true also gives us confidence in dealing with the challenges of mortal life. If we know that we were “called and prepared [in the premortal existence] on account of our exceeding faith and good works; in [the premortal existence] being left to choose good or evil; therefore having chosen good, and exercising exceedingly great faith, we are called with a holy calling, yea, with that holy calling which was prepared with, and according to, a preparatory redemption for such” (Alma 13:3).
If we were cleansed from sins committed in our premortal existence because of our faith “in and through the atonement of the Only Begotten Son” (Alma 13:5), this knowledge will strengthen us to repent and continue faithful in this mortal life. And if we “endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life” (2 Nephi 31:20).