
LDS PRE-EXISTENCE
IS DISPROVED BY THE BIBLE
"All men and women are in the similitude of the universal Father and Mother and are literally sons and daughters of Deity;" as spirits they were the "offspring of celestial parentage." (Man, His Origin and Destiny, pages 351, 355) c/f Mormon Doctrine, LDS Apostle Bruce R. McConkie, page 589.Not only does the LDS teach that mankind were the literal spiritual offspring of God the Heavenly Father in a pre-existence, but that Christ was his first-born, followed by the rest of mankind and all the angelic beings. (See chapter 2, Gospel Principles; Doctrine and Covenants 93:21, Discourses of Brigham Young, Page 26 and "Mormon Doctrine" by Bruce McConkie, pages 192-193, 321, 516, 589).
And again, we exclaim, O Mormonism! No wonder that Lucifer, son of the morning, the next heir to Jesus Christ, our eldest brother, should fight so hard against his brethren; he lost the glory, the honor, power, and dominion of a God and the knowledge, spirit, authority and keys of the priesthood of the son of God! (Times and Seasons, volume 5, page 758, Jan. 1, 1844, article by W. W. Phelps)The 1992 edition of Gospel Principles, pages 18 to 19, explains:
The story of Lucifer is the most terrible example of such apostasy. ... He pitted his own plan and will against the purposes of God. He strove to gain the birthright of his Elder Brother, Jesus the Christ (LDS Apostle John A. Widsoe, Evidences and Reconcliations, page 209)
"Because we are here on earth and have mortal bodies, we know that we chose to follow Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father ..... When he became our Savior, he did his part to help us return to our heavenly home. It is now up to each of us to do our part and become worthy of exaltation." [Exaltation is an LDS term used denoting progression to godhood and eternal life, which are one and the same thing in Mormonism.]Some of those who were not valiant in the war in heaven were given black or coloured bodies here on earth. Others were born into non-Mormon families. In other words, their race or the fact that they weren't born as Mormons was a direct consequence of their performance in the pre-existence.
The race and nation in which men are born in this world is a direct result of their pre-existent life. All the spirit hosts of heaven deemed worthy to receive mortal bodies were foreordained to pass through this earthly probation in the particular race and nation suited to their needs, circumstances and talents. (Bruce R. McConkie, "Mormon Doctrine, 1993 printing," page 616)(The reader needs to take note that whenever LDS teachings are changed, which has happened on a regular basis ever since the inception of their church, their doctrinal books are all amended accordingly. In other words, their teachings are there in black and white one minute, but have disappeared the next. On the other hand, truth is eternal. It never changes.)
Though he was a rebel and an associate of Lucifer in pre-existence, and though he was a liar from the beginning whose name was Perdition, Cain managed to attain the privilege of mortal birth. ..... Then he came out in open rebellion, fought God, worshiped Lucifer, and slew Abel. ..... As a result of his rebellion, Cain was cursed ..... The Lord placed on Cain the mark of a dark skin; he became the ancestor of the black race. (Moses 5, Genesis 4, TOPJS page 169) (LDS Apostle Bruce McConkie, "Mormon Doctrine, 1993 printing," pages 108-109.)
And Ammon said: Yea, and he looketh down upon all the children of men; and he knows all the thoughts and intents of the heart; for by his hand were they all created from the beginning. (BOM, Alma 18:32) (Italics inserted by writer.)It needs to be noted that the Book of Mormon also teaches that God is spirit, in line with the Bible and with Joseph Smith's earlier teachings, and in contradiction of today's Mormon beliefs. This subject is fully covered in other articles on this site.
Ammon said unto him: I am a man; and man in the beginning was created after the image of God, and I am called by his Holy Spirit to teach these things unto this people, that they may be brought to a knowledge of that which is just and true. (BOM Alma 18:34) (Italics inserted by writer.)
Now when Ammon had said these words, he began at the creation of the world, and also the creation of Adam ...... (BOM, Alma 18:36) (Italics inserted by writer.)
For behold by the power of his word man came upon the face of the earth, which earth was created by the power of his word. Wherefore, if God was able to speak and the world was, and to speak and man was created, O then why not able to command the earth, or the workmanship of his hands upon the face of it, according to his will and pleasure? (BOM, Jacob 4:8) (Italics inserted by writer.)
That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid. (Isaiah 44:28, KJV)In this prophecy Cyrus is actually named by God's prophet, Isaiah, 150 years before he began his reign in 550 BC. In other words, even before Cyrus had been born God foreknew that his parents would name him "Cyrus" and that he would become the king of Persia. He also foreknew that Cyrus would be instrumental in enabling the Israelites to return to Jerusalem after their captivity and dispersion. The fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy (and also another by Jeremiah), is as follows:
Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord spoken by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, All the kingdoms of the earth hath the Lord God of heaven given me; and he hath charged me to build him an house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all his people? The Lord his God be with him, and let him go up. (2 Chronicles 36:22-23, KJV)It can now be clearly seen that the biblical God's attribute of foreknowledge concerning His calling of Jeremiah, has been wrongly used by the LDS as so-called "proof" that God knew us all in a previous existence.
Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it. (Ecclesiastes 12:7, KJV).However, this scripture doesn't say that the spirit lived with God before birth and then returns to Him after death. It says that the spirit will return to God who gave it. The Bible teaches that God creates our mortal bodies and then forms a spirit within us. Giving, creating or forming something is a completely different thing to procreating or reproducing it. Nowhere does the Bible say that our spirits were begotten by God in a previous existence. That is purely a Mormon fantasy.
And he [Jesus] said unto them, Ye are from beneath [the earth]; I am from above [heaven]: ye are of this world; I am not of this world. (John 8:23, KJV)The first three leads will take you to articles on major changes in LDS doctrine on deity, and the last lead to an article on Eternal Progression:
And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. (1 Corinthians 15: 45-47, KJV)
..... The burden of the word of the Lord for Israel, saith the Lord, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him. (Zechariah 12:1, KJV) (Italics inserted by author.)