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Is there a Premortal Life?
LDS: Teach that everyone existed in heaven before born on earth. We have all existed eternally as ‘intelligences’ and were later born in heaven as spirit children of God and his wife. We later were born on earth as spirits in human bodies.
BIBLE:
Only Christ existed before mortality, not man. (John 8:58; Col. 1:17) Our existence started on earth. (Zec. 12:1; 1 Cor. 15:46)
For complete quotes and references read below:
Only Christ existed before mortality, not man. (John 8:58; Col. 1:17) Our existence started on earth. (Zec. 12:1; 1 Cor. 15:46)
For complete quotes and references read below:
Why do the LDS believe in Premortal Life?
The LDS church believes biblical scriptures such as, these below show evidence of a pre-mortal life or premortal existence. Most Christians in Joseph Smith's day believed these type of verses spoke of a foreknowledge of God. READ MORE:
Here are the six text below to support their clam.
Genesis 2:4-5. This is the history of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens, 5 before any plant of the field was in the earth and before any herb of the field had grown. For the Lord God had not caused it to rain on the earth, and there was no man to till the ground.
Mormons believe:
Moses teaches in Genesis that God created all things spiritually prior to their physical creation. If God would create the spirits of plants, trees and vegetation prior their being grown physically on earth, it is logical to assume that we humans were also created spiritually prior to our physical births.
Bible Teaches:
In Genesis 2:4-5 it does not teach God put any spirit into plants, trees and vegetation prior to them being grown physically on earth.
Genesis 2:7. And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.
Mormons believe:
So in this verse, God is placing the spirit of man, (in this case it's Adam), into the physical body God had just created for him. This would imply that Adam's spirit existed prior to his mortal existence.
Bible Teaches:
In Hebrew, the definition of "spirit" is "breath of life". The verse says God breathed into his nostrils. It don say God put a spirit into Adam.
As you can see above in Hebrew, the definition of "spirit" simply mean "breath" and nothing more. People, animals and plants need oxygen or they die. God simply formed man from dust and breathed oxygen into his nostrils and then Adan become alive.
Hebrew below.
The LDS church believes biblical scriptures such as, these below show evidence of a pre-mortal life or premortal existence. Most Christians in Joseph Smith's day believed these type of verses spoke of a foreknowledge of God. READ MORE:
Here are the six text below to support their clam.
Genesis 2:4-5. This is the history of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens, 5 before any plant of the field was in the earth and before any herb of the field had grown. For the Lord God had not caused it to rain on the earth, and there was no man to till the ground.
Mormons believe:
Moses teaches in Genesis that God created all things spiritually prior to their physical creation. If God would create the spirits of plants, trees and vegetation prior their being grown physically on earth, it is logical to assume that we humans were also created spiritually prior to our physical births.
Bible Teaches:
In Genesis 2:4-5 it does not teach God put any spirit into plants, trees and vegetation prior to them being grown physically on earth.
Genesis 2:7. And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.
Mormons believe:
So in this verse, God is placing the spirit of man, (in this case it's Adam), into the physical body God had just created for him. This would imply that Adam's spirit existed prior to his mortal existence.
Bible Teaches:
In Hebrew, the definition of "spirit" is "breath of life". The verse says God breathed into his nostrils. It don say God put a spirit into Adam.
As you can see above in Hebrew, the definition of "spirit" simply mean "breath" and nothing more. People, animals and plants need oxygen or they die. God simply formed man from dust and breathed oxygen into his nostrils and then Adan become alive.
Hebrew below.
Job 38:4-7. “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding.
Mormons believe:
In this verse, God is asking Job if he knew where he was while God was laying the foundations of the Earth. Some have found this question fascinating because it would take no knowledge at all just to say, "I didn't exist yet, or I wasn't born yet, how should I know?" But God adds that if he had understanding he would know where he was, implying that he was somewhere. We believe that the somewhere in question is the Premortal World.
Bible Teaches:
Here God is asking Job the question... “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding? Job 38:4
Ecclesiastes 9:5, 6. For the living know that they will die; But the dead know nothing, And they have no more reward, For the memory of them is forgotten. 6 Also their love, their hatred, and their envy have now perished; Nevermore will they have a share In anything done under the sun.
There is nothing is here to say Job was living before he was created.
Ecclesiastes 12:7. Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, And the spirit will return to God who gave it.
Mormons believe:
The keyword in this verse is "return". In order for something to return to anything it would have had to be with it previously. So the only way our spirits could return to God is if our spirits had lived with God at a prior time. Since God gave us our spirits, and created our spirits, it is safe to assume that we lived with Him after our spiritual creation. We left His presence to come to Earth, and one way we will return to Him.
Bible Teaches:
The Bible says spirit and NOT spirits. The Hebrew word for spirit mean wind or breath.
See Hebrew below:
Mormons believe:
In this verse, God is asking Job if he knew where he was while God was laying the foundations of the Earth. Some have found this question fascinating because it would take no knowledge at all just to say, "I didn't exist yet, or I wasn't born yet, how should I know?" But God adds that if he had understanding he would know where he was, implying that he was somewhere. We believe that the somewhere in question is the Premortal World.
Bible Teaches:
Here God is asking Job the question... “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding? Job 38:4
Ecclesiastes 9:5, 6. For the living know that they will die; But the dead know nothing, And they have no more reward, For the memory of them is forgotten. 6 Also their love, their hatred, and their envy have now perished; Nevermore will they have a share In anything done under the sun.
There is nothing is here to say Job was living before he was created.
Ecclesiastes 12:7. Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, And the spirit will return to God who gave it.
Mormons believe:
The keyword in this verse is "return". In order for something to return to anything it would have had to be with it previously. So the only way our spirits could return to God is if our spirits had lived with God at a prior time. Since God gave us our spirits, and created our spirits, it is safe to assume that we lived with Him after our spiritual creation. We left His presence to come to Earth, and one way we will return to Him.
Bible Teaches:
The Bible says spirit and NOT spirits. The Hebrew word for spirit mean wind or breath.
See Hebrew below:
Jeremiah 1:5. “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”
Mormons believe:
In this verse above, God is telling Jeremiah that He knew him prior to his conception. We would interpret this as God referring to Jeremiah's existence with God in his spirit form in the Premortal world. This verse also has reference to foreordination, which is the belief that God had set apart who would be his prophets, priesthood leaders, etc during the pre-existence.
Bible Teaches:
God is:
Omniscience means God is all-knowing.
Omnipresence means God is everywhere at the same time.
Omnipotence means God is all-powerful. God has supreme power & has no limitations.
Isaiah 46:10. Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things that are not yet done, Saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure,’
Even prophecy comes from God who can predict the future world events so it not hard for God to know that Jeremiah was going to be born.
Zechariah 12:1. The burden of the word of the Lord against Israel. Thus says the Lord, who stretches out the heavens, lays the foundation of the earth, and forms the spirit of man within him:
Mormons believe: This one teaches that God formed the spirits within us. Once again, we are all His children because He is the Father of our spirits, and we lived with him prior to coming to Earth.
Bible Teaches:
The Bible don't NOT say God formed spirits within us. The verse says (God) forms the spirit of man within him and NOT spirits. Yes God put the spirit or breath of live in us.
Hebrew Below:
Mormons believe:
In this verse above, God is telling Jeremiah that He knew him prior to his conception. We would interpret this as God referring to Jeremiah's existence with God in his spirit form in the Premortal world. This verse also has reference to foreordination, which is the belief that God had set apart who would be his prophets, priesthood leaders, etc during the pre-existence.
Bible Teaches:
God is:
Omniscience means God is all-knowing.
Omnipresence means God is everywhere at the same time.
Omnipotence means God is all-powerful. God has supreme power & has no limitations.
Isaiah 46:10. Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things that are not yet done, Saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure,’
Even prophecy comes from God who can predict the future world events so it not hard for God to know that Jeremiah was going to be born.
Zechariah 12:1. The burden of the word of the Lord against Israel. Thus says the Lord, who stretches out the heavens, lays the foundation of the earth, and forms the spirit of man within him:
Mormons believe: This one teaches that God formed the spirits within us. Once again, we are all His children because He is the Father of our spirits, and we lived with him prior to coming to Earth.
Bible Teaches:
The Bible don't NOT say God formed spirits within us. The verse says (God) forms the spirit of man within him and NOT spirits. Yes God put the spirit or breath of live in us.
Hebrew Below:
Hebrews 12:9. Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live?
Mormons believe:
Paul is teaching us to show respect to our Father in Heaven, the Father of our Spirits. The Father we lived with before coming to Earth.
Bible Teaches:
A submissive spirit to the transcendent God is live-preserving and productive. Those who submit to God live spiritually. God always has our highest welfare in view. “Live” here does not refer to having eternal life. Instead, it refers to the abundant life. This is the triumphant life over problems Christians face.
Gen 2:16-17. And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”
Mormons believe:
Paul is teaching us to show respect to our Father in Heaven, the Father of our Spirits. The Father we lived with before coming to Earth.
Bible Teaches:
A submissive spirit to the transcendent God is live-preserving and productive. Those who submit to God live spiritually. God always has our highest welfare in view. “Live” here does not refer to having eternal life. Instead, it refers to the abundant life. This is the triumphant life over problems Christians face.
Gen 2:16-17. And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”
How much does one know or comprehend after death?
“The living know that they will die; but the dead know nothing, and they have no more reward, for the memory of them is forgotten. Also their love, their hatred, and their envy have now perished; nevermore will they have a share in anything done under the sun. … There is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going” (Ecclesiastes 9:5, 6, 10).
Psalm 115:17. “The dead do not praise the Lord”.
For a Bible study on what happens when you die go to.
"Adventist Bible Studies" under "Death"
“The living know that they will die; but the dead know nothing, and they have no more reward, for the memory of them is forgotten. Also their love, their hatred, and their envy have now perished; nevermore will they have a share in anything done under the sun. … There is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going” (Ecclesiastes 9:5, 6, 10).
Psalm 115:17. “The dead do not praise the Lord”.
For a Bible study on what happens when you die go to.
"Adventist Bible Studies" under "Death"