PREMORTAL LIFE (Teachings of Joseph Smith)

Spirits Given Bodies to Protect Against Evil — William P. McIntire (January 19, 1841)

Joseph said that before foundation of the Earth in the Grand Counsel that the Spirits of all Men ware subject to opression & the express purpose of God in Giveing it a tabernicle was to arm it against the power of Darkness — for instance Jesus said Get behind me Satan Also the apostle said Resist the Devil & he will flee from you.

Account of Meeting, circa 19 January 1841, as Reported by William P. McIntire, p. 7, The Joseph Smith Papers.

Intelligence Existed before Earth Was Created — William P. McIntire (March 28, 1841)

he says the spirit or the inteligence of men are self Existant principles he before the foundation this Earth — & quotes the Lords question to Job “where wast thou when I laid the foundation of the Earth” Evidence that Job was in Existing somewhere at that time he says God is Good & all his acts is for the benifit of infereir inteligences —

Discourse, circa 28 March 1841, pp. 17-18, The Joseph Smith Papers.

Intelligences Given Bodies to Defend against Spirits with More Power — William P. McIntire (March 28, 1841)

God saw that those intelegences had Not power to Defend themselves against those that had a tabernicle therefore the Lord Calls them togather in Counsel & agrees to form them tabernicles so that he might Gender the Spirit & the tabernicle togather so as to create sympathy for their fellowman— for it is a Natureal thing with those spirits that has the most power to bore down on those of Lesser power so we see the Devil is without a tabernicle & the Lord as set bo[u]nds to all Spirits & hence Come the Saying thou son of David why art thou Come to torment us before the time, & Jesus Comanded him to Come out of the Man & the Devil besought him that he might Enter in a herd of swine Near by (for the Devil knew they were a Coveitous people & if he Could Kill their Hogs that would Drive Jesus out of their Coasts & he then would have tabernicle enough) & Jesus — permitted him to Enter into the swine.

Discourse, circa 28 March 1841, p. 18, The Joseph Smith Papers.

Glory, Power, and Dominion Obtained in Resurrection After Faithfulness While in the Body — Howard Coray (May 21, 1843)

The design of God before the foundation of the world was that we should take tabernacles that through faithfulness we should over come thereby & obtain a resrection from the dead, in this wise obtain glory honor power and dominion for this thing is needful, inasmuch as the Spirits in the Eternal world, glory in bringing other Spirits in Subjection unto them, Striving continually for the mastery, He who rules in the heavens when he has a certain work to do calls the Spirits before him to organize them, they present themselves and offer their Services —

Discourse, 21 May 1843, as Reported by Howard Coray, pp. 41-42, The Joseph Smith Papers.

Lucifer Steals Bodies* In This Life After Losing Opportunity to Have Tabernacle in Heaven — Howard Coray (May 21, 1843)

When Lucifer was hurled from Heaven the decree was that he Should not obtain a tabernacle not those that were with him, but go abroad upon the earth exposed to the anger of the elements naked & bare, but oftimes he lays hold upon men binds up their Spirits enters their habitations laughs at the decree of God and rejoices in that he hath a house to dwell in, by & by he is expelled by Authority and goes abroad mourning naked upon the earth like a man without a house exposed to the tempest & the storm

*See alternative accounts by Franklin D. Richards and Willard Richards for clarification that the “habitiations” Lucifer enters are the bodies of men.

Discourse, 21 May 1843, as Reported by Howard Coray, pp. 42-43, The Joseph Smith Papers.

After Resurrection, Having a Body Enables Us to Have Power over Other Spirits — Franklin D. Richards (May 21, 1843)

Salvation is for a man to be saved from all his enemies . . . spirits of the eternal world are diverse from each other as here in their dispositions Aspiring Ambitious &c As man is liable to enemies there as well as here it is necessary for him to be placed beyond their power in order to be saved. This is done by our taking bodies (keeping our first estate) and having the Power of the Resurrection pass upon us whereby we are enabled to gain the ascendancy over the disembodied spirits

The mortification of satan consists in his not being permitted to take a body. He sometimes gets possession of a body but when the proven authorities turn him out of Doors he finds it was not his but a stolen one.See alternative accounts by Franklin D. Richards and Willard Richards for clarification that the “habitiations” Lucifer enters are the bodies of men.

Discourse, 21 May 1843, as Reported by Franklin D. Richards, pp. 18-20, The Joseph Smith Papers.

Joseph Smith Foreordained in Grand Council in Heaven as Greatest Prophet — George Laub (May 12, 1844)

Brother Joseph Smith was chosen for the Last despensation or seventh Despensation the time the grand council set in heaven to organise this world Joseph was chosen for the Last and greatest Prophet to Lay the foundation of gods work therefore the Jews asked John the Baptist if he was Elias or Jesus or that great prophet that was to come

Discourse, 12 May 1844, as Reported by George Laub, pp. 19-20, The Joseph Smith Papers.

Joseph Smith & Others Ordained in Grand Council in Heaven to be Ministers in the Last Days (May 12, 1844)