In our pre-earth existence we were spirits formed from intelligent matter through a birth process of which earthly births are patterned after. We are the offspring of a heavenly and eternal couple, and we progressed in that pre-earth state, in the presence of our parents. We were to a point of maturity where further progress would necessitate a different universal environment, a place where growth would be based on resistance or opposition in all things. “For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not so…righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad.” (2 Nephi 2:11) An earth was organized from existing matter in space that would provide the type of environment and experiences we would need.
In our pre-earth state, our Heavenly Father was aware of our per- sonalities and individual strengths and weakness. He knew that some may not survive this challenging experience. Satan, one of our elder brothers, was a very brilliant individual who was even recognized as the “Son of the Morning.” He had many talents and a persuasive tongue. He was aware of our Father’s plan for our continued progress, and this earth experience was a major part of that plan. It was the very purpose for which it was created. He knew that our eternal life (life beyond our earth experience), our happiness and growth would be hinged on our ability to return to our Father’s presence when our training here was complete. Because we have agency (the power within us to choose), there is a possibility that we may make wrong choices to the extent that we would not be eligible to return when our experience was over. He was a very ambitious spirit as well as very cunning. He devised a parallel plan to the Father’s to make it possible for all of us to return. The only problem is that his plan was contrary to our Father’s plan. With the Father’s plan there was a risk. The risk entailed our agency, or the right, each of us had and would continue to have on earth to make choices—choices which may be contrary to our Father’s will. The Father was aware that we would make contrary choices and that those choices would cause us to slow or even halt our progress unless we repented and returned to the path that was outlined for us. Repentance was an important and essential part of the Father’s plan.
Satan’s plan on the other hand was to take away our choices or agency so that we could not do anything contrary to our Father’s will. By taking away our choices, he would also be taking away our ability to experience earth life to its fullest and thereby develop or grow according to plan. One is only strengthened spiritually and mentally enhanced by experiencing opposition which causes us to grow. Satan failed to understand that aspect of the plan. Because he thought his plan was so perfect, that not one soul would be lost, he wanted to take credit for it. He wanted the honor and the glory that he thought would come from such success. When his plan was rejected, he became angry and rebelled against his own Father and began trying to persuade his brothers and sisters to accept his plan. He convinced many (a third part of the host of heaven), the timid and fearful ones who thought that under Satan’s plan they would be safe. All those who accepted the security of Satan’s plan, at the same time (and maybe unwittingly), rebelled against their Father and were cast down to the earth without an opportunity to ever experiencing the joy of having a mortal body and a physical earthly experience. They would be spirits only and for all eternity.
The Father knew all of us; He knew our personalities and knew that there would be some who would be rebellious to His plan. Those who rebelled became our opposition, the primary challenges that the rest of us would have to struggle with while sojourning here on earth. The resistance process is the very source of our growth and strength. Satan and his followers, though they are without a body of flesh and bone, still have the ability to influence us and persuade those of us who have bodies to be disobedient to our Father’s will. All of the evil influences that we are subjected to are devised by Satan and his army of spirits to snare us into his trap. Because his plan was rejected, he became bitter, and his soul purpose and desire is to foil the Father’s plan. He will try to prevent each of us individually from being able to return to our Father. He will also try to prevent as many as he can from ever being born to the earth through evil practices such as abortion, same sex marriages and homosexual lifestyles. Satan’s influence is real, it is powerfully attractive to many, and his evil influences are working on as many of us as will listen and experiment with his enticements. The majority of the earth’s population do not even know of our heritage, our relationship to the Father because of Satan’s influence. One day there will be a final war between the forces of good and evil, and we have to pray that we will be on the right side of that conflict.