Why a Plan of Salvation?

The Restoration of the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is one of the greatest events in human history and, as the word suggests, it brought back to mankind truths which had been lost. One of these truths is God’s plan for us, His children. This plan is known by many names, among which are the Plan of Salvation, the Plan of Redemption, and the Plan of Happiness. For the next several posts we will discuss this magnificent plan and what it means for us. In this post, I am going to give a brief overview of what the plan is, why God created the plan, and how knowing the plan can help us in life.

The Plan of Salvation is just as the name suggests: God’s plan to bring about the salvation of His children to enable us to be heirs of His Kingdom.  It is His plan to allow us to live with Him for eternity. It is His plan to enable us to find happiness in this life and forever. This Plan was made before the earth was formed. Prophets in all dispensations have taught and testified of this great plan and of Jesus Christ’s central role in the Plan of Redemption as our Savior. It can be explained in three basic portions: life before our earthly existence, our life on earth, and life after this mortal life. We will discuss in later posts the details of the Plan.

It is important for us to understand now why God would create this plan and how it affects us. God’s purpose is for us to inherit immortality and eternal life, allowing us to return to His presence and live with Him forever (Moses 1:39).  His actions are motivated by the love which He has for us. Like any good father, He wishes us to have all that He has.  He provided us with a Savior, Jesus Christ, to make it possible for us to return to His presence.  That matchless gift, the gift of His Son, is the ultimate display of love. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). 

 We also learn from Paul that God is a God of order, and will therefore not leave our salvation to chance (1 Corinthians 14:33). We can see this when we listen to the words of prophets and apostles. God sends prophets to guide us and prepare us for life after death.  He reveals to them the Plan of Salvation so they can in turn teach us.  As we study the solar system and other earth systems, we begin to notice that an organized being created a world which had all the necessary elements to sustain life.

Knowing what God’s plan is and why He created it will help us find peace and direction in this life. We are not merely men and women who are born, live, and die with nothing to hope for.  We are children of a loving Heavenly Father, and as His children, we were made with divine potential. It seems that every thinking soul will at some point ask him or herself questions such as, “Why am I here? Where will I go after death? Where did I come from?” The Plan of Salvation contains answers to these questions. God created this plan and reveals it to His prophets to provide us with peace and assurance of the future. Just as doctors, engineers, and lawyers require certification to prove themselves capable of their particular practice, we too are tested in each stage of the Plan of Salvation to prove that we are willing to follow God’s laws and keep His commandments. As we study God’s plan we will grow closer to Him, become more resolute in our desire to keep His commandments, and we will begin to see others as God sees them.  We will also be better prepared when the day comes for us to pass from this life into the next, for we will know what we can expect.

I know that God has an eternal plan for His children. I know that He created it out of love for us. I know that understanding this plan is a key to finding lasting peace and happiness in this life.  Understanding this plan prepares us for eternity in God’s presence. I know that Jesus Christ lives and plays a key role in Heavenly Father’s plan. Of this I testify in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.