Here Alma gave in outline what is perhaps one of the most informative statements in all Holy Writ concerning men both before and after they came to dwell upon this earth as mortal beings. We must agree from his recital of events that occurred even from the foundation of the world that he not only referred to this life, but to man’s premortal existence as well. From the foundation of the world we understand to mean the starting point from which all things pertaining to this mortal habitation had a beginning. The Atonement of Christ and the whole Plan of Salvation were, indeed, part of that source from which all things sprang. King Benjamin, who ruled the Nephites about a jubilee previous to Alma’s time, or about 125 years before Christ, solemnly noted in his last great sermon delivered to his people at a conference held in Zarahemla: “I say, that this is the man who receiveth Salvation, through the Atonement which was prepared from the foundation of the world for all mankind.”(See Mosiah 4:6-7)
First, let us consider briefly, the preparation made by man in the world before he came here for him to assume more and greater responsibilities in the succeeding step of his eternal progression. In Alma’s explanation of the manner in which some spirits became greater, or more in authority, than did others, he went into quite some detail. From it we can see that, like this terrestrial abode in which we live, the premortal dwelling place was a preparatory realm where the spirits which were to inhabit bodies of flesh and blood made themselves ready to take upon themselves the joys and sorrows of earth-life which according to the Plan of Redemption would follow. Also, by inference, we note that the essential characteristics, or the distinguishing qualities that guided the very existence of the spirits were not unlike human nature is today. Integrity to righteous principles was in man’s premortal life, as it is today, the crowning point by which he was raised to higher levels of accountability and trustworthiness.
Faith and good works were the criteria, or standards, by which the spirits in the spirit-world were judged according to the foreknowledge of God. (See v. 3) The Holy Father had seen His spirit-children grow up from the very first; He could not but notice that some of them were slothful, others were unmindful of His presence in every experience of their lives—they were at last cast out from the dwelling place of Light—while still others proved to be firm and steadfast in doing His will, always they sought for that which was greatest for His glory.
The eternal principle of Free Agency was their portion, and God’s Spirit was their constant and faithful counselor. The spirits of men had power to know right from wrong, and to choose good or evil, the satisfaction of which was concordant with their desires. They were taught the truth, and many of them followed its precepts. In so doing, the faithful and those who loved righteousness, received strength, as also it made them leaders of others. God magnified their strength and summoned them into His service. In short, certain spirits who had been faithful to Him and His cause were called of God to be His Rulers here upon Earth, and were further instructed in His ways. By their exceeding great faith in His Omnipotence and Omniscience, they made themselves ready to perform whatsoever mission God, in His wisdom, required at their hands.
Now the Lord had shown unto me, Abraham, the intelligences that were organized before the world was; and among these there were many of the noble and great ones;
And God saw these souls that they were good, and He stood in the midst of them, and He said: These will I make My rulers; for He stood among those that were spirits, and He saw that they were good; and He said unto me: Abraham, thou art one of them; thou wast chosen before thou wast born. (P. of G. P., Abraham 3:22-23)
It is most important for us to remember that those who were called into His service were they that had established themselves in His favor by bringing forth good works through faith on His Name. Others, who by pride and infatuation had cast aside the Law of the Lord and rejected His Word, became more and more estranged to the promptings of His Spirit. Thus they separated themselves from those who were diligent in keeping the Lord’s commandments. We may surmise that if it had not been for their lack of perseverance in applying themselves to observing His laws, the indolent and those who chose evil might too have been privileged, as were their brethren, to hold office in the Holy Priesthood of God and minister unto the children of men. And thus we see that it was then in the world of spirits the same as here below, a pattern, or better still, a type was established which fashioned the faithful and true. They, we might say, were advanced along the Path of Redemption, while others who chose evil and loitered along the way were hampered in their advancement by their folly and foolishness.