Many have wondered about the doctrine of foreordination. In particular, they wonder what they may have been foreordained to do in the pre-mortal sphere. Alma helps us to understand what type of things are worthy of a foreordination. He makes it clear that those who are ordained as Melchizedek priesthood holders were called and prepared from the foundation of the world.
The scriptures also speak of foreordination for the prophets (Jer 1:5, 2 Nephi 3:10-11, DC 138:55, Abr 3:23), for the house of Israel (Rom 11:1-2), for the sons and daughters of Jesus Christ (Eph 1:4-5), and for the convert Gentiles (1 Pet 1:2). Thus, we see that the Lord would foreordain us to a relatively few, but very important things—either to hold the priesthood, be a prophet, or to be an heir of exaltation.
"Brigham Young and Willard Richards explained that the general principle of election means that God elected or chose certain individuals in our premortal state to receive certain blessings, or to perform certain works, while in mortality (HC 4:258) According to the Book of Mormon, one great foreordained appointment or blessing was to receive the Melchizedek priesthood (Alma 13:3-9). Since we know that the greatest of all the gifts or blessings which God can bestow is eternal life (D&C 14:7), it follows that the greatest foreordained calling or appointment that could be received in the premortal existence was to eternal life. (Book of Mormon Symposium Series, edited by PR Cheesman, MS Nyman, and CD Tate, Jr., 1988, Hel 3 – 3 Nephi 8, p. 115)
Bruce R. McConkie
“Since men are foreordained to gain exaltation, and since no man can be exalted without the priesthood, it is almost self-evident that worthy brethren were foreordained to receive the priesthood. And so we find Alma teaching that those who hold the Melchizedek Priesthood in this life were ’called and prepared from the foundation of the world according to the foreknowledge of God.’ (Alma 13:1-12.) And Joseph Smith said, ’Every man who has a calling to minister to the inhabitants of the world,’ and this includes all who hold the Melchizedek Priesthood, ’was ordained to that very purpose in the Grand Council of heaven before this world was. I suppose that I was ordained to this very office in that Grand Council.’ (Teachings, p. 365.).” (Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, vol. 3, p. 329)
Neal A. Maxwell
"Yet, though foreordination is a difficult doctrine, it has been given to us by the living God, through living prophets, for a purpose. It can increase our understanding of how crucial this mortal second estate is and encourage us in good works. This precious doctrine can help us go the second mile because we are doubly called.
“When we mortals try to comprehend rather than to accept foreordination, finite minds are trying to comprehend omniscience. A full understanding is impossible; we simply have to trust in what the Lord has told us, knowing that we are not dealing with guarantees from God, but extra opportunities and heavy responsibilities.” (Things As They Really Are, p. 24)
Spencer W. Kimball
“Remember, in the world before we came here, faithful women were given certain assignments while faithful men were foreordained to certain priesthood tasks. While we do not now remember the particulars, this does not alter the glorious reality of what we once agreed to.” (Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, p. 316 as taken from Latter-day Commentary on the Book of Mormon compiled by K. Douglas Bassett, p. 267)