Abrahamic / Middle Eastern Christianity The Basic Plan For Our Salvation (Happiness) in Brief This Earth Life is Part of God's Plan to Enable Us to Live With Him Again Share Flipboard Email Print Christianity Latter Day Saints Beliefs and Teachings Scriptures Christianity Origins The Bible The New Testament The Old Testament Practical Tools for Christians Christian Life For Teens Christian Prayers Weddings Inspirational Bible Devotions Denominations of Christianity Funerals and Memorial Services Christian Holidays Christian Entertainment Key Terms in Christianity Catholicism View More By Krista Cook LDS Expert Ph.D., Public Administration and Public Affairs, Virginia Tech M.L.S., Library and Information Science, Emporia State University M.P.A., Political Science and Public Administration, Brigham Young University B.A., Political Science, Brigham Young University Krista Cook is a seventh-generation Utah Mormon and a graduate of Brigham Young University who covers LDS topics. our editorial process Krista Cook Updated June 25, 2019 Much of what sets Mormons apart from other religions is our robust belief in Heavenly Father's plan for our salvation. It answers some fundamental questions: Who am I?Why am I here?Where did I come from?Where am I going? Everyone asks themselves these questions. You are here on earth for a reason. This life is an assignment. You are here to learn and do some specific things. The Plan of Salvation, often called the Plan of Happiness, is Heavenly Father's plan for our lives. He loves all of us and designed this plan to maximize our happiness and our ability to progress. What follows is the Plan in brief. For more detailed analysis, see the Plan of Happiness or this subcategory. For a visual representation of the Plan, see this poster, or this picture. What follows is a brief introduction to a large topic! Premortal Existence Mark Stevenson / Stocktrek Images / Getty Images We lived with Heavenly Father before we came to earth. In this premortal life, we existed as spirits. Spirit beings do not have physical, tangible bodies. We wanted to come to earth to receive bodies. Most of us agreed to the circumstances that would exist on earth. Some did not. These spirits followed Satan. They will not have the privilege of receiving a body here on earth. Creation and Birth Mark Stevenson / Stocktrek Images / Getty Images This earth was created for us so that we could receive mortal bodies, as well as learn and progress. Adam and Eve experienced this earth first. They are the first parents of everyone who is born here. Their actions paved the way for us all to be born into mortality Mortality deliormanli / E+ / Getty Images We are born into mortality for several reasons. We are here to: Enable our eternal progressionReceive bodiesLearn self-discipline and self-masteryBuild and demonstrate faithBe tried and testedLearn to make righteous choicesDemonstrate our willingness to make righteous choices Heavenly Father does not want us to be miserable here. He wants us to have joy, both here and eternally. Mortality is a step in our eternal happiness. Death PeopleImages / DigitalVision / Getty Images Death is a step in our progression, not the end of our existence. Our spirits must separate from our bodies for a time. We have been assured that our bodies and our spirits will be reunited at some future time. Jesus Christ's Atonement makes this possible. We will be resurrected, just like Christ was. Post Mortal Spirit World Design Pics / Don Hammond / Getty Images We will live as spirits for a time. There is life after death. In this post mortal life, we will live as spirits in a spirit world. This spirit world will be divided into two major parts. One will be Paradise, the other will be Spirit Prison. People who were righteous during mortality will teach the gospel of Jesus Christ to the spirits in prison. In addition, necessary spiritual work will be done vicariously for the spirits who did not, or could not, do this work for themselves while in mortality. Resurrection RyanJLane / E+ / Getty Images Jesus Christ is resurrected. Eventually, we will all be resurrected. We know that this will occur in stages. For example, the most righteous will be resurrected at Jesus Christ's second coming. The next most righteous will be resurrected soon after that. The most unrighteous will have to wait until the Millennium concludes to be resurrected. Judgment Comstock / Stockbyte / Getty Images We will have to account for how we spent our lives on earth. This is often referred to as the final judgment. The difference in this final judgment is that our judgment will be perfect. There will not be any mistakes or problems. Heavenly Father's judgment is perfect, and just. Kingdom of Glory Christian Miller / E+ / Getty Images Based on how we have lived our lives and progressed, we will be assigned to one of the three degrees of glory. All three of these separate kingdoms are included in what we think of heaven.They will all be glorious places to live eternally. Some who consciously choose to follow Satan will be consigned to Hell, instead of a degree of glory.