Question
Gramps,
Lehi in The Book Of Mormon explains to us that there must be opposition in all things. That there must be righteous influence as well as wicked influence. I know we all had agency in the pre-mortal realm and we still do on this earth. However, since God had to have someone provide for the wicked influence on the earth, I’m under the assumption God created Lucifer in such a way that He knew Lucifer would rebel when not selected as the savior. Not a coincidence.
Dan
Answer
Dear Dan,
Thank you for your question!
Not much is written on this subject. However, I tend to think that God did not create Lucifer to fail. A key principle the Lord operates by is moral agency. In 2nd Nephi 2:27, it is written that “men are free according to the flesh . . . they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil.” If there is no such thing as “predestination” for mankind, why would it be any different for Lucifer, who, had he kept his first estate, would have been a human as well?
I am not aware of any scriptures or teachings by General Authorities detailing what would have happened had Lucifer not rebelled. That knowledge has simply not been revealed, and any speculation on what would have happened would be just that – speculation!
I do, however, know that God loves each of us more than we can ever possibly imagine, and He wants nothing more than for His children to return to live with him someday. For that reason, I simply cannot believe that He would have created a spirit child with the intention of having that child fall.
Gramps
