Question
Gramps,
I’m a firm believer that we are all created equal before God. I also know that our eternal destiny is a product of our agency (whether we choose to follow Christ), not the false doctrine of predestination. But from revealed scriptures, it appears some souls were nobler or greater than others, even from the premortal existence, when God chose His future rulers and priests (Abraham 3:22-23). If we are all created equal, why are some souls naturally greater or more valiant than others?
Justin
Answer
Justin,
I’d ask you to consider what the meaning of “equal” means. Being “created equal” is not a mathematical declaration, but a philosophical one. When the Declaration of Independence declares that “All men are created equal” this does not mean that every person has exactly the same traits. It means that they shall have equal protection under the law.
Some people are born shorter, some taller. Which ones would have a better chance of being in the NBA? Some are gifted with math/science abilities; others can’t balance a checkbook. Which ones would have a better chance at becoming a NASA engineer?
So, when God created us as “equal” do you believe he created us to be exact replicas of each other? No. We all have our individual strengths and weaknesses. We had them as intelligences before God housed us in spirit bodies.
And the Lord said unto me: These two facts do exist, that there are two spirits, one being more intelligent than the other; there shall be another more intelligent than they; I am the Lord thy God, I am more intelligent than they all. (Abraham 3:19)
(I need to clarify that “intelligent” in this context is not about what we mortals measure as IQ. It is about being in harmony with light and truth.)
The verse above indicates that no one is “exactly” the same. By definition, that means we’re all at different levels of pretty much everything. But for each of God’s creations, He prepared spirit bodies to house them in. Later, on earth, He housed those spirits/intelligences in physical bodies. But that portion of us that is what we might call “our fundamental identity or consciousness” was always there before God created our spirits.
Man was also in the beginning with God. Intelligence, or the light of truth, was not created or made, neither indeed can be. (Doctrine & Covenants 93:29)
In the world of spirits, we were considered equal in that we were given equal opportunities to learn, grow, and prove ourselves. Given that perfectly equal environment, some who excelled in that spiritual education were considered great and noble spirits. Other spirits failed their first estate and chose to follow Satan before even coming to earth. And there were those who learned what they could but didn’t make as much progress as the great and nobles. Yet they still chose to follow the Father and submit ourselves to our mortal probation.
On earth, we are all given an opportunity to prove ourselves in our mortal probation period. This opportunity is given to all spirits regardless of how we progressed in the pre-earth life. Some of those great and noble spirits (like King David) failed during their probation. So, we see that even if we progress well in pre-earth life, it doesn’t necessarily mean we will succeed spiritually in this life. Why? Free agency.
You mentioned that the Calvinist belief in predestination is a false doctrine. That is true; the doctrine is false. But the primary reason it is false is because of the concept of Ex Nihilo Creation. This means “Creation from nothing.” If God truly started with absolutely nothing, then it necessarily follows that whatever our tendency towards evil, it was God who built it into us. So, whatever He put into us is what determines our Eternal destiny. That is predestination. And this means that God created some of us specifically for the purpose of going to hell for all eternity. We reject this doctrine.
On the other hand, we declare that the “intelligence” which is more basic than spirit was always pre-existent, then that is a part of us that He had no hand in creating. Instead, our Father housed us in the best spirit bodies He could provide. And gave us an upbringing in the pre-earth life that was the best possible. Then we all had to experience a flawed mortal world to continue our probation.
Because we were pre-existent, the choices we make are truly ours to make. But they come with consequences. And even if we have great and noble intelligences, we may still end up choosing sin, for it is given to us to choose. God has no culpability in our decisions.
It is truly for us to choose what to do based on our varied talents and abilities. If we succeed, great. If we fail, we hopefully learn from our mistakes, call upon the Atonement of Christ, and grow from the experience.
So, the equality is really the fact that we all get a chance to choose right and wrong — the chance to prove ourselves or damn ourselves. The opportunity is provided to us as a free gift. Now it is up to us to determine our place in eternity by how we choose in this life.
Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And 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; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself. (2 Nephi 2:27)
Gramps
