Chapter 8: The Fall, D: The Fall Was a Purposeful Step in God's Plan of Salvation

The fall was a necessary and planned part of life on Earth. It was not an accident, nor an arbitrary punishment. God designed that fall should bring about our fallen state, which was necessary for our eternal development.

We came into this world to die. That was understood before we came here. It is part of the plan, all discussed and arranged long before men were placed upon the earth. When Adam was sent into this world, it was with the understanding that he would violate a law, transgress a law, in order to bring to pass this mortal condition which we find ourselves in today.
Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 1:66

When Adam was driven out of the Garden of Eden, the Lord passed a sentence upon him. Some people have looked upon that sentence as being a dreadful thing. It was not; it was a blessing. . . .
In order for mankind to obtain salvation and exaltation it is necessary for them to obtain bodies in this world, and pass through the experiences and schooling that are found only in mortality. . . .
The fall of man came as a blessing in disguise, and was the means of furthering the purposes of the Lord in the progress of man, rather than a means of hindering them.
Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 1:113-14

Did they [Adam and Eve] come out in direction opposition to God and his government? No. But they transgressed a command of the Lord, and through that transgression sin came into the world. The Lord knew they would do this, and he designed that they should.
Brigham Young, Discourses of Brigham Young, 103

We needed to be tempted by Satan in order to truly have free agency. If all we know is good, we don't really have a choice, and thus, no agency. With temptation also came the ability to know the joy that comes from choosing good over evil.

And it must needs be that the devil should tempt the children of men, or they could not be agents unto themselves; for if they never should have bitter they could not know the sweet--Wherefore, it came to pass that the devil tempted Adam, and he partook of the forbidden fruit and transgressed the commandment wherein he became subject to the will of the devil, because he yielded unto temptation.
D&C 29:39-40

Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy. And the Messiah cometh in the fulness of time, that he may redeem the children of men from the fall. And because that they are redeemed from the fall they have become free forever, knowing good from evil; to act for themselves and not to be acted upon, save it be by the punishment of the law at the great and last day, according to the commandments which God hath given. 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 2:25-27

If we cannot be good, except as we resist and overcome evil, then evil must be present to be resisted.
So this earth life is set up according to true principles, and these conditions that followed the transgression [of Adam] were not, in the usual sense, penalties that were inflicted upon us. All these . . . that seem to be sad infliction of punishment, sorrow, and trouble are in the end not that. They are blessings. We have attained a knowledge of good and evil, the power to obtain redemption and eternal life. These things had their origin in this transgression. The Lord has set the earth up so we have to labor if we are going to live, which preserves us from the curse of idleness and indolence; and thou the Lord condemns us to death-mortal death-it is one of the greatest blessings that comes to us here because it is the doorway to immorality, and we can never attain immorality without dying.
So these are all real blessings. We come to earth with all these condition arranged as they are so that we have to struggle constantly against evil, struggle to preserve our lives, struggle for everything of true value-that is the thing for us to understand-this is the course of life that is most desirable, and for our good. We have no need to find fault with these conditions. The Lord has ordained them all for our welfare and happiness.
Morris, in Conference Report, April 1958, 39

If the fall had never happened Adam and Eve would never had had children. It was not a matter of everyone living happily in the garden of Eden, for nobody would ever have been born. The fall was necessary for mankind to come upon the earth in the current state.

And now, behold, if Adam had not transgressed he would not have fallen, but he would have remained in the garden of Eden. And all things which were created must have remained in the same state in which they were after they were created; and they must have remained forever, and had no end.
And they would have had no children; wherefore they would have remained in a state of innocence, having no joy, for they knew no misery; doing no good, for they knew no sin.
But behold, all things have been done in the wisdom of him who knoweth all things.
2 Nephi 2:22-24


And in that day Adam blessed God and was filled, and began to prophesy concerning all the families of the earth, saying: Blessed be the name of God, for because of my transgression my eyes are opened, and in this life I shall have joy, and again the flesh I shall see God.
And Eve, his wife, heard all these things and was glad, saying: Were it not for our transgression we never should have had seed, and never should have known good and evil, and the joy of our redemption, and the eternal life which God giveth unto all the obedient.
Moses 5:10-11

Give Us Strength According to Our Faith . . . in Christ, Alma 13-16

Today I am going through the Sunday School lesson for today. This is reverse from most entries, as the quoted questions from the lesson prep are in block and my answers indented.

After being persecuted in prison for many days, how were Alma and Amulek, finally delivered? What are some things from which we need to be delivered? Why must our faith be centered in Christ to lead us to deliverance?

Alma and Amulek were released from prison through a terrible earthquake that killed all the men except them. There are many things we need to be delivered from as well, most originating from sin. We need to be delivered from debt/bondage, addictions, bad habits, emotional problems, temptations, and so on. Our faith must be centered in Christ because it is only through Christ that we can be redeemed. Christ is our Savior and so only through Him can we receive the strength to be delivered from our problems.

What does Alma 15:3-5 reveal about Zeezrom's trust in Alma and Amulek? In whom did Zeezrom need to place his trust in order to be healed? What do you learn from Zeezrom's actions after he was healed?

Zeezrom trusted that Alma and Amulek could heal him. However, Alma and Amulek were careful to point out that he needed to have faith in Christ, not in Alma, to be healed. Zeezrom was healed after stating that he believed in Christ. You can see that Zeezrom was truly converted because afterwards he went out and preached the gospel.

Chapter 8: The Fall, C: The Fall Brought About Significant Changes for Adam and Eve's Posterity

While this section contained references regarding several aspects of how Adam and Eve's and our lives were changed by the fall, I am focusing on just a few that I felt most important.

The fall of Adam brought about mortality. Had this not happened, Adam and Eve would still be alive today (although we would never have been born).

And he said unto them: Because that Adam fell, we are; and by his fall came death; and we are made partakes or misery and woe.
Moses 6:48

Now Alma said unto him: This is the thing which I was about to explain. Now we see that Adam did fall by the partaking of the forbidden fruit, according to the word of God; and thus we see, that by his fall, all mankind became a lost and fallen people. And now behold, I say unto you that if it had been possible for Adam to have partaken of the fruit of the tree of life at that time, ther would have been no death, and the word would have been void, making God a liar, for he said: If thou eat thou shalt surely die. And we see that death comes upon mankind, yea, the death which has been spoken of by Amulek, which is the temporal death; nevertheless there was a space granted unto man in which he might repent; therefore this life became a probationary state; a time to prepare to meet God; a time to prepare for that endless state which has been spoken of by us, which is after the resurrection of the dead.
Alma 12:22-24

And Eve, his wife, heard all these things and was glad, saying: Were it not for our transgression we never should have had seed, and never shoul have known good and evil, and the joy of our redemption, and the eternal life which God giveth unto all the obedient.
Moses 5:11

In addition to the "temporal" death, Adam and Eve were also subject to a spiritual death. They were cast out of the presence of God, which is spiritual death. It was necessary for us to leave the presence of God so that we could be tested.

But behold, it was appointed unto man to die--therefore, as they were cut off from the tree of life they should be cut off from the face of the earth--and man became lost forever, yea, they became fallen man. And now, ye see by this that our first parents were cut off both temporally and spiritually from the presence of the Lord; and thus we see they became subjects to follow after their own will. . . . Therefore, as the soul could never die, and the fall had brought upon all mankind a spiritual death as well as a temporal, that is, they were cut off from the presence of the Lord, it was expedient that mankind should be reclaimed from this spiritual death.
Alma 42:6-7,9

And it must needs be that the devil should tempt the children of men, or they could not be agents unto themselves; for if they never should have bitter they could not know the sweet--Wherefore, it came to pass that the devil tempted Adam, and he partook of the forbidden fruit and transgressed the commandment, whereinhe became subject to the will of the devil, because he yielded unto temptation. Wherefore, I the Lord God, caused that he should be cast out from the Garden of Eden, from my presence, because of his transgression, wherein he became spiritually dead, which is the first death, even that same death which is the last death, which is spiritual, which shall be pronounced upon the wiched when I shall say: Depart, ye cursed. But, behold, I say unto you that I, the Lord God, gave unto Adam and unto his seed, that they should not die as to the temporal death until I, the Lord God, should send forth angels to declare unto them repentnce and recemption, through faith on the name of mine Only Begotten Son. And thus did I, the Lord God, appoint unto man the days of his probation--that he might be raised in immoratlity unto eternal life, even as man as would believe.
D&C 29:39-43

When Adam, our first parent, partook of the forbidden fruit, transgressed the law of God, and became subject unto Satan, he was banished from the presence of God, and was thrust out into outer spiritual darkness. This was the first death. Yet living, he was dead-dead to God, dead to light and truth, dead spiritually; cast out from the presence of God; communication between the Father and the Son was cut off. He was absolutely thrust out from the presence of God as was Satan and the hosts that followed him. That was spiritual death. But the Lord said that he would not suffer Adam nor his posterity to come to the temporal death until they shoudl have the means by which they might be redeemed form th ffirst death, which is spiritual.
Joseph F. Smith, Gospel Doctrine, 432

Part of the fall was that man became subject to misery and unhapiness. This was an essential part of the plan, so that we could also learn to be happy at the same time. Part of this is that we are subject to sin. The fallen man becomes more and more devilish the more he lets the "natural man" dictate his actions rather than the teachings of God.

For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not, so, my first=born in the wilderness, righteouness could not be brough to pass, neither wickedness, neither hoiness nor misery, neither good nor bad. Wherefore, all things must needs be a compound in one; wherefore if it should be one body it must needs remain as dead, having to life neither death, nor corruption nor incorruption, happiness nor misery, neither sense nor insensibiltiy.
2 Nephi 2:11

And now, my son, all men that are in a state of nature, or I would say, in a carnal state, are in the gall of bitterness and in the bonds of iniquity; they are without God in the world, and they have gone contrary to the nature of God; therefore, they are in a state contrary to the nature of happiness.
Alma 41:11

The "natural man" is the "earthy man" who has allowed rude animal passions to overshadow his spiritual inclinations.
Spencer W. Kimball, Ensign, Nov. 1974, 112

This being "conceived in sin" [Moses 6:55] as I understand it, is only that they are in the midst of sin. They come into the world where sin is prevalent, and it will enter into their hearts, but it will lead them "to taste the bigger that they they may know to prize the good."
George Q. Morris, in Conference Report, April 1958, 38

Chapter 8: The Fall, B: Adam and Eve Brought About the Fall By Their Own Choice

God gave Adam and Eve a commandment not to eat of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, and then said to choose for themselves. I have heard it explained many ways, but the main idea here is that it was necessary for Adam and Eve to fall, and in order to fall they needed to break that commandment.

And the Lord God took the ma, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat; But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil thou shal not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
Genesis 2:15-17

I'm very, very grateful that in the Book of Mormon, and I think elsewhere in our scriptures, the fall of Adam has not been called a sin. It wasn't a sin. . . . What did Adam do? The very thing the Lord wanted him to do; and I hate to hear anybody call it a sin, for it wasn't a sin. Did Adam sin when he partook of the forbidden fuit? I say to you, no, he did not! Now, let me refer to what was written in the book of Moses in regard to the command God gave to Adam. [Moses 3:16-17]
Now this is the way I interpret that: The Lord said to Adam, here is the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you want to stay here, then you cannot eat of that fruit. But you may act for yourself, and you may eat of it if you want to. And if you eat it, you will die.
I see a great difference between transgressing the law and committing a sin.
Joseph Fielding Smith, "Fall--Atonement--Resurrection--Sacrament," in Charge to Religious Education, 124

Adam and Eve were chosen to come here as the primal parents of humanity. And they were placed in the Garden of Eden where there was no death and we read in the scriptures that they could have lived in that Garden forever, but not under the most favorable circumstances. For there, although they were in the presence of God, they were deprived of certain knowledge and understanding in a condition where they could not understand clearly things that were necessary for them to now. Therefore, it became essential to their salavation and to our that their nature should be changed. The only way it could be changed was violation by the violation of the law under which they were at that time. Mortality could not come without violation of that law and mortality was essential, a step towards our exaltation. Therefore, Adam partook of the forbidden fruit, forbidden in a rather peculiar manner for it is the only place in all the history where we read that the Lord forbade something and yet said, "Nevertheless thous mayest choose for thyself." He never said that of any sin. I do not look upon Adam's fall as a sin, although it was a transgression of the law. It had to be. And Adam came under a different law. The temporal law. And he became subject to death. The partaking of that fruit created blood in hhis body and that blood became the life-giving influence of morality.
Jospeh Fielding Smith, The Atonement of Jesus Christ, Brigham Young University Speeches of the Year [25 Jan. 1955], 2

Satan, through the serpent, tempted Eve to eat the fruit. She shared it with Adam. Both Adam and Eve made their own choice to eat the fruit, knowing the consequences. They may or may not have realized at the time that it was a necessary part of God's plan, but they knew they would be cast out of the garden of Eden. The devil tempted Eve, but it was her choice and she made it, and so did Adam when it was presented to him.

And now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which I, the Lord God, had made. And Satan put it into the heart of the serpent, (for he had drawn away many after him,) and he sought also to beguild Eve, for he knew no the mind of God, wherefore he sought to destroy the world. And he said unto the woman: Yea, hath God said--Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? (And he spake by the mouth of the serpent.) And the woman said unto the serpent: We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden; But of the fruit of the tree which thou beholdest in the midst of the garden, God hat said--Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman: Ye shall not surely die; Fod God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it became pleasant to the eyes, and a a tree to be desired to make her wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and also gave unto her husband with her, and he did eat.
Moses 4:5-12

The devil in tempting Eve told a truth when he said unto her that when she should eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil they should become as Gods. He told the truth in telling that, but he accompanied it with a lie as he always does. He never tells the complete truth. He said that they should not die. The Fathe had said that they should die. The devil had to tell a lie in order to accomplish his purposes; but there was some truth in his statement. Their eyes were opened. They had a knoledge of good and evil just as the God have.
George Q. Cannon, Gospel Truth, 1:16

The adversary, Lucifer, through the serpent beguiled Eve and deceived her and induced her to eat of the forbidden fruit. It was not so with Adam. . . . He knew that unless he did partake there would be an eternal separation between him and the partner that God had given to him, so he transgressed the law. . . . Because had he not partaken of the fruit, they would have been eternally separated.
George Q. Cannon, Gospel Truth, 1:24

Chapter 8: The Fall, A: Condition in the Garden of Eden Were Different From Those of Mortality

Before the fall the Earth would not have changed. This is a new doctrine I just learned today, but it seems that man and all of creation existed in spirit form before the fall. That is, they were immortal and unable to change. Were it not for the fall they would have remained the same forever, in bliss and beauty but also never growing or multiplying.

And now, behold, if Adam has not transgressed he would not have fallen, but he would have remained in the garden of Eden. And all things which were created must have remained in the same state win which they were after they were created; and they must have remained forever, and had no end.
2 Nephi 2:22

And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew. For I, the Lord God, created all things, of which I have spoken, spiritually, before they were naturally upon the face of the earth. For I, the Lord God, had not aused it to rain upon the face of the earth. And I, the Lord God, had created all the children of men; and no yet a man to till the ground; for in heaven created I them; and there was not yet flesh upon the earth, neither in the water, neither in the air; But I, the Lord God, speak, and there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground. And I, the Lor God, formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul, the first flesh upon the earth, the first man also; nevertheless, all things were before created; but spiritually they were created and made according to my word. And I, the Lord God, planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there Iput the man whom I had formed.
Moses 3:5-8

Adam had a spritual body until mortality came upon him through the violation of the law under which he was living, but he also had a physical body of flesh and bones.
. . . Now what is a spiritual body? It is one that quickened by spirit and not by blood.
. . . When Adam was in the Garden of Eden, he was not subject to death. There was no blood in his body and he could have remained there forever. This is true of all the other creations.
Jospeh Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 1:76-77

Adam and Eve were in the presence of God while in the Garden of Eden. They were able to converse with him and learn from him.

And they heard the voice of the Lord God, as they were walking in the garden, in the cool of the day; and Adam and his wife went to hide themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden.
Moses 4:14

Adam and Eve would have had no children had they continue to live in the Garden of Eden. They were in a state of innocence, meaning that they didn't understand about good and evil because they had no way to know of such things. They were neither happy nor sad, just innocent. This does not mean that original sin was sexual relations, which is something other Christian sects sometimes hold, but that without the fall the spiritual bodies of Adam and Eve would not have been capable of bearing children.

And they would have had no children; where fore they would have remained in a state of innocence, having no joy, for they knew no misery; doing no good, for they knew no sin.
2 Nephi 2:23

And Eve, his wife, heard all these things and was glad, saying: Were it not for our transgression we never should have had seed, and never should have known good and evil, and they joy of our redemptin, and the eternal life which God giveth unto all the obedient.
Moses 5:11

He [Adam] had knowledge, of course. He could speak. He could converse. There were many things he could be taught and was taught; but under the condition in which he was living at that time it was impossible for him to visualize or understand the power of good and evil. He did not know what pain was. He did not know what sorrow was; and a thousand other things that have come to us in this life that Adam did not know in the Garden of Eden and could not understand and would not have known had he remained there.
Jospeh Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 1:107-8

Chapter 7: The Creation C: We Were Given a Unique Role Among God's Creations

We were created in the image of God. This has been talked about several times now in different sections and chapters of this study guide. Clearly, it is very important that we understand that we are the children of our Heavenly Father in a very literal sense.

And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle and over all the earth, and every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
Genesis 1:26-27

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, basing its belief on divine revelation, ancient and modern, proclaims man to be the direct and lineal offspring of Deity. God Himself is an exalted man, perfected, enthroned, and supreme. By His almighty power He organized the earth, and all that it contains, from spirit and element, which exist co-eternally with Himself. He formed every plant that grows, and every animal that breathes, each after its own kind, spiritually and temporally-'that which is spritual being in the likenss of that which is temporal, and that which is temporal in the likeness of that which is spritual." He made the tadpole and the ape, the lion and the lephant, but He did not make them in His own image, nor endow them with Godlike reason and intelligence. Nevertheless, the whole animal creation will be perfected and peretuated in the Hereafter, each class in its "distinct order or spher," and will enjoy "eternal felicity." That fact has been made plain in this dispensation (Doctrine and Covenants, 77:3).
Man is the child of God, formed in the divine image and endowed with divien attributes, and even as the infant son of an earthly father and mother is capable in due time of becoming a man, so the undeveloped offspring of celestial parentage is capable, by experience through ages and aeons, of evolving into a God.
The First Presidency [Jospeh . Smith, John R. Winder, and Anthon H. Lund], in James R. Clark, comp. Messages of the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 4:205-6

We know that Jehovah-Christ, assisted by "many of the noble and great one" (Abr. 3:22), of whom Michael is but the illustration, did in fact create the earth and all forms of plant and animal life on the face thereof. But when it came to placing man on earth, there was a change in Creators. That is, the Father himself became personally involved. All things were created by the Son, using the power delegated by the Father, except man. In the spirit and again in the flesh, man was created by the Father. There was no delegation of authority where the crowning creature of creation was concerned.
Bruce R. McConkie, The Promised Messiah, 62

Woman was created as a help meet to man; an equal partner. Several parts of the creation account indicate they were created to be equal - she was created from his rib, to stand at his side, she and he were not complete until there was both, and so on. It is only afterward that we see women being treated as number two, not by God, but by fallen man.

And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will him an help meet for him. And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
Genesis 2:18, 21-24

And I God, blessed them, and said unto them: Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it, and have domion over the fish of the sa, and over the fowl of the air, and ove every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
Moses 2:28

It is written:
"And I, God, created man in mine own image, in the image of mine Only Begotten created I him; male and female created I them. (The story of the rib, of course, is figurative.)
And, I, God, blessed them (Man here is always in the plural. It was plural from the beginning.) and said unto them: Be fruitful and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it, and have dominion over (it)." (Moses 2:27-28)
And the scripture says,
"And I, God, said unto mine Only Begotten, which was with me from the beginning: Let us make man (not a separate man, but a complete man, which is husband and wife) in our image, after our likeness; and it was so." (Moses 2:26) What a beautiful partnership! Adam and Eve were married for eternity by the Lord. . . .
"Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam (Mr. and Mrs. Adam, I suppose, or Brother and Sister Adam), in the day when they were created." (Genesis 5:1-2)
This is a partnership. Then when they had created them in the image of God, to them was given the eternal command, "Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it" (Gen 1:28), and as they completed this magnificent creation, they looked it over and pronounced it "good, very good"-- something that isn't to be improved upon by our modern intellectuals; the male to till the ground, support the family, to give proper leadership; the woman to cooperate, to bear the children, and to rear and teach them. It was "good, very good."
And that is the way the Lord organized it. This wasn't an experiment. He knew what he was doing.
Spencer W. Kimball, "The Blessing and Responsibilities of Womanhood," Ensign, Mar. 1976, 71)

The purpose of the earth's creation was for us to be tested. Thus, everything in the earth is created for our good. We know how vital it is to have a whole ecosystem in order to support life - that man could never live as a sole species. And, over all this we are the stewards. It is my personal belief and interpretation that we will be held accountable for how we have acted as stewards over the earth, and thus we should treat it with respect.

What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and hohour. Thou madest him to have dominon over the works fo thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: Al sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.
Psalms 8:4-8

Verily I say, that inasmuch as ye do this, the fulness of the earth is yours, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air, and that which climbeth upon the trees and walketh upon the earth; Yea, and the herb, adn the good things wich come of the earth,m whether for food or for raiment, ro for houses, or for barns, or for orchards, or for gardens, or for vineyards; Yea, all thing which come of the earth, in the season thereof, are made for the benefit and the use of man, both to please the eye and to gladden the heart; Yea, for food and for raiment, for taste and for smell, to strengthen the body and to enliven the soul. And it pleaseth God that he hath given all these things unto man; for unto this end were they made to boe used, with judgment, not to excess, neither by extortion.
D&C 59:16-20

The whole object of the creation of this world is to exalt the intelligences that are placed upon it, that they may live, endure, and increase for ever and ever.
Brigham Young, Discourse of Brigham Young, 57

Chapter 7: The Creation B: The Physical Creation Took Place According to the Plan of God

God made a plan for the physical creation. The plan was detailed and it was set out before he began. It encompasses the whole of creation.

All thrones and dominions, principalities and powers, shall be revealed and set forth upon all who have endured valiantly for the gospel of Jesus Christ. And also, if there be bounds set to the heavens or the seas, or to the dry land, or to the sun, moon, or stars-- All the times of their revolutions, all the appointed days, months, and years, and all the days of their days, months, and years, and all their glories, laws, and set times, shall be revealed in the days of the dispensation of the fulness of times -- According to that which was ordained in the midst of the Council of the Eternal God of all other gods before this world was, that should be reserved unto the finishing and the end thereof, when every man shall enter into into his eternal presence and into his immortal rest.
D&C 121:29-32

In the beginning, the head of the Gods called a council of the Gods; and they came together and concocted a plan to create the world and people in it.
Joseph Smith, Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 349

Now, the word create came from the word baurau which does not mean to create of nothing; it means to organize; the same as a man would organize materials and build a ship. Hence, we infer that God had materials to organize the world out of chaos--chaotic matter, which is element, and in which dwells all the glory. Elment had an existence from the time he had. The pure principles of element are principles which can never be destroyed; they may be organized and re-organized, but not destroyed. They had no beginning, and can have no end.
Joseph Smith, Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 350-52

God created the earth through Jesus Christ. When a building is built there is usually an architect, a foreman, a crew, and many more workers. Would you say it is the person who designed the building who created it? Or the person who oversaw the construction? We call both God and Jesus Christ the creator because they were both involved. God set forth the plan, Jesus Christ carried it forth with the help of others.

And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 3:9

And behold, the glory of the Lord was upon Moses, so that Moses stood in the presence of God, and talked with him face to face. And the Lord God said unto Moses: for mine own purpose have I made these things. Here is wisdom and it remaineth in me. ANd by the word of my power, have I created them, which is mine Only Begotten Son, who is full of grace and truth. And worlds without number I have created; and I also created them for mine own purpose; and by the Son I created them, which is mine Only Begotten.
Moses 1:31-33

It was Jesus Christ, our Redeemer, who, under the direction of his Father, came down and organized matter and made this planet. . . It is true that Adam helped to form this earth. He labored with our Savior Jesus Christ. I have a strong view or conviction that there were others also who assisted them. Perhaps Noah and Enoch; and why not Joseph Smith, and those who were appointed to be rulers before the earth was formed?
Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 1:74-77

God created the Earth in seven periods and then set the seventh "day" apart for rest.

But first, what is a day? It is a specified time period; it is an age, an eon, a dvision of eternity; it is the time between two identifiable events. And each day, of whatever length, has the duration needed for its purposes. One measuring rod is the time required for a celestial body to turn once on its axis. . . [See Abraham 3:4] There is no revealed recitation specifying that eacy of the "six days" involved in the Creation was of the sam duration. . . . Abraham gives a bluprint as it were of the Cration. He tells the plans of the holy beings who wrought the creative work. After reciting the events of the "six days" he says: "And thus were their decision at the time that they counseled among themselves to form the heavens and the earth." (Abraham 5:3) Then he says they performed as they had planned, which means we can, by merely changing the verb tenses and without doing violence to the sense and meaning also consider the Abrahamic account as one of the actual creation.
McConkie, "Christ and the Creation," 11

Thus the heaven and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day I, God, ended my work, and all things which I made; and I rested on the seventh day from all my work, and all things which I had made were finished, and I, God, saw that they were good; And I, God, blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it; because that in it I had rested from all my work which I, God, had created and made.
Moses 3:1-3

Chapter 7: The Creation, A: All Things Were Created Spiritually Before They Were Created Physically

All things were created spiritually before they were created physically. This does not necessarily mean they were created at the time of the physical creation, but just before the physical creation. There is something even more basic than spirit or body that existed even before this creation.

And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the filed before it grew. For I, the Lord God, created all things, of which I have spoken, spiritually, before they were naturally upon the face of the earth. For I, the Lord God, had no caused it to rain upon the face of the earth. And I, the Lord God, had created all the children of men; and not yet a man to till the ground; for in heaven created created I them; and there was not yet flesh upon the earth, neither in the water, neither in the air. But, I the Lord, God, spake, and there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground. And I, the Lord God, formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul, the first lesh upon the arth, the first man also; neverthless, all things were before created; but spiritually were they created and made according to my word.
Moses 3:5-7

These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens, And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew; for the Lord God hath not caused it to rain upon the arth, and there was not a man to till the ground.
Genesis 2:4-5

There is no account of the creation of man or other forms of life when they were created as spirits. There is just the simple statement that they were so created before the physical creation. The statements in Moses 3:5 and Genesis 2:5 are interpolations thrown into the account of the physical creation, explaining that all things were first created in the spirit existence in heaven before they were placed upon this earth.
Jospeh Field Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 1:75-76

This earth was created first spiritually. It was a spirit earth. Nothing then lived on its face, nor was it designed that anything should. Then came the physical creation, the paradisiacal caration, the creation of the arth in the Edenic day and before the fall of man. . . . Man and all forms of life existed as spirit beings and entities before the foundations of this earth were laid. There were spirit men and spirit beasts, spirit fowls and spirit fishes, spirit plants and spirit trees. Every creeping thing, ever herb and shrub, every amoeba and tadpole, every elephant and dinosaur--all things--existed as spirits, as spirit beings, before they were placed naturally upon this earth.
Bruce R. McConkie, The Millenial Messiah, 642-43

Chapter 6: Our Premortal Life, C: God the Father provided the plan of salvation by which HIs spirit children could eventually become like Him.

From the beginning God had a plan for us. It is important that we know that God has a plan, and the basics of that plan, because otherwise earth life seems pointless and silly. It is easy to understand how some people ridicule the idea of God when so many Christians belief extends little further than the righteous go to heaven and the wicked go to hell. When we understand WHY that is, and the purpose of this earth life, we are better able to understand and have faith in our Father in Heaven.

For a more structured/detailed description of the plan of salvation please go to mormon.org's explanation of the plan of salvation.

In the beginning God taught us as spirits about the plan. From the beginning, it was Christ who would be our Savior.

And there stood one among them that was like unto God, and he said unto those who were with him: We will go down, for there is space there, and we will take of these materials, and we will make an earth whereon these may dwell; And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them; And they who keep their first estate [premortal life with God the Father in heaven] shall be added upon; and they who keep not their first estate shall not have glory in the same kingdom with those who keep their first estate; and they who keep their second estate shall have glory added upon their heads for ever and ever. And the Lord said: Whom shall I send? And one answered like unto the Son of Man: Here am I send me. And another answered and said: Here am I, send me. And the Lord said: I will send the first.
Abraham 3:24-27

But behold, my Beloved Son, which was my Beloved and Chosen from the beginning, said unto me--Father, they will be done, and the glory be thine forever.
Moses 4:2

But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last time for you.
1 Peter 1:19-20

When the great War in Heaven was fought, Lucifer, the son of the morning, came forth with a plan that was rejected. The Father of us all, with love for us, His children, offered a better plan under which we would have freedom to choose the course of our lives. His Firstborn Son, our Elder Brother, was the key to that plan. Man would have his agency, and with that agency would go accountability. Man would walk the ways of the world and sin and stumble. But the Son of God would take upon Himself flesh and offer Himself a sacrifice to atone for the sins of all men. Through unspeakable suffering He would become the great Redeemer, the Savior of all mankind.
Gordon B. Hinckley, Ensign, May 2002, 90

In the premortal life, Satan was an authority figure. When he rebelled against God by trying to take the glory to himself and take away the agency of man, there was a war. This was a war, as far as I can see, not with guns and armies, but for the spirit children of God. Those who fought with Satan eventually were thrust from heaven. This was approximately 1/3 of the spirit children of Heavenly Father.

And I, the Lord God, spake unto Moses, saying: That Satan, whom thou has commanded in the name of mine Only Begotten, is the same which was from the beginning, and he came before me, saying--Behold, here am I, send me, I will be thy son, and I will redeem all mandking, that one soul shall not be lost, and surely I will do it; wherefore give me thine honor. But behold, my Beloved Son, which was my Bheloved and Chosen from the beginning, said unto me--Father, they will be done, and the glory by ehtine forever. Wherefore, because that Satan rebelled against me, and sought to destroy the agency of man, which I, the Lord God, had given him, and also, that I should give unto him mine own power; by the power of mine Only Begotten, I caused that eh should be cast down.
Moses 4:1-3

And this we saw also, and bear record, that an angel of God who was in authority in the presence of God, who rebelled against the Only Begotten Son whom the Father loved and who was in the bosom of the Father, was thrust down from the presence of God and the Son, And was called Perdition, for the heavens wept over him--he was Lucifer, a son of the morning. And we beheld, and lo, he is fallen! is fallen, even a son of the morning! And while we were yet in the SPirit, the Lord commanded us that we should write the vision; for we beheld Satan, that old serpten, even the devil, who rebelled against God, and sought to take the kingdom of our God and his Christ-- Wherefore, he maketh war with saints fo God, and encompasseth them round abouth.
D&C 76:25-26

And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not, neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serptent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
Revelation 12:7-9

What Satan wanted, quite evidently, was the full possession, ownership, of this creatio of spirits that is involved in the peopleing of this earth; so he tried to get them by gift, and that being denied, he is following along and trying to get us through the comission of sin. If we sin sufficiently we become his subjects.
As I read the scriptures, Satan's plan required two things: Either the compulsion of the mind, the spirit, the intelligence of man, or else saving men in sin. I question whether the intelligence of man can be compelled. Certainly men cannot be saved in sin, because the laws of salvation and exaltation are founded in righeousness, not in sin.
J. Rueben Clark Jr., in Converence Report, Oct. 1949, 13

The scriptures talk about the first estate and second estate. As far as I read, the first estate was our life with Father in heaven and the opportunity to come to the Earth and receive a body. Living with our Father in Heaven was a great privelege as we were able to learn from him and become more like him as we learned, so losing that privelege was a great loss. The loss of the body also meant that they could never progress further. The second estate is what we are concerned with in this life - it is the ability to eternally progress and truly become like our Father in Heaven. That may not be a perfect summation of things as they are, but that is what I understand at this point in time. (See Disclaimer.) Those sould who were with Christ in the war in heaven kept their first estate, while those who were with Satan lost it. In this life we are striving to keep our second estate.

And they who keep their first estate shall be added upon; and they who keep not their first estate shall not have glory in the same kingdom with those who keep their first estate; and they who keep their second estate shall have glory added upon their heads forever and ever.
Abraham 3:26

And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.
Jude 1:6

The punishment of Satan and the third of the host of heaven who followed him, was that they were denied the privilege of being born into this world and receiving mortal bodies. They did not keep their first estate and were denied the opportunity of eternal progression. The Lord cast them out into the earth, where they became the tempters of mankind-the devil and his angels.
Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 1:65

Chapter 5: Our Premortal Life, B: We Lived as Spirit Children of God in a Premotal Existence

In a previous post we learned that God is the father of our spirits. We also know that our spirit bodies are like the bodies we have now, and that those bodies are in the likeness of God's exalted perfect body.

That which is spiritual being in the likeness of that which is temporal; and that which is temporal in the likness of that which is spiritual; the spirit of man in the likeness of his person, as also the spirit of the beast, and every other creature which God has created.
D&C 77:2

And never have I showed myself unto man whom I have created, for never has man believed in me as thou hast. Seest thou that ye are created after mine own image? Yea, even all men were created in the beginning after mine own image. Behold, this body, which ye now behold, is the body of my spirit; and man have I created after the body of my spirit; and even as I appear unto thee to be in the spirit will I appear unto my people in the flesh.
Ether 3:15-16

All men and women are in the similitude of the universal Father and Mother, and are literally the sons and daughters of Deity. "God created man in His own image." This is just as true of the spirit as it is of the body, which is only the clothing of the spirit, its complement; the two together constituting the soul. The spirit of man is in the form of man, and the spirits of all creatures are in the likeness of their bodies. This was plainly taught by the Prophet Joseph Smith (Doctrine and Covenenants, 77:2).
The First Presidency [Joseph F. Smith, Jorn R. Widner, and Anthon H. Lund], in James R. Clark, comp. Messages of the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 4:203

These spirit beings, the offspring of exalted parents, were men and women, appearing in all respects as mortal person do, excepting only that their spirit bodies were made of a more pur and refined substance than the elements from which mortal bodies are made (Ether 3:16, D&C 131:7-8).
Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 589

In the premortal life we were taught. We are also given agency, allowing us to some extent to act upon those teachings ourselves and grow.

Even before they were born, they, with many others, received their first lessons in the world of spirits and were prepared to come forth in the due time of the Lord to labor in his vineyard for the salvation of the souls of men.
D&C 138:56

Wherefore, because that Satan rebelled against men, and to destroy the agency of man, which I, the Lord God, had given him, and also, that I should give unto him mine own power; by the power of mine only Begotten, I caused that eh should be cast down.
Moses 4:3

In the pre-existence we dwelt in the presence of God our Father. When the time arrived for us to be advanced in the scale of our existence and pass through this mundance probation, councils were held and the spirit cildren were instructed in matters pertaining to conditions in mortal life, and the reason for such an existence. In the former life we were spirits. In order that we should advance and eventually gain the goal of perfection, it was made known that we would receive tabernacles of flesh and bones and have to pass through mortality where we would be tried and proved to see if we, by trial, would prepare ourselves for exaltation. We were made to realize in the presence of our glorious Father, who had a tangible body of flesh and bones wich shone ike the sun, that we were, as spirits, far inferior in our station to him.
Joseph Field Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 1:57

Since we were taught, and were given agency, many used that agency and knowledge to become great in the premortal life. It is very reassuring to know that we were noble and great before we even came here.

It can also be tempting to use this doctrine to justify pride, but that is not God wants us to do with this doctrine, he merely wants to encourage us by building our belief in ourselves. When we start comparing ourselves to others we have stepped past God's inention in teaching us this doctrine. The commandment to love our neighbor comes far before this doctrine.

Now the Lord had shown unto me, Abraham, the intelligences that were organized before the world was; and among all 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 I will make my rulers; for he stood among those that were spirits and he saw that they were good; and said unto me; Abraham, thou art one of them; thou wast chosen before thou wast born. And there stood stood one among them that was like unto God, and he said unto those who were with him: We will go down, for there is space there, and we will take of these materials, and we will make an earth whereon these may dwell; And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them.
Abraham 3:22-25

Before I formed thee in the bell I knew thee; and before camet forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.
Jeremiah 1:5

During the ages in which we dwelt in the premortal state we not only developed our various characteristics and showed our worthiness and ability, or the lack of it, but we were also where such progress could be observed. It is reasonable to believe that there was a Church organization there. The heavenly beings were living in a perfectly arranged society. Every person knew his place. Priesthood, without any question, had been conferred and the leaders were chosen to officiate. Ordinances pertaining to that pre-existence were required and the love of God prevailed. Under such conditions it was natural for our Father to discern and choose those who were most worthy and evaluate the talents of each individual. He knew not only what each of us could do, but what each of would do when put to the test and when the responsibility was given us. Then, when the time came for our habitation on mortal eath, all things were prepared and the servants of the Lord chosen and ordained to their respective missions.
Joseph Field Smith, The Way to Perfection, 50-51

Abraham 3:22-25
Jeremiah 1:5
During the ages...

Chapter 6: Our Premortal Life, A: Intelligence, or the light of truth, is eternal and has always existed.

We know from the scriptures that we have always existed. Our spirit bodies and physical bodies always existed in the elemental form before they were our bodies, in one sense. But, also our "intelligence" has always existed. We, individually, have always existed.

Man was also in the beginning with God. Intelligence, or the light of truth, was not created or made, neither indeed can be.
D&C 93:29

The Lord made it know to Moses (See Book of Moses Chap. 3) and also to Abraham (Abraham Ch. 3) and it is expressed in several revaltions, that man was in the beginning with God. In that day, however, man was a spirit unembodied. The beginning was when the councils met and the decision was made to create this earth that the spirits who were intended for this earth, should come here and partake of the mortal conditions and receive bodies of flesh and bones. The docrtine has prevailed that matter was created out of nothing, but the Lord declares that the elements are eternal. Matter always did and, therefore, always will exist, and the spirits of men as well as their bodies were created out of matter. We discover in this revelation that the intelligent part of man was not created, but always existed. There has been some speculation and articles have been written attemptint to explain just what these "intelligences" are, or this "intelligence " is, but it is futile for us to speculate upon it. We do know that intelligence was not created or made and cannot be because the Lord has said it. There are some truths it is well to leave until the Lord sees fit to reveal the fulness.
Joseph Fielding Smith, Church History and Modern Revelation, 1:401

Chapter 5: The Holy Ghost, B: The Holy Ghost Performs a Special Mission to Bless and Benefit Us

The Holy Ghost is the third member of the Godhead. His mission is to help us in a variety of ways. The following items list many of the ways the Holy Ghost helps us. The following quote also lists many of the roles of the Holy Ghost. (Note: This was a particularly large section so I divided it up into two days. Today I have the full post I worked on both days.)

He [the Holy Ghost] is the Comforter, Testator, Revelator, Sanctifier, Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit of Promise, Spirit of Truth, Spirit of the Lord, and Messenger of the Father and the Son, and his companionship is the greatest gift that mortal man can enjoy. His mission is to perform all of the functions appertaining to the various name-titles which he bears. Because he is a Spirit Personage, he has power -- accroding to the eternal laws ordained by the Father--to perform essential and unique functions for men. In this dispensations, at least, nothing has been revealed as to his origin or destiny; expressions on these matters are both speculative and fruitless.
Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 359

The Holy Ghost is a comforter. He comforts us as we have struggles in our lives.

And the remission of sins bringeth meekness, and lowliness of heart; and because of meekness and lowliness of heart cometh the visitation of the Holy Ghost, which Comforter filleth with hope and perfect love, which love endureth by diligence unto prayer, until the end shall come, when all the saints shall dwell with God.
Moroni 8:26

The Holy Ghost teaches us through revelation. Revelation comes through the Holy Ghost.

And when they bring unto you the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say: For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.
Luke 12:11-12

The Holy Ghost is a revelator. Every worthy soul is entitled to a revelation, and it come through the Holy Ghost. In Moroni's farewell to the Lamanties, he says, " And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things" (Moroni 10:5.)
Spencer W. Kimball, The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, 25

The Holy Ghost sanctifies us. To sanctify means "to make holy, to set apart." The Holy Ghost makes us holy.

Now this is the commandment: Repent, all ye ends of the earth, in my name, that ye may be sanctified by the reception of the Holy Ghost, that ye may stand spotless before me at the last day.
3 Nephi 27:20

The Holy Ghost seals covenants when we uphold what we have promised. It is not until the Holy Spirit of Promise seals a covenant that we have truly made that covenant.

And verily I say unto you, that the conditions of this law are these: All covenants, contracts, bonds, obligations, oaths, vows, performances, connections, associations, or expectations, that are not made and entered into and sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, of him who is anointed, both as well for time and for all eternity, and that too most holy, by revelation and commandment through the medium of mine anointed, who I have appointed on the earth to hold this power (and I have apppointed unto my servant Joseph to hold this power in the last days, and there is never but one on the earth at a time on who this power and the keys of this preisthood are conferred), are of no efficacy, virtue, or force in and after the resurrection from the dead; for all conracts that are not made unto this end have an end when men are dead.
D&C 132:7

The Holy Spirit of Promise is the Holy Ghost who places the stamp of approval upon every ordinance: baptism, confirmation, ordination, marriage. The promise is that the blessings will be received through faithfulness. If a person violates a covenant, whether it be of baptsim, ordination, marriage or anything else, the Spirit withdraws the stamp of approval, and the blessings will not be received. Every ordinance is sealed witha promise o f a reward based upon faithfulness. The Holy Spirit withdraws the stamp of approval where covenants are broken.
Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 1:45

It is through the Holy Ghost that we receive spiritual gifts.

Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led. Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no many can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit given toe very man to profit withal. For to one is given by the SPirit the word of widom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To anothe faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Sprit; To anotehr the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every mans severally as he will.
1 Corinthians 12:1-11

The Holy Ghost helps us to remember things we previously learned.

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all tings to your rememberance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
John 14:26

The Holy Ghost reproves the world for sin. Reprove means "to correct gently."

And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteouness, and of judgment.
John 16:8

Through the Holy Ghost we can be guided to all truth. As discussed in previous sections, all truth comes through the Holy Ghost.

Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
John 16:13

The Holy Ghost helps us as we pray so that we can pray for the right things and receive the blessings we need as a result.

He that asketh in the Spirit asketh according to the will of God, wherefore it is done even as he asketh.
D&C 46:30

Words spoken by the Holy Ghost, through those in authority, is scripture.

And whatsoever they shall speak when moved upon by the Holy Ghost shall be scriptrue, shall be the will of the Lord, shall be the mind of the Lord, shall be the word of the Lord, and power of God unto salvation.
D&C 68:4

Through the Holy Ghost, his messengers can read the thoughts of others, when it is appropriate to the purposes of the Lord.

Now Zeezrom, seeing that thou hast been taken in thy lying and craftiness, for thou hast not lied unto men only but thou hast lied unto God; for behold he knows all thy thoughts, and thou seest that they thoughts are made known unto us by his Spirit.
Alma 12:3

When we count on the Holy Ghost to be our guide, we cannot be deceived. I find this to be vitally important as there are so many doctrines out there that are not true, yet are so tempting and can be so logical at times. When we listen to the Holy Ghost he will make sure we are following the truth by both brining feelings of peace and by opening our minds so we can see how the truth makes sense.

For they that are wise and have received the truth, and have taken the Holy Spirit for their guide, and have not been deceived--verily I say unto you, they shall no be hewn down and cast into the fire, but shall abide the day.
D&C 45:57

Chapter 5: The Holy Ghost, A: The Holy Ghost is the third member of the Godhead

The Holy Ghost is a spirit. He does not have a body, but possesses all the characteristics of a member of the Godhead.

The Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangile as man's; the Son also; but the Holy Ghost has not a body of flesh and bones, but is a personage of Spirit. Were it not so, the Holy Ghost could not dwell in us.
D&C 130:22

And I said unto him: To know the interpretation thereof--for I spake unto him as a man speaketh; for I beheld that he was in the form of a man; yet nevertheless, I knew that it was the Spirit of the Lord; and he spake unto me as a man speaketh with another.
1 Nephi 11:11

The Holy Ghost is the third member of the Godhead. He is a Spirit, in the form of a man. . . . The Holy Ghost is a personage of Spirit, and has a spirit body only. His mission is to bear witness of the Father and the Son and of all truth. As a Spirit personage the Holy Ghost has size and dimensions. He does not fill the immensity of space, and cannot be everywhere present in person at the same time. He is also call the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God, the Spirit of the Lord, the Spirit of Truth, and the Comforter.
Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 1:38

The Holy Ghost as a personage of Spirit can no more be omnipresent in person than can the Father or the Son, by by his intelligence, his knowledge, his power, and influence, over and through the laws of nature, he is and can be omnipresent throughout all the works of God.
Joseph F. Smith, Gospel Doctrine, 61

The Holy Ghost knows all things. He must know all things so that he can teach us of them.

Wherefore, watch over him that his faith fail not, and it shall be given by the Comforter, the Holy Ghost, that knoweth all things.
D&C 35:19

And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.
Moroni 10:5

The Holy Ghost testitifies of the Father and Son. As the the third member of the Godhead his chief role seems to be to point towards the Father and Son.

As well as those who should come after, who should believe in the gifts and callings of God by the Holy Ghost, which beareth record of the Father and of the Son.
D&C 20:27

And the Holy Ghost beareth record of the Father and me; and the Father giveth the Holy Ghost unto the children of men, because of me.
3 Nephi 28:11

"Alma . . . Did Judge Righteous Judgments" Mosiah 29; Alma 1-4

Today, as a break away from my traditional study, I am writing up my preparation for the Sunday School lesson today. Enjoy.

What does Mosiah's words teach about the kind of leaders who will help "make peace for the people"?

A king with absolute power can be a great blessing for the people, but a kind who is wicked could bring down the whole kingdom. Mosiah taught the people that it is better to have a system of judges so that if the leaders became wicked they could be removed from power without a revolution.

Therefore, if it were possible that you could have just men to be your kings, who would establish the laws of God, and judge this people according to his commandments, yea, if ye could have men for your kings who would do even as my father Benjamin did for this people--I say unto you, if this would be xpedient that ye should always have kings to rule over you.
Mosiah 29:13

Now, I say unto you, that because all men are not just it is not expedient that ye should have a king or kings to rule over you. For behold, how much inquity doth one wicked king cause to be comitted, yea, and what great destruction!
Mosiah 29:17

What had Nehor been teaching the people?

That every priest or teacher ought to become opular; and they ought not to labor with theirhands, but that they ought to be supported by the people. And he also testitifed unto the people that all mankind should be saved at the last day, and they need not fear nor termble, but that they might lift up their heads and rejoice.
Alma 1:3-4

What was the effect of his teachings?

The people gave him money and he, himself, became very prideful about his church. When he started arguing with an old man about his teachings, and losing the argument, he became so angry he killed him. (Alma 1:5-9) He was put to death.

His teachings remained popular among the people. Preachers liked it because they could get money. The people who followed those teachings became increasingly prideful and fought more and more with others who did not agree with them.

The tension got so great that Amlici led an attempted coup d'etat against the Nephite government. There was a great war, and then another war when the defeated Amlicites joined forces with the Nephites. Many people died.

Why do you think Nehor's teachings were appealing to so many people?

They were appealing because Nehor taught that everyone would be saved no matter what they did. This allowed people to do whatever they wanted without feeling guilty. They were able to deal with their guilt by justifying that the were giving money to Nehor.

Which of these same teachings have you heard in our day?

Priestcraft is the rule among the churches today. The preacher is always supported by the congregation. Our church is actually considered different from the average religion because only the people at the very highest levels are compensated for their work, and that because they are so busy they cannot support their families without money from the church.

It is also a popular teaching that all you have to do is "accept" Christ to be saved. When people believe that salvation comes without sacrifice, they stop working on the things they really do need to do to be happy.

What did Alma do in response to the increasing pride and iniquity of the people?

He left his job as chief judge an went on a mission so he could preach directly to the people.

How can preaching the word of God "stir [people] up in rememberance of their duty"?

It helps people to change their lives when they learn about the gospel. President Packer says that true doctrine understood, changes behavior and that learning doctrine will change behavior faster than a study of behavior will change behavior.

How can preaching the word of God "pull down" pride, craftiness, and contention?

As people change they are humbled, and humble people do not suffer from pride, and without pride you won't have much contention.

Why do you think there was no way for Alma to help the people other than by "bearing down in pure testimony against them"?

In Alma's day he could not reach out through a television screen and talk to everyone at once. In order to really get their attention he had to come to them. The only way for him to reach the people in their hearts was to go and talk to them directly.

What problems in the world today could be solved by preaching and living the gospel?

Preaching and truly living the gospel will bring peace to the world. A lot of people use their religion as a way to fight with the other people. Even members of the church can sometimes bring sorrow to other people through false commitment to their religion. If we are truly living the gospel we will love everyone and we will do whatever it takes to help others.

Chapter 4: Jesus Christ, the Son of God, C: As the Son of God, Jesus Fills Many Roles Essential to Our Salvation

The following points each describe an aspect of the Savior. Knowing the Savior is vitally important to us spiritually. Learning about all his aspects will help us in many ways.

Whether descriptibely designated as Creator, Only Begotten Son, Prince of Peace, Advocate, Mediator, Son of God, Savior, Messiah, Author and Finisher of Slavation, King of Kings--Iwitness that Jesus Christ is the only name under heaven whereby one can be saved! (see D&C 18:23.) I testify that He is utterly incomparable in what He is, what He knows, what He has accomplished, and what He has experienced. Yet, movingly, He call us His friends. (See John 15:15). We can trust, worship, and even ador Him without any reservation! As the only Perfect Person to sojourn on this planet, there in none like Him! (See Isiah 46:9). In intelligence and performance, He far surpasses the individual and the composite capacities and achievements of all who have lived, live now, and will yet live! (See Abraham 3:19). He rejoices in our genuine goodness and ahcievement, but any assessment of where we stand in relation to HIm tells us that we do not stand at all! We kneel!
Neal A. Maxwell, in Conference Report, Oct. 1981, 9; or Ensign, Nov. 1981, 9

The Savior created the Earth from direction from the Father.

Behold, I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I created the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are. I was with the Father from the beginning. I am in the Father, and the Father in me; and in me hath the Father glorified his name.
3 Nephi 9:15

Jesus Christ is Jehovah, the God of the Old Testament

Behold, Gos is my slavation; I will trust, and not be afriad: for the Lord JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.
Isaiah 12:2

Christ came to the Earth as an example for us, so that we could see what we should do.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, this is my gospel; and ye the things that ye must do in my church; for the works which ye have seen me do that shal ye also do; for that which ye have seen me do even that shall ye do.
3 Nephi 27:21

We are saved only through Jesus Christ. There is no other name through which we can gain salvation.

And under this head ye are made free, and there is no other head whereby ye can be made free. Ther is no other name given whereby slavation cometh; therefore, I would that ye should take upon you the name of Christ, all you that have entered into the covenant with God that ye should be obedient unto the end of your lives.
Mosiah 5:8

Through the Atonement, the Savior gave us the way to be saved from physical and spiritual death.

For as death hath passed upon all men, to fulfil the merciful plan of the great Creator, there must needs be a power of resurrection, and the resurrection must needs come unto man by reason of the fall; and the fall came by reason of transgression; and because man became fallen they were cut off from the presence of the Lord. Wherefore, it must needs be an infinite atonement--save it should be an infinite atonement this corrutpion could not put on incorruption. Wherefore, the first judgment which came upon man must needs have remained to an endless duration. And if so, this flesh must have laid down to rot and to crumble to its mother earth, to rise no more. O the widsom of God, his mercy and grace! for behold, if the flesh should rise no more our spirits must become subject to that angel who fell from before the presence of the Eternal God, and became the devil, to rise no more. And our spirits must have become like unto him, and we become devils, angels to a devil, to be shut out from the presence of our God, and to remain with the father of lies, in misery, like unto himself; yea, to that being who beguiled our first parents, who transforemth himself night unto an angel of light, and stirreth up the children of men unto secret combinations of murder and all manner of secret works of darkness. O how great the goodness of our God, who prepareth a way for our escape from the grasp of this awful monster; yea, that monster, death and hell, which I call the death of the body, and also the death of the spirit. And because of the way of deliverance of our God, the Holy One of Israel, this death, of which I have spoken, which is the temporal, shall deliver up its dead; which death is the grave. And this death of which I have spoken, which is the spiritual death, shall devliver up its dead; which spiritual death is hell; wherefore, death and hell must deliver up thier dead, and hell must deliver up its captive spirits, and the grave must deliver up its captive bodies, and the bodies and the spirits of men will be restored one to the other; and it is by the power of the resurection of the Holy One of Isreal. O how great the plan of our God! For one the other hand, the paradise of God must deliver up the spirits of the righteous, and the grave deliver up the body of the righteous; and the spirit and the body is restored to itself again, and all men become incorruptible, and immortal, and they are living souls, having a pefect knowledge like unto us in the flesh, save it be that our knowledge shall be perfect.
2 Nephi 9:6-13

The Savior is our advocate with the Father.

Listen to him who is the advocate with the Father, who is pleading your cause before him--Saying: Father, behold the sufferings and death of him who did no sin, in whom thou was well please; behold the blood of they Son which was shed, the blood of him who thou gavest that thyself might be glorified; Wherefore, Father, spare these my brethren that believe on my name, that they may come unto me and have everlasting life.
D&C 45:3-5

The Savior is our perfect judge.

For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son.
John 5:22

The Father's will is carried out with perfection by the Son

Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.
John 4:34

Jesus is sometimes called the Father. This is a figurative title and works as Jesus acts for the Father many times.

And now that Abinadi said unto them: I would that ye should understand that God himself shall come down among the children of men and shall redeem his people. And because he dwelleth in flesh he shall be called the Son of God, and having subjected the flesh to the will of the Father, being the Father and the Son--The Father because he was conceived by the power of God; and the Son, because of the flesh; thus becoming the Father and Son--And they are one God, yea the very Eternal Father of heaven and of earth. And thus the flesh becoming subject to the Spirit, or the Son to the Father, being one God, suffereth temptation, and yieldeth not to the temptation but suffereth himself to be mocked, and scourged, and cast out, and disowned by his people. And after all this, after working many mighty miracles among the children of men, he shall be led, yea even as Isaiah said, as a sheep before the shearer is dumb, so he opened not his mouth. Yea, even so he shall be led, crucified, and slain, the flesh becoming subject even unto death, the will of the Son being swallowed up in the will of the Father. And thus God breaketh the bands of death, having gained the victory over death; giving the Son power to make intercession for the children of men.
Mosiah 15:1-8

Christ is the Father in the sense that he is the Creator, the Make, the Organizer of the heavens and of the earth, and all things that in them are. . . . He is the Father of all those who are born again. . . . He is the Father by what has aptly been termed divine investiture of authority. That is, since he is one with the Father in all of the attributes of perfection, and since e exercises the power and authority of the Father, it follows that everything he say or does is and would be exactly and precisely what the Father would say and do under the same cirucmstances. Accordingly, the Father put his own name on the Son and authorizes him to speak in the first person as though he were the Father.
McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 130

Jesus Christ is the rock of our foundation to overcome Satan.

And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Chris, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that wehn the devil shall send forth is mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm hsall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, becuase of the rock upon which ye are build, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fail.
Helaman 5:12

Chapter 4: Jesus Christ, the Son of God, B: Jesus Christ is a Being of Glory, Might, and Majesty

Christ has all power, in heaven and earth. He has power over the Earth just like the Father does.

And he received all power, both in heaven and on earth, and the glory of the Father was with him, for he dwelt in him.
D&C 93:17

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Matthew 28:18

Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.
1 Peter 3:22

Christ has a fullness of the Father's attributes. Christ is a full member of the Godhead and the member who we seem to deal with most directly. We can trust that he has the fulness of attributes and power of God, which he gained piece by piece.

And I, John, saw that received not of the fulness at the first, but received grace for grace; And he received not of the fulness at first, but continue from grace to grace, until he received a fulness; And thsu he was called the Son of God, because he received not of the fulness at the first. And I, John, bear record, and lo, the heavens were opened, and the Holy Ghost descended upon him in the form of a dove, and sat upon him, and there came a voice out of heaven sayin: This is my beloved Son. And I, John, bear record that he received a fulness of the glory of the Father; And he received all power, both in heaven and on earth, and the glory of the Father was with him, for he dwelt in him.
D&C 93:12-17

Thus saith the Lord your God, even Jesus Christ, the Great I AM, Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the same which looked upon the wide expanse of eternity, and all the seraphic hosts of heaven, before the world was made; The same which knoweth all things, for all things are present before mine eys; I am the same which spake, and the world was made, and all things came by me.
D&C 38:1-3

For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power.
Colossians 2:9-10

The Savior did not have a fulness at first, but after received his body and the resurrection all power was given unto him both in heaven and in earth. Although he was a God, even the Son of God, with power and authority to create this earth and other eaths, yet there were some things lacking which he did not receive until after his resurrection. In other words he had not received the fulness until he got a resurrected body.
Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 1:33

Christ is the light of the world. I believe this is part literal and part figurative. There are a lot of meanings you can draw from this statement, which I'm sure is intended. One meaning I think is important is to remember that all hope and happiness in this life is made possible by the Savior.

And that I am the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
D&C 93:2

The light and the Redeemer of the world; the Spirit of truth, who came into the world, because the world was made by him, and in him was the life of men and the light of men.
D&C 93:9

In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
John 1:4

The spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
John 8:12

See also D&C 88:5-13

Chapter 4: Jesus Christ, the Son of God A: Jesus Christ is literally the son of God the Eternal Father

Jesus Christ is the first born spirit son of God. As such, he is our elder brother. Jesus Christ was hence "in the beginning with God."

And now verily I say unto you, I was in the beginning with the Father, and am the Firstborn.
D&C 93:21

For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a son? And again, when he bringeth the first begotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.
Hebrews 1:5-6

Among the spirit children of Elohim, the firstborn was and is Jehovah, or Jesus Christ, to whom all others are juniors.
Joseph F. Smith, Gospel Doctrine, 70

Jesus Christ is the only Son begotten of God in the flesh. God was literally Jesus's father of the body as he is father of our spirits. God needed to be His father so that he would have power over death.

He was born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the same word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the Holy Begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
JST John 1:13-14

And I looked and beheld the virgin again, bearing a child in her arms. And the angel said unto me: Behold the Lamb of God, yea, even the Son of the Eternal Father!
1 Nephi 11:20-21

I say unto you, that I know of myself that whatsoever I shall say unto you, concerning that which is to come, is true; and I say unto you, that I know that Jesus Christ shall come, yea, the Son, the Only Begotten of the Father, full of grace, and mercy, and truth. And behold, it is he that cometh to take away the sins of the world, yea, the sins of every man who steadfastly believeth on his name.
Alma 5:48

And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him; That he lives! For we saw him, even on teh right hand of God; and we heard the voice bering record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father--That by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begtten sons and daughters unto God.
D&C 76:22-24

That Child to be born of Mary was begotten of Elohim, the Eternal Father, no in violation of natural law but in accoradance with a higher manifestation thereof; and, the offspring from that association of supreme sanctity, celestial Sireship, and pure though mortal maternity, was of right to be called the "Son of the Highest."
James E. Talmage, Jesus the Christ, 81

Chapter 3: God the Eternal Father, E: The Father Presides Over the Godhead

The Godhead comprises the The Father, The Son, and The Holy Ghost. The Father presides over the Godhead, like a president over his presidency.

We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.
Article of Faith 1

[Christ speaking.] Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.
John 14:28

Know ye not that [Christ] was holy? But notwithstanding he being holy, he showeth unto the children of men that, according to the flesh he humbleth himself before the Father, and witnesseth unto the Father that he would be obedient unto him in keeping his commandments.
2 Nephi 31:7

The Godhead is made up of three separate physical beings. Each being is a totally separate person physically and spiritually.

The Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man's; the Son also; but the Holy Ghost has not a body of flesh and bones, but is a personage of Spirit. Were it not so, the Holy Ghost could not well in us.
D&C 130:22

And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Matthew 3:16-17

But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.
Acts 7:55-56

Three glorified, exalted, and perfected personages comprise the Godhead or supreme presidency of the univers. . . . They are: God the Father; God the Son; God the Holy Ghost. . . . Though each God in the Godhead is a personage, separate and distince from eacy of the others, yet they are 'one God' . . ., meaning that they are united as one in the attributes of perfection. For instance, each ahs the fulness of truth, knowledge, charity, power, justice, judgment, mercy, and faith. Accordingly they all think, act, speak, and are alike in all things; and yet they are three separate and distinct entities. Each occupies space andis and can be in but one place at one time, but each has power and influence everywhere present.
McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 319

The Godhead is one in purpose. They are one presidency, with one mission, and act as one in all things. We must understand that they are one in purpose so that we do not get confused about who to worship, or who to listen to on one thing versus another. They are three beings separate united as one as a presidency, united more perfectly than any presidency ever in this church.

Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; Thaty they all may be one; as thou, Father art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one.
John 17:20-22

I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who was crucified for the sins of the world, even as many as will believe on my name, that they may become the sons of God, even one in me as I am one in the Father, as the Father is one in me, that we may be one.
D&C 35:2

And after this manner shall ye baptize in my name; for behold, verily I say unto you, that the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost are one; and I am in the Father, and the Father in me, and the Father and I are one.
3 Nephi 11:27

There is a oneness in the Godhead as well as a distinctness of personality. This oneness is emphasized in the sayings and writing of prophets and apostles in order to guard against the erroneous idea that these three may be distinct and independent dieties and rivals for our worship.
Joseph F. Smith, "Answers to Questions," Improvement Era, Jan 1901, 228

Chapter 3: God the Eternal Father, C: God is the Supreme Being in the Universe

God is the supreme being, who is above all and ruler of all, who gives order and who is our God. There is sometimes talk in the scriptures about other Gods, but it is God the Father who we worship and who is our ultimate ruler.

One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all all, and in you all.
Ephesians 4:6

My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.
John 10:29

By definition, God (generally meaning the Father) is the one supreme and absolute Being; the ultimate source of the universe; the all-powerful, all-knowing, all-good Creator, Ruler, and Preserver of all things.
Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 317

It is God the Father who we worship. The Savior defers and directs us toward God the Father. It is God who we pray to, in the name of the Savior.

And you shall fall down and worship the Father in my name.
D&C 18:40

And we know that all men must repent and believe on the name of Jesus Christ, and worship the Father in his name, and endure in faith on his name to the end, or they cannot be saved in the kingdom of God.
D&C 20:29

And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
Luke 4:8

Our relationship with the Father is supreme, paramount, and preeminent over all others. He is the God we worship. It is his gospel that saves and exalts. He ordained and established the plan of salvation. He is the one who was once as we are now. The life he lives is eternal life, and if we are to gain this greatest of all the gifts of God, it will be because we become like him.
Bruce R. McConkie, "Our Relationship with the Lord," in Brigham Youn University 1981-82 Fireside and Devotional Speeches, 101

God created all thing through his Son. The Son created the world and everything from direction from the Father.

God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in times past unto the fathers by his prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son who he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds.
Hebrews 1:1-2

And by the word of my power, have I created them, which is mine Only Begotten Son, who is full of grace and truth. And worlds without number have I created; and I also created them for mine own purpose; and by the Son I created them, which is mine Only Begotten.
Moses 1:32-33