Mormons, do you really believe you were God's Spirit children in Heaven before you were born? Why or why not?

Question

http://www.mormon.org/learn/0,8672,1117-1,00.html

That's not what I asked..but thanks anyhow. I am just trying to understand the concept.

Okay, now that I have actually gotten some answers from Mormons (thank you by the way), I have an additional question? I have heard that Mormons believe in Good Spirits and Bad Spirits, the good are white and the bad are black. I find this rather disturbing. Could you please clear this up or refer me to more info on this topic?

I once questioned an Elder about this, and he told me "Yes we do believe that, but we don't tell people that."

As much as I would like to think he was kidding, I know he wasn't. Thanks for the answer though.

Answer 1

Yes, Mormons believe that all those born on this earth were spiritual children of the Father in heaven. This is confirmed in the scriptures the Church follows TO INCLUDE the Bible.

Added Note: For the biblical disbelievers: Read the following scriptures: John 17: 24; Heb 12: 9; Eph 1: 3-4; Jer 1: 4-5; Eccl 12: 7; Jude 1: 6, and Acts 17: 28.

Additional Note 2: Good spirits are white and bad spirits are black? That is nonsense! I've been LDS since 1965 and there is no such doctrine taught. The bad spirits from the pre-existence decided to go with Lucifer and the decision he had made. The good spirits were born, and will be born, on earth.

Answer 2

Yes. I really believe that. I know it with all my heart.
On the subject of "black" and "white"...though I do not believe "bad spirits" came to earth as non-white people, I do believe there were those in the pre-existance who were more valiant in the gospel of Jesus Christ than others. There are good and bad people in every race and religion. Part of me thinks that before we came to this earth, we were somewhat divided into our families, we knew who our earthly parents, siblings and ancestors were going to be. There are times in both the bible and Book of Mormon when a curse of darker skin was put upon certain people for rebellion, and of course their posterity would have the same color because of genetics. That doesn't mean their whole posterity was cursed or "bad." There was also a time when blacks could not hold the Priesthood, but lovingly the Lord lifted that curse/commandment whatever you want to call it, and now all worthy men, no matter what can hold the Priesthood...
It is a hard concept to grasp because we can only see the present picture, not the complete picture as God can. I encourage you to continue to study, learn and pray to your Heavenly Father, He will enlighten your mind and give you answers as only He can.

Answer 3

As for good spirits and bad spirits, and black and white, if you are asking if we believe that those spirits in the pre-existence who were bad and followed Satan are those that become black people, the answer is NO! Those spirits who followed Satan will NEVER get a mortal body, no matter what color.

There were some few Mormons that theorized that there were some of the good spirits who were not as valiant in the war in Heaven as others, and THOSE were the ones who were born black, but that's just some people's theory, NOT Church doctrine or belief.

Answer 4

I've been a Mormon for 26 years, and I've never heard the "white=good, black=evil" thing ever taught or spoken at church or even by another Mormon. It's quite possible that the elder you spoke to was raised in a racist family who infused there own beliefs in with LDS doctrine. I can say that it is absolutely NOT LDS doctrine, because one thing that the LDS church stresses is a line of authority. Ofiicial LDS doctrine is stated as official. This is to avoid the spread of uncertainty as to what we do and don't believe. But, people are far from perfect, and often fail to check references preferring instead to learn by word of mouth. It looks like this Elder needs to do some studying (as well as the answerer above me : the curse was being cut oof from God, NOT dark skin. There were several times in the Book or Mromon that the dark skinned Lamanites were said to be more righteous than the light skinned Nephites.)

Answer 5

Yes, Mormons believe all mankind are spiritual children of God and existed in spirit with God prior to being born physically into this world. As far as the racist stuff, that is as far from the truth as you can get, and that missionary must have been clueless (as many are, they are just 19 and have just begun learning also). In the Book of Mormon some people were cursed by giving them darker skin, but this was a specific group. Mormons don't believe this curse was carried on and that the color of your skin is no barrometer of your goodness.

Answer 6

Yes we believe and I know that we are literal spirit children of our loving Heavenly Father.

These are some of the scriptures that come from the Bible about the pre-existence.
Acts 17:28
Eph 1:3-4
1 peter 1:20
Heb 12:9
Jude 1:6
John 17:24
Ecc 12:6
Jer 1:4-5
As far as the missionary who said black=bad white=good...

Light=Of God... Good spirit are filled with the light(not white) of Christ
Dark=Of Satan... Evil spirits lack of Light of Christ; therefore, they are dark(not black)

In no-way does this have to do with skin color.

Thanks for the sincere question.

Answer 7

Yes. We are told in the bible that God knew us before we were born. Also, if Satan was thrown out of heaven for disobedience and rebellion, then that would mean that some spirits had to be there before right? Why would God and Christ be there and not have anybody else with Them? Wouldn't it make sense that there would be others there too? To me, it isn't the fact that it's hard for me to believe, it's that I can't imagine not knowing this. If you believe there were angles there, and that we were created by God, then why wouldn't it be that He created us before our physical bodies? I could ask things like this all day, but people would still say that there is no way we were there before. But if Christ was there, and Satan were there, then we could have been too.

As far as your question about race. No we don't believe that good spirits are white and bad spirits are black. Although, the way they appear can look those colors. I think the elder was making a joke. We do believe that everyone is worthy of our church, even black people, yellow people, whatever color you are. You don't have to be white, in fact I have many friends who aren't white. I answered a question about this issue, or a similar one, so check out my profile page and find the question about mormons and race.

We do believe that because of Cain, his line was cursed, but the skin color isn't a reflection of that. The skin color was so people could tell the people who were of his line. It was a physical distinction that God placed on them.

There was a time in our church where blacks were not allowed to hold the preisthood, or have temple ordinances done. We don't really know why, except that it was a commandment at the time. Now, everyone is allowed to hold the priesthood and there are no restrictions on who can go to the temple. Every worthy member is able to go.

As far as black spirits and white spirits, it isn't that their "skin" is that color, it's usually the way they present themselves. Good spirits are seen to be in white clothing, while bad spirits are seen to usually be in shadow.

I don't know what color we all were before birth, it doesn't matter to me. We may have all been the color we would be when we were born, or all one color, who knows except God? It doesn't matter to me or to my salvation to know this, so unless we are told by God otherwise, it doesn't matter.

Answer 8

Faith - Belief - Religion call it what you like but it's all GUESSWORK with a large dollop of "wishful thinking" (and HOPEING!)

Reality is doing 140 down an open road with a "sweet" sounding motor "throbbing" between your legs and someone else paying for the fuel.

Get a LIFE - GET a BIKE

Answer 9

If my parents are responsible (DNA wise) for the body in which my soul/spirit is encased....

then who would have created the spirit? we know that there WAS a battle in Heaven...Michael the Archangel fought against Satan in that battle and when Satan left he took a third of the host of Heaven...

so if spirits do NOT make up the hosts of heaven...then besides Heavenly Father, Heavenly Mother, Christ and the Holy Spirit....who are the these hosts of heaven? and when Satan took his third..those were also the same 1/3 that would not receive a body...because they chose Satan's plan over Christ's plan.

I think that they would have to be our spirits which we have now on earth...

how is it that my 4 month old daughter has a defined personality already if that is not attached to her soul/spirit and character? (I can't make that and it had to be created) so who created it?

Answer 10

We do not believe that black people are bad, and that white people are good. White is a sign of purity, that is why it is worn at the temple and when we get baptized. How many churches baptize in black? Because they to believe that white is good. Everyone is equal and we are all Heavenly Fathers children. Heavenly Father created me, in my mind that makes me his daughter.