Here's an LDS question: Is it possible for someone here on earth to have memories of the pre-existence?

Question

I had a bishop who said this was impossible and not doctrinal, but it seems to me that if a person needed to remember something or someone, the Lord would not withhold that information. What is your opinion? Do you know of someone who remembers? I'd especially love any references/resources, scriptural or otherwise, as long as they're LDS. Thanks!

Well, I guess I must clarify. There was only ONE bishop who said this was impossible; the other FIVE I spoke to all agreed it was possible, which happens to be my opinion. I am just looking to see what some other Church members believe, and whether they have references to support them. Thanks again!

(And to those who think LDS = LSD: You need some vision correction, honey!)

And a SPECIAL THANKS to those who are responding at my request!!!

Answer 1

Why not read Ether 3:19-20
If we sing the hymn 'The Spirit of God' and mean it, then maybe we should ask ourselves: what does "the veil o'er the earth is beginning to burst" mean? I suspect that the closer we get to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, the thinner that veil is going to get. I think the veil is a function of faith, and as you are ready to remember more, more will be revealed to you. I have a few memories of my own (with emphasis on few) but they have only come after some painful experiences. I took this up with a leader in the Church once, and he said if someone is being permitted to remember things from the pre-earth life, it should apply only to that person's life (no reincarnation, in other words, although perhaps we helped support other people who lived before us). Hope this helps.

Answer 2

***To answer your question Leslie, yes, I do believe it is possible to have some of those memories. I don't know what determines if someone has a memory of the pre-existence. But I believe it happens.
You might have a tough time finding anyone here who is willing to share their experiences if they've had those memories. Yahoo is a public forum that gets lots of hecklers.


***The scripture I can think of (right now) that mentions a pre-mortal existence is in the Bible. It's not quite relevant to your question but still a good scripture.

John 9:1-3
"And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.
And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?
And Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him."

***Anyway, don't know if my answer has been much help. But these are my thoughts. Hope you are having a great day :)

EDIT: I do agree with many of the others that their is a purpose for the veil. I've heard of people remembering certain feelings. Don't believe I've ever heard of people who have vivid memories of the pre-existence though (except those who have had near-death experiences). If you think about it, life might be extremely difficult to live if you were to remember just how wonderful life in the pre-existence was.

Answer 3

I would say since we are all entitled to personal revelation, then yes, it is possible. If there was something we needed to know why would the Lord keep it from us? If we are faithful enough to receive the things we need, the Lord will provide the way.
I don't know anyone or even of any experiences of this type but that doesn't mean it hasn't happened.
On a personal note: I had a really close relationship with my grandfather, he was almost like a father. I have always felt as though we "chose" to be in eachother's family in the premortal life, I actually feel that way about my whole family - that we chose to be with eachother because we were close in the pre-existance...but who knows. One day we will remember everything!

Answer 4

A very interesting question. I have never experienced such memories, and no one has ever told me that they've had such memories (or at least been able to identify them) In my personal opinion I don't think it's possible to have memories of our pre-mortal life per se, but it could be possible to have visions and dreams of it (like Abraham, Jeremiah, John the Revelator, Nephi...) or to have promptings of the Spirit that guide you in directions that coincide with the pre-mortal life (A tangent; I personally prefer to use the term pre-mortal rather than pre-existance, because technically there is no such thing as pre-existance. We've always existed in one form or another)

Edit: Just an additional thought, I've never thought about this, but the more I think about it, the more I think that there are two different "veils" There is the veil of forgetfulness that we all pass through that creates the need for faith. Then there is the "veil" that prevents our mortal eyes from seeing spiritual beings and things. When Ether pierced the veil, he saw Jesus' finger, but he didn't see past his forgetfulness of the pre-mortal life.

Answer 5

I agree with you, Leslie: if you need something, the Lord will provide it. Knock and you shall receive! The scriptures certainly point to a pre-earth life, and never discount the possibility that someone might remember it. Another Answerer, Larry L, quoted part of William Wordsworth’s beautiful ode, “Intimations of Immortality from Recollections of Early Childhood.” As a matter of fact, Wordsworth wrote that poem because HE KNEW THAT EARTH WAS NOT HIS HOME. Although he didn’t remember details of his previous life, from the earliest age, he knew he came from somewhere else. That’s pretty close to a memory!

I have had some memories of my pre-earth life. Unlike some people think, it has not taken away my free agency, because I still need faith to believe the memories! But I needed these memories, because I had to do some very difficult things, and if I hadn’t remembered promising to do them, I never would have been able to follow through!

I also know a senior missionary couple who remember having promised each other to marry here on earth.

There is a book, “Trailing Clouds of Glory,” written by Harold A. Widdison, Ph.D. (BYU professor of ancient scriptures). I haven’t read it, so I’m not recommending it, but it purports to be accounts of people who have had visions and memories of pre-earth life. These are mostly near-death experiences, but I understand some people just spontaneously remembered.

The book is sold on amazon.com:

http://www.amazon.com/Trailing-Clouds-Glory-Harold-Widdison/dp/0882907727/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-9194979-4424147?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1186963633&sr=8-1

Hope this helps, Leslie! (Though I don’t understand why, if FIVE bishops agreed with you, you are worried about the ONE who didn’t!)

Answer 6

At your request:

Simply put, anything is possible. It could be possible for someone to remember sitting outside in the hallway during the Council of the Gods and sticking his/her "spiritual ear" to the door to try to hear what was going on.

In the 4 Gospels, for example, Christ speaks several times of dwelling with His father, or in the "heavens, from whence [He] came". Even in modern-day scripture, it is evident that Christ recalled at least the war in heaven, if not the entire pre-existence. In Abraham 3, we also see Abraham's experience in the pre-existence being recalled, although by revelation. Such was also Joseph F. Smith's experience, which we have recorded as Section 137 (check that, I don't have it in front of me) about the work for the dead. He didn't recall it by his own power, but the Lord opened it up to him in a vision.

That being said, I would say that it is highly unlikely that a person would remember it in the literal sense. I have heard of and talked to people who say they have "feelings" or "a hunch" about the pre-existence, regarding the person they wanted to marry either being or not being the right one, or else recalling a commitment to bring a certain spirit into the world, etc., but I have yet to hear about anyone who can literally "remember" the pre-existence or any particular event or element in it.

I don't think that the Lord would purposely create a veil between our worlds, then later make it necessary for someone other than Christ to remember anything that happened previous to that veil.

Let me know if you have further questions, and good luck!

James

Answer 7

Elder Neal A.Maxwell cited President Joseph F. Smith stating that we may have flashes of remembrance from our premortal existence, so clearly that much is possible and within the bounds of doctrine.

I hasten to add that these are not complete or concrete memories. From personal experiences with such flashes, the words I would use to describe them would be "resonance" or "recognition" rather than "memory." I haven't "remembered" my pre-earth life so much as I've felt it and thereby received a testimony of the Plan of Salvation.

One thing *has* been strongly rejected the the "Saturday's Warrior" concept of pre-earth life: the idea that we knew specific individuals (e.g. future spouse) and promised to meet up during our earthly probation. Such a scenario would circumvent agency, which is the reason for the veil in the first place.

There are many things we "need to know" but we are left to the devices of study and prayer to figure them out for ourselves - pre-existent memories are not the vehicle for that sort of revelation. This may be what your bishop was referring to.

Answer 8

Leslie,
I do believe that people can have memories of a pre-existence. I think that children, especially, sometimes have these memories. When my nephew was small, he was being tended by my mother. It had only been a few years since her mother had died and I know she was really missing her. Her mother was known for making afghans, and she made many of them for family members before passing. Anyway, my little nephew asked my mom, "Grandma, who made this blanket?" and she replied that her mother had made them. My nephew asked where she was and she told him that his Great-grandma had died. He looked at her for a minute, then said, "She's okay, grandma. And you know what? She's still making afghans". At the time my nephew was about 4 years old.

I think that children are more inclined to have memories from the other side because they haven't learned to disbelieve certain things. I also think that they may be able to communicate with loved ones who have passed for the same reason. I am not well versed on scripture that would support this notion. It is just my personal belief.

Answer 9

Is it possible? I don't know.

In my opinion on LDS matters we don't remember anything about the pre-existence, we are in a mortal body and the veil has been drawn. Unless God reveals through revelation the things of the pre existence then I don't think we know.
I don't know of anybody who knows anything about the pre-existence except through scripture.

The Answers to what we can figure out are through the Pearl of Great Price. The Book of Moses, The Book of Abraham and Interpretations of those revelations through books like The Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith.

Answer 10

I don't personally know of any scriptural reference, but I do believe that sometimes what we call "de ja vu" is actually a time when the veil is a little thinner than normal. You meet someone for the first time and yet you feel like you had met them before...and then you become the best of friends or even end up married. Well that's what I'm referring to. I think there is part of us that "knows" everything that happened prior to us coming to this life.