Often, when we speak of doing well in school, weLatter-day Saints will respond with the scripture that the “glory of God is intelligence.” Although getting good grades is admirable, we need to be careful we don’t leave off the explanation at the end of that scripture telling us what ‘intelligence’ is:
President Joseph F. Smith plainly taught, “Where did we come from? From God. Our spirits existed before they came to this world. They were in the councils of the heavens before the foundations of the earth were laid. We were there. We sang together with the heavenly hosts for joy when the foundations of the earth were laid, and when the plan of our existence upon this earth and redemption were mapped out. We were there; we were interested, and we took a part in this great preparation” (Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Joseph F. Smith, pp. 331-332).
Of all the WHY? questions we answer throughout our lives as members of the LDS Church, perhaps none has so much depth and meaning as the all encompassing question: Why am I here on earth? That question is part of the “big three” that our sunday schools, seminaries, and missionaries have been addressing for decades (you know: Where did I come from, why am I here, and where am I going after I die?), but sometimes the answer we give to the “WHy am I here?” question can fall a little short of the big picture. Here are a few of the most common answers:
