The Plan of Salvation
God's eternal plan for the happiness and exaltation of His children
Key Scripture
2 Nephi 2:25
"Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy."
The Plan of Salvation — also called the Plan of Happiness or the Plan of Redemption — is the eternal framework through which Heavenly Father provides a way for His children to return to His presence and receive eternal life.
Before this mortal life, we lived as spirit children of our Heavenly Father in a premortal existence. We had agency, learned, and grew. The plan was presented to us, and we shouted for joy (Job 38:7). We chose to come to earth to gain a physical body, to be tested, and to grow in ways that were not possible in the premortal realm.
The Three Degrees of Glory
After this life, all people will be resurrected and judged according to their works and the desires of their hearts. The scriptures teach of three degrees of glory: the Celestial Kingdom, the Terrestrial Kingdom, and the Telestial Kingdom (see Doctrine and Covenants 76). The highest degree — the Celestial Kingdom — is reserved for those who accept the gospel of Jesus Christ, make and keep sacred covenants, and endure faithfully to the end.
The Role of Agency
Central to the plan is moral agency — the freedom to choose between good and evil. Without agency, there could be no growth, no meaningful obedience, and no genuine love. The Fall of Adam and Eve was a necessary step that brought mortality, opposition, and the opportunity for spiritual growth.
The Atonement as the Central Act
The entire plan hinges on the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Because of the Fall, all mankind became subject to physical and spiritual death. Through the Atonement, Christ overcame both, offering resurrection to all and eternal life to those who repent and follow Him.