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The Pre-Existence
An individual’s right to bear the Priesthood in this life was determined by experiences that occurred in the Pre-Existence. According to Joseph Smith:
Every man who has a calling to minister to the inhabitants of the world was ordained to that very purpose in the Grand Council of heaven before this world was. I suppose I was ordained to this very office in that Grand Council. (TPJS, p. 365)
God told Abraham that he was among those that were appointed to be rulers and that he was “chosen before thou wast born.” (Abraham 3:23) Other spirits were given certain appointments, gifts and callings, but not necessarily pertaining to the Priesthood, as they did not qualify there, neither do they qualify here. And even among those who were given that responsibility, only a relatively few prove faithful and truly magnify that Priesthood.
The expression is often heard that all people are “created equal”, but they are not born equal. There is no equality in our environment, intellect, attitudes, behaviors, looks, likes and dislikes, fingerprints, or voice; indeed, the very character of every person is unique. Belief in a pre-existent state is the only [199] justifiable explanation for mortals to be born under such unequal and unfair conditions.
