"The Lord has carefully provided a plan of life called the plan of salvation. It comprises all of the laws, ordinances, principles, and doctrines required to complete our mortal journey and progress to a state of exaltation enjoyed by our Father in Heaven. The Lord spoke to Moses and said, “For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.(Moses 1:39)” Through His divine work—the Creation, the Fall, and the Atonement—He makes this plan available to all. Duane B. Gerrard, of the Seventy" By Carol Harlow, staff writer

When our family goes on a trip, we usually do quite a bit of planning before hand. At the beginning of the year we decide what month we want to take our trip. Then we think about where we would like to go. We narrow down our choices, talk it over with the children and pick our destination. We get out a map, plan where we want to camp and what we want to see. Later we plan our menus, and make lists of what we want to take with us. The children are always so excited to help plan our trips.

When the plan for our salvation was presented to us in the spirit world, we were so happy that we shouted for joy (see Job 38:7).We knew that we would have to leave our heavenly home for a little while. We would not live with our heavenly parents. While we were away from them, all of us would sin and some of us would lose our way. Our Heavenly Father knew this and loved each one of us. He knew we would need help, so he planned a way to help us.

While in the spirit world Heavenly Father knew we would need a Savior to pay for our sins and teach us how to return to him, he said, “Whom shall I send?” (Abraham 3:27). Two of our brothers offered to help. Our oldest brother, Jesus Christ said, “Here am I, send me” (Abraham 3:27). Jesus was willing to come to the earth, give up his life for us, and take upon himself our sins. He wanted us to choose whether we would obey Heavenly Father’s commandments. He knew we must be free to choose in order to prove ourselves worthy of exaltation. Jesus said”Father, thy will be done, and the glory be thine forever” (Moses 4:2).

Satan also came, saying, “Behold, here am I, send me, I will be thy son, and I will redeem all mankind, that one soul shall not be lost, and surely I will do it; wherefore give me thine honor” (Moses 4:1). Satan wanted to force us all to do his will. With his plan, we would not be allowed to choose. He would take away our freedom of choice that our Heavenly Father had given us. Satan wanted to have all the honor and glory for our salvation.

After hearing both sons speak, Heavenly Father said, “I will send the first” (Abraham 3:27). Jesus Christ was chosen and ordained to be our Savior. Many scriptures tell about this. One scripture tells us that long before Jesus was born, he appeared to the brother of Jared, a Book of Mormon prophet, and said: “Behold, I am he who was prepared from the foundation of the world to redeem my people. Behold, I am Jesus Christ … In me shall all mankind have life, and that eternally, even they who shall believe on my name” (Ether 3:14).

When Jesus lived on the earth, he taught: “I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me…And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day” (John 6:38, 40).

From the beginning, Jesus Christ has revealed the gospel, which tells us what we must do to return to our Heavenly Father. He came to earth, he taught the plan of salvation and exaltation by his teachings and the way he lived. He established his Church and his priesthood on the earth. He took our sins upon himself. By following the Lord’s teachings, we can return to live with him and our Heavenly Father and Mother in the celestial kingdom. He was chosen to be our Savior when we all attended the great council with our Heavenly Father and Mother. When he became our Savior, he did his part to help us to return to our heavenly home. Now it is up to each of us to do our part and to become worthy of this exaltation.

Just like when we plan a trip, we came to earth with a plan that is in place for us. With the scriptures as our guide, or map, and our Heavenly Father to guide us, we can continue our trip or journey through life.