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Journal of Undergraduate Research

Keywords

pre-existence, restoration, Mormon studies, pre-mortal life, Christianity

College

Religious Education

Department

Ancient Scripture

Abstract

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints claims to be a church of restoration—restoring what was taught in the church that Christ established when on the earth. My research sought to substantiate the claim of restoration by examining an unusual doctrine in the LDS Church and comparing it with that same doctrine as taught in the early Christian Church. The doctrine of “pre-existence” is one that is very unique to Mormonism in the Christian world of today. However, in the first 500 years of Christianity numerous church fathers believed and taught indepth about the pre-existence and its purpose in the plan of God. It was a much contested doctrine, and was eventually condemned in conjunction with all of the writings of an early Church Father named Origen, who taught the doctrine frequently. My thesis proposed that while there may be minor discrepancies in the technicalities of the doctrine, generally the doctrine of pre-existence as taught in the LDS church is reflected in early Christian writings, historically supporting the church’s claims of restoration.

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