What was the grand council like? What was the process like for us to decide to come to this earth? Tad Callister suggests that rather than only one council, it may have been a series of councils. At these councils we were able to ask questions, testimonies were born, and we may have had back-and-forth discussions about what it would be like during our time on the earth (Tad Callister, The Infinite Atonement, 305-306).
Bruce R. McConkie gives us insight into what the ensuing War in Heaven was like. “What kind of war? The same kind that prevails on earth; the only kind Satan and spirit beings can wage---a war of words, a tumult of opinions, a conflict of ideologies; a war between truth and error, between light and darkness” (Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 3:518, emphasis added).
As a young child I had always pictured that Satan and his followers had swords or clubs. However, sharp objects were not Satan’s and his minion’s weapons, nor were they the weapons for those of us who chose to come to this earth. It was a war of reason and intellect---a battle of our minds, understanding, and willingness.
Brad Wilcox suggests similar thoughts. He also points out a possible reason those who chose not to participate in this plan made such a choice. It may have been easy to argue the unlikelihood of such a plan. “Everyone knew Lucifer’s alternative plan provided no chance for eternal growth or progress…I imagine Satan saying, ‘I know my plan doesn’t offer you much, but at least it is a sure thing. God’s plan offers much more, but it comes with a risk. Are you really willing to take that risk? Are you really willing to have faith in Christ when it is all just words and promises from someone who has never completed an Atonement before?’
“...We knew Jesus would not fail. We believed in Him and were certain our confidence was not misplaced. We knew He would encounter ridicule and rejection...but we knew He would never give up.
“...The very fact we were born on this earth is evidence we rejected Satan and had faith in Jesus Christ from the beginning. Those without bodies are the ones who doubted. So sure were the rest of us that…[rather than falling] off the cliff by accident, we jumped. We took a flying leap. We knew we could have been shut out forever from the presence of the Eternal God and severed completely from the regenerating powers of the Spirit. We knew the risks and the possibility of destruction. Nevertheless, we still took the plunge because we also knew there would be one lone rescuing and redeeming branch...we knew that in the end we surely would be [better off for having fallen]. The knowledge of that singular lone branch gave us the confidence to choose to fall” (Wilcox, The Continuous Atonement, 97-98).
Although we cannot remember clearly what we were taught or what our thoughts were before we came to this earth, we must have had faith in this plan or we wouldn’t have chosen to be part of it. If we can “[awake] unto God”(Alma 5:7) and help our understanding of this grand design to become bright and burning again, then our placement in the circumstances of mortality can make sense. Truly none of these details were haphazard! Truly “through [Christ’s] Atonement all of us can be covered, helped, comforted, and ultimately embraced” (Wilcox, The Continuous Atonement, 47). THIS is God’s plan for His children. This is His plan for you.
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