I agree that every denominational doctrine has their shortcomings. None of our relatives practice polygamy, and I believe the true Mormon doctrine of today doesn't either as other “offshoots” do. In relation to our cousin, the reason he started questioning the doctrine leading up his rejection was that he recognized doctrine that taught incest concerning the conception of Jesus Christ. You and I both know this was not intentional by the teaching of the church but is connected with the doctrine of "spirit children" and its aspects of relationship. It started with the doctrine that doesn't recognize how we are made in accordance with God. (Their image) We have a motivating spirit, a thought process to learn and decipher, and a physical body.
I agree we cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven unless we are born again through the spirit of God in Christ Jesus. Speaking of Satan being a spirit child, I am wondering if Michael and Gabriel were also spirit children before they were born, or were they? Lucifer rebelled before coming to earth, but I see nowhere that he was born as a baby after his expulsion.
Isaiah 14:12-17
12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning ! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.
16 They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble , that did shake kingdoms;
17 That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners? Lucifer came to earth in the form of a serpent.
Why would a loving God do this is a question you and I both have, or had. As we know God can use evil to fulfill His purpose like hardening the heart of Pharaoh. This situation then confirms that choosing good and evil is something that happens after natural birth. It seems obvious to me that we are created to respond to a loving relationship with our Father in heaven. If all was perfect, and there had been no transgression, there would be no law, or the need for salvation. The salvation plan is not an afterthought by our Father in Heaven and His only begotten Son Jesus Christ. With all these questions that might arise because we are not given finite details, one thing is evident. The need we see in choosing Christ as our Savior shows us a greater depth of God's love and compassion for us. There are many different choices we can make, but God desires us to make one choice after we are born in the flesh. If the situation concerning Eve's temptation in the garden of Eden had never happened, it would be like a certain dictatorship rather than a sacred romance as He desires. We are created to respond to His love.
If we were once spirit children in heaven and weren't perfect, we would be cast out like Lucifer, following him with the fall after the heavenly war was waged. It is clear that the flesh wars against the spirit so if we were not perfect as “spirit children” we would have a body of flesh before we were born. Speaking of being left alone as you mentioned Adam was, that isn't what the Bible says in Genesis 2:16-19. Adam relayed the message to Eve about the tree same a Moses relayed the message about the law. Both Adam and Eve knew the sound of God walking in the garden because they had heard it before.
Your quote in post 507 says “I'm going to tell you why you don't remember the pre-existence. If you were completely aware of what happened in the pre-existence, your free will would be put at risk.” My thought is God's purpose in Christ is risk free. If we had the capability to choose right and wrong before natural birth free will wouldn't be at risk. Lucifer had the choice. It's more that choosing between good and evil. It's having the knowledge of the truth to boot.
1 Timothy 2:2-4
2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
4 Who will have all men to be saved , and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
Genesis states that Angels (whether fallen or not) are the Sons of God, but the Bible doesn't call them spirit children the same as LDS says we are. Angels are messengers for sure to accomplish the divine plan of God from the beginning. They even sustain and monitor the cycles of heaven and earth in the natural perfect order of God's creation.
Revelation 5:2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?
2 Corinthians 12:7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
We are also messengers of the gospel (good news) after being born again from our natural carnal and fleshly state.
1 John 3:11 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
That message of love, in detail, is written in the law, God using Moses for His messenger. In the new covenant Jesus is the "first born" of many to deliver the completion of the divine plan called salvation. Salvation from certain death.
