Talents
and Abilities Developed in the Pre-Existence Bruce R. McConkie
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Being
subject to law, and having their agency, all the spirits of men, while
yet in the Eternal Presence, developed aptitudes, talents, capacities,
and abilities of every sort, kinds, and degree. During the long expanse
of life which then was, an infinite variety of talents and abilities
came into being. As the ages rolled, no two spirits remained alike.
Mozart became a musician; Einstein centered his interest in mathematics;
Michelangelo turned his attention to painting. Cain was a liar, a schemer,
a rebel who maintained a close affinity to Lucifer. Abraham and Moses
and all of the prophets sought and obtained the talent for spirituality.
Mary and Eve were two of the greatest of all the spirit daughters of
the Father. The whole house of Israel, known and segregated out from
their fellows, was inclined toward spiritual things. And so it went
through all the hosts of heaven, each individual developing such talents
and abilities as his soul desired. The Lord endowed us all with agency; he gave us laws that would enable us to advance and progress and become like him; and he counseled and exhorted us to pursue the course leading to glory and exaltation. He himself was the embodiment and personification of all good things. Every desirable trait dwelt in him in its eternal fulness. All of his obedient children started to become like him in one way or another. There was as great a variety and degree of talent and ability among us there as there is among us here. Some excelled in one way, others in another. The Firstborn excelled all of us in all things. (Bruce R. McConkie, The Mortal Messiah 1:23) |
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