The First Presidency recently sent a letter to Bishops and Brach Presidents warning them about a false doctrine that has been circulating through the church. The letter may be seen here. And the statement in question is given below:

 the youth of the Church today "were generals in the war in heaven ... and (someone will) ask you, 'Which of the prophet's time did you live in?' and when you say, 'Gordon B. Hinckley' a hush will fall,... and all in attendance will bow at your presence."

 

While the First Presidency has declared this to be a false doctrine, they have not said why it is false. I would like to give my opinion as to why this is a false doctrine, and then to discuss some of the scriptures and theology that are behind this and similar statements.

Statements like the false doctrine listed above are nothing new. I have heard similar statements countless times since my youth. So I was a bit surprised to see this specific statement targeted as being false.

First of all, the whole 'General' bit is way over-the-top. The very idea that God would reveal some type of preexistence military rank for the youth of the church, and that this rank would be that of 'General' is absurd. This alone should be enough for members who hear this statement to dismiss it with a rolling of the eyes.

Then there is the whole worshipful respect for those who grew up during the term of President Hinkley. Why would these youth be so much better than those who will grow up during President Monson's time as prophet? Or Kimball, or McKay? I believe that it is such over-the-top absolute language that is a primary part of what makes the statement false doctrine.

But what if we were to peel away some of the silly language of this statement, would it still be false? To illustrate what I am saying, I will make up a statement that I think is somewhat similar. What would you think of a statement like this?

Being born into circumstances where one will have the opportunity to live the gospel of Jesus Christ during mortality, with the associated priesthood ordinances, is a blessing from God. This blessing is based on a complex combination of factors which include, but are not limited to, a valiant preexistence and the foreknowledge of God.

So would a statement like that above also be false doctrine?

Notice that I said nothing about being born in modern times, or being born into prosperous circumstances. Only mortal access to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

There are a handful of scriptures that would be obvious choices to support such a statement. Abraham 3 and Alma 13 are two that immediately come to mind. There is also the concept of free will and agency which many would believe were present in the preexistence with the war in Heaven and the 'banishment' of 1/3 of the spirits in the first estate.

A couple of key questions (and perhaps many others) arise from this whole concept:

Does God choose what circumstances we will be faced with during mortality?

What are these decisions based on?

The first question is directly addressed in this months Ensign. Elder Robert C. Oaks of the Seventy says the following:

We are each individuals with singular talents, strengths, opportunities, and challenges. We believe we were foreordained to come to earth at a particular time into particular circumstances and that our particular set of gifts, attitudes, and talents - if properly developed and employed - will enable us to fulfill a foreordained purpose. (Your Divine Heritage, April 2008 Ensign, page 47)

So right there in this months Ensign we have an answer to the first question.

The second question may be much more tricky. Alma 13 and Abraham 3 seem to suggest that our faithfulness in the preexistence has something to do with mortality placement. Yet Elder Oaks comment above suggests a very complex combination is involved. I therefore think that no firm or absolute conclusions can be drawn.

I suggest that for the time being we demote the Generals, and place statements like the one that the First Presidency denounced, into the circular file. But what are we to make of the theological ideas and scriptural passages that might motivate similar statements?