Joseph Smith Quote about Pre-Existence

[osteotome]

The Prophet Joseph Smith has said lot about the pre-existence. Unfortunately, I can't find the source of one of my favorite quotes attributed to him. I believe I heard it in a general conference but I can't be sure. Without the source I hope I'm not paraphrasing too much but this the quote in question: As our status in this life determines our status in the next, so did our status in the pre-existence determine our status in this life--Joseph Smith?? Has anyone else heard this before? If so if a source is available it would be much appreciated.

Thanks,

[alter idem]

The Prophet Joseph Smith has said lot about the pre-existence. Unfortunately, I can't find the source of one of my favorite quotes attributed to him. I believe I heard it in a general conference but I can't be sure. Without the source I hope I'm not paraphrasing too much but this the quote in question: As our status in this life determines our status in the next, so did our status in the pre-existence determine our status in this life--Joseph Smith?? Has anyone else heard this before? If so if a source is available it would be much appreciated.

Thanks,

You've stumped me. I have NEVER heard this one. I'll be interested to read if others have ever heard this.

[rpn]

You know that people have been trying to figure out which quotes attributed to Joseph Smith were actually his for years --- originally so they could do a prophet RS/Priesthood manual for him like was done for other prophets, but eventually becoming the JS papers project.

And just two weeks ago, those who are working on the Joseph Smith paper project were quoted in an interview published by Deseret News, if I call correctly, that in the course of reading all the documents, they have begun to hear the style. Apparently now they believe that the Lectures on Faith sound like Sidney Rigdon wrote them (which, of course doesn't have to mean that Joseph Smith didn't say amen, or even use Bro. Rigdon's words). It is all pretty complicated.

[Deborah]

As our status in this life determines our status in the next, so did our status in the pre-existence determine our status in this life--Joseph Smith?? Has anyone else heard this before? If so if a source is available it would be much appreciated.

I heard this when I first came into the church some 40 plus years ago though I couldn't tell you the exact source. It used to be a pretty common teaching but I don't know that it was in any offiical manuals. The official doctrine and teaching is that all who are here in mortality kept their First Estate and we know from the scriptures that there were many "noble and great ones" among those.

But I do not think it is true doctrine that we were born in certain countries or families because of our choices in the pre-mortal life, which used to be the implication of the teaching. However, I do believe from what I've read we came here to get the challenges we need to become perfect and therefore that may influence where we end up. Furthermore many people born in poor circumstances become saviors to their own lineage by finding the church and having a righteous posterity and doing work for their dead.

[Joseph Antley]

I haven't heard this attributed to Joseph but I've heard quotes like it. I would be interesting if anyone knows the source.

You know that people have been trying to figure out which quotes attributed to Joseph Smith were actually his for years --- originally so they could do a prophet RS/Priesthood manual for him like was done for other prophets, but eventually becoming the JS papers project.

I don't think the committee responsible for the Joseph Smith manual had much problem with "figuring out" what quotes were his.

And just two weeks ago, those who are working on the Joseph Smith paper project were quoted in an interview published by Deseret News, if I call correctly, that in the course of reading all the documents, they have begun to hear the style. Apparently now they believe that the Lectures on Faith sound like Sidney Rigdon wrote them (which, of course doesn't have to mean that Joseph Smith didn't say amen, or even use Bro. Rigdon's words).

That's actually been the common belief among LDS scholars for quite a while.

It is all pretty complicated.

I think you're overestimating it a bit.

[rhinomelon]

Without the source I hope I'm not paraphrasing too much but this the quote in question: As our status in this life determines our status in the next, so did our status in the pre-existence determine our status in this life--Joseph Smith??

Actually, this sounds like a quote from Origen more than Joseph Smith. In his book, "On First Principles", Origen of Alexandria proposed that a preexistence was the only way to explain the varying levels of human success and suffering in this world. All the preexistent intelligences sinned and fell away from God, and the poorer/harder their position in life was, the greater was their preexistent sin. I don't think I've ever heard LDS espouse this view.

Take care, everyone