1/3 of the Host of Heaven

Were lost. As a Latter-day Saint, I believe in a pre-mortal life, a life in which we lived with God before we came to Earth. We were taught by Him, loved by Him. But, 1/3 of His children chose to follow another path. They chose not to be with Him or follow His plan.

I was quite struck by a comment my friend Ellen made on my last post about giving parents too much credit and/or putting too much pressure on them for how their children turn out. I think she's right. We're all trying to do our best. I, personally, don't know a parent out there who doesn't care about their children and doesn't try to teach them a right way to live. And yet, some children simply choose another path. Often times we blame the parents, the coach, the school teacher, etc. But really, our children have their agency and no matter how much we love them or how much we try to teach them right from wrong, they have their choices.

Is there any parent more perfect than our Heavenly Father? And yet he lost 1/3 of His children. He didn't stamp His foot or demand things His way. He simply allowed the natural consequence to occur. It seems like the best thing we can, and should, be doing is being a good example and teaching principles of truth. After that, the choice is theirs and our responsibility is to continue to love.