In Part 1, we explored how God’s plan could still work without Satan. But the fact that the devil isn’t essential to the plan doesn’t mean his origin is irrelevant—especially when we look at what the Bible actually says.

Scripture paints a clear picture: Lucifer existed before mortality and rebelled before humans walked the earth. Isaiah describes him as one who “fell from heaven” after aspiring to God’s throne (Isaiah 14:12–15). Revelation records a war in heaven where “the dragon… was cast out” with his angels (Revelation 12:7–9).

Latter-day Saints add an important detail: all spirits—including Christ and Lucifer—were literal sons and daughters of Heavenly Father in the premortal world (Job 38:4–7; Hebrews 12:9). This means that yes, in that sense, Jesus and Lucifer were spirit brothers. But their choices could not be more opposite:

• Christ — Fully loyal to the Father’s plan, offering to redeem humankind while preserving agency (Moses 4:2).
• Lucifer — Offering a counterfeit plan to remove agency and take God’s glory (Moses 4:1).

Because opposition is a principle, not a person, Lucifer’s rebellion wasn’t necessary—but it is one of the clearest biblical hints of a premortal council where God’s children made real choices. That’s a distinctive LDS teaching, yet the bones of it are right there in the Bible.

In short, the devil’s fall isn’t just about evil entering the story—it’s a window into the bigger picture: a premortal life, a plan of salvation, and the reality that even in heaven, agency was non-negotiable.

A Look at Lucifer’s Resume

Before he became the ultimate cosmic antagonist, Lucifer’s premortal résumé might have looked something like this:

• Position: Morning Star & Council Member
• Special Skills: Charm, persuasion, ambitious speeches
• Fan Club: One-third of the premortal hosts (who later realized maybe this wasn’t the best idea)
• References: Only the one-third who followed him—everyone else politely declined

He apparently thought, “I can do a better plan than God—let’s make everyone do what I say.” Spoiler alert: that didn’t go well. He got demoted from heaven, got a permanent pitchfork assignment, and somehow became the universal symbol of “bad idea.”

Moral: Even in a premortal boardroom, ambition without humility—and a third of your coworkers on your side—can still end in eternal regret.

The Real Takeaway

While it’s fun to imagine life without a literal devil, the reality is that opposition is woven into God’s plan. Whether through temptation, trials, or simply the hard work of discipleship, the test of mortality is to choose God’s will when easier or more selfish paths exist. Lucifer may be the loudest opponent in the story, but the real battle is inside each of us—and that’s one adversary we can’t blame on anyone else.