(1) why would 2/3 of the spirits of heaven choose to go to earth, gain a body, be subjected to the trials and pains of life, have a next to zero chance of exposure to the gospel and, hence, a (what would seem to be) miniscule chance of attaining the highest glory? I understand the experience argument, but so many, it would seem, will never return to Heavenly Father's presence and, therefore, the Plan appears gloomy on the whole.
(2) What is the purpose of the "plan" whereby we come to, with small possibility of exposure, relearn the gospel that we essentially already had previously accepted by way of choosing to gain a body on Earth,especially when originally we had clear knowledge of the gospel and accepted it but now have a veil to shield us from what we once knew? It would seem that it would be to weed out the not-so-ardent or luke-warm followers...?
(3) Did the spirits in heaven really have a "choice," per se as to whether to accept God's Plan. Take God's plan, or go to outer darkness. Was this actually a Hobson's choice?
(4) On the topic of our post-mortal life rewards or punishments: why punish (see my meaning of punishment in 6) a spirit who, in clear and full disclosure, essentially accepted the gospel in the pre-existence, then here on Earth either rejected it fully or partially based on a less than clear and full disclosure?
(5) In light of (4), it is often said that a spirit chooses his/her own fate as a matter of free agency. BUT, if that's the case, why after the fact would there be "weeping" "wailing" and "gnashing of teeth?". If there is regret, as those emotions and demeanors would strongly suggest, would those same spirits, at that time, choose a different path if they had the same degree of knowledge of the rewards and punishments. It would seem their present situation pained them. It would seem the level of disclosure we have here on earth would be partly the issue due to the described reactions of those cast out... ??? Isn't knowledge of your range of options an essential component to free agency? (see below as well)
(6) Does it make sense to any of you to punish a spirit eternally? (I use punish because many in the lesser degrees of glory I can only imagine wouldn't feel quite as good as those in the higher degrees). I ask because so many at fast/testiminy meeting get choked up over how beautiful they say the plan is and it seems incredibly, incredibly harsh to me. in my mortal brain, punishment serves to promote justice and deterrance, but how can eternity serve as justice for sand in time acts of indiscretion, especially committed with less than clear and full knowledge? If we could fathom, as mortals are incapable of, the concept of eternity and to further comprehend the full range of possibilities in our afterlife, I would dare say that would be a would be a gamechanger. Some would say, the bad would be bad no matter what, but
I consider these examples: I speed sometimes. Some of us LDS folks watched the Superbowl on Sundays. Some LDS folks drink tea. If any of those acts, were by State law, outlawed to the extent that if we did them, we would have our hands chopped off, we wouldn't do it. possibly EVER. No doubt that the occurrence of these acts would, at least, go way down. One of the reasons many fall astray, in my humble opinion, is their inability to comprehend the magnitude of the consequences to their decisions. Now chopping a hand off, as insiginificant as that is in comparison to the eternities, now that's something we can picture. Some would say that rewards or dire consequences are not what motivates them, but merely pleasing G-d, but that's just not how we're wired, IMHO. For example, the act of charitable giving/service gives our reward center one of the strongest feelings of satisfaction. It feels good to do it.
I am very sorry for the rambling... I have jotted these questions out over the past 12 months amd I'm hoping to get some good insight into areas I feel are not addressed on Sundays. Thanks so much, in advance.