The First and Second Estates

In the scriptures we read of our “first estate” and “second estate.”  These are only mentioned a few times and refer to our premortal existence and our earthly existence.  Jude in the New Testament wrote of “the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation,” speaking of those who followed Satan in the premortal councils.  These are those who are “reserved in everlasting chains under darkness” (Jude 1:6).  The only other place where we read of the first estate and second estate is in the book of Abraham.  The Lord revealed much to Abraham about our premortal and mortal existences, and he saw “the intelligences that were organized before the world was” and the council wherein Jesus and Lucifer offered to be sent by the Father (Abraham 3:22).  In this account we read these words from the Father, “They who keep their first estate shall be added upon; and they who keep not their first estate shall not have glory in the same kingdom with those who keep their first estate.”  Then we have the only mention in the scriptures to the “second estate,” which reads, “They who keep their second estate shall have glory added upon their heads for ever and ever” (Abraham 3:26).  I think that we have a pretty clear understanding of what this is supposed to mean: those who kept their first estate are those who were valiant and chose the Father’s plan to come to earth in the premortal existence, and those who keep their second estate are those who are again faithful here on the earth during mortality.  My question as I thought about this term, though, is why the word “estate”?  It certainly is used differently than the word is typically used in reference to property and land.  Does the term as used in this scriptural phrase have anything to do with how we normally use the word? 

                Perhaps we can consider “estate” here to mean the place of residence in line with how we might use it in common parlance, and hence our first estate would be our home in heaven with the Father.  Our second estate would be our home here on earth and the things we possess in this existence.  Given that, then I think the phrase “keep their first estate” and “keep their second estate” are gospel paradoxes on par with the Savior’s words that “whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it” (Matt. 16:25).  What I mean is that to “keep our first estate” we actually had to give up our residence; we had to choose the Father’s plan which was to come to earth and to leave His presence.  So we kept the estate by leaving it, hoping that we would one day return and have it again.  Similarly, we keep our second estate by losing our life here on earth in the service of God.  In other words we keep the second estate here by giving up and staying detached from the physical estates of the world: money, property, things, etc.  Not that we can’t possess those, but we must be willing to place them on the altar for the kingdom of God.  I think we all must be willing to make the kind of sacrifice that Jesus demanded of the rich young man: “Sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me” (Luke 18:22).  The Savior was asking him to give up his physical second estate for something much better.  So I guess the question we have to ask ourselves is can we give up our second estate in order to keep it?