The Book of Mormon Site
State of Probation / Improve Our Time
The phrase day of probation, state of probation or term of probation is not found in the King James Bible, however state of probation is used once in the Book of Mormon, in addition to the twice-used phrase days of probation in the same kind of context.
The Google Ngram for “state of probation” in English shows that it dates to about the mid-17th century, and peaked in popularity around the 1820s.
“Improve” is not a King James Bible word, but the word is used once in the Book of Mormon, in the full phrase “improve our time” in Alma 34:33 (verse 32 sets up the context):
For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors.
And now, as I said unto you before, as ye have had so many witnesses, therefore, I beseech of you that ye do not procrastinate the day of your repentance until the end; for after this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity, behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the night of darkness wherein there can be no labor performed.
Bishop Richard Kidder uses the phrase, along with the phrase “improve our time”, in 1671 in The Youn Man’s Duty: A Discourse (bold emphasis added, spelling modernized):
And therefore no man may promise himself Heaven hereafter, that does not live an holy life here. We are here in a state of trial and probation, and as it were at School in a lower form, where if we improve our time well, and do our tasks, that is, if we mortify and subdue our even affections, then we shall be removed to an higher form, and added to the spirits of just men made perfect. But if we trifle away our time, or spend it amiss, we shall be thrown down among Hypocrites and unbelievers.
The phrase was used by various writers over the next century: William Sherlock, 1690: “it became the Divine Goodness to make this World only a State of Probation and Discipline for the next,” or Nicholas Manners, 1790 in various discourses: “Earth is man’s place of probation, for a future state,” or a Discourse on the Fall of Adam, which begins: “Good as man’s primitive condition was, it was notwithstanding a state of probation, in reference both to time and eternity. The matter of probation was the prohibited tree; their conduct touching that was to determine their future condition. … But Satan, once an angel of light, having passed through a similar state of probation … while the day of grace, the time of probation endures, all may turn to God …”
The phrase and concept was so popular that it made its way into the 1824 Encyclopedia Brittanica Supplement entry on Population:
First, It appears that the evils arising from the principle of population are exactly of the same kind as the evils arising from the excessive or irregular gratification of the human passions in general, and may equally be avoided by moral restraint. Consequently there can be no more reason to conclude, from the existence of these evils, that the principle of increase is too strong, than to conclude, from the existence of the vices arising from the human passions, that these passions are all too strong, and require diminution or extinction, instead of regulation and direction.
Secondly, It is almost universally acknowledged, that both the letter and spirit of revelation represent this world as a state of moral discipline and probation. But a state of moral discipline and probation cannot be a state of unmixed happiness, as it necessarily implies difficulties to be overcome, and temptations to be resisted. Now, in the whole range of the laws of nature, not one can be pointed out which so especially accords with this scriptural view of the state of man on earth; as it gives rise to a greater variety of situations and exertions than any otber, and marks, in a more general and stronger manner, and nationally, as well as individually, the different it follows, then, that the principle of population, instead of being inconsistent with Revelation, must be considered as affording strong additional proofs of its truth.
Lastly, It will be acknowledged, that in a state of probation, those laws seem best to accord with the views of a benevolent Creator, which, while they furnish the difficulties and temptations which form the essence of such a state, are of such a nature as to reward those who overcome them with happiness in this life as well as in the next. But the law of population answers particularly to this description. Each individual has the power of avoiding the evil consequences to himself and society resulting from it, by the practice of a virtue dictated to him by the light of nature, and sanctioned by revealed religion. And, as there can be no question that this virtue tends greatly to improve the condition, and increase the comforts both of the individuals who practise it, and through them of the whole society, the ways of God to man with regard to this great law are completely vindicated.
Joseph Goffe delivered an Anti-universalist discourse, Spirits in Prison, a Discourse about 1 Peter 3, in 1803, to the Second Church of Christ in Sutton, Massachusetts, p.20–22, bold emphasis added:
God fives them a term of probation—a space for repentance, … The day of probation is ever followed with a day of retribution.
Sinners presume upon the patience of God while they go on in their evil courses. Because sentence against an evil work as not executed speedily; therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. They abuse the goodness; and long suffering of God which should lead them to repentance, and take occasion from it to become vile.—They misimprove their opportunity-despise the infinite riches of mercy, and treasure up to themselves wrath, against the day of wrath. But God will not always wait upon them. When their term of probation is expired, long suffering ceases, and they are cut down, and sent to the infernal prison. There they are reserved in chains unto the day of judgment. This strongly implies that there is no state of probation after death. Prisoners are never considered as being upon trial for any future rewards. Their day is past, and justice has begun to take hold upon them. Now; God calls, but sinners refuse ; they set at nought his counsel; and will none of his reproof: but then they shall call, and he will not answer. He will laugh at their calamity, and mock when their fear cometh as desolation, and their destruction as a whirlwind; and they shall eat of the fruit of their own ways, and be filled with their own devices.
The long luffering of God waited no longer with thole antediluvians than the hundred and twenty years in which the ark was preparing. At the expiration of that period it came to an end. So the long suffering of God waits upon sinners no longer than the term of the present life. At death it is terminated. This is a state of probation, beyond the grave is a state of retribution, where the spirit of God does not strive with men, nor is any means used with them to bring them to repentance. They are confined in chains of darkness, and bound over to the judgment. Now therefore is the accepted time, behold, now is the day of salvation. Let sinners then agree with their almighty adversary quickly, whiles they are in the way with him, lest, at any time, the adversary deliver them to the judge, and she judge deliver them to the officer, and they be cast into prison. Verily they shall by no means come out thence till they have paid the uttermost farthing, which they can never do, and hence can never be discharged.
5 . From the text, as explained, we may learn, that there is nothing in it, which, in the least teaches, or countenances the doctrine of universal salvation, but much to the contrary.
This is a text which the advocates of that destructive heresy have pressed into their service, and so wrested it as to speak a language which their understandings and consciences must condemn; but which, being so agreeable to their depraved hearts, they receive and approve.
Those underminers of religion and morality imagine, that when Christ expired on the cross his human soul descended into hell, and there preached the gospel to the spirits in prison—that they all believed it, and were instantly liberated from their confinement, and went with him to heaven: and hence infer that this will be the case with all others who descend to that fiery region.
(This is actually what it says, plainly, in 1 Peter 3:18–20, emphasis added:)
For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.
Other references to state of probation come from Soame Jenyns, 1776, see Plan of Happiness.
- See also: Anti-universalism.