Pioneer Era (1845-1890)

Brigham Young (1852):

“I am on my way to this great exaltation. I expect to attain unto it. I am in the hands of the Lord, and never trouble myself about my salvation, or what the Lord will do with me hereafter. It is for me to do the will of God today, and, when tomorrow comes, to inquire what is his will concerning me; then do the will of my Father in the work he has appointed me to do, and that is enough for me. I am serving a God who will give me all I merit, when I come to receive my reward.”¹

Heber C. Kimball (1854):

“You will not receive a reward for anything more than you merit; and whatever you have done, for it you merit a reward, and that belongs to you; but no men or women in the celestial world will be rewarded for that which they have not done.”²

Heber C. Kimball (1862):

“I know that the day will come when we shall possess that land, and I can tell you that I expect to have and possess all that I merit, in the own due time of the Lord. When the kingdom triumphs, every man will be rewarded according to his works, and will receive that which is designed for him, and in all things be blessed according to his merits. By merit I mean that which a man earns, and you will see the day when you will get nothing but what you earn by your works and your integrity to God and your brethren.”³

Brigham Young (1873):

“Every blessing the Lord proffers to his people is on conditions. These conditions are: ‘Obey my law, keep my commandments, walk in my ordinances, observe my statutes, love mercy, preserve the law that I have given to you inviolate, keep yourselves pure in the law, and then you are entitled to these blessings, and not until then.’ … Are we entitled to the blessings of the holy Gospel unless we obey the ordinances thereof, and all the commandments and laws and requirements that are laid down for us to obey? Now I know that every Latter-day Saint will come to the same conclusion that I do-that if we did not obey, we would not be entitled to any of these blessings from our Father. There is not a Latter-day Saint but who comes to the same conclusion as myself—that we would not merit, we would not be entitled to, we could not claim at the hand of our God those blessings that he had promised through obedience to his Word.”⁴

Joseph F. Smith (1873):

“This is how I look at the requirements which God has made upon his people collectively and individually, and I do believe that I have no claim upon God or upon my brethren for blessing, favor, confidence or love, unless, by my works, I prove that I am worthy thereof, and I never expect to receive blessings that I do not merit. Who does? I do not know that anybody does, yet if we were to judge by the actions of some, we must come to the conclusion that they are satisfied by seeing others live their religion.”⁵

Joseph F. Smith (1878):

“[E]very man and woman will receive all that they are worthy of, and something thrown in perhaps on the score of the boundless charity of God. But who can justly expect to obtain more than they merit?”⁶

Integration Era (1891-1926)

Francis M. Lyman (1899):

“We want an inheritance on this earth. We want a part of the earth for our celestial home and we want to earn it. We cannot get it otherwise. As the President said today, Zion cannot be redeemed but by purchase. Let me say to you that your redemption and mine cometh only by purchase. We must earn what we expect to enjoy.”⁷

Joseph S. Peery (1914):

“We will receive the salvation we earn and no more.”⁸

Joseph S. Peery (1918):

The Heaven We Get Will be the Heaven We Earn

Many people seem to be satisfied with baptism, thinking thereby they will get to heaven. It is true that baptism is the door to the Kingdom of God, but there are various degrees in that kingdom. Paul compares the degrees to the sun, moon and stars.

Heaven will be strictly a merit system. We get what we earn. That is all we are entitled to. Should we send up no good works, by what right can we expect a good place? If we make the Celestial degree, it will depend upon our works. It will not be attained through indifference. Things worth while are won by effort.

The Lord is a good pay-master. It is a great privilege to be in his service, and those who decline this opportunity will certainly have intense regrets. They may lay up for themselves treasures on earth, but these treasures all perish with death. President Young said, “I am for life everlasting.” He attained his aim.

Will I get a mansion or a dug-out? That depends on what I earn.⁹

Jonathan C. Cutler (1918):

“Now, in order that we may bring and merit unto ourselves a complete exaltation, and he worthy to come back into the presence of our Father, there is a code of laws that we must live up to.”¹⁰

Joseph S. Peery (1919):

“Through the wonderful atonement of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, all mankind will rise from the grave sometime-the body and spirit will be reunited constituting the soul of man. However, all will not rise at the same time nor go to the same place. It will be a merit system that Paul compares to the sun, moon and stars.”¹¹

Nelson D. Hogan (1920):

“I believe, my brethren and sisters, that we will get everything we earn. If we are faithful in keeping the commandments of the Lord and that which he asks us to do, we will get the blessings for these things; and, on the other hand, if we are neglectful and careless and indifferent, and do not the things that the Lord has required of us, we cannot expect to get something for nothing. I often think of it this way, that if we start to work for a man, we generally know what we are to get out of it. We know just about what the wages will be, and if we are faithful in performing our duty, we will get a full pay. On the other hand, if we are careless, indifferent, lie around part of the time, when we come to get our pay, we will only get a part pay, and that is all we will ask for. I believe it is the same with the gospel. We know what we will get out of it, if we are faithful.”¹²

Joseph S. Peery (1921):

“Through the atonement of the Savior all will be resurrected from the grave, but our exaltation depends on merit. We get what we earn, and that is all we are entitled to receive.”¹³

Joseph Fielding Smith (1923)

“Not all of his children are worthy of celestial glory, and many are forced to suffer his wrath because of their transgressions, and this causes the Father and the whole heavens to have sorrow and to weep. The Lord works in accordance with natural law. Man must be redeemed according to law and his reward must be based on the law of justice.Because of this the Lord will not give unto men that which they do not merit, but shall reward all men according to their works.”¹⁴

Joseph S. Peery (1926):

“The heaven we get will be the heaven we earn, but, to earn a good place, we must have the help of the Lord continually. In all our works, we must remember of ourselves we are nothing. We must pray for God’s guidance and assistance, in all that we do, for his Spirit to lead us, and to the Lord we must give the praise and glory forever.”¹⁵

Joseph S. Peery (1929):

“Every day is a judgment day and the heaven we reach will be the heaven we earn. Through the atonement of the Savior, all will be saved from the grave, but our exaltation will depend entirely upon merit.”¹⁶

Global Expansion Era (1927-1996)

Improvement Era (1931):

“However, in the resurrection, men shall rise to receive the rewards merited by their lives on earth, some being prepared to enter at once the course of everlasting progress, while others will suffer a just judgment for the evil deeds done in the flesh.”¹⁷

Henry D. Moyle (1937):

“Our Church is founded upon the premise that spiritual growth and exaltation must be earned by the efforts of the individual.”¹⁸

George Albert Smith (1941):

“The Lord has told us very plainly that all our blessings are predicated upon obedience to His laws and His laws are so plain. Faith, repentance, baptism, the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost are the first principles. Then He offers other things, including Temple work, salvation for the dead and missionary work in all the world. In our great universities we have marvelous training, but I want to say that without the training of the Gospel of Jesus Christ those who graduate from the great universities of the world will be disappointed that they have not earned a place in the Celestial Kingdom.”¹⁹

Improvement Era (1941):

“Full benefits of the Gospel are secured only by living up to the requirements. The Gospel plan is so arranged that each member receives his reward in proportion to his efforts and his observance of the principles. No member is deprived of his blessings because of the failure of someone else. As individuals we earn our own rewards and blessings.”²⁰

George Albert Smith (1942):

“God lives. Jesus is the Christ. TheChurch of the Lamb of God is upon the earth. The power of the holy Priesthood is here, and no evil power can stay its progress. It remains for us to demonstrate whether or not we will do our part and merit exaltation.”²¹

John Widtsoe (1944):

We must pay the price for whatever we obtain. If we do something, we receive something; if we do nothing, we receive nothing. That is a universal principle, valid from economics to religion, on earth or in heaven. The price may not always be great, but it must be paid. Only as the price has been paid can we claim to own our possessions. Only as the price is paid, and to that degree, can we expect the joy which is the objective of existence. Paul says that Jesus bought us “with a price.”

To pay the price means self-effort. But, by that price we gain increasing strength. There is no gain of inward power, if we live wholly on the bounty of others. They who do so become enfeebled, and ultimately valueless to themselves and to society. They are drones in the hive, who have no claim on the honey gathered by others. That could well be written on the souls of men.

They who set out deliberately to avoid the payment of the price, are agents of the evil one. His plan has always been to move men as pawns towards unearned satisfactions; to loot and steal from the hard-earned store of others. That plan spells retrogression, and eventual dissipation of all possessions, and the cessation of life in our universe. There can be nothing worse.

The principle of paying the price is, of course, merely a phase of the universal law of cause and effect, a law which is in full operation in the material and the spiritual domain. Every occurrence has a cause behind it. If the lightnings play in the heavens, or a hoop rolls down the hill, or a brick be lifted to the top of the wall-it is the effect of some cause. Take causes away from nature and life, and there would be no effects. A stagnant universe would be reduced to flat inactivity and ultimate death…

In reality, this doctrine means that we earn and must earn what we get. Salvation must be earned. The plan of salvation is of value to us only as we conform, actively, to its requirements. It has been so throughout the eternities of existence. The spirit of man, seeking progress, has toiled and striven to rise towards his high destiny, the likeness of God. The privilege to come on earth was earned by him. Earth-life was not forced upon him, nor did he receive it as a gift. That doctrine lifts man into the position of kingship. He has labored and won. His battle has resulted in victory. He has the right to walk among kings. This is one of the great doctrines, often forgotten, laid down in the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.

The doctrine of paying the price, or earning what we receive, does not imply hardship. On the contrary, the gospel teaches clearly that we are to have joy here on earth. “Men are, that they might have joy.” True, we are surrounded by forces which we must overcome; but man has been given power to overcome them, and to make them his servants. Increased power and courage come with every new subjection of opposing forces. The very act of conquest gives joy. Men, who set out fearlessly to pay the price, labor in the light of the sun, and find abiding joy in their tasks.

The common teaching of Christian sects has been that man is born to sorrow and suffering; and that he must wait for joy until death has brought him into that other, spiritual, world. This has been an evil doctrine. When a person believes that he must walk through life in sorrow, his eyes are likely to be on the ground. Discontent and fear are in his heart. He is tempted to forget to pay the price. Labor and toil are looked upon more and more with distaste. They become punishments imposed for some previous, forgotten sin. Idleness and sensuous hours, played up brightly by the evil one, rise in desirability. He surrenders to the appetites of the flesh. Or, he falls into a state of hopeful faith, dreaming of some poorly described future, in another world. This doctrine, which destroys the normality of life, has caused untold human misery, of body and mind.

On the other hand, the man who believes that he is born to find joy, but must win it by earning it, walks through life with head up, and a steady, fearless heart. To him labor brings joy; idleness begets sorrow. He feels that to overcome obstacles, to resist evil, will bring happiness on earth, and eternal joy hereafter. They who so believe cast off the cares of life. At the end of the day they take the deep breath of satisfaction. Their sleep is sound, and they awake refreshed.

The difference between the two doctrines is that between truth and untruth, between light and darkness. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is in full opposition to any doctrine which does not require man, and provide him with the means, to earn his way daily, to earthly and heavenly joys.²²

George Albert Smith (1945):

“We are living eternal life, and our position hereafter will be the result of our lives here. Every man will be judged according to his works, and he will receive only that degree of glory that he has earned.”²³

Lowell L. Bennion (1955):

“We believe in individual merit as a means of gaining salvation.”²⁴

Ezra Taft Benson (1956):

“The gospel of Jesus Christ has always been essentially a plan for living more abundantly. To do so requires righteous, worthwhile effort and application. If we are to pattern our lives in accordance with the divine example set for us by the Savior, we must attain to that stature by releasing and developing our capacities to the fullest through devoted service. Only in this way may we become worthy examples of the kingdom of God on earth and merit consideration for membership in the kingdom of God in heaven. (“Power Through Service,” MillennialStar 118 [9 October 1956]: 298.) – Ezra Taft Benson, The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, p.330

Spencer W. Kimball (year?):

“The gift of the Holy Ghost grows with worthiness. If you are baptized when you are eight years old, of course you are a child, and there is much you would not be expected to know. But the Holy Ghost comes to you as you grow and learn and make yourselves worthy. It comes a little at a time as you merit it. And as your life is in harmony, you gradually receive the Holy Ghost in a great measure.”²⁵

Spencer W. Kimball (year?):

“Very gladly would the Lord give to everyone eternal life, but since that blessing can come only on merit-through the faithful performance of duty-only those who are worthy shall receive it.”²⁶

Bruce McConkie (1966):

“What then is the law of justification? It is simply this: ‘All covenants, contracts, bonds, obligations, oaths, vows, performances, connections, associations, or expectations (D. & C. 132:7), in which men must abide to be saved and exalted, must be entered into and performed in righteousness so that the Holy Spirit can justify the candidate for salvation in what has been done. (1 Ne. 16:2; Jac. 2:13-14; Alma 41:15; D. & C. 98; 132:1, 62.) An act that is justified by the Spirit is one that is sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise, or in other words, ratified and approved by the Holy Ghost. This law of justification is the provision the Lord has placed in the gospel to assure that no unrighteous performance will be binding on earth and in heaven, and that no person will add to his position or glory in the hereafter by gaining an unearned blessing.”²⁷

ElRay L. Christiansen (1974):

“But an eternal relationship of families does not come about automatically, as some suppose. It must not only be planned for; it must be earned. We must realize that only when we have lived in complete harmony with all the laws and ordinances of the priesthood, including those received in holy temples, should we expect to find ourselves prepared to dwell in what I sometimes refer to as the ‘kingdom of families’—the celestial world.”²⁸

N. Eldon Tanner (1977):

“Every individual has the right to and can have the Light of Christ in his life as an abiding influence. But he must earn that privilege and blessing. Each of us must so live as to be worthy for the blessings of the Lord to attend us.”²⁹

Joseph Fielding Smith (year?):

“This mortal life is granted us that we may be schooled properly and trained through the plan of salvation to be worthy tobecome in very deed sons and daughters of God. Our Eternal Father would have every soul saved if that were feasible. Salvation, however, is based on merit and obedience to divine law and therefore is only obtained through compliance with divine commandments.”³⁰

Delbert L. Stapley (1973):

“Immortality is assured to all of us through the atonement of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. But eternal life is a personal responsibility we must earn and be worthy of.”³¹

Victor L. Brown (1969):

“It is a period of probation during which we earn our place in the eternities. The Lord said of this: “And thus did I, the Lord God, appoint unto man the days of his probation (D&C 29:43.)”³²

Henry D. Taylor (1971):

“All the effort and struggle and sorrow will be well worth it, for we will earn the greatest of all gifts, the gift of eternal life.”³³

Bruce R. McConkie (1978):

“All must repent to be free. All must obey to gain gospel blessings. All must keep the commandments to merit mercy.”³⁴

Richard O. Cowan (1985):

“As we are obedient to the commandments of the Lord, we earn the right to live with him forever in the celestial kingdom.”³⁵

Thomas Monson (1988):

“It is the celestial glory which we seek. It is in the presence of God we desire to dwell. It is a forever family in which we want membership. Such blessings must be earned.”³⁶

Bruce McConkie (1987):

“Immortality is one thing, eternal life another…. Both come by the grace of God. One comes as a free gift; the other is earned by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel…. Those who work by faith must first have faith; no one can use a power that he does not possess, and the faith or power must be gained by obedience to those laws upon which its receipt is predicated.”³⁷

Bruce McConkie (1987):

“Thus repentance is a gift of God conferred upon those who earn the right to receive it. It comes by obedience to law. In order to repent, men must ‘do works meet for repentance.’ (Acts 26:20.) It is with repentance as with all the gifts of God: they are bestowed upon worthy recipients and upon none others.”³⁸

Thomas S Monson (1992):

“Let us make our homes sanctuaries of righteousness, places of prayer, and abodes of love that we might merit the blessings that can come only from our Heavenly Father…  How might we merit this promise [spoken of in Ezekiel 36]? What will qualify us to receive this blessing?”³⁹

Robert D. Hales (1995):

“They taught us the importance of being kind to one another, obeying the commandments, and how to receive a fulness of joy and merit eternal life. They have pleaded with us to live more Christlike lives, to emulate the Savior in all we do, and to qualify ourselves to be worthy of the saving and exalting blessings available only in the holy temples of the Lord.”⁴⁰

Present-day (1997-present)

Neal A. Maxwell (1997):

“Thus, brothers and sisters, along with the great and free gift of the universal and personal resurrection there is also the personal possibility of meriting eternal life.”⁴¹

1997:

“Those words sit next to my computer screen on a now-batteredPost-it note. His counsel-make yourself able, worthy, and qualified-has great significance. To write the Church story, we have to merit the Lord’s being with us, on our right hand and on our left. We can’t expect his guidance and inspiration if we aren’t worthy. We can’t take his help for granted. Nor can we expect to be successful without it.”⁴²

L. Tom Perry (1997)

“I bear witness of the power and comfort the gift of the Holy Ghost is to those who live worthy of it. What a reassurance it is for us to know that we are not left alone to find the course that we must follow to merit the eternal blessings of our Father in Heaven. We do not need man-made rating systems to determine what we should read, what we should watch, what we should listen to, or how we should conduct our lives. What we do need to do is live worthy of the continued companionship of the Holy Ghost and have the courage to follow the promptings that come into our lives” (L. Tom Perry, “That Spirit Which Leadeth to Do Good”, Ensign (Conference Edition), May 1997, p.70).

Richard G. Scott (2000):

“Peace is the precious fruit of a righteous life. It is possible because of the Atonement of the Savior. It is earned through full repentance, for that leads to refreshing forgiveness.”⁴³

Thomas S. Monson (2000):

“Though the task seems large, we are strengthened by this truth: ‘The greatest force in this world today is the power of God as it works through man.’ If we are on the Lord’s errand, we are entitled to the Lord’s help. That divine help, however, is predicated upon our worthiness.”⁴⁴

James E. Faust (2003):

“Mercy will not rob justice, and the sealing power of faithful parents will only claim wayward children upon the condition of their repentance and Christ’s Atonement. Repentant wayward children will enjoy salvation and all the blessings that go with it, but exaltation is much more. It must be fully earned. The question as to who will be exalted must be left to the Lord in His mercy.”⁴⁵

Richard G. Scott (2004):

“God’s eternal purpose is for you to be successful in this mortal life. No matter how wicked the world becomes, you can earn that blessing. Seek and be attentive to the personal guidance given to you through the Holy Spirit. Continue to be worthy to receive it. Reach out to others who stumble and are perplexed, not certain of what path to follow.”⁴⁶

Richard G. Scott (2006):

“The demands of justice for broken law can be satisfied through mercy, earned by your continual repentance and obedience to the laws of God… Through the Atonement you can live in a world where justice assures that you will retain what you earn by obedience.” – Richard G. Scott, “The Atonement Can Secure Your Peace and Happiness,” Ensign, Nov 2006, 40–42. From General Conference, October 2006.

Elaine S. Dalton (2006):

“Thirty-eight years ago my husband and I were married in the Salt Lake Temple by President Gordon B. Hinckley. The counsel and direction he gave us that day have become a beacon for our lives. When we left the temple as husband and wife, we went to a park near the temple grounds and recorded in a journal the words of wisdom we had received. He counseled us to always remember our prayers night and morning, to pray as a couple and as a family. He counseled us to always pay a full and honest tithing. He counseled us to read the scriptures daily and to apply the principles in our lives. And he counseled us to remain worthy. He said, ‘Always live in such a way that when you need the Lord’s blessings, you can call upon Him and receive them because you are worthy.’ He said: ‘There will come times in your life when you will need immediate blessings. You will need to live in such a way that they will be granted—not out of mercy but because you are worthy.’”⁴⁷

Robert D. Hales (2007):

“Each of us has been sent to earth by our Heavenly Father to merit eternal life.”⁴⁸

Richard G. Scott (2010):

“[Satan] cannot take away any blessing that has been earned.”⁴⁹

Boyd K. Packer (2011):

“The gospel teaches us that relief from torment and guilt can be earned through repentance.”⁵⁰

Boyd K. Packer (2011):

“We all live on spiritual credit. In one way or another, the account builds. If you pay it off as you go, you have little need to worry. Soon you begin to learn discipline and know that there is a day of reckoning ahead. Learn to keep your spiritual account paid off at regular intervals rather than allowing it to collect interest and penalties.”⁵¹

Unsorted

“Only through sacrifice can we become worthy to live in the presence of God. Only through sacrifice can we enjoy eternal life. Many who have lived before us have sacrificed all they had. We must be willing to do the same if we would earn the rich reward they enjoy (see Joseph Smith, Lectures on Faith, p. 58).” – Gospel Principles, p.171

“God grant that we may honor this beautiful soul with beautiful deeds, that we may be worthy to be united with her in the eternities, and we will be if we live as she lived. How beautifully the family has started to live since her passing, as she wanted them to. The father and David went to priesthood meeting yesterday. Why? Because they know that’s where she wanted them to be on the Sabbath day. David, beautiful daughters, honor your father and your mother, and your days will belong in the earth, and your lives will be part of your beautiful family when it comes time for you to shuffle off these mortal coils. Live so that you will merit an exaltation in the presence of God.” – Matthew Cowley (of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles), Matthew Cowley Speaks, p.446

“Now I wanted marriage with all my heart, and because it counted so much, I feared that, innately, I wasn’t worthy. This blessing would be the telling of it. I wanted so much to be celestial material and was afraid my best was only third-level terrestrial. Not only did my patriarchal blessing calm my worst fears but it also provided illuminating insight to my celestial heritage and potential. That blessing has provided continuous motivation to live my life to merit its fulfillment.” – LDS Women’s Treasury: Insights and Inspiration forToday’s Woman , p.342 – 343

References

1. Brigham Young, “Necessity, Etc.”, Journal of Discourses, vol. 6, p. 276, August 28, 1852. Link. ↩︎
2. Heber C. Kimball, “Discernment, Etc.”, Journal of Discourses, vol. 6, pp. 324, April 6, 1854. Link. ↩︎
3. Heber C. Kimball, “Our Duties to God, Etc.”, Journal of Discourses, vol. 10, p. 77, October 8, 1862. Link. ↩︎
4. Brigham Young, “The Gospel Incorporates All Truth, Etc.”, Journal of Discourses, vol. 16, pp. 160-171, August 31, 1873. Link. ↩︎
5. Joseph F. Smith, “The Instructions Given, Etc.”, Journal of Discourses, vol. 16, p. 247, October 7, 1873. Link. ↩︎
6. Joseph F. Smith, “Plural Marriage, Etc.”, Journal of Discourses, vol. 20, p. 30, July 7, 1878. Link. ↩︎
7. Francis M. Lyman, Seventieth Semi-Annual Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (1899). Report of Discourses. Salt Lake City, Utah: The Deseret News. Link. ↩︎
8. Improvement Era. Vol. XVII. September 1914 No. 11 ↩︎
9. Improvement Era. Vol. XXII. November 1918 No. 1 ↩︎
10. Jonathan C. Cutler, Eighty-Ninth Semi-Annual Conference of the Church Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (1918). Report of Discourses. Salt Lake City: The Deseret News. Link. ↩︎
11. Improvement Era. Vol. XXII. January 1919 No. 3. ↩︎
12. 1920 October conference. ↩︎
13. Improvement Era. Vol. XXV. December 1921 No. 2. ↩︎
14. Joseph Fielding Smith, Conference Report, April 1923, Third Day—MorningSession, p.137; cf. Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 3 vols., edited by Bruce R. McConkie, 2:, p.27 ↩︎
15. Improvement Era, Vol. XXIX. April 1926 No. 6 ↩︎
16. Improvement Era, Vol. XXXII. October 1929 No. 12 ↩︎
17. Improvement Era, March 1931, no. 5 ↩︎
18. Henry D. Moyle, Improvement Era, December 1937, p. 787. ↩︎
19. George Albert Smith, Conference Report, October 1941, p. 100. ↩︎
20. Improvement Era. Vol. Xliv. August 1941. No. 8. ↩︎
21. Link. ↩︎
22. Understandable Religion, John Widtsoe. ↩︎
23. Conference Reports, April 1945, p. 139. The Teachings of George Albert Smith, p. 30. ↩︎
24. Lowell L. Bennion, Introduction to the Gospel (1955; LDS sunday school material), chapter 20, “The Way of Salvation” ↩︎
25. Spencer W. Kimball, The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, edited by Edward L. Kimball, p. 114. ↩︎
26. Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 3 vols., edited by Bruce R. McConkie, 2:, p. 5. ↩︎
27. Bruce McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, p. 408 ↩︎
28. (ElRay LaVar Christiansen (Assistant to the Twelve), “Three Important Questions,” Ensign (Conference Edition), May 1974, p.25) ↩︎
29. N. Eldon Tanner, “The Light of the Gospel”, Ensign, November 1977, p. 49. ↩︎
30. Joseph Fielding Smith, Answers to Gospel Questions, 5 vols., 5:, p. 82. ↩︎
31. Delbert L. Stapley, “The Path to Eternal Glory”, Ensign, July 1973, p. 99. ↩︎
32. 1969 October conference. ↩︎
33. 1971 October conference. ↩︎
34. Bruce R. McConkie, The Promised Messiah: The First Coming of Christ, p. 242. ↩︎
35. Richard O. Cowan in Church in the Twentieth Century (p. 282) ↩︎
36. Thomas Monson, “An Invitation to Exaltation,” Ensign (Conference Edition), May 1988, p. 53. ↩︎
37. Bruce R. McConkie, A New Witness for the Articles of Faith (Salt Lake City: Deseret, 1985), pp. 152, 192. ↩︎
38. Bruce R. McConkie, A New Witness for the Articles of Faith (Salt Lake City: Deseret, 1985), p. 217. ↩︎
39. Thomas S Monson, “To Learn, to Do, to Be”, October 2008 Conference (cf. “To Learn, To Do, To Be,” Ensign, May 1992, 47) ↩︎
40. Robert D. Hales, Hear the Prophet’s Voice and Obey, Ensign, May 1995, p. 15. ↩︎
41. Neal A. Maxwell, “Apply the Atoning Blood of Christ” Ensign, Nov 1997, 22; message from October 1997 General Conference. ↩︎
42. 1997 BYU Women’s Conference, p.323. ↩︎
43. Richard G. Scott, “The Path to Peace and Joy,” Ensign, Nov. 2000, 25 (featured as the “Young Single Adult Gem” of April 28, 2010) ↩︎
44. (Thomas S. Monson, “Your Eternal Voyage,” Ensign(Conference Edition), May 2000, p.46). ↩︎
45. President James E. Faust, “Dear Are the Sheep That Have Wandered”, Ensign (CR), May 2003, p. 62. ↩︎
46. Richard G. Scott, “How to Live Well amid Increasing Evil”, Ensign, May 2004, p.100 ↩︎
47. Elaine S. Dalton (Second Counselor in the Young Women General Presidency), “Look toward Eternity!”, October 2006 Conference ↩︎
48. Robert D. Hales, “Personal Revelation: The Teachings and Examples of the Prophets”, October 2007 General Conference. ↩︎
49. Richard G. Scott, Oct. 2010 Conference. ↩︎
50. Link 1. Compare Link 2. ↩︎
51. Link 1. Link 2. ↩︎