1. Eternal Life Chapter 19
Introduction 4. Those who seek God’s blessings by keeping His
commandments and observing His ordinances
President Harold B. Lee instructed the Latter-day make their “calling and election sure” (2 Peter
Saints on qualifying for eternal life: 1:10; see also vv. 3–9).
“The first goal in that eternal plan was for each C. Making our calling and election sure is an
of us to come to earth and gain a physical body, and important quest of mortal life.
then, after death and the resurrection which would 1. The elect of God are those who hear His voice
follow, the spirit and the resurrected body would and obey Him (see D&C 29:7).
not thereafter be subject to death. All of this was a 2. To make our calling and election sure requires
free gift to every living soul as Paul declared: ‘For as diligence and effort in developing godlike
in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made attributes (see 2 Peter 1:10–12; Mosiah 5:15;
alive.’ (1 Cor. 15:22.) 2 Timothy 4:7–8).
“What this means to one dying with a malignant 3. While many are called of God to receive His
malady or to a mother bereft of a child may be blessings, comparatively few become worthy of
illustrated by the expressions of a young mother them (see Luke 13:23–24; Matthew 22:11–14;
whom I visited in the hospital some years ago. She D&C 121:34–40).
said to me, ‘I have thought all this through. It 4. We are free to choose for ourselves (see 2 Nephi
doesn’t make any difference whether I go now or 2:27; 10:23; Helaman 14:30).
whether I live to 70, 80, or 90. The sooner I can get
D. Those who make their calling and election sure
to a place where I can be active and doing things
inherit eternal life.
that will bring me eternal joy the better for all
concerned.’ She was comforted by the thought that 1. Eternal life is the greatest of all the gifts of God
(see D&C 14:7).
she had lived such a life as to be worthy to enter
into the presence of God, which is to enjoy eternal 2. The faithful and diligent are joint heirs with Christ
life” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1973, 9; or Ensign, and inherit all that the Father has (see Romans 8:17;
Jan. 1974, 6). D&C 84:38; Galatians 4:6–7; Revelation 3:21; D&C
88:107; 131:5).
3. Those who inherit eternal life dwell in the presence
Doctrinal Outline of God and are crowned with honor and immortal
glory (see D&C 20:14; 75:5; 76:62).
A. Our quest for eternal life began in the premortal
existence.
1. The promise and possibility of eternal life was Supporting Statements
made known to us before this world began (see
Titus 1:2). A. Our quest for eternal life began in the premortal
existence.
2. Having kept our first estate, we who enter
mortality become heirs of eternal life through our ■ “Election and foreordination are based upon
faithfulness and diligence (see Ephesians 1:3–4; and grow out of preexistence. These doctrines can
2 Thessalonians 2:13–14). be understood only in the light of the following
3. Among God’s children in the premortal existence eternal verities:
were the noble and great ones chosen to be rulers “1. That God is our Father, literally and
among men (see D&C 138:56; Abraham 3:23; actually, in the full sense of the word, and that we
Jeremiah 1:4–5). are his children, his spirit offspring;
B. Those who come to mortality are called and “2. That we dwelt with our Eternal Father in
elected to receive added blessings in this life. the pre-mortal life for an immeasurably long
period of time, during all of which we were
1. Part of our mortal experience is to receive a
physical body of flesh and bones (see Genesis 2:7; subject to his laws and endowed by him with
Hebrews 2:14). agency;
“3. That, as a consequence, we developed an
2. We are given commandments and a chance to
infinite variety and degree of talents and capacities;
prove ourselves in a mortal probation (see
Abraham 3:25; 2 Nephi 2:21; Alma 12:24; 42:4–5; and
D&C 29:43). “4. That when we are born into this mortal
probation, we bring with us the talents and
3. We receive an opportunity to partake of the
eternal ordinances of salvation (see Alma 13:16;
capacities gained in the pre-mortal life” (Bruce R.
D&C 124:38–40; Articles of Faith 1:3). McConkie, “Are We Foreordained to Be Exalted?”
Instructor, Feb. 1969, 40).
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2. Chapter 19
B. Those who come to mortality are called and which means that the Lord seals their exaltation
elected to receive added blessings in this life. upon them while they are yet in this life”
■ “The object of our being here is to do the will of (Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 109).
the Father as it is done in heaven, to work ■ “The elect of God comprise a very select group,
righteousness in the earth, to subdue wickedness an inner circle of faithful members of The Church
and put it under our feet, to conquer sin and of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They are the
the adversary of our souls, to rise above the portion of church members who are striving with
imperfections and weaknesses of poor, fallen all their hearts to keep the fulness of the gospel
humanity, by the inspiration of Almighty God law in this life so that they can become inheritors
and His power made manifest, and thus become of the fulness of gospel rewards in the life to
indeed the Saints and servants of the Lord in the come” (McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 217).
earth” (Joseph F. Smith, in Conference Report, ■ “Man can transform himself and he must. Man
Apr. 1902, 85). has in himself the seeds of godhood, which can
■ “Happiness is the object and design of our germinate and grow and develop. As the acorn
existence; and will be the end thereof, if we becomes the oak, the mortal man becomes a god.
pursue the path that leads to it; and this path is It is within his power to lift himself by his very
virtue, uprightness, faithfulness, holiness, and bootstraps from the plane on which he finds
keeping all the commandments of God. But we himself to the plane on which he should be. It
cannot keep all the commandments without first may be a long, hard lift with many obstacles, but
knowing them, and we cannot expect to know all, it is a real possibility” (Spencer W. Kimball, The
or more than we now know unless we comply Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, 28).
with or keep those we have already received. . . . ■ “There are many who are called to serve in the
“. . . Whatever God requires is right, no matter kingdom of God. . . . The Lord has never promised
what it is, although we may not see the reason to those who are unfaithful, who have received the
thereof till long after the events transpire. If we call and appointment but have not endured, that
seek first the kingdom of God, all good things will they shall receive the blessing. While there are
be added” (Joseph Smith, Teachings of the Prophet many who seemingly feel this to be the case, only
Joseph Smith, 255–56). those who serve and are faithful shall be chosen.
■ “Ordinances instituted in the heavens before the The reason why so many fall away is explained to
foundation of the world, in the priesthood, for the be, ‘because their hearts are set so much upon the
salvation of men, are not to be altered or changed. things of this world, and aspire to the honors of
All must be saved on the same principles. . . . men.’” (Joseph Fielding Smith, Church History and
“All men who become heirs of God and joint Modern Revelation, 2:177–78).
heirs with Jesus Christ will have to receive the D. Those who make their calling and election sure
fulness of the ordinances of his kingdom; and inherit eternal life.
those who will not receive all the ordinances will ■ “The theme I have in mind to discuss is ‘Making
come short of the fullness of that glory, if they do One’s Calling and Election Sure.’ To do this one
not lose the whole” (Smith, Teachings, 308–9). must receive a divine witness that he will inherit
C. Making our calling and election sure is an eternal life. The supreme objective of men who
important quest of mortal life. understand God, their relationship to him, and his
■ “After a person has faith in Christ, repents of designs for them is to gain eternal life. This is as it
his sins, and is baptized for the remission of his should be, for eternal life ‘. . . is the greatest of all
sins and receives the Holy Ghost (by the laying on the gifts of God.’ (D&C 14:7.) To bring men to
of hands), which is the first Comforter, then let eternal life is God’s ‘work and glory.’ To this end he
him continue to humble himself before God, conceives, brings into being, directs, and uses all
hungering and thirsting after righteousness, and his creations. (Moses 1:38–39.)” (Marion G.
living by every word of God, and the Lord will Romney, in Conference Report, Oct. 1965, 20).
soon say unto him, ‘Son, thou shalt be exalted.’ ■ “Eternal life is the quality of life which God
When the Lord has thoroughly proved him, and himself enjoys. The gospel plan, authored by the
finds that the man is determined to serve him at Father and put into operation by the atonement of
all hazards, then the man will find his calling and Jesus Christ, brings eternal life within the reach of
his election made sure” (Smith, Teachings, 150). every man. The Lord gave this assurance when he
■ “Those members of the Church who devote said, ‘. . . if you keep my commandments and
themselves wholly to righteousness, living by endure to the end you shall have eternal life, . . .’
every word that proceedeth forth from the mouth (D&C 14:7.)” (Romney, in Conference Report, Oct.
of God, make their calling and election sure. That is, 1965, 20).
they receive the more sure word of prophecy,
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