(6/19/03)
"All of us collectively shared certain experiences prior to mortality, which suggests why people might be drawn to each other and exhibit common tendencies. Our spirits were fathered by the same eternal God, who nurtured us while we were with each other prior to our birth. (See Alma 13; Abraham 3:22-28) The conditions of premortal life were evidently not unlike the sociality that exists among us here. Each of us had a distinctive identity and gender. We possessed there "a pre-existent, spiritual personality, as the sons and daughters of the Eternal Father." Therefore, our associations together in mortality and the idea of continuing our associations after death naturally sound both attractive and familiar to us." — Bruce C. Hafen and Marie K. Hafen, "The Belonging: The Atonement and Relationships with God and Family Heart," [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1994], p. 13

(6/20/03)
"In these paragraphs the terms, and obligations required of us as the children of God, and the glorious promises or agreement which the Lord makes if we will only do our part are clearly stated. This covenant relates to both estates. We who now live upon the earth, or ever have lived upon it, or ever will live upon it in bodies of flesh and bone have kept our first estate in heaven before our coming to live upon the earth, and hence we have been added upon, or in other words there have been or will be added to our immortal spirits these bodies of flesh and bone, and although we shall all surely die we shall all be made alive again, and thus the Lord fulfills his agreement to all who keep their first estate. God keeps his covenant." — Rulon S. Wells, "Conference Report," October 1938, p. 62

(6/21/03)
"Joseph Smith was also one of those noble spirits chosen before he was born. Had any number of boys fourteen years of age, other than Joseph Smith, gone into the woods to pray for light and spiritual guidance, not one of them would have had the vision given to the boy Joseph. He was chosen and ordained for the special work of restoration and this vision of the Father and the Son was the first step in his life's ministry. No doubt Satan knew of Joseph's calling, and that if he did not succeed in destroying him at this time, he would not be able to do so thereafter; hence the vigorous assault made upon the boy's life." — George F. Richards, "Conference Report," October 1948, p. 11

(6/22/03)
"When we say man may become like our Father, we do not mean to humanize God, but rather to deify man—not as he now is but as he may become. The difference between us is indescribably great, but it is one of degree rather than of kind." — Hugh B. Brown, "The Eternal Quest," [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1956], p. 337