(7/30/02)
"I believe that God Almighty reserved a certain class of men to carry on his word. They have been born into the world in this generation. I believe this was the case with Joseph Smith. I believe he was ordained to this work before he tabernacled in the flesh . He was a literal descendant of Joseph who was sold into Egypt, and the Lord called him and ordained him. He gave unto him the keys of the kingdom. He received the record of the stick of Joseph from the hands of Ephraim, to stand with the Bible, the stick of Judah, in the last days as a power to gather the twelve tribes of Israel, before the coming of Shiloh, their king." — Wilford Woodruff, "Journal of Discourses," 22:206

(7/31/02)
"To fulfill the purpose of His omniscient design, our Heavenly Father foreordained certain valiant spirit children and assigned them to come to earth at specific times and places to fulfill their appointments. The greatest of these spirits He reserved to come as prophets and priesthood leaders in His kingdom. 'Every man,' said the Prophet Joseph Smith, 'who has a calling to minister to the inhabitants of the world was ordained to that very purpose in the Grand Council of Heaven before this world was' (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 365)." — Ezra Taft Benson, "The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson," p. 21

(8/01/02)
"Despite that calling which is spoken of in the scriptures as 'foreordination,' we have another inspired declaration: 'Behold, there are many called, but few are chosen' (D&C 121:34). This suggests that even though we have our free agency here, there are many who were foreordained before the world was to a greater state than they have prepared themselves for here. Even though they might have been among the noble and great, from among whom the Father declared He would make His chosen leaders, they may fail of that calling here in mortality." — Harold B. Lee, "The Teachings of Harold B. Lee," Bookcraft, p. 185

(8/02/02)
"Do not be deceived, brethren and sisters, and allow any such thought to enter into your hearts, that you are fated to be damned, that you are fated to commit sin, that you are fated to be surrounded by inextricable circumstances which break you down. There is no such doctrine in the Gospel of the Son of God. We have our free and unfettered agency...." — George Q. Cannon, April 7th, 1889

(8/03/02)
"Concerning this great and important principle, there are securely fastened the law of agency; the announcement to become; the pledge, or covenant and promise to seek and live for; but, which in and of the principle alone, are not compulsive or pre-destined. They provide the motivation as the most sure way for inner determined action to achieve the lofty reality sought for." — Alvin R. Dyer, "Who Am I?" Deseret Book Co., p. 383