The LDS Daily WOOL Home Page
(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
1/25/07
"The Lord has told us, 'Behold, there are many called, but few are
chosen' (D&C
121:34), and then in the same revelation points out two reasons
why men fail of their blessings. The first reason he gives is that
their hearts are set so much upon the things of this world, and the
second is that they aspire so much to the honors of men. So then as
Church members let us beware lest we set our hearts upon the things of
this world and lest we aspire so much to the honors of men that we
compromise our standards. If we do so, we will be cut off in the Day
of Judgment and will lose our blessings. Our reward for daring to live
the gospel despite the oppositions from the outside world will be to
have blessings added upon our heads forever and forever." - Harold
B. Lee, "The Teachings of Harold B. Lee," edited by Clyde J.
Williams, p.167
6/21/09
“We
have learned that the Lord has had in training, before they came into
this world, tried and tested individuals, even as he revealed to
Abraham, to be his leaders in the various dispensations—men whom he
knew, prophets, statesmen, wise men, and leaders for all nations. I am
convinced also that when our Father sent these leaders into the world
he did not send them alone. He sent, in connection with them, hosts of
other tried souls who would be helps to those who were selected of the
Lord to be his leaders. I believe, therefore, that when the time came
for the birth into the world of the chosen prophet, Joseph Smith, who
was selected before he came into the world to be the prophet of this
last dispensation, he did not come alone, but there came with him men
and women like unto himself, tried souls. God knew them. He held them
in reserve for ages, until this day should dawn.” - Melvin
J. Ballard, “Conference Report,” October 1920, Third Day—Morning
Session, p. 77
2/5/12
… Many will lose sight of the goal
of eternal life with God and Jesus Christ. Others will fall into deep
canyons of doubt or be caught in the brush and thickets of sin and
temptations of life. Some will fail to follow the compass directions of
the Holy Ghost, prophets, scriptures, and priesthood leaders. But
spiritual safety lies in relying absolutely on the foreknowledge of God
and the plan of life and salvation that he has provided for us. - Gary
J. Coleman, "O
How Great the Plan of Our God!" Ensign, February 1996
8/13/13
There
are few of us, if any, who don’t walk the refiner’s fire of
adversity and despair, sometimes known to others but for many
quietly hidden and privately endured. Most of the heartache, pain,
and suffering we would not choose today. But we did choose. We chose
when we could see the complete plan. We chose when we had a clear
vision of the Savior’s rescue of us. And if our faith and
understanding were as clear today as it was when we first made that
choice, I believe we would choose again. - Richard
C. Edgley, "For
Thy Good," Ensign (CR) May 2002