2.339 They... Were Prepared to Come Forth in the Due Time

Premortal experiences to postmortal experiences, right? Quite an amazing vision by President Smith here. Our verse for today hits home for many of us, I think.

And that's many of us that are parents or grandparents that are listening, and for many of us that are teens or preteens that are listening as well. I think this message is one that resonates with all of us. Our verse is in Doctrine and Covenants section 138, verse 56, and the precursor to it in verse 55 is one that is very, very often used—a phrase, the noble and great ones who were chosen in the beginning.

We've had prophets tell us that our generation today on the Earth are among those that the Lord held in reserve, noble and great ones, that were held to come forward in this day specifically. And so, that's partially why this strikes home. But then, verse 56 is not as often quoted, and I think, great ones, I don't know, I have some hesitancies there.

Sometimes verse 56 helps out with that. It says this: Even before they were born, they, with many others, received their first lessons in the world of spirits, and were prepared to come forth in the due time of the Lord to labor in his vineyard for the salvation of the souls of men. How comforting is it to you to hear that those that were held in reserve here, these noble and great ones that were chosen to come at this specific time, had their first lessons in the world of spirits.

I don't know what those lessons were, but they helped prepare us to come forth in the due time of the Lord. Now, whether you, I don't know, whether you had a patriarchal blessing or whether you had personal blessings from your own priesthood holders in your life. But I can speak and think of very specific times when I have been told that I was prepared to come forth.

And I can think of some scenarios in my life, specific moments with specific people where I don't know how to explain them. Was prepared to meet the people that I met, and whether it was, you know, a premortal existence thing, whether we were, you know, friends in the premortal life. I don't know any of those details.

I didn't have any of that revealed to me, but there have been people that have come into my life at certain times in my life where I know absolutely without doubt, no, no hesitancy at all, I know that I was supposed to meet them in this life and play a role for them in their life and that they were going to play a role in mine as well. My friends, you and I, we're among the noble and great ones. We've been told that by prophets from General Conference pulpits.

We've been told it for a generation now. We are among those that are the noble and great ones. How reassuring is it that as we're learning and figuring these things out here on Earth, it's not our first time.

We have received lessons from the Lord in the world of spirits, and we were absolutely prepared to come forth in this time to labor in the vineyard for the salvation of the souls of men. May we labor as though we were prepared because we have been prepared to do this work. Very empowering one for me today.

I hope you feel the empowerment on your side as well. That's all for today, my friends. Lift up your hearts and rejoice.

Cleave unto the covenants you have made, and together we will be savory salt. For more information, visit us at www.fema.org.