"Each of us has been sent to earth by our Heavenly Father to merit eternal life" - Robert D. Hales, "Personal Revelation: The Teachings and Examples of the Prophets", October 2007 General Conference
"Time is a most precious asset. Would you consider investing more of your time in the things of eternity in order to merit the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost and to benefit more fully from His influence?" - Keith K. Hilbig, "Quench Not the Spirit Which Quickens the Inner Man", October 2007 General Conference.
"Only through sacrifice can we become worthy to live in the presence of God. Only through sacrifice can we enjoy eternal life. Many who have lived before us have sacrificed all they had. We must be willing to do the same if we would earn the rich reward they enjoy (see Joseph Smith, Lectures on Faith, p. 58)." - Gospel Principles, p.171
"The demands of justice for broken law can be satisfied through mercy, earned by your continual repentance and obedience to the laws of God... Through the Atonement you can live in a world where justice assures that you will retain what you earn by obedience." - Richard G. Scott, “The Atonement Can Secure Your Peace and Happiness,” Ensign, Nov 2006, 40–42. From General Conference, October 2006.
"God’s eternal purpose is for you to be successful in this mortal life. No matter how wicked the world becomes, you can earn that blessing. Seek and be attentive to the personal guidance given to you through the Holy Spirit. Continue to be worthy to receive it. Reach out to others who stumble and are perplexed, not certain of what path to follow." - Richard G. Scott, "How to Live Well amid Increasing Evil", Ensign, May 2004, p.100
"Those words sit next to my computer screen on a now-battered Post-it note. His counsel-make yourself able, worthy, and qualified-has great significance. To write the Church story, we have to merit the Lord's being with us, on our right hand and on our left. We can't expect his guidance and inspiration if we aren't worthy. We can't take his help for granted. Nor can we expect to be successful without it." - 1997 BYU Women’s Conference, p.323
"I bear witness of the power and comfort the gift of the Holy Ghost is to those who live worthy of it. What a reassurance it is for us to know that we are not left alone to find the course that we must follow to merit the eternal blessings of our Father in Heaven." - L. Tom Perry, “That Spirit Which Leadeth to Do Good”, Ensign, May 1997, p.68
"Thus, brothers and sisters, along with the great and free gift of the universal and personal resurrection there is also the personal possibility of meriting eternal life." - Neal A. Maxwell, “Apply the Atoning Blood of Christ” Ensign, Nov 1997, 22; message from October 1997 General Conference
"They taught us the importance of being kind to one another, obeying the commandments, and how to receive a fulness of joy and merit eternal life. They have pleaded with us to live more Christlike lives, to emulate the Savior in all we do, and to qualify ourselves to be worthy of the saving and exalting blessings available only in the holy temples of the Lord." - Robert D. Hales, Hear the Prophet’s Voice and Obey, Ensign, May 1995, p.15
“Though the task seems large, we are strengthened by this truth: ‘The greatest force in this world today is the power of God as it works through man.’ If we are on the Lord’s errand, we are entitled to the Lord’s help. That divine help, however, is predicated upon our worthiness” (Thomas S. Monson, “Your Eternal Voyage,” Ensign (Conference Edition), May 2000, p.46).
"It is the celestial glory which we seek. It is in the
presence of God we desire to dwell. It is a forever family in which we
want membership. Such blessings must be earned" (Thomas Monson, "An
Invitation to Exaltation," Ensign
(Conference Edition), May 1988, p.53).
"But an eternal relationship of families does not come about automatically, as some suppose. It must not only be planned for; it must be earned. We must realize that only when we have lived in complete harmony with all the laws and ordinances of the priesthood, including those received in holy temples, should we expect to find ourselves prepared to dwell in what I sometimes refer to as the 'kingdom of families'—the celestial world" (ElRay LaVar Christiansen (Assistant to the Twelve), "Three Important Questions," Ensign (Conference Edition), May 1974, p.25).
"We believe in individual merit as a means of gaining salvation" - Lowell L. Bennion, Introduction to the Gospel (1955; LDS sunday school material), chapter 20, "The Way of Salvation"
"Not all of his children are worthy of celestial glory, and many are forced to suffer his wrath because of their transgressions, and this causes the Father and the whole heavens to have sorrow and to weep. The Lord works in accordance with natural law. Man must be redeemed according to law and his reward must be based on the law of justice. Because of this the Lord will not give unto men that which they do not merit, but shall reward all men according to their works." - Joseph Fielding Smith, Conference Report, April 1923, Third Day—Morning Session, p.137; cf. Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 3 vols., edited by Bruce R. McConkie, 2:, p.27
"Now, in order that we may bring and merit unto ourselves a complete exaltation, and he worthy to come back into the presence of our Father, there is a code of laws that we must live up to." - Jonathan C. Cutler., Conference Report, October 1918, Outdoor Meeting., p.96
"This mortal life is granted us that we may be schooled properly and trained through the plan of salvation to be worthy to become in very deed sons and daughters of God. Our Eternal Father would have every soul saved if that were feasible. Salvation, however, is based on merit and obedience to divine law and therefore is only obtained through compliance with divine commandments." - Joseph Fielding Smith, Answers to Gospel Questions, 5 vols., 5:, p.82
"Very gladly would the Lord give to everyone eternal life, but since that blessing can come only on merit-through the faithful performance of duty-only those who are worthy shall receive it." - Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 3 vols., edited by Bruce R. McConkie, 2:, p.5
"The gospel of Jesus Christ has always been essentially a plan for living more abundantly. To do so requires righteous, worthwhile effort and application. If we are to pattern our lives in accordance with the divine example set for us by the Savior, we must attain to that stature by releasing and developing our capacities to the fullest through devoted service. Only in this way may we become worthy examples of the kingdom of God on earth and merit consideration for membership in the kingdom of God in heaven. ("Power Through Service," Millennial Star 118 [9 October 1956]: 298.) - Ezra Taft Benson, The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, p.330
"The gift of the Holy Ghost grows with worthiness. If you are baptized when you are eight years old, of course you are a child, and there is much you would not be expected to know. But the Holy Ghost comes to you as you grow and learn and make yourselves worthy. It comes a little at a time as you merit it. And as your life is in harmony, you gradually receive the Holy Ghost in a great measure. (75-40)" - Spencer W. Kimball, The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, edited by Edward L. Kimball, p.114
"God grant that we may honor this beautiful soul with beautiful deeds, that we may be worthy to be united with her in the eternities, and we will be if we live as she lived. How beautifully the family has started to live since her passing, as she wanted them to. The father and David went to priesthood meeting yesterday. Why? Because they know that's where she wanted them to be on the Sabbath day. David, beautiful daughters, honor your father and your mother, and your days will be long in the earth, and your lives will be part of your beautiful family when it comes time for you to shuffle off these mortal coils. Live so that you will merit an exaltation in the presence of God." - Matthew Cowley (of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles), Matthew Cowley Speaks, p.446
"This is how I look at the requirements which God has made upon his people collectively and individually, and I do believe that I have no claim upon God or upon my brethren for blessing, favor, confidence or love, unless, by my works, I prove that I am worthy thereof, and I never expect to receive blessings that I do not merit. Who does? I do not know that anybody does, yet if we were to judge by the actions of some, we must come to the conclusion that they are satisfied by seeing others live their religion." - Journal of Discourses, 26 vols., 16:, p.247
"[E]very man and woman will receive all that they are worthy of, and something thrown in perhaps on the score of the boundless charity of God. But who can justly expect to obtain more than they merit?" - Joseph F. Smith, Journal of Discourses, 26 vols., 20:, p.30
"Now, so long as the Latter-day Saints are content to obey the commandments of God, to appreciate the privileges and blessings which they enjoy in the Church, and will use their time, their talents, their substance, in honor to the name of God, to build up Zion, and to establish truth and righteousness in the earth, so long our heavenly Father is bound by His oath and covenant to protect them from every opposing foe, and to help them to overcome every obstacle that can possibly be arrayed against them or thrown in their pathway; but the moment a community begin to be wrapt up in themselves, become selfish, become engrossed in the temporalities of life, and put their faith in riches, that moment the power of God begins to withdraw from them, and if they repent not the Holy Spirit will depart from them entirely, and they will be left to themselves. That which was given them will be taken away, they will lose that which they had, for they will not be worthy of it. God is just as well as merciful, and we need not expect favors at the hand of the Almighty except as we merit them, at least in the honest desires of our hearts, and the desire and intent will not always avail unless our acts correspond. For we are engaged in a literal work, a reality; and we must practice as well as profess. We must be what God requires us to be, or else we are not His people nor the Zion which He designs to gather together and to build up in the latter days upon the earth." - Journal of Discourses, 26 vols., 24:, p.176
"Now I wanted marriage with all my heart, and because it counted so much, I feared that, innately, I wasn't worthy. This blessing would be the telling of it. I wanted so much to be celestial material and was afraid my best was only third-level terrestrial. Not only did my patriarchal blessing calm my worst fears but it also provided illuminating insight to my celestial heritage and potential. That blessing has provided continuous motivation to live my life to merit its fulfillment." - LDS Women’s Treasury: Insights and Inspiration for Today’s Woman , p.342 - 343
"Every individual has the right to and can have the Light of Christ in his life as an abiding influence. But he must earn that privilege and blessing. Each of us must so live as to be worthy for the blessings of the Lord to attend us." - N. Eldon Tanner, "The Light of the Gospel", Ensign, November 1977, p.49
"We are living eternal life, and our position hereafter will be the result of our lives here. Every man will be judged according to his works, and he will receive only that degree of glory that he has earned. (Conference Reports, April 1945, p. 139.)" (The Teachings of George Albert Smith, p.30).
"Immortality is assured to all of us through the atonement of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. But eternal life is a personal responsibility we must earn and be worthy of." - Delbert L. Stapley, "The Path to Eternal Glory", Ensign, July 1973, p.99
"We want an inheritance on this earth. We want a part of the earth for our celestial home and we want to earn it. We cannot get it otherwise. As the President said today, Zion cannot be redeemed but by purchase. Let me say to you that your redemption and mine cometh only by purchase. We must earn what we expect to enjoy." - Francis M. Lyman, Conference Report, October 1899, Second Day—Morning Session
"Thus repentance is a gift of God conferred upon those who earn the right to receive it. It comes by obedience to law. In order to repent, men must 'do works meet for repentance.' (Acts 26:20.) It is with repentance as with all the gifts of God: they are bestowed upon worthy recipients and upon none others" (A New Witness for the Articles of Faith, p. 217). - I Need Thee Every Hour
"However, in the resurrection, men shall rise to receive the rewards merited by their lives on earth, some being prepared to enter at once the course of everlasting progress, while others will suffer a just judgment for the evil deeds done in the flesh." - Improvement Era, March 1931, no. 5