- “Your Heavenly Father has known you for a very long time. You, as His son or daughter, were chosen by Him to come to earth at this precise time, to be a leader in His great work on earth. 19 You were chosen not for your bodily characteristics but for your spiritual attributes, such as bravery, courage, integrity of heart, a thirst for truth, a hunger for wisdom, and a desire to serve others. You developed some of these attributes premortally. Others you can develop here on earth as you persistently seek them.” Russell M. Nelson, October 2013 General Conference
- “We were taught in the premortal world that our purpose in coming here is to be tested, tried, and stretched. 3 We knew we would face the evils of the adversary. Sometimes we may feel more aware of the negative things of mortality than we are of the positive. The prophet Lehi taught, “For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things.” Despite all of the negative challenges we have in life, we must take time to actively exercise our faith. Such exercise invites the positive, faith-filled power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ into our lives.” Richard G. Scott, October 2014 General Conference
- “It has never been God’s intention that His children stand alone in important decisions and responsibilities. During our premortal existence, He himself called for a grand council to present His glorious plan for our eternal welfare. His Church is organized with councils at every level, beginning with the Council of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and extending right on through to our stake, ward, and family councils.” Counseling with Our Councils M. Russell Ballard, Page 11
- ““The Son of God [said]: “I’ll go down and pay the price. I’ll be the Redeemer and redeem men from Adam’s transgression. I’ll take upon me the sins of the world and redeem or save every soul from his own sins who will repent.” 12 Let us illustrate: A man walking along the road happens to fall into a pit so deep and dark that he cannot climb to the surface and regain his freedom. How can he save himself from his predicament? Not by any exertions on his own part, for there is no means of escape in the pit. He calls for help, and some kindly disposed soul, hearing his cries for relief, hastens to his assistance and by lowering a ladder, gives to him the means by which he may climb again to the surface of the earth. This was precisely the condition that Adam placed himself and his posterity in, when he partook of the forbidden fruit. All being together in the pit, none could gain the surface and relieve the others. The pit was banishment from the presence of the Lord and temporal death, the dissolution of the body. And all being subject to death, none could provide the means of escape. 13 The Savior comes along, not subject to that pit, and lowers the ladder. He comes down into the pit and makes it possible for us to use the ladder to escape. 14” Chapter 3: The Plan of Salvation, Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Fielding Smith, (2013), 58–71
- April 28th, 1995 – Friday. Quito, Ecuador… “Elder Hanks & I had a good study. I kind of realized how special we really are. If you think of all the people that chose to be on Christ’s side are now living in millions of different worlds. The strongest spirits were sent here to this world because this is where they sacrificed Jesus Christ. This was the only world wicked enough to do it. On this world, in the Last Days, the valiant were sent here to be able to live in the most wicked time. The next most valiant would be the church members. Out of all of these valiant spirits only a few go on a mission. They’re the chosen of the valiant. If you could just imagine how special we actually are. Then, on top of that, to be a leader among the chosen is something mind boggling. I don’t know what I did in the pre-existence but the Lord has blessed me a ton. He has helped me want to be the best I can. I have this deep desire to be righteous. I want to be like the Apostles, just because they’re so righteous and so smart & so spiritual & so right. I’m realizing little by little my potential. I’m very far from it but I’ll keep striving for it. I’m so glad to be an Elder, and I feel very privileged to be a leader. Man, I pray that the Lord guides my words, thoughts & action. I want to help Him & His work so bad. I pray I can. I love this work. I’m blessed all day & every day. Even during the tests.” – Clinton Brown Missionary Journal
- March 12th, 1995 – Sunday. Quito, Ecuador …”Tonight Elder Norris started telling us an experience he had with the Sons of Perdition. A little girl was possessed with 6 demons and was talking with their voices. They had a baptism where Satan did all that he could to impede it. I won’t go into details just write a few parts. The demons talked with the missionaries. The demons said that they knew each and every one of the missionaries. They knew them from the grand council in heaven. They said a few things that made some missionaries mad, and what they said they could have only said if they knew them. The demons couldn’t leave with the power of the Priesthood that these Elders had because the sister of the girl possessed, She was playing the Ouija board and making contracts with Satan. Well, the Elders had a lot more scary experiences, even to the point where twice Elder Constantine was almost stabbed (by a knife & screwdriver) by the sister who was playing the Ouija board.” – Clinton Brown Missionary Journal
- “We do not live for self… We are a part of a larger life, reaching before and after…” (Joshua Lawrence Chamberlaine, Memorial Day Address, 1884)
- May 9, 1995 – Tuesday – Quito Ecuador… “Today was another spiritually uplifting day. We talked with President Farnsworth for about 4 hours! …..He also explained that the “Discussions are there to wake up what the investigators learned in the Pre-mortal life.” So the chosen are going to listen & remember only by the Spirit. The investigators that progress are chosen, those that don’t….we shouldn’t waste our time. He gave us a lot of advice & knowledge today…..I could see the importance of this missionary work. We need to find the chosen – and quick!!! I realize how important and urgent it is to inform the people. I also realized that the Lord was telling me to get prepared to not forget the changes I’d made here in the mission and to keep growing daily – spiritually. Man, I have a deep desire to learn more about the gospel and live it. Now I need to apply it. The desire doesn’t mean a thing if you don’t act on it. I pray I can live up to the calling I have now as a missionary and plus my calling I have in my life.” – Clinton Brown Missionary Journal