Probationary Test of Mortality
Below is an excerpt from a talk, The Probationary Test of Mortality, given by Bruce R. McConkie at the University of Utah on January 10, 1982. It has been and continues to be a hopeful promise and valuable piece of information and advice, relative to my pressing forward, in the gospel of Jesus Christ and not giving up. Ofttimes in my life, I have felt overwhelmed with all that is expected to gain salvation. When I have these feelings of inadequacy I remember this talk and refer to it. I hope whoever reads this can know the truth of it and know that there is hope for eternal life, after doing all we can do.
Hopeful Promise
“I’d like to append to them the fact–and this is a true gospel verity–that everyone in the Church who is on the straight and narrow path, who is striving and struggling and desiring to do what is right, though is far from perfect in this life; if he passes out of this life while he’s on the straight and narrow, he is going to go on to eternal reward in his Father’s kingdom.
“We don’t need to get a complex or get a feeling that you have to be perfect to be saved. You don’t. There’s only been one perfect person, and that’s the Lord Jesus, but in order to be saved in the Kingdom of God and in order to pass the test of mortality, what you have to do is get on the straight and narrow path–thus charting a course leading to eternal life–and then, being on that path, pass out of this life in full fellowship.
The Straight and Narrow Path
“I’m not saying that you don’t have to keep the commandments. I’m saying you don’t have to be perfect to be saved. If you did, no one would be saved. The way it operates is this: You get on the path that’s named the “straight and narrow.” You do it by entering the gate of repentance and baptism. The straight and narrow path leads from the gate of repentance and baptism, a very great distance, to a reward that’s called eternal life. If you’re on that path and pressing forward, and you die, you’ll never get off the path. There is no such thing as falling off the straight and narrow path in the life to come, and the reason is that this life is the time that is given to men to prepare for eternity.
Now is the Time
“Now is the time and the day of your salvation, so if you’re working zealously in this life–though you haven’t fully overcome the world and you haven’t done all you hoped you might do–you’re still going to be saved. You don’t have to do what Jacob said, “Go beyond the mark.” You don’t have to live a life that’s truer than true. You don’t have to have an excessive zeal that becomes fanatical and becomes unbalancing.
Calling and Election Made Sure
“What you have to do is stay in the mainstream of the Church and live as upright and decent people in the Church–keeping the commandments, paying your tithing, serving in the organizations of the church, loving the Lord, staying on the straight and narrow path. If you’re on that path when death comes–because this is the time and day appointed, this is the probationary estate–you’ll never fall off from it, and for all practical purposes, your calling and election is made sure.”
Works Cited
Images – Post and Rich Snippets image: “Bruce R. McConkie2” by Editors: Christie Williams and LeeAnn Roberts – The Rixida: annual publication of the associated students of Ricks College.: Image found here. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons – https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bruce_R._McConkie2.jpg#/media/
File:Bruce_R._McConkie2.jpg.
Speech Excerpt – Bruce R. McConkie, The Probationary Test of Mortality, January 10, 1982, p. 11 by Elder Bruce R. McConkie of the Council of the Twelve Apostles. From an address delivered at the University of Utah Institute on January 10, 1982. Content is displayed for educational purposes in accordance with the Fair Use Clause of the United States copyright code.
