The Valiant Will Be Exalted

"There are . . . many members of the Church who are lax and careless and who continually procrastinate. They live the gospel casually but not devoutly. They have complied with some requirements but are not valiant. They do no major crime but merely fail to do the things required—things like paying tithing, living the Word of Wisdom, having family prayers, fasting, attending meetings, serving. . . . ". . . The Lord will not translate one's good hopes and desires and intentions into works. Each of us must do that for himself. . . . "Only the valiant will be exalted and receive the highest degree of glory, hence 'many are called, but few are chosen.' (D&C 121:40.) As the Savior put it, '. . . strait is the gate, and narrow the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.' And conversely, '. . . wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat.' (Matt. 7:13, 14.)"

Spencer W. Kimball, Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Spencer W. Kimball (2006), 8