Ephesians 2:2 the prince of the power of the air
Joseph Fielding Smith
"On the 9th of August (1831) in company with ten elders, the Prophet left Independence landing, on the river, for Kirtland. This company started down the river in canoes...Nothing of great importance occurred until the third day, when, the Prophet writes: 'many of the dangers so common upon the western waters, manifested themselves; and after we had encamped upon the bank of the river, at McIlwaine's Bend, Brother Phelps, in open vision by daylight, saw the destroyer in his most terrible power, ride upon the face of the waters; others heard the noise, but saw not the vision.' The next morning, after prayer the Prophet received a revelation in which the elders received counsel in regard to their travels on the waters...
"These brethren while encamped at McIlwaine's Bend on the Missouri, beheld the power of the destroyer as he rode upon the storm. One of that number saw him in all his fearful majesty, and the Lord revealed to the entire group something of the power of this evil personage. It may seem strange to us, but it is the fact that Satan exercises dominion and has some control over the elements. This he does by powers which he knows but which are hidden from weak mortal men. We read in the book of Job that when the sons and daughters were celebrating in the eldest brother's house, there came a great wind and it smote the four corners of the house, killing them all. Again there came down fire and burned Job's sheep. This was the work of the adversary. Paul speaks of Satan as the 'prince of the power of the air.' (Eph. 2:2.) The Lord revealed to these brethren some of the power of the adversary of mankind and how he rides upon the storm, as a means of affording them protection. They were commanded to use judgment as they traveled upon these waters." (Church History and Modern Revelation, 4 vols. [Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1946-1949], 1: 206 - 207.)
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves
If your first impulse after reading this verse is to counter it with a quote about works from James or 2 Ne. 25:23, then perhaps you don't understand how it is that we are saved by grace. Because of the distortions of modern Christianity, there is a tendency to discount this verse. Stephen E. Robinson noted, " some Latter-day Saints are uneasy about the doctrine of grace. I believe this is because they have been so turned off by certain non-LDS interpretations of grace that they have rejected the term altogether, thus throwing out the baby with the bath water." (Believing Christ: The Parable of the Bicycle and Other Good News [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1992], 66.) But Paul was right-it is through grace that we are saved. We can't save ourselves with good works. Note that Joseph Smith didn't change this verse. He could have changed it to say, "For by grace are ye saved through your works," but he didn't.
The operation of grace is an important concept to understand. Grace is the gift of God given to those who exercise real faith. It is not earned by good works. Do-gooders don't deserve to be saved. God doesn't owe them anything. You can't earn your way into the celestial kingdom, for we are all 'unprofitable servants' (Mosiah 2:21) not matter how hard we work. As Daniel K. Judd noted, "We cannot save ourselves no matter how many casseroles we bake or home teaching visits we make. That is what Paul was teaching when he wrote, 'For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.' (Eph. 2:8-9.)" ("The Savior Has Power To Heal Broken Hearts, Deliver from Infirmities" , LDS Church News, 1995, 01/07/95)
This principle is beautifully taught by the parable of the bicycle. In the parable, the father had promised his 7 year-old daughter that she could get a bike if she saved all of her pennies, and so she spent weeks working as hard as she could to save enough money.
"'Sarah, what are you doing?' I asked. She...said, 'You promised that if I saved all my pennies, pretty soon I'd have enough to get a bike. And Daddy, I've saved every single one!'
"Well, she's my daughter, and I love her. I hadn't actually lied to her. If she saved all of her pennies, eventually she would have enough for a bike. But by then, she would probably want a car. In the meantime, sweet little Sarah was doing everything in her power to follow my instructions, but her needs were still not being met. I was overwhelmed. 'OK, Sarah,' I said, 'let's go downtown and look at bikes.'
"We went to every store in Williamsport. Finally, in one of the big discount stores, we found it: the Perfect Bicycle (probably the one she knew in the premortal life). From halfway across the store, she knew it was The One. She ran and jumped up on the bike and said, 'Dad, this is it. This is just the one I want.' She was thrilled.
"Then she noticed the price tag hanging down between the handlebars, and with a smile, she reached down and turned it over. At first she just stared at it; then the smile disappeared. Her face clouded up, and she started to cry. 'Oh Daddy,' she said in despair, 'I'll never have enough for a bicycle.' It was her first bitter dose of adult reality.
"The bike, as I recall, cost over one hundred dollars. It was hopelessly beyond her means. But because Sarah is my daughter and I love her, I have an interest in her happiness. So I asked, 'Sarah, how much money do you have?'
"'Sixty-one cents,' she answered forlornly.
"'Then I'll tell you what, dear. Let's try a different arrangement. You give me everything you've got, the whole sixty-one cents, and a hug and a kiss, and this bike is yours.'
"Well, she's never been stupid. She gave me a big hug and a kiss and handed over the sixty-one cents. Then I had to drive home very slowly because she wouldn't get off the bike. She rode it home on the sidewalk (it was only a few blocks), and I drove along beside her. And as I drove, it occurred to me that this was a parable for the atonement of Christ.
"You see, we all want something desperately, but it's not a bicycle. We want the kingdom of God. We want to go home to our heavenly parents worthy and clean. But the horrible price-perfect performance-is hopelessly beyond our means. At some point in our spiritual progress, we realize what the full price of admission into that kingdom is, and we also realize that we cannot pay it. And then we despair...
"But only at this point, when we finally realize our inability to perfect and save ourselves, when we finally realize our truly desperate situation here in mortality and our need to be saved from it by some outside intervention-only then can we fully appreciate the One who comes to save.
"At that point, the Savior steps in and says, 'So you've done all you can do, but it's not enough. Well, don't despair. I'll tell you what, let's try a different arrangement. How much do you have? How much can fairly be expected of you? You give me exactly that much (the whole sixty-one cents) and do all you can do, and I will provide the rest for now. You give me all you've got and a hug and a kiss (that is, make this a personal relationship), and the kingdom is yours! ...You do everything you can do, and I'll do what you can't yet do. Between the two of us, we'll have it all covered. You will be one hundred percent justified.'" (Stephen E. Robinson, Believing Christ: The Parable of the Bicycle and Other Good News [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1992], 31-33.)
Now let's go back to the famous Book of Mormon passage on grace, 'that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do' (2 Ne. 25:23). The parable of the bicycle helps us to understand that we haven't done 90% of the work required to save ourselves. We haven't even done 70% or 40%. 'All we can do' only amounts to a measly sixty-one cents-less than one percent of the price of salvation. The rest of the cost is paid by the Savior. He pays the price for us when our faith and works demonstrate our devotion to him. This is what it means to be saved by grace.
"Are works unimportant, then? Doesn't it matter what we do? Of course works matter. Of course it matters what we do. But the scriptures attest again and again that it is not our works that save us. Our works-our reception of the ordinances of salvation, our acts of goodness and benevolence, our contribution to the work of the kingdom-are necessary, but insufficient. As Elder McConkie pointed out, our works, no matter how many or how good, are not enough. We are not saved by our works. Some people say that we are saved by the grace of Christ but exalted by our works. That also is false. Our works evidence our faith in Christ and our desire to follow him and rely upon his atoning grace. But there are simply not enough loaves of bread to bake or home teaching visits to make or meetings to attend to save me from the woes of sin; such requires the mediation of a God." (Robert L. Millet, Steadfast and Immovable: Striving for Spiritual Maturity [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1992], 119.)
Bruce R. McConkie
"Man cannot save himself. He cannot be saved by the works of the Mosaic law; he cannot be saved by the works of the gospel. Man cannot resurrect himself; neither Mosaic works nor gospel works can bring him forth from the grave. The resurrection comes by the grace of God; all men are resurrected, and in that sense all are saved by grace alone. And further: No man can raise himself unto eternal life; he cannot create a state of salvation and provide the means to obtain it. Man cannot create the kingdom of God, nor can he save himself in such a kingdom. If it were not for the grace of God, as shown forth in the redemption of his Son, there would be no eternal life. Neither the works of the Mosaic law nor the works of Christian righteousness, standing alone, without the grace of God as manifest in the sacrifice of his Son, could save a man. Salvation does not come into being by the works of men; it comes because of Christ and his atonement." (A New Witness for the Articles of Faith [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1985], 150.)
Ephesians 2:8 by grace are ye saved...it is the gift of God
Ezra Taft Benson
"Grace consists of God's gift to His children wherein He gave His Only Begotten Son in order that whosoever would believe in Him and comply with His laws and ordinances would have everlasting life. By grace, the Savior accomplished His atoning sacrifice so that all mankind will attain immortality. By His grace and by our faith in His atonement and our repentance of our sins, we receive the strength to do the necessary works that we otherwise could not do by our own power. By His grace, we receive an endowment of blessing and spiritual strength that may eventually lead us to eternal life if we endure to the end. By His grace, we become more like His divine personality.
"Yes, it is 'by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.'" (Come unto Christ [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1983], 8.)
David O. McKay
"I am not unmindful of the scripture that declares, 'For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.' (Eph. 2:8.) That is absolutely true, for man in his taking upon himself mortality was impotent to save himself. When left to grope in a natural state, he would have become and did become 'carnal, sensual, and devilish by nature.' But the Lord through his grace appeared to man, gave him the gospel or eternal plan whereby he might rise above the carnal and selfish things of life and obtain spiritual perfection." (Gospel Ideals: Selections from the Discourses of David O. McKay [Salt Lake City: Improvement Era, 1953], 10 - 11.)
Ephesians 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast
Now let's look again at the parable of the bicycle. This time, let's imagine that the father had made the same promise to all four of his children. After weeks of diligent work, the four children accompany their father to the bike store. They each pull their savings out of their pockets: one has 61 cents, another 75 cents, another 52 cents, and the fourth has 95 cents. After the hugs and kisses, the father purchases a bike for each of the four children. On the ride home, the child who earned 95 cents turned to the one who made only 52 cents and said, "I earned almost twice as much money as you did; I don't think dad should have bought your bike until you had earned more money. I really worked hard. I earned this bike!"
How ridiculous does this sound? How ridiculous are we if we think we have earned our salvation on our own merits? How foolish do we look to God when we brag about our accomplishments when he knows how much we need his grace to be perfected? How wrong is it to put down another when we ourselves fall so far short of perfection? The 95 cent saint should not be so busy looking down on the 52 cent saint that he can't look up and see Him who made the whole purchase 'with his own blood' (Acts 20:28).
Ephesians 2:10 created...unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them
Paul declares that we were foreordained unto good works. While we may think of foreordination in terms of being foreordained to perform a certain mission, to fulfill a certain calling, or to receive the priesthood, Paul tells us that we were foreordained to be good people who do good things. We were created 'unto good works,' to be kind to others, to be as Christ who 'went about doing good' (Acts 10:38). On this subject the scriptures declare:
'Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness' (DC 58:27).
'...put your trust in that Spirit which leadeth to do good-yea, to do justly, to walk humbly, to judge righteously; and this is my Spirit' (DC 11:12).
Ephesians 2:12 having no hope, and without God in the world
The hopelessness of living without God in this world is nothing compared to the hopelessness of living without God in the next world. Hence, the danger of today's godlessness is that it leads directly to tomorrow's godlessness.
Neal A. Maxwell
"...one gratefully ponders Paul's reminding references to those who live without hope and 'without God in the world.' (Ephesians 2:12; 1 Thessalonians 4:5.) Observe what happens by way of expanding our perception when those excellent words of Paul are placed alongside these parallel words from the Book of Mormon:
'And now, my son, all men that are in a state of nature, or I would say, in a carnal state, are in the gall of bitterness and in the bonds of iniquity; they are without God in the world, and they have gone contrary to the nature of God; therefore, they are in a state contrary to the nature of happiness.' (Alma 41:11.)
'Yea, every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess before him. Yea, even at the last day, when all men shall stand to be judged of him, then shall they confess that he is God; then shall they confess, who live without God in the world, that the judgment of an everlasting punishment is just upon them; and they shall quake, and tremble, and shrink beneath the glance of his all-searching eye.' (Mosiah 27:31. See also Mosiah 16:1.)
"Thus we see clearly that to live without God in the world is to live 'in a state contrary to the nature of happiness.' Yet, one day even those who have so existed (they can hardly be said to have 'lived') will acknowledge the justice of God." (Plain and Precious Things [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1983], 34.)
Ephesians 2:14 hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us
The atonement of Christ breaks down the partition both between Jew and Gentile, between man and God, between generations of faithful.
"As can be noted in the outline of this letter, Paul is pointing out that the gentiles who accept the gospel are now brought in and made part of the 'covenant people.' In the great temple of Jerusalem, the temple proper was shielded from gentile influences. A special barrier was erected, and if a gentile passed beyond it, he could be put to death. Archaeologists have even found one of the marble blocks of this barrier with this inscription: 'Let no foreigner enter within the screen and enclosure surrounding the sanctuary. Whosoever is taken so doing will be the causeth that death overtaketh him.' It will be remembered that it was the accusation that Paul had ignored this warning and brought gentiles beyond the barrier that led to the riot and his arrest (Acts 21:28)." (Institute Manual, The Life and Teachings of Jesus & his Apostles, 2nd ed., p. 351)
Neal A. Maxwell
"The Atonement was itself an act of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:19). Jesus 'hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us . . . that he might reconcile [us] unto God' (Ephesians 2:14-16).
"The theme of reconciliation is often found in the Book of Mormon as well: 'Wherefore, my beloved brethren, reconcile yourselves to the will of God, and not to the will of the devil and the flesh; and remember, after ye are reconciled unto God, that it is only in and through the grace of God that ye are saved' (2 Nephi 10:24).
"There is no such thing as one party reconciliation. 'And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation' (2 Corinthians 5:18). God stands ready to reconcile us to Him, waiting with open arms to receive us (Mormon 6:17). There is no such thing as a solo embrace." (Not My Will, But Thine [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1998], 99.)
Henry B. Eyring
[Family History] is the work of our generation, what the Apostle Paul called “the dispensation of the fullness of times,” when he said God would “gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him” (Eph. 1:10). This is made possible through the atoning work of God’s Beloved Son, Jesus Christ. Because of Him, our family members, “who sometimes were far off are made night by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us” (Eph. 2:13-14). You have felt this, as I have, when you have experienced an increase of love as you looked at the picture of an ancestor. You have felt it in the temple when the name on a card seemed like more than a name, and you couldn’t help but sense that this person was aware of you and felt your love. (Ensign, May 2017, 22)
Ephesians 2:19 ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints
Boyd K. Packer
"To be a fellowcitizen with the Saints has great meaning. All can receive that citizenship through the ordinance of baptism, if they will repent and prepare themselves. Then, as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, they never need be alone.
"In this church the individual is regarded as a son or daughter of God. Family members are taught to sustain one another. In such families there is some fulfillment of the statement, 'The Saints securely dwell.' Then the family structure is marvelously fitted into the setting of Church organization." (Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1991], 183.)
James M. Paramore
"Members say they have never been a stranger anywhere they have gone-Italy, Oslo, Mexico City, Portland-or Orem, Utah. They belonged the minute it was known they were members of the church of Jesus Christ. Everyone who lives upon this earth needs this feeling of acceptance, and the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and His church bring it about. Even though a member lives alone, he is never alone. He belongs; he contributes; he is never forgotten." ("The Gospel of Jesus Christ and Basic Needs of People," Ensign, May 1983, 28)
Gordon B. Hinckley
"We all look upon one another as brothers and sisters, regardless of the land we call home. We belong to what may be regarded as the greatest society of friends on the face of the earth.
"When the emperor of Japan was in the United States some few years ago, I attended a luncheon for him in San Francisco. We sat at a table with three other couples who had had extensive experience in Japan and who had resided there at one time or another while working in government, business, or educational employment. One of the gentlemen said to me, 'I have never seen anything like your people. We had many Americans come to Japan while we were there, and most of them experienced a severe cultural adjustment and much loneliness and homesickness. But whenever we had a Mormon family come, they had many instant friends. Members of your church in Japan seemed to know when they were expected and were there to welcome them. They and their children were immediately integrated socially as well as into your religious community. There seemed to be no culture shock and no loneliness. My wife and I talked about it many times.'
"That is the way it should be. We must be friends. We must love and honor and respect and assist one another. Wherever Latter-day Saints go, they are made welcome, because Latter-day Saints are mutual believers in the divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ and are engaged together in his great cause.
"We speak of the fellowship of the Saints. This is and must be a very real thing. We must never permit this spirit of brotherhood and sisterhood to weaken. We must constantly cultivate it. It is an important aspect of the gospel. ("Fear Not to Do Good," Ensign, May 1983, pp. 79-80.)" (Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1997], 223.)
Ephesians 2:19 the importance of fellowshipping new members who would be fellowcitizens with the saints
Mark E. Petersen
"One of the areas in which we are most lacking as a people is that of fellowshipping. Paul taught anciently that all saints should be fellowshipped and made to feel that they were fellow citizens in the kingdom and that they were truly of the household of God. (See Eph. 2:19.) People need this sense of belonging. Everybody needs it. Some have left the Church because they were not given this feeling. They were not truly welcomed. Some have been ignored by other members. That is not the spirit of the gospel. It is not the way to promote activity in the Church.
"By our friendly spirit, by our adoption of Paul's teaching, by our truly regarding all Saints as fellow citizens in the kingdom and as members of the household of God, whether they are active or inactive, newcomers or members of long standing-I say by such an attitude we can and will save many souls." ("Why Every Woman Needs Relief Society," Ensign, Mar. 1976, 75)
Spencer W. Kimball
"In a survey made by Elder Benson ... 46 percent of those who fell away from the Church did so in their first three months after baptism. They were not fellowshipped and were not made a part of the whole body.
"When we baptize somebody it is a crime to let them just slide slowly back out of the Church and out of the gospel because of a lack of fellowship. Fellowshipping is an important responsibility. We should be able to fellowship everybody that comes in." (The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, edited by Edward L. Kimball [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1982], 258.)
Thomas S. Monson
"A visible and tender act of fellowshipping was witnessed in the ancient city of Rome. Some years ago, Sister Monson and I met with over 500 members there in a district conference. The presiding officer at that time was Leopoldo Larcher, a wonderful Italian...
"During that meeting, I noticed that in the throng were many who were wearing a white carnation. I said to Leopoldo, 'What is the significance of the white carnation?'
"He said, 'Those are new members. We provide a white carnation to every member who has been baptized since our last district conference. Then all the members and the missionaries know that these people are especially to be fellowshipped.'
"I watched those new members being embraced, being greeted, being spoken to. They were no more strangers nor foreigners; they were 'fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God.'" ("They Will Come," Ensign, May 1997, 45)
Ephesians 2:20 built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets
James E. Faust
"It has been some 160 years since The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was organized. Why does the Church continue to flourish and grow so dramatically? What distinguishes it from all other churches? We believe that we can answer questions more correctly than anyone else. Several characteristics are peculiar to our faith. These include the organization itself, with prophets and apostles, who Paul said are the foundation of the Church (see Ephesians 2:20)..." (Reach Up for the Light [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1990], 124.)
Gordon B. Hinckley
"It has always seemed a remarkable thing to me that, although the Lord chose twelve Apostles to assist him in the work of the ministry, and to extend it following his death; and that although Paul, who was an Apostle, declared that the Church should be 'built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone' (Eph. 2:20)-notwithstanding all of this, the office of Apostle, and certainly a Council of Twelve Apostles, is not found to my knowledge in other Christian churches." ("Special Witnesses for Christ," Ensign, May 1984, 50)
Bruce R. McConkie
"Where there are apostles and prophets, there is the Church and kingdom of God on earth; and where these are not, the true Church and the divine kingdom are not present. How can a church be the Lord's Church unless it receives revelation from him? Who can head up the Lord's work on earth if there are no prophets? Who can preach and teach true doctrines without prophetic insight? Who can perform the ordinances of salvation with binding certainty and sealing surety unless they are legal administrators endowed with power from on high?
"And so it is written that Christ 'gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers'-all given as 'gifts unto men.' For what purpose? They are given 'for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.'
"How long are they to remain in the Church? 'Till we all come in the unity of the faith'; until that millennial day when every living soul is converted to the truth; until righteous men are prepared to receive their own instructions direct from the Lord." (The Millennial Messiah: The Second Coming of the Son of Man [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1982], 69-70.)
Neal A. Maxwell
"The significant words directed by the Lord through the Apostle Paul tell us why Christ established the Church with its foundation of apostles and prophets, with Jesus Christ Himself as the chief cornerstone (Ephesians 2:20). The Church was established 'for the perfecting of the saints,' the very process of our becoming men and women of Christ. The Church is established 'for the work of the ministry' and for the 'edifying of the body of Christ,' the members of the Church. This was necessary too in order for us to have a 'unity of the faith' and also 'of the knowledge of the son of God.' In addition we are urged to strive to progress 'unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.' (Ephesians 4:12-13.)
"Without the Church and its Apostles and prophets we could, in fact, be severely 'tossed to and fro,' being 'carried about with every wind of doctrine.' We could be manipulated 'by the sleight of men' and their conspiracies and cunning craftiness (Ephesians 4:14).
"True Christianity thus requires real authority, real verity, real orthodoxy, and real unity! Then let the storms and the winds come, including the various 'winds of doctrine.'" (Men and Women of Christ [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1991], 15.)
Ephesians 2:20 Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone
LeGrand Richards
"[Jesus Christ] is at the head of the Church. Like Paul said, the Church is 'built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone.' (Eph. 2:20.) I have a witness that He is at the head of this church, that He is guiding it and directing it, and I don't see how any sane person could study what the Church has accomplished since the days that He appeared with the Father, and then think that it is the work of man." ("The Simplicity in Christ," Ensign, Nov. 1976, 66)
Gordon B. Hinckley
"We have basic cornerstones on which this great latter-day church has been established by the Lord and built, 'fitly framed together.' They are absolutely fundamental to this work, the very foundation, anchors on which it stands. I should like to speak briefly of these four essential cornerstones which anchor The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I mention first the chief cornerstone, whom we recognize and honor as the Lord Jesus Christ. The second is the vision given the Prophet Joseph Smith when the Father and the Son appeared to him. The third is the Book of Mormon, which speaks as a voice from the dust with the words of ancient prophets declaring the divinity and reality of the Savior of mankind. The fourth is the priesthood with all of its powers and authority, whereby men act in the name of God in administering the affairs of his kingdom.
"...Absolutely basic to our faith is our testimony of Jesus Christ as the Son of God...He is the chief cornerstone of the church which bears his name, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. There is no other name given among men whereby we can be saved. (See Acts 4:12.) He is the author of our salvation, the giver of eternal life. (See Heb. 5:9.) There is none to equal him. There never has been. There never will be. Thanks be to God for the gift of his Beloved Son, who gave his life that we might live, and who is the chief, immovable cornerstone of our faith and his church." ("The Cornerstones of Our Faith," Ensign, Nov. 1984, 51-52)
Ephesians 2:21 the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple
Gordon B. Hinckley
"On this [foundation] has been established his Church, 'fitly framed together,' for the blessing of all who will partake of its offering. (Eph. 2:21.)
"So undergirded beneath and fitly framed above, it stands as the creation of the Almighty. It is a shelter from the storms of life. It is a refuge of peace for those in distress. It is a house of succor for those in need. It is the conservator of eternal truth and the teacher of the divine will. It is the true and living Church of the Master.
"Of these things I give solemn testimony, bearing witness to all within the sound of my voice that God has spoken again to open this final glorious dispensation; that his Church is here, the Church which carries the name of his Beloved Son." ("The Cornerstones of Our Faith," Ensign, Nov. 1984, 53)