Repentance seems to the most important experience a person can have to prepare for the resurrection, because "none but the truly penitent are saved, (See Alma 42:24)," Elder Hartman Rector Jr. of the Seventy said Sunday afternoon.

Elder Rector cited scriptures in Alma 40 and 42, which state that the resurrection, brought about by Christ's atonement, restores the body to its perfect frame and brings God's children back to His presence to be judged according to the law and justice."Then looking forward to what condition we will be in when we are resurrected, probably the most important commandment is, in the words of the Father, `Repent ye, repent ye, and be baptized in the name of my beloved Son' and then "endure to the end," Elder Rector commented. (See 2 Ne. 31:11 and 15.)

Posing the question, "What makes people repent?" Elder Rector explained: "As near as I have been able to determine, once a person has sufficient faith in the Lord Jesus Christ that he believes Christ has paid for his sins, then he will repent. And it seems that very few, if any, will repent until they believe this truth. . . . Faith (in Jesus Christ) unto repentance is the saving power of the gospel of Jesus Christ. (See Alma 34:16.)

Baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost follow faith and repentance, Elder Rector said.

"According to the Father, all that is required thereafter is that we `endure to the end,' which means that we will hereafter:

"1. Continue to repent. (See Moses 5:8.)

"2. Continue to forgive others. (See D&C 64:9-10.)

Elder Rector drew chuckles from the congregation when he said perhaps there is yet one other thing that must be done: "We must be nice! I do not believe there will be anyone in the celestial kingdom that is not nice. (See D&C 31:9; 52:40.)"

The nicest thing parents can do for their children is to give them birth under the temple covenant or be sealed thereafter, he said. He added that the nicest thing children can do for parents is to be obedient to them, and the nicest gift of a father to his children is to love their mother and be true to her. The same holds true for the mother's relationship to the father, he noted.

He emphasized the need for keeping commandments, explaining that the Ten Commandments, the Word of Wisdom and the law of tithing, are "the standard or guide to `continue to repent' or in the words of Nephi, to `feast on the words of Christ.' (See 2 Ne. 32:3.)"