- Know actions have eternal consequences

- Make most of abilities- Extend hand of fellowship

Mortality is very brief but immeasurably important, said Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin Saturday morning.

"I would like to consider with you the importance of mortal life as a time of preparation," said Elder Wirthlin of the Quorum of the Twelve.

He noted that Church members have a special understanding of the eternal nature of their souls.

"We know that we had a premortal existence. We accept our Heavenly Father's great plan of happiness and choose to follow our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We understand that we will live a postmortal life of infinite duration and that we determine the kind of life it will be by our thoughts and actions in mortality."

Knowing that their actions have eternal consequences can help members "make wise decisions in the many choices of our daily lives," Elder Wirthlin said. "Seeing life from an eternal perspective helps us focus our limited mortal energies on the things that matter most.

"This is the day of our mortal probation," he emphasized. "Heavenly Father wants us to use this mortal probation to fully develop ourselves, to make the most of our talents and abilities."

He also explained that no one can work out his or her salvation alone. "Once we understand that we are all literally brothers and sisters in the family of God, we should also feel an obligation for one another's welfare and show our love through deeds of kindness and concern," he said.

Elder Wirthlin asked the congregation to remember President Hinckley's counsel to extend the hand of fellowship and to share their love with the hundreds of thousands who join the Church as converts every year. "Joining a new church and starting a new life," he said, "is never easy and often frightening."

Elder Wirthlin then noted that "as we progress through mortality, we may make mistakes and get off course.

"The Lord has provided for us prophets, scriptures, parents and other wise leaders to teach us the course we should be following. They can help us monitor our progress and correct the direction we are going when necessary. . . .

"Our course on earth is so important," he declared. "It is determined by the decisions we make each day. We cannot separate our thoughts and actions now from their effects on the future. We might ask ourselves if we merit the blessings of our Father's plan with the life we are now living."

Elder Wirthlin warned that procrastination and indecision can hamper one's effort to prepare for the life after mortality.

He explained that one day everyone will stand before the judgment bar of the great Jehovah and be rewarded according to his or her deeds in mortality.

"If we make every earthly decision with this restoration and judgment in mind, we will have used our mortal probation wisely and its days will give us peace in this life and eternal life in the world to come."