“Their Souls Are Precious”

“In a modern revelation the Lord explained that ‘the worth of souls is great in the sight of God’ (D&C 18:10). Latter-day Saints are fond of quoting this verse and then skipping down the scriptural page to those verses that speak further of the joy that comes from bringing the blessings of the gospel into the lives of many. The question might be asked: Why is the worth of souls great? ... We might respond that as children of the Man of Holiness we have marvelous possibilities. As sons and daughters of God, we are possessed (although now in rudimentary form) of the attributes of godliness. The Lord provides an additional answer from scripture: ’For, behold, the Lord your Redeemer suffered death in the flesh; wherefore he suffered the pain of all men, that all men might repent and come unto him. And he hath risen again from the dead, that he might bring all men unto him, on conditions of repentance. And how great is his joy in the soul that repenteth! Wherefore, you are called to cry repentance unto this people.’ (D&C 18:11-14.) Simply stated, the soul is of infinite worth. We are not our own. We have been bought with an infinite price (1 Corinthians 6:19-20), even with ’the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot’ (1 Peter 1:19).” (Robert L. Millet, An Eye Single to the Glory of God, pp. 34-35)