"The least, the most inferior spirit now upon the earth,

[Vort]

in our capacity, is worth worlds." -Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, vol. 9, Discourse 22, "Varieties of Mind and Character--Chastisement--Freedom, &c.", 17 February 1861

Quote

Never try to destroy a man. It is our mission to save the people, not to destroy them. The least, the most inferior spirit now upon the earth, in our capacity, is worth worlds. [...] Suppose you should labor all your lifetime faithfully, and be the means of saving one soul, how great would be your joy in heaven over that soul that you were the means of saving! If to all eternity you could praise God, through being the means of saving one soul—I may say the least or most inferior intelligence upon the earth, pertaining to the human family—if you could be the means of saving one such person, how great would be your joy in the heavens! Then let us save many, and our joy will be great in proportion to the number of souls we save. Let us destroy none.

 

Edited December 1, 2016 by Vort

[Guest]

I agree. That's why I'm so saddened when so many people resign from the church. I worry about their souls.

[Vort]

When I hear over-the-top criticisms leveled toward politicians, Hollywood types, or anyone else (especially if the voice I hear is originating from inside myself), I think of this quote. Grounds me pretty quickly.

[askandanswer]

It sort of sounds a little like the difference between houses and the people in them. Of course, the house, or the earth, is worth infinitely less than the people, or souls, who occupy it. 

[Guest]

22 hours ago, askandanswer said:

It sort of sounds a little like the difference between houses and the people in them. Of course, the house, or the earth, is worth infinitely less than the people, or souls, who occupy it. 

What about the temple? that's a house.

[Vort]

The temple itself, as a structure, has no eternal worth. It is a conduit to the other world and a token of it. It's not the real thing.