(9/12/05)
"My brethren and sisters, can we afford to be indifferent and neglectful, listless and foolish, so late in the day as this? for it is announced to us that the coming of the Son of Man is near at hand. O! that we will serve and honor the Lord and be ready at His coming; that the door shall not be shut against us, but that there shall be oil in our lamps, and we be well prepared. But not a man or woman can have the necessary oil and preparation who hath not earned it by his or her own devoted service to the Lord. And we have not a moment to be careless. Seek the Lord and serve Him every day of your lives. Then if you die before the coming of the Son of Man you shall see Him when you go to the other side, and you shall be welcome there. Let us be ready all the time, and let us labor with devotion and faithfulness. Never mind what others do; for me, I must serve the Lord, I must honor and serve Him with all my might and strength, in order that I may be redeemed and saved in His presence." - Francis M. Lyman, "Conference Report," April 1901, Afternoon Session p. 50

(10/17/05)
"This Gospel, with which Paul was so pleased, requires us to serve the Lord all the time, so that we may have joy and happiness in our souls, and that we may be prepared to live and be prepared to go to our reward when mortality closes and we lay down these mortal tabernacles of ours, for we will lay them in the dust after a little while—just a little while. All the time there are changes. Many are being born, and many are passing away. We mourn, we sorrow for our loved ones that go—our wives, our husbands, our children, our parents; we sorrow for them; and it is well and proper that we should mourn for them and shed tears for the loss, for it is our loss; but it is their gain, for it is in the march of progress, advancement and development. It will be all right when our time comes, when we have finished our work and accomplished what the Lord requires of us. If we are prepared, we need not be afraid to go, for it will be one of the most pleasant sensations that ever comes to the soul of man, whenever he departs, if he can go with a clear conscience into the presence of the Lord and receive that welcome I have mentioned. We will be full of joy and happiness, and we will enter into a place of rest, of peace, of joy, rest from every sorrow. What a blessed thing that will be!" - Francis M. Lyman, "Conference Report," October 1909, First Day—Morning Session., p.19