President Ezra Taft Benson said: "As a Church, we are in accord with Nephi, who said, `it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.' " (2 Ne. 25:23.)
President Benson said that grace consists of God's gift to His children "wherein He gave His Only Begotten Son that whosoever would believe in Him and comply with His laws and ordinances would have everlasting life.""By grace the Savior accomplished His atoning sacrifice so that all mankind will attain immortality. By His grace, and by our faith in His atonement and repentance of our sins, we receive the strength to do the works necessary that we otherwise could not do by our own power. By His grace we receive an endowment of blessing and spiritual strength that may eventually lead us to eternal life if we endure to the end. By His grace we become more like His divine personality. Yes, it is `by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.' (2 Ne. 25:23.)
"What is meant by after all we can do'?After all we can do' includes extending our best effort. After all we can do' includes living His commandments.After all we can do' includes loving our fellowmen and praying for those who regard us as their adversary. After all we can do' means clothing the naked, feeding the hungry, visiting the sick and givingsuccor
toT those who stand in need of
ourT succor' (Mosiah 4:15) - remembering that what we do unto one of the least of God's children, we do unto Him. (See Matt. 25:34-40; D&C 42:38.)
" `After all we can do' means leading chaste, clean, pure lives, being scrupulously honest in all our dealings and treating others the way we would want to be treated. ("After All We Can Do," Christmas Devotional, Salt Lake City, Utah, Dec. 9, 1982; quoted in Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson.)