What Does it Mean to Have Your Calling and Election Made Sure?

My sister and I have been talking about this subject off and on over the past year. From the experiences of others whom we have talked to or read about, it almost sounded as though this was something that was special and secret calling/ordinance administered in the temple. It was something you are selected for, quite rare and something you just don't hear people talk about.

To have your calling and election made sure or to receive your second anointing means that that you have had your exaltation sealed upon you in this life. From what I learned, once you have had your calling and election made sure, if you commit no murder or deny the Holy Ghost, you will come forth in the first resurrection, and enter into exaltation.

“The more sure word of prophecy means a man’s knowing that he is sealed up unto eternal life, by revelation and the spirit of prophecy, through the power of the Holy Priesthood.” (D&C 131:5.)

 After further looking into the subject, to my surprise I have found that anyone who has entered into all the temple covenants and desires to have their calling and election made sure can do so. Because it is done so through the priesthood, I'm not sure if that means you must receive it through laying on of hands or just through your own personal witness (which seems to be the latter from what I have read). I have more reading up to do, but I want to share with you some interesting links that I found. Bruce R. McConkie touches on it in more detail in his book Mormon Doctrine:

Those members of the Church who devote themselves wholly to righteousness, living by every word that proceedeth forth from the mouth of God, make their calling and election sure. That is, they receive the more sure word of prophecy, which means that the Lord seals their exaltation upon them while they are yet in this life. Peter summarized the course of righteousness which the saints must pursue to make their calling and election sure and then (referring to his experience on the Mount of Transfiguration with James and John) said that those three had received this more sure word of prophecy. (2 Pet. 1.)

Joseph Smith taught: “After a person has faith in Christ, repents of his sins, and is baptized for the remission of his sins and receives the Holy Ghost (by the laying on of hands), which is the first Comforter, then let him continue to humble himself before God, hungering and thirsting after righteousness, and living by every word of God, and the Lord will soon say unto him, Son, thou shalt be exalted. When the Lord has thoroughly proved him, and finds that the man is determined to serve him at all hazards, then the man will find his calling and election made sure, then it will be his privilege to receive the other Comforter.” To receive the other Comforter is to have Christ appear to him and to see the visions of eternity. (Teachings, pp. 149–151.)

Thus, as the prophet also said, “The more sure word of prophecy means a man’s knowing that he is sealed up unto eternal life, by revelation and the spirit of prophecy through the power of the Holy Priesthood.” (D. & C. 131:5.) Those so favored of the Lord are sealed up against all manner of sin and blasphemy except the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost and the shedding of innocent blood. That is, their exaltation is assured; their calling and election is made sure, because they have obeyed the fulness of God’s laws and have overcome the world. Though such persons “shall commit any sin or transgression of the new and everlasting covenant whatever and all manner of blasphemies, and if they commit no murder wherein they shed innocent blood, yet they shall come forth in the first resurrection, and enter into their exaltation.” (D. & C. 132:26.)

The Lord says to them: “Ye shall come forth in the first resurrection; . . . and shall inherit thrones, kingdoms, principalities, and powers, dominions, all heights and depths.” (D. & C. 132:19.) The prophet, for one, had this seal placed upon him. That is, he knew “by revelation and the spirit of prophecy, through the power of the Holy Priesthood,” that he would attain godhood in the world to come. To him Deity said: “I am the Lord thy God, and will be with thee even unto the end of the world, and through all eternity; for verily I seal upon you your exaltation, and prepare a throne for you in the kingdom of my Father with Abraham your father.” (D. & C. 132:49.)

It should be clearly understood that these high blessings are not part of celestial marriage. “Blessings pronounced upon couples in connection with celestial marriage are conditioned upon the subsequent faithfulness of the participating parties.” (Doctrines of Salvation, vol. 2, pp. 46–47.)
[Pp. 109–10 in McConkie, Bruce R. 1966. Mormon Doctrine. 2nd ed. Salt Lake City, UT: Bookcraft.]

Here is a great ensign article that goes into more detail:

http://www.lds.org/ensign/1976/07/accepted-of-the-lord-the-doctrine-of-making-your-calling-and-election-sure

Lastly, here is a link I found to a thread that discusses how to receive it for yourself.

http://www.ldsfreedomforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=22462http://www.ldsfreedomforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=22462

If you have had your calling and election made sure, I know it is very personal and not something to be discussed on the internet. But what a glorious thing to have an assurance of. How much better will your life be living in this manner and knowing that you are exalted. I would love to hear more insight about this subject if anyone would like to add to what I have written. In the meantime, I'm going to read more about the subject and get back to you with what I find.