There once was an emperor known throughout the land for his great service, love, and sacrifice on behalf of his people. In his day he had a great gift he wanted his people to receive at his hand. In order for him to make sure his people would know about this gift he commissioned a beautiful carriage to be built. Pulling the carriage were 12 Lipizzan stallions, a most noble and beautiful breed of horse. Accompanying the chariot was an ambassador, duly authorized by the emperor to teach the people about the gift and promise. Inside the chariot he placed in a box the words that the emperor wanted his people to receive, for this was the gift; it was a promise that the emperor was making with his people, a promise that showed how every single citizen of the kingdom could receive all that the emperor himself had.
The time came for the royal procession to begin to travel throughout the land and to offer unto the people the great gift. The ambassador, pulled in the chariot by the gorgeous stallions, came to the various towns and villages and to his astonishment, the people by and large were not interested in the emperors gift, nor did they give heed to the emperor’s ambassador. In his travels which lasted many years, he finally came across a people who showed interest in receiving the gift.
After a while this people forgot about the true gift however they took a special interest in the chariot and the horses pulling it so much so that after many generations this people confused the carriage and horses for the gift. The gift that the emperor wanted to give was soon forgotten, however the carriage and horses were set up, praised and worshipped as if they were the gift. Others in the village reminded them that there used to be a gift contained in the carriage and that the carriage was not the gift neither were the horses the gift but that these were the means of delivering the gift only. These men were banished from the village for speaking evil of the carriage and horses.
After many more years there appeared a man from a far away land stating that the emperor had commissioned him to return to the village and offer the gift that was lost and to set in order the inheritances of the royal subjects in the kingdom. There was no decorated procession, no chariot and no noble stallions, just a plain-looking man bearing a simple box which contained the precious cargo. This man was laughed to scorn and chased away out of the village and very few received his report. This man continued on to other villages until he found a people humble enough to receive the gift for which thing there were truly blessed.
The original villagers kept the carriage and raised other horses (which were descended from the original stock) all the while thanking the emperor for sending unto them such wonderful gifts.
I came unto mine own, and mine own received me not; but unto as many as received me gave I power to do many miracles, and to become the sons of God; and even unto them that believed on my name gave I power to obtain eternal life. And even so I have sent mine everlasting covenant into the world, to be a light to the world, and to be a standard for my people, and for the Gentiles to seek to it, and to be a messenger before my face to prepare the way before me. (D&C 45: 8-9)
For what doth it profit a man if a gift is bestowed upon him, and he receive not the gift? Behold, he rejoices not in that which is given unto him, neither rejoices in him who is the giver of the gift. (D&C 88:33)
Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. (Matthew 7:13-14, KJV)
And it shall come to pass that I, the Lord God, will send one mighty and strong, holding the scepter of power in his hand, clothed with light for a covering, whose mouth shall utter words, eternal words; while his bowels shall be a fountain of truth, to set in order the house of God, and to arrange by lot the inheritances of the saints whose names are found, and the names of their fathers, and of their children, enrolled in the book of the law of God;
While that man, who was called of God and appointed, that putteth forth his hand to steady the ark of God, shall fall by the shaft of death, like as a tree that is smitten by the vivid shaft of lightning.
And all they who are not found written in the book of remembrance shall find none inheritance in that day, but they shall be cut asunder, and their portion shall be appointed them among unbelievers, where are wailing and gnashing of teeth. (Doctrine & Covenants 85: 7-9)