Called and Chosen
D&C 95:5-6
But behold, verily I say unto you, that there are many who have been ordained among you, whom I have called but few of them are chosen.
They who are not chosen have sinned a very grievous sin, in that they are walking in darkness at noon-day.
D&C 105:35-36
There has been a day of calling, but the time has come for a day of choosing; and let those be chosen that are worthy.
And it shall be manifest unto my servant, by the voice of the Spirit, those that are chosen; and they shall be sanctified;
Why they are not chosen?
34 Behold, there are many called, but few are chosen. And why are they not chosen?
35 Because their hearts are set so much upon the things of this world, and aspire to the honors of men, that they do not learn this one lesson—
36 That the rights of the priesthood are inseparably connected with the powers of heaven, and that the powers of heaven cannot be controlled nor handled only upon the principles of righteousness.
37 That they may be conferred upon us, it is true; but when we undertake to cover our sins, or to gratify our pride, our vain ambition, or to exercise control or dominion or compulsion upon the souls of the children of men, in any degree of unrighteousness, behold, the heavens withdraw themselves; the Spirit of the Lord is grieved; and when it is withdrawn, Amen to the priesthood or the authority of that man.
38 Behold, ere he is aware, he is left unto himself, to kick against the pricks, to persecute the saints, and to fight against God.
39 We have learned by sad experience that it is the nature and disposition of almost all men, as soon as they get a little authority, as they suppose, they will immediately begin to exercise unrighteous dominion.
40 Hence many are called, but few are chosen. (D&C 121:34-40)
ABC DD CBA Chiasmus
D&C 121:35-40 Uncovers the way in which people end up fighting against Zion. Sadly by definition, they are from those that are "called", even ordained (D&C 95:5-6).
A. 34 Behold, there are many called, but few are chosen. And why are they not chosen?
B 35 Because their hearts are set so much upon the things of this world, and aspire to the honors of men, that they do not learn this one lesson—
C 36 That the rights of the priesthood are inseparably connected with the powers of heaven, and that the powers of heaven cannot be controlled nor handled only upon the principles of righteousness. 37 That they may be conferred upon us, it is true; but when we undertake to cover our sins, or to gratify our pride, our vain ambition, or to exercise control or dominion or compulsion upon the souls of the children of men, in any degree of unrighteousness,
D behold, the heavens withdraw themselves
D 38 Behold, ere he is aware, he is left unto himself, to kick against the pricks, to persecute the saints, and to fight against God.
B’ 39 We have learned by sad experience
C that it is the nature and disposition of almost all men, as soon as they get a little authority, as they suppose, they will immediately begin to exercise unrighteous dominion.
A’. 40 Hence many are called, but few are chosen.
Thematic breakdown
A. Many are called, but few are chosen (v 34)
B. They don’t learn (v35)
C Righteousness, heavenly power (v36-37)
D The heavens withdraw (v37)
D' Left to until himself to kick against the pricks, to persecute the saints, and to fight against God. (v38)
C' Unrighteousness, man’s authority
B' What we learned (v39)
A' Many are called few are chosen (v40)
Persecution of the Saints
1 Nephi 13:5
5 And the angel said unto me: Behold the formation of a church which is most abominable above all other churches, which slayeth the saints of God, yea, and tortureth them and bindeth them down, and yoketh them with a yoke of iron, and bringeth them down into captivity.
1 Nephi 13:9
9 And also for the praise of the world do they destroy the saints of God, and bring them down into captivity.
1 Nephi 14:12
And it came to pass that I beheld the church of the Lamb of God, and its numbers were few, because of the wickedness and abominations of the whore who sat upon many waters; nevertheless, I beheld that the church of the Lamb, who were the saints of God, were also upon all the face of the earth; and their dominions upon the face of the earth were small, because of the wickedness of the great whore whom I saw.
1 Nephi 14:12
And it came to pass that I beheld the church of the Lamb of God, and its numbers were few, because of the wickedness and abominations of the whore who sat upon many waters; nevertheless, I beheld that the church of the Lamb, who were the saints of God, were also upon all the face of the earth; and their dominions upon the face of the earth were small, because of the wickedness of the great whore whom I saw.
1 Nephi 15:25
And I said unto them that it was an awful gulf, which separated the wicked from the tree of life, and also from the saints of God.
D&C 76:29
Wherefore, he maketh war with the saints of God, and encompasseth them round about.
D&C 88:94
And another angel shall sound his trump, saying: That great church, the mother of abominations, that made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, that persecuteth the saints of God, that shed their blood—she who sitteth upon many waters, and upon the islands of the sea—behold, she is the tares of the earth; she is bound in bundles; her bands are made strong, no man can loose them; therefore, she is ready to be burned. And he shall sound his trump both long and loud, and all nations shall hear it.
D&C 121:38
Behold, ere he is aware, he is left unto himself, to against the pricks, to the saints, and to against God. (D&C 121:38)