What is the meaning of life? Does life have meaning? Latter-day Saints are not the first to tackle these questions, but they offer answers somewhat different from those commonly provided by other Christian religions.

According to Mormon doctrine, life is merely a step toward our goal of becoming like our heavenly parents, a brief moment in our eternal progression. It’s designed to be a test, a trial of whether or not we will exercise our faith and free will (see Choices & Freedom) to follow God’s commandments and prove worthy to return to him after death through our obedience (see Obedience). In addition, Mormons believe that this test is one that we all freely chose to undergo in the premortal world (see Heavenly Parents; Divine Potential).

For Mormons, this test isn’t necessarily meant to be easy. Each of us must pass through significant challenges and adversity (see Trials). With this adversity also comes the blessing of a clearer sense of purpose and a hope that, although life may be hard, it can nonetheless be enjoyed, knowing that bumps or bruises gained along the way will be worth it.

This life is not given to us as a pastime. There was a solemn purpose in our creation, in the life that God has given to us. Let us study what that purpose is, that we may progress and obtain eternal life.

—George Albert Smith (1870–1951)

I believe that every person who is called to do an important work in the kingdom of God was called to that work or was foreordained to that work before this world was.

—Joseph Smith (1805–1844)

There was a space granted unto man in which he might repent; therefore this life became a probationary state; a time to prepare to meet God; a time to prepare for that endless state which has been spoken of by us, which is after the resurrection of the dead.

—Book of Mormon, Alma 12:24

Now the Lord had shown unto me, Abraham, the intelligences that were organized before the world was; and among all these there were many of the noble and great ones;

And God saw these souls that they were good . . . and he said unto me: Abraham, thou art one of them; thou wast chosen before thou wast born.

—Pearl of Great Price, Abraham 3:22–23

Man is spirit. The elements are eternal, and spirit and element, inseparably connected, receive a fulness of joy.

—Doctrine & Covenants 93:33

One of the main purposes of our existence is that we might conform to the image and likeness of him who sojourned in the flesh without blemish—immaculate, pure and spotless! Christ came not only to atone for the sins of the world, but to set an example before all men and to establish the standard of God’s perfection, of God’s law, and of obedience to the Father.

—Joseph F. Smith (1838–1919)

If we are striving, if we are working, if we are trying, to the best of our ability, to improve day by day, then we are in the line of our duty.

—Heber J. Grant (1856–1945)

We may have given to us, in this life, a few things that will give us satisfaction, temporally; but the things that are eternal, the things that are worthwhile, are those eternal things that we reach out for, and prepare ourselves to receive, and lay hold of by the effort that we individually make.

—George Albert Smith (1870–1951)

It is glorious when you can lie down at night with a clear conscience, knowing you have done your best not to offend anyone and have injured no man. You have tried to cleanse your heart of all unrighteousness, and if you put forth precious effort, you can sense as you pray to God to keep you that night that he accepts your effort. You have a sense that you are God’s child, not a mere cog of the state, but a person whose soul God wants to save. You have the strength, the sense of resistance to evil. . . . You also have the realization that you have made the world better for having been in it

—David O. McKay (1873–1970)

Any conduct on the part of an individual that does not advance him toward the goal of eternal life is not only wasted energy but actually becomes the basis of sin.

—Harold B. Lee (1899–1973)

Jesus Christ has laid out a plan for us which will bring us and our loved ones eternal life if we are faithful. That life will be a busy, purposeful life with accomplishments and joys and development.

—Spencer W. Kimball (1895–1985)

Life is not accumulation, it is about contribution.

—Stephen R. Covey (1932–2012)

We came to this earth that we might have a body and present it pure before God. . . . The great principle of happiness consists in having a body.

—Joseph Smith (1805–1844)

Men, discouraged by their failure to accomplish exactly what they desire, often speak of their lives as purposeless, but it is idle talk, for, in fact, no intelligent life which concerns itself vigorously and properly with the things about it can be said to be purposeless. . . . The only purposeless life is the one that does not use its faculties. It matters little what tasks men perform in life, if only they do them well and with all their strength.

—John A. Widtsoe (1872–1952)