2 Peter 1

More than once, the Savior talked of the elect. Paul talked that there were those that were elect in a pre-mortal existence saying -

"For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand..." (New Testament Romans 9:11)

Election by definition means -

"chosen for office or position but not yet installed" including "chosen for salvation through divine mercy" but not as yet granted all dependent upon certain requirements or obligations as Israel is the "elect" of God for -

"For Jacob my servant's sake, and Israel mine elect..." (Old Testament Isaiah 45:4)

But elect does not necessarily mean all will be granted but only upon keeping the laws and ordinances of the gospel as Peter explains -

"Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied." (New Testament 1 Peter 1:2)

In our pre-mortal existence there were many "elect" to accomplish missions in this mortal life for it was revealed to Abraham -

"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;
23 And God saw these souls that they were good, and he stood in the midst of them, and he said: These I will make my rulers; for he stood among those that were spirits, and he saw 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)

In this life as we make oaths and covenants, we, in a sense become the "elect" for eternal blessings if we keep those covenants. That is why Peter pleaded -

"Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall..." (New Testament 2 Peter 1:10)

What are these things we must do? Peter describes this revealing process as we strive to receive these eternal blessings saying -

"Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity." (New Testament 2 Peter 1:4 - 7)

Peter then describes the consequences of this process -

"...if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins." (New Testament 2 Peter 1:8 - 9)

That is why he testifies -

"Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.
13 Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance..." (New Testament 2 Peter 1:12 - 13)

All with the goal that our "calling and election" will at some time be sure.