Members of Christ's church can make sure their calling and election in this life.¹ To do so they must hunger and thirst after righteousness and prove that they will serve God at all hazards.² Such persons effectively pass the test of their mortal probation while still living.³ That is, they are guaranteed or sealed up unto eternal life while they are still alive.⁴

The faith and testing that leads to a guarantee of eternal life usually comes after a person has received the sealing ordinance in the temple.⁵ But that is not always the case. Some people have had their calling and election made sure in this dispensation before they were sealed in the temple. These include the Prophet Joseph Smith⁶ and some of his family members,⁷ Newel Knight⁸ and other members of the church.⁹ Other groups of people include members of Zion's Camp¹⁰ and the Colesville Branch.¹¹ Individuals and people within these groups had their calling and election made sure by the power of the Melchizedek Priesthood.¹² Their calling and election occurred before the sealing powers were restored through the prophet Elijah in 1836.¹³ Ultimately, the guarantee of eternal life must be accompanied by the sealing ordinance before a person can actually be exalted in the celestial kingdom.¹⁴

Living persons in all ages have had their calling and election made sure.¹⁵ For example, Peter, James, and John were sealed up to eternal life on the Mount of Transfiguration.¹⁶ Other saints in the ancient church had their calling and election made sure after the Savior introduced the sealing ordinance among them during his 40-day post-resurrection ministry.¹⁷ Many saints martyred in the first century AD had the guarantee of eternal life before they died.¹⁸ Many Nephites also had their calling and election made sure¹⁹ during their golden era that lasted almost 200 years on the American continent after the resurrected Savior initiated the sealing ordinance among them.²⁰

People in this life can come to know that their calling and election is made sure by prophetic pronouncement²¹ and through the witness of the Holy Ghost.²² For some, eternal life is promised or confirmed in scripture.²³ A person's calling and election is also made sure when Jesus Christ appears and ministers to that person as the Second Comforter.²⁴ However, not every vision of the Son of God qualifies as a guarantee of eternal life.²⁵

People that have their calling and election made sure in this life are not placed beyond temptation.²⁶ They remain susceptible to sin, and the laws of repentance still apply to them.²⁷ They can be punished for transgressions committed after their calling and election is made sure.²⁸ Those that commit adultery²⁹ or an unpardonable sin can lose their guarantee of eternal life completely.³⁰ Such sins have the effect of unsealing the promise of exaltation.³¹ Those that have had their calling and election made sure and then commit an unpardonable sin become sons of perdition.³²

Some people are, and will be, physically protected after their calling and election is made sure,³³ but that is not always the case.³⁴ For example, both Joseph and Hyrum Smith had their calling and election made sure during their mortal lives,³⁵ but they both died as martyrs at Carthage, Illinois in 1844.³⁶ The calling and election in mortality does not guarantee continued life in a fallen world.³⁷