How happy are those who are merciful, for their reward is to obtain the mercy of heaven. It is requisite that we understand this fact: to obtain forgiveness and mercy we have to be merciful ourselves. “Mercy is for the merciful; mercy is reserved for the righteous; mercy comes to those who keep the commandments. And the Old Testament prophets had similar insight. Hosea said: ‘Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the Lord, till he come and rain righteousness upon you’ (Hosea 10:12)” (Bruce R. McConkie, The Promised Messiah: The First Coming of Christ [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1978], 246).