Some exercise a great desire for truth. They end up on the far right of the Pareto distribution of spiritual intelligence; they are far more spiritually intelligent than others. Applying ratios from measurable forms of human production, it stands to reason that 80% of the light resides within 20% of the people, and that the top 1% produce 34% of the light. In the scriptures, these are called the “noble and great ones”:
22 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.
24 And there stood one among them that was like unto God, and he said unto those who were with him: We will go down, for there is space there, and we will take of these materials, and we will make an earth whereon these may dwell;
25 And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them; (Abraham 3)
What makes them noble and great? As quoted previously in Alma 13, it is merely that they exercised greater effort in obtaining light and truth and obedience to what they obtained than their fellows. This blessing is available to all, but not all desire it.
Why did God send the “noble and great ones” here? Why was it necessary for them to be here in order for the rest of the spirits to be proved to see if they would “do all things whatsoever that God shall command them?”
These people are vital to holding creation together. Just as the first world would fall apart without the production of the top 20% of producers, leaving a desolation for the remaining 80%, the spiritual top 20%: (1) Emit the light and truth necessary to stay the entropy that would otherwise destroy this world in a literal, physical sense; and (2) Churn out light and truth for the “residue of men,” just like large trees churn nutrients to the surface via their dropped leaves for the benefit of shallow-root plants:
And by so doing, the Lord God prepareth the way that the residue of men may have faith in Christ, that the Holy Ghost may have place in their hearts, according to the power thereof; and after this manner bringeth to pass the Father, the covenants which he hath made unto the children of men. (Moroni 7:32)
These light bearers, through their condescension, provide opportunities for light and truth beyond what is deserved by the people who are exposed to it. Just as the sun receives unperceived energy and transmits it outward, energy that is transformed into light that is effectual to our earth, “chosen vessels” perceive and respond to the light that comes from God but is unknown and unknowable to normal people. They transform it into packets of light and truth that are easier to be understood and received by normal people.
This comes in at least two ways.
Most are familiar with the mechanism of explicit teaching for the promulgation of truth:
1 ...the Lord God ordained priests, after his holy order, which was after the order of his Son, to teach these things unto the people.
3 ...they were ordained...from the foundation of the world...on account of their exceeding faith and good works....
6 ...to teach his commandments unto the children of men, that they also might enter into his rest. (Alma 13)
Fewer are aware of the much larger benefit that these people provide by creating and sustaining systems that promote righteous living.
There are three kinds of people in this life. The first kind will be good, no matter in what environment they are placed. The second kind are good if they are placed in an environment that supports and encourages that. The third kind are bad, no matter in what environment they are placed. The second describes most people on this earth.
It takes those who will do what is right no matter what to create environments where the majority can be better than they otherwise would. Whether it is in the receipt and publication of commandments, the creation and sustainment of righteous culture, or the creation and sustainment of governments or other organizations, these actions go far in helping others experience a better life than they would if left to their own devices.
The prophet-king Nephi provided an example of what God expects from those he has blessed with greater light and truth. Nephi's job was to a) acquire more light and truth than his fellows by applying more heed and diligence than they did, and b) sacrifice himself to a greater extent for their benefit than they themselves did. Though Nephi was indeed more advanced than his brothers, he suffered far more than they did. It was not a glamorous job. It wasn't something to be envied. This is the unavoidable experience of all who, like Nephi, listen to God's voice and do what he says. They will unavoidably receive more light and truth than their fellows, immediately be charged to impart what they can of what they have received to others, and consistently be rejected and persecuted because of their attempts to help others.