Salt

3 Nephi 12:13 Verily, verily, I say unto you, I give unto you to be the salt of the earth; but if the salt shall lose its savor wherewith shall the earth be salted? The salt shall be thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out and to be trodden under foot of men.

What is salt? What does it do?

It gives flavor. It preserves. It is a germ killer. There are more than 14,000 uses for salt. It is versatile.
From the dictionary: the salt of the earth: a person or group of people of great kindness, reliability, or honesty.


Here is a talk on "salt of the earth" by Elder Carolos E. Asay:
http://lds.org/ensign/1980/05/salt-of-the-earth-savor-of-men-and-saviors-of-men?lang=eng

Here are a few highlights of this very interesting talk. Lots of think about and consider:

The salt in container A, which I am holding in my right hand, has savor. That is, it is clean, pure, uncontaminated, and useful. In this state or condition, salt will preserve, flavor, heal, and perform other useful functions.

The salt in container B, however, is salt that has lost its savor. It has lost its savor because it has been mixed with things of bad taste. In fact, it has taken on some of the color and appearance of other substances.

I count it significant that the headquarters of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is located in Salt Lake City. From this center of the Church flows the message of salvation to all the world. To this city of salt, men and women gather from all corners of the earth to receive instruction and edification. Such instruction, if accepted and practiced, will enable men to retain their savor and assist them in becoming saviors of men.

I pray that all of us will appreciate more perfectly the words of the Savior: “Ye are the salt of the earth.” I pray that we will carry this designation faithfully and honorably.

Please remember that men—like salt—lose their savor through contamination; remember also that men who fail to use their priesthood power in behalf of others are like salt without savor.