Our distance from the Lord matters, but the direction we are heading is more important

"The closer we are to Jesus Christ in the thoughts and intents of our hearts, the more we appreciate His innocent suffering, the more grateful we are for grace and forgiveness, and the more we want to repent and become like Him. Our absolute distance from Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ is important, but the direction we are heading is even more crucial. God is more pleased with repentant sinners who are trying to draw closer to Him than with self-righteous, faultfinding individuals who, like the Pharisees and scribes of old, do not realize how badly they need to repent."

- Elder Dale G. Renlund, Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, “That I Might Draw All Men unto Me”, General Conference, April 2016

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2016/04/that-i-might-draw-all-men-unto-me?lang=eng

If we do not choose to move toward Him, we will find that we have moved away

"I must add to my pleading a warning. You have the right and the obligation to choose for yourselves. You can search the scriptures or not. You can choose to work hard enough, to ponder, and to obey His commandments so that the Holy Ghost can be your companion. Then you will come to know the Savior better and better and your heart will swell with love for Him. Or you can choose to delay. You can choose to drift, deciding past efforts will be enough.

"My warning is a simple matter of cause and effect. Jesus Christ is the light and the life of the world. If we do not choose to move toward Him, we will find that we have moved away."

- Elder Henry B. Eyring, Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, "Always," Ensign, Oct 1999
http://www.lds.org/ensign/1999/10/always?lang=eng

"If one wants to get close to God, he can do it by reading the Book of Mormon."

- Harold B. Lee, Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Harold B. Lee, (2000), p. 62
http://www.lds.org/manual/teachings-harold-b-lee/chapter-7?lang=eng