OBEDIENCE TO LAW IS LIBERTY Summary

183rd Annual General Conference of

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

Sunday Morning, 7 April 2013

Key Doctrines and Principles:

Man’s agency has been the cause of war since the beginning of time: it preceded our earthly existence, continues today, and “each choice you and I make is a test of our agency—whether we choose to be obedient or disobedient to the commandments of God ... a choice between “liberty and eternal life” and “captivity and death.”

This war, of evil versus good, is a war of words and desires controlled by thoughts from within ourselves. Society, as a whole, has begun to diverge from the protective influence of obedience, to the “loving counsel” God gave his children, as we now largely disregard and “routinely dismiss” six of the 10 commandments. These moral absolutes are for the good of all.

Elder Perry concurs with the small book of directives given to soldiers that states, “In the universe . . . where God is in command, there is law—universal, eternal … law—with certain blessings and immutable penalties.”

Favorite Quotes:

“Today we find ourselves in another war. This is not a war of armaments. It is a war of thoughts, words, and deeds. It is a war with sin, and more than ever we need to be reminded of the commandments. Secularism is becoming the norm, and many of its beliefs and practices are in direct conflict with those that were instituted by the Lord Himself for the benefit of His children.”

“President Harold B. Lee said, ‘Next to life itself, free agency is God’s greatest gift to mankind (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Harold B. Lee 2000, 4.)’  [In pre-mortal existence] it was no small thing for Satan to disregard man’s agency. In fact, it became the principal issue over which the War in Heaven was fought. Victory in the War in Heaven was a victory for man’s agency." 

“Satan, however, was not done. His backup plan—the plan he has been executing since the time of Adam and Eve—was to tempt men and women, essentially to prove we are undeserving of the God-given gift of agency.”

So what?

 We are free to act to choose eternal happiness or misery (2 Nephi 2; 10:23). “None of us should ever underestimate how driven Satan is to succeed. His role in God’s eternal plan creates “opposition in all things” (2 Nephi 2:11) and tests our agency.” Our eternal happiness and liberty come from obedience to the commandments and laws of God.