Agency
Where I stand on this topic:
President
Thomas S. Monson teaches that obedience “to the commandments of God” is an “unfailing guide [to] . . . A knowledge of truth and the answers to our
greatest questions . . ..” He explains that President Gordon B.
Hinckley said, ‘The happiness of the Latter-day
Saints, the peace of the Latter-day Saints, the progress of the Latter-day
Saints, the prosperity of the Latter-day Saints, and the eternal salvation and
exaltation of this people lie in walking in obedience to the counsels of … God (Dec 1971, 125).’
“All
are born with the Light of Christ, a guiding influence
which permits each person to recognize right from wrong. What we do with that light and
how we respond to those promptings to live righteously is part of the test of mortality. (Moroni 7:16) Each of us must stay in condition to
respond to inspiration and the promptings of the Holy Ghost. The
Lord has a way of pouring pure intelligence into our minds to prompt us, to
guide us, to teach us, and to warn us. Each [child] of God can know the things they
need to know instantly.” [ii] President Boyd K Packer counsels us to, “Learn to receive and act on inspiration and revelation." [iii]
"The
Prophet Joseph pointed out that before your baptism, you could be on neutral ground between good and
evil. But 'when you joined this Church you enlisted to serve God. . . .' His
counsel was that we must never forsake the Master. [iv]
“There is also an age-old excuse: ‘The devil made me do it.’ Not so! . . . An individual determines of his or her own free will to be obedient to our Father and our God and expresses that willingness to Him in prayer. . . . (My emphasis.) Our agency is more powerful than the adversary’s will. Agency is precious. We can foolishly, blindly give it away, but it cannot be forcibly taken from us.” [v] (My emphasis.)
“There is also an age-old excuse: ‘The devil made me do it.’ Not so! . . . An individual determines of his or her own free will to be obedient to our Father and our God and expresses that willingness to Him in prayer. . . . (My emphasis.) Our agency is more powerful than the adversary’s will. Agency is precious. We can foolishly, blindly give it away, but it cannot be forcibly taken from us.” [v] (My emphasis.)
How this affects my future:
Prophets
warn and guide me. “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,” cautions L Tom Perry. [vi]
“Obedience
is a hallmark of prophets,” teaches President
Thomas S Monson. “It is essential for us to realize that we, as well, are
entitled to this source of strength and knowledge. It is readily
available to each of us today as we obey . . . The great test of this life is
obedience. . . . The knowledge which [I] seek, the answers for which [I] yearn,
and the strength which [I] desire today to meet the challenges of a complex and
changing world can be [mine] when [I] willingly obey the Lord’s commandments.”
President
Henry B Eyring teaches, “We [are] to take the gospel to all the world . . . [Jesus
said] . . . I give unto you a
commandment, that every . . . member, go to with his might . . . and
let your preaching be the warning voice, every man to his neighbor, in mildness
and in meekness. . . . And go ye out from among the wicked. Save yourselves. Be
ye clean . . . (Doctrine and Covenants 38:40–42)” [viii] Obedience to save myself and others is a daily
choice.
Russel M
Nelson informs, “An unprecedented wave of enthusiasm for missionary work is sweeping the entire earth . . . a
wave of truth and righteousness.” He instructs, “. . . see your opportunity to
be on the crest of that wave. . . [it] is wondrous! . . . catch this
wave and fulfill the
Lord’s command to take the gospel ‘to every nation, and kindred, and tongue,
and people’ (Revelation 14:6; see also 1 Nephi 19:17; Doctrine and Covenants 133:37).” [
My plan to apply it in my life:
“Use your agency to develop
yourself personally. . . [by letting] the Spirit guide you," directs Elder
Robert D Hales. "Choose and act for yourself. Be motivated from within. Make
a plan for your life. . . . Explore interests and skills. Work and become
self-reliant. Set goals, overcome mistakes, gain experience, and finish what
you begin. . . . Be sure to participate . . . enjoy wholesome fun. . . . Above all, have faith in the Savior! Fear
not! As we diligently live the gospel, we become strong in the Lord. .
. . In the strength of the Lord we are able to stand against any
philosophy or creed that denies the Savior and contradicts the great, eternal
plan of happiness for all of God’s children.” [x] (Emphasis mine.)
I can follow this counsel by trying to “Be certain that
every decision [I] make, whether temporal or spiritual, is conditioned on what
the Savior would have [me] do,” as suggested by Elder Richard G Scott. He
warns, “Don’t rationalize away future happiness by taking shortcuts instead of
applying sound gospel principles. . . . Remember: little things lead to big
things. Seemingly insignificant indiscretions or neglect can lead to big
problems. More importantly, simple, consistent, good habits lead to a life full
of bountiful blessings.”
“Recognize the good in others, not
their stains. At times a stain needs appropriate attention to be cleansed, but
always build on . . . virtues.”
“Be wise in how you embrace
technology. Mark important scriptures on your [personal electronic] device and
refer back to them frequently. If you . . . review a verse of scripture
as often as some of you send text messages, you could soon have hundreds of
passages of scripture memorized. Those passages would prove to be a powerful
source of inspiration and guidance by the Holy Ghost in times of need.” [xi] Elder Scott further
explains, “When we obey a law, we receive a blessing. When we break a
law, there is nothing left over from prior obedience to satisfy the demands of
justice for that broken law.”
The prophets consistently counsel
me to study scriptures every day for, “understanding of the Atonement and the
insight it provides for [my] life [to] greatly enhance [my] productive use of all of the
knowledge, experience, and skills [I] acquire in mortal life.” Elder
Scott also advises, “As you ponder—not just read but ponder and meditate—on
scriptural passages, the power of the Holy Ghost will
distill truths in your mind and heart as a secure foundation in this uncertain
time in which we live. . . . Resolve to make the Lord Jesus Christ the living
center of your home. . . . When the Savior is the center of your home, it is
filled with peace and serenity. There is a spirit of calm assurance that
pervades the home that is felt by the children and adults alike.”
“The best way to make a permanent
change for good is to make Jesus Christ your model and His teachings your guide
for life.” [xii]
NOTES:
[i]
PRESIDENT THOMAS S MONSON, President of The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter Day Saints, “Obedience Brings Blessings,”
183rd Annual General Conference, April 7, 2013
[ii]
PRESIDENT BOYD K. PACKER, President
of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, “TheseThings I Know,” 183rd
Annual General Conference, 7 April 2013
[iii]
Ibid
[iv]
(See Teachings
of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith (2007), 324; see also Revelation 3:15–16.) ELDER QUENTIN L COOK of the Quorum
of the Twelve Apostles, “Can Ye Feel So Now?” 182nd Semi-annual
General Conference, 6 October 2012
[v]
PRESIDENT BOYD K. PACKER, President
of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles,
“Cleansing the Inner Vessel,” 180th Semi-Annual General
Conference, October 2010
[vi]
ELDER L. TOM PERRY of
the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, “Obedience to Law is Liberty,”
183rd Annual General Conference, 7April 2013
[vii]
PRESIDENT THOMAS S MONSON, President of The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter Day Saints, “Obedience Brings Blessings,”
183rd Annual General Conference, April 7, 2013
[viii]
ELDER HENRY B EYRING,
First Counselor in the First Presidency, “We Are
One,” 183rd Annual
General Conference, 6
April 2013
[ix]
ELDER RUSSELL M
NELSON of the Quorum of the
Twelve Apostles, “Catch
the Wave,” 183rd Annual General Conference, 7 April 2013
[x]
ELDER ROBERT D HALES of the Quorum of
the Twelve Apostle “Stand Strong in
Holy Places,”183rd
Annual General Conference, 6 April 2013
[xi]
ELDER RICHARD G. SCOTT of
the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, “For Peace at Home” 183rd Annual
General Conference, 6 April 2013
[xii]
ELDER RICHARD G.
SCOTT of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles,
“He
Lives! All Glory to His Name!” 180th Annual
General Conference, April 2010
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