How the Gift of Agency Works in Our Lives

Here are several scripture references for you to personally study and ponder on how the gift of agency works in our lives. Pray for the Holy Ghost to testify to you that these scriptures are true.

• Our mortal life is a period of testing to see how we will use our agency. (see Abraham 3:25)

• There must be "opposition in all things" so that we can see the differences between good and evil. This gives us the opportunity to choose. (see 2 Nephi 2:11-16, Doctrine & Covenants 29:39)

• Our Heavenly Father gave each of us the Light of Christ so that we may know good from evil. (see Moroni 7:12-17)

• When we choose our course of action, whether good or bad, we also choose consequences attached to our actions. (see Deuteronomy 11:26-28, 30:15-20; Galatians 6:7; Revelation 22:12)

• Because "[we] are permitted to act for [ourselves]," we are responsible for our actions. (see Helaman 14:30-31).

• When we choose to obey God's commandments, our options increase, and we have more freedom. (see 2 Nephi 2:27; Doctrine & Covenants 58:26-28, 93:20)

• When we choose to disobey God's commandments, our options decrease, and we may become captive to wickedness (see 2 Nephi 2:29; John 8:34)

• Our Heavenly Father "will not suffer [us] to be tempted above that [we] are able; but will...make a way to escape," provided we choose to resist the temptation. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

• We must humble ourselves and "pray continually" so that we can resist temptation. (see Alma 3:28)

Choose Ye This Day

Henry B. Eyring, a disciple of Jesus Christ, urges us to seek God's help to overcome complacency and discouragement and find joy in serving Him today.

Agency is Essential to Our Eternal Progress

Our Heavenly Father has given us agency. This ability to choose for ourselves is an essential part of the plan of salvation.

In the premortal Council in Heaven, our Heavenly Father presented His plan, which included the principle of agency. Lucifer rebelled and "sought to destroy the agency of man" (Moses 4:3). As a result, he and those who followed him were cast out. The rest of us chose Heavenly Father's plan, which allowed up to come to earth and gain a physical body. It also provided a Savior, Jesus Christ, who would atone for our sins. Through repentance we could be forgive. We shouted for joy! (see Job 38:7)

How we use the gift of agency in mortality affects our eternal happiness or misery. The scriptures teach us that "there is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven..., upon which all blessings are predicated" (Doctrine & Covenants 130:20) — and to this law there is also "a punishment affixed" (Alma 42:22). Therefore, when we choose our course of action, we also choose the consequences of our actions (see Galatians 6:7). Although consequences may not be immediate, they will always follow. Choosing to follow God's commandments leads us toward peace and eternal life. Choosing to accept Satan's temptations leads us toward sin and heartache.

The Old Testament prophet Joshua set the example for us when he said, "Choose you this day whom ye will serve...but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." (Joshua 24:15)

taken from the Ensign Magazine,  June 2010

An Anchor To Our Soul

Walking in The Light of Testimony by Harold B. Lee

" The time is coming and facing you right now...when except you have that testimony of certainty that these things [the gospel, the Church, and so on] are true you will not be able to weather the storms that are going to beat upon you and try to tear you from your moorings today. 

But if you know with all your soul that these things are true... you will know who Jesus your Savior is and who God your Father is; you will know what the influence of the Holy Ghost is. If you know those things you will stand as an anchor against all the storms that shall beat upon your house, as the Master's parable described. That one who hears His words and keeps His commandments shall be as the house that was build upon a rock, and when the storms came and the floods beat upon the house and the winds blew, it fell not, because it was founded upon a rock. 

"And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house,; and it fell: and great was the fall of it: (Matthew 7:26-27)."

Teachings of  Presidents of the Church – Harold B. Lee, p 44

We Ever Pray For Thee

We ever pray for thee, our prophet dear,
That God will give to thee comfort and cheer;
As the advancing years furrow thy brow,
Still may the light within shine bright as now,
Still may the light within shine bright as now.

We ever pray for thee with all our hearts,
That strength be given thee to do thy part,
To guide and counsel us from day to day,
To shed a holy light around our way,
To shed a holy light around our way.

We ever pray for thee with fervent love;
And as the children’s prayer is heard above,
Thou shalt be ever blest, and God will give
All that is meet and best while thou shalt live,
All that is meet and best while thou shalt live.

My New Life

Stephanie Nielson, survivor of a near-fatal plane crash, shares her story of a beautiful life centered on faith in Jesus Christ and love of family.

Alma 40:11

" Behold, it has been made known unto me by an angel, that the spirits of all men, as soon as they are departed from this mortal body, yea, the spirits of all men, whether they be good or evil, are taken home to that God who gave them life."

– Alma 40:11

The Book of Mormon bears witness that life does not end when one goes through the experience of physical death. It is the common lot of all who come into this life. Everyone who is born must, sooner or later, die. We are born as helpless infants, and we depart helpless in the face of death. In the purest sense, however, there is no death, and there are no dead. When living things die, they do not cease to be—they merely cease to be in this world. Life goes on. 

Death is a transition, a change in assignment, a transfer to another realm. When we die, the spirit continues to see and act and feel and associate; it is only the physical body that become inactive and lifeless for a season. And so our term death describes things from our limited mortal perspective. From an eternal perspective, there is only life.

– When Ye Shall Receive These Things, p 285