I Am a Child of God

I am a child of God,
And he has sent me here,
Has given me an earthly home
With parents kind and dear.
Lead me, guide me, walk beside me,
Help me find the way.
Teach me all that I must do
To live with him someday.

I am a child of God,
And so my needs are great;
Help me to understand his words
Before it grows to late.
Lead me, guide me, walk beside me,
Help me find the way.
Teach me all that I must do
To live with him someday.

I am a child of God.
Rich blessings are in store;
If I but learn to do his will
I'll live with hime once more.
Lead me, guide me, walk beside me,
Help me find the way.
Teach me all that I must do
To live with him someday.

I am a child of God.
His promises are sure;
Celestial glory shall be mine
If I can but endure.
Lead me, guide me, walk beside me,
Help me find the way.
Teach me all that I must do
To live with him someday.

Words by Naomi Randall, music by Mildred Pettit

Changing Perceptions

This beautiful video is about Deon Davis, a proud aboriginal man from Australia.

2 Nephi 2:27

"Men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil."

— 2 Nephi 2:27

Agency is freedom of the soul, the unfettered right to choose. It is essential to the plan of salvation. Righteousness cannot be forced because, as Lehi taught, if there is no opportunity for wickedness, there can be no opportunity for righteousness (2 Nephi 10:23). What could righteousness possibly mean if it were forced upon us? The attributes of godliness are developed only when coupled with the ability to choose. The Savior's redeeming sacrifice grants us the opportunity for eternal life—but only if we choose to follow him. The righteous followers of Christ cleave unto that which is "honest, true, chaste, benevolent...virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy" (Article of Faith 13); whereas the companions of evil seek for that which is foolish, false, carnal, sensual, and devilish. That which is of Satan debases. That which is of God exalts and purifies. This is the day to freely and wholly choose the Lord and his righteousness.

— When Ye Shall Receive These Things, p. 89

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