AGENCY
"That every man may act in doctrine and principle pertaining to
futurity, according to the moral agency which I have given unto him, that every man may be accountable for his own sins in the day of judgment."
Doctrine & Covenants 101:78
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Men of the world and
Satan himself would have us believe that following God’s laws and commandments
keep us in bondage from true freedom. However, what I know is that we have
latter-day apostles and a loving prophet who give guidance and truth in an ever-changing
world. Through them we have been taught that agency is a gift from our Father
in Heaven which allows us to recognize the consequences of our actions. The
opportunity to choose good over evil opens doors and possibilities that the
ways of the world could never offer. To use my agency in this life is to
overcome trials and discouragements and prove myself worthy to
live with Heavenly Father again in eternal joy and gladness. When I use my
agency for good, I am giving myself a life of freedom and knowledge that only a
true testimony of God and my Savior can provide.
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"In our premortal
state we chose to follow the Savior Jesus Christ! And because we did, we were
allowed to come to earth. I testify that by making the same choice to follow
the Savior now, while we are here on earth, we will obtain an even greater
blessing in the eternities. But let it be known: we must continue to choose to
follow the Savior. Eternity is at stake, and our wise use of agency and our
actions are essential that we might have eternal life."
Robert D Hales /
Agency: Essential to the Plan of Life / October 2010 General Conference
"Contrary to the
world’s secular teaching, the scriptures teach us that we do have agency, and
our righteous exercise of agency always makes a difference in the opportunities
we have and our ability to act upon them and progress eternally."
Robert D Hales /
Agency: Essential to the Plan of Life / October 2010 General Conference
“Using
our agency to obey means choosing to “do what is right [and letting] the
consequence follow. It requires self-mastery and brings confidence, eternal
happiness, and a sense of fulfillment to us and, by example, to those around
us; and it always includes a deep personal commitment to sustain priesthood
leaders and follow their teachings and counsel.”
Robert D Hales / If You Love Me, Keep My Commandments / April 2014 General Conference
“Obedience
makes us progressively stronger, capable of faithfully enduring tests and
trials in the future. Obedience in Gethsemane prepared the Savior to obey and
endure to the end on Golgotha.”
Robert D Hales / If You Love Me, Keep My Commandments / April 2014 General Conference
"I encourage you who
have already made correct cultural choices to help others to do likewise. Teach
them to recognize the long-term blessings of peace and happiness that come from
a decision to place Father in Heaven, His plan, and His Son at the center of
their priorities."
Richard G Scott /
Removing Barriers to Happiness / April 1998 General Conference
“Men and women receive their agency as a gift
from God, but their liberty and, in turn, their eternal happiness come from
obedience to His laws.”
L Tom Perry / Obedience to Law is Liberty / April 2013 General Conference
“A
useful way to think about the commandments is they are loving counsel from a
wise, all-knowing Heavenly Father. His goal is our eternal happiness, and His
commandments are the road map He has given us to return to Him, which is the
only way we will be eternally happy."
L Tom Perry / Obedience to Law is Liberty / April 2013 General Conference
“Each of
us has the responsibility to choose. You may ask, ‘Are decisions really that
important?’ I say to you, decisions determine destiny. You can’t make eternal
decisions without eternal consequences.”
President Thomas S. Monson / Pathways to Perfection / April 2002 General Conference
"We all
know where we want to go, and it does matter
which way we go, for by choosing our path, we choose our destination. Decisions
are constantly before us. To make them wisely, courage is needed—the courage to
say no, the courage to say yes. Decisions do
determine destiny."
President Monson /
The Three Rs of Choice / October 2010 General Conference
"Moral discipline is
learned at home. While we cannot control what others may or may not do, the
Latter-day Saints can certainly stand with those who demonstrate virtue in
their own lives and inculcate virtue in the rising generation. "
Elder Christofferson
/ Moral Discipline / October 2009 General Conference