Agency

Agency

“Our degree of gratitude is a measure of our love for Him.” Elder Russell M. Nelson, General Conference, April 1, 2012

“We don’t stop to ask a man who is drowning if he needs help, we just jump in. Such in life saying ‘Let me know if I can help,’ isn’t really doing any good. … Be enlisted and encouraged.” Ronald A. Rashband, General Conference, April 1, 2012

“Whenever we choose to come unto Christ, take His name upon us, and follow His servants, we progress along the path to eternal life.” Elder Robert D. Hales, Ensign, November 2010, pg 24-27

“Help our children make their own connection with Heaven. … Help them learn to exercise their agency with the guide of Heaven.” Larry Y. Wilson of the Seventy, General Conference, April 1, 2012

“Because the eternal principle of agency gives us the freedom to choose and think for ourselves, we should become increasingly able to solve problems. We may make the occasional mistake, but as long as we are following gospel principles and guidelines, we can learn from those mistakes and become more understanding of others and more effective in serving them.” Elder M. Russell Ballard, Ensign, Nov. 2006, pg 18–20

“Given that there must be opposition in all things (see 2 Ne. 2:11), with agency comes the need to choose good from evil. Moreover, agency also opens the possibility for sin; that, in turn, creates the need for repentance.” Elder L. Tom Perry, Ensign, November 1999, LDS.org

“When we use the term moral agency, we are appropriately emphasizing the accountability that is an essential part of the divine gift of agency. We are moral beings and agents unto ourselves, free to choose but also responsible for our choices.” Elder D. Todd Christofferson, Ensign, June 2009, LDS.org

“You and I were among those who used their agency to accept Heavenly Father’s plan to come to earth, to have a mortal life, to progress. …Now we are here on earth, where opportunities to use our agency abound…” Elder Robert D. Hales, Ensign, May 2006, LDS.org

“Free agency means the freedom and power to choose and act. Next to life itself, it is man’s most precious inheritance.” President Marion G. Romney, Ensign, May 1976, LDS.org

“Belief in the goodness and power of God is greatly facilitated by understanding His plan of salvation with its crucial allowance for mankind’s moral agency, real moral agency—with real mistakes and with real consequences! His plan includes real tests, real dilemmas, real anguish, and real joy.” Elder Neal A. Maxwell, Ensign, November 1987, LDS.org

Position:

We have been given agency for our good. However, if we choose to exercise our agency in a way that allows Satan to have power over us he will try to destroy us. Our Heavenly Father has blessed us with agency to help us grow and learn for ourselves. What we do with our agency can ultimately determine how happy we are. I know that as long as I use my agency to try and follow Heavenly Father’s teachings I know that I will be happy and eventually be able to return to Him.