AGENCY

 

AGENCY

1.”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.”

 

-Boyd K. Packer “Cleansing the Inner Vessel” October 2012

 

2. “Let us resolve to follow the Savior and work with diligence to become the person we were designed to become. Let us listen to and obey the promptings of the Holy Spirit. As we do so, Heavenly Father will reveal to us things we never knew about ourselves. He will illuminate the path ahead and open our eyes to see our unknown and perhaps unimagined talents. The more we devote ourselves to the pursuit of holiness and happiness, the less likely we will be on a path to regrets. The more we rely on the Savior’s grace, the more we will feel that we are on the track our Father in Heaven has intended for us.”

 

-Dieter F. Uchtdorf “Of Regrets and Resolutions” October 2012 General Conference

 

3. “Agency—our power to choose—is fundamental to the gospel plan that brings us to earth. God does not intervene to forestall the consequences of some persons’ choices in order to protect the well-being of other persons—even when they kill, injure, or oppress one another—for this would destroy His plan for our eternal progress (compare Alma 42:8). He will bless us to endure the consequences of others’ choices, but He will not prevent those choices (compare Mosiah 24:14–15).”

 

-Dallin H. Oaks “Love and Law” November 2009

 

4. "We tend to think of agency as a personal matter. If we ask someone to define 'moral agency,' the answer will probably be something like this: 'Moral agency means I am free to make choices for myself.' Often overlooked is the fact that choices have consequences; we forget also that agency offers the same privilege of choice to others. At times we will be affected adversely by the way other people choose to exercise their agency. Our Heavenly Father feels so strongly about protecting our agency that he allows his children to exercise it, either for good or for evil."

 

-M. Russell Ballard “Answer to Life’s Questions” May 1995

 

5. "If pain and sorrow and total punishment immediately followed the doing of evil, no soul would repeat a misdeed. If joy and peace and rewards were instantaneously given the doer of good, there could be no evil--all would do good and not because of the rightness of doing good. There would be no test of strength, no development of character, no growth of powers, no free agency. . . . There would also be an absence of joy, success, resurrection, eternal life, and godhood."

 

-Spencer W. Kimball “The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball” 1982

 

6.” Endowed with agency, you and I are agents, and we primarily are to act and not just be acted upon. To believe that someone or something can make us feel offended, angry, hurt, or bitter diminishes our moral agency and transforms us into objects to be acted upon. As agents, however, you and I have the power to act and to choose how we will respond to an offensive or hurtful situation."

 

-David A. Bednar, “And Nothing Shall Offend Them” November 2006

 

7. "The way to exaltation is not a freeway featuring unlimited vision, unrestricted speeds, and untested skills. Rather, it is known by many forks and turnings, sharp curves, and controlled speeds. Our driving ability is being put to the test. Are we ready? We’re driving. We haven’t passed this way before. Fortunately, the Master Highway Builder, even our Heavenly Father, has provided a road map showing the route to follow. He has placed markers along the way to guide us to our destination."

 

-Thomas S. Monson, “Crisis at the Crossroads” November 2002

 

8. "You are to do the choosing here and now during this exciting and wonderful time on earth. Moral agency, the freedom to choose, is certainly one of God's greatest gifts next to life itself. We have the honorable right to choose; therefore, we need to choose the right. This is not always easy."

 

-Dieter F. Uchtdorf,"Your Right to Choose the Right” May 2005

 

9. "As we learn in [the] scriptures, the fundamental purposes for the gift of agency were to love one another and to choose God. Thus we become God's chosen and invite His tender mercies as we use our agency to choose God. . . .

". . . The Father's work is to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of His children. Our work is to keep His commandments with all of our might, mind, and strength—and we thereby become chosen and, through the Holy Ghost, receive and recognize the tender mercies of the Lord in our daily lives."

 

-David A. Bednar, “The Tender Mercies of the Lord” May 2005

 

10. "Life's journey is not traveled on a freeway devoid of obstacles, pitfalls, and snares. Rather, it is a pathway marked by forks and turnings. 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. The call for courage comes constantly to each of us. It has ever been so, and so shall it ever be."

 

-Thomas S. Monson, “The Call For Courage” May 2004

 

Position Statement:

 

The gift of choice from a loving Heavenly Father is such a blessing. To know that I have the opportunity to choose for myself, and to be blessed greatly when I do what is right is so important. However, I know that consequences follow when we use our agency in unrighteous ways. I am grateful for a loving God and His commandments that bring us happiness as we use our agency to follow Him and His ways.