Agency

Agency:

“As we learn in these scriptures, the fundamental purposes for the gift ofagency 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.”-Elder Bednar, February Ensign 2012

“As Latter-day Saints, however, we are to use our moral agency and utilize our opportunities for growth. Everyone has weaknesses. The adversary knows the Achilles’ heel of your loved ones, your friends, your roommates, your brothers and sisters, and your parents. Do you understand your Achilles’ heel?”-Elder Hales, September 2011

“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 Christofferson, June 2009

“Our agency is essential to the plan of salvation. With it we 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.”^- Elder Hales, October 2010

“Moral agency is a vital element in our Father in Heaven’s plan of happiness. He understood that some of His spirit children would use that agency improperly, causing serious problems to others.”-Elder Scott, April 2008

“If you are slipping into things that you should not slip into or if you are associating with people who are pulling you away in the wrong direction, that is the time to assert your independence, your agency. Listen to the voice of the Spirit, and you will not be led astray”.-Elder Packer, Counsel to Youth, October Conference 2011

“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.”-Elder Oaks, Love and Law, Conference October 2009

“The War in Heaven was fought after Satan said that he would force everyone to obey his ideas. That was rejected. As a result, we have our moral agency and the freedom to choose our course in this life. But we also are accountable for that agency.” –Elder Cook, Stewardship-A sacred trust, Conference October 2009

“The voice of the Lord is clear and unmistakable. He knows you. He loves you. He wants you to be eternally happy. But according to your God-given agency, the choice is yours.”-Elder Ballard, Learning Lesson’s of the Past, Conference April 2009

“We were given our agency.  We must use it wisely and remain close to the Spirit; otherwise, we foolishly find ourselves yielding to the enticements of the adversary. We know that through the Atonement of Jesus our mistakes can be washed clean, and our mortal body will be restored to its perfect frame.”-Elder Packer, Prayer and Promptings, Conference October 2009

Position Statement:

            Agency, what a concept. It is over agency that a third of the host of heaven was lost in a great war, it was agency that allows us to chose for ourselves to come to this earth and go through the trials of a mortal life, it is agency that Christ had to take the bitter cup and atone for our sins so that we may be clean. Where would we be without agency, I don’t think that there is any mind that can comprehend what it would be like, and thankfully we will never have to worry about such a thing as long as we are willing to follow the commandments and covenants given to us by the Lord, otherwise we slowly lose our agency and give to the hands of Satan.