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 us 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 forgiven. 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
Agenc y Is Essential to Our Eternal Progress
decreed in heaven . . . , upon which
all blessings are predicated” (D&C
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. 1
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).
Note
1. See True to the Faith (2004), 12.
What W e B e li e ve
1. Our mortal life is a period
of testing to see how we
will use our agency (see
Abraham 3:25).
After the Fall, Adam and Eve “had moral agency or the ability
to choose between good and evil. This made it possible for
them to learn and progress. It also made it possible for them to
make wrong choices and to sin” (Preach My Gospel [2004], 49).
2. 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; D&C 29:39.)
3. Our Heavenly Father
gave each of us the Light of
Christ so that we may know
good from evil (see Moroni
7:12–17).
4. When we choose our
course of action, whether
good or bad, we also
choose the consequences
attached to our actions (see
Deuteronomy 11:26–28;
30:15–20; Galatians 6:7;
Revelation 22:12).
5. Because “[we] are permitted
to act for [ourselves],”
we are responsible for
our actions (see Helaman
14:30–31).
6. When we choose to obey
God’s commandments, our
options increase, and we
have more freedom (see
2 Nephi 2:27; D&C 58:26–
28; 93:20).
7. 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).
8. 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).
9. We must humble ourselves
and “pray continually”
so that we can resist temptation
(see Alma 13:28).
“Wherefore, men 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).
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