Thou Mayest choose for thyself

   Agency is ones of God's greatest gifts.  Each and every one of us has been given the opportunity to make our own decisions.  This is a gift that is overlooked alot of the time. However, just think about how many times each day you utilize this gift.  Just imagine if it was taken away.

       
                          

     Imagine going out to eat and ordering a steak, only to have the waiter tell you that you may not have it, that you must have the burger instead. How would you feel? The choice between steak and a burger is a fairly simple one, but it demonstrates a characteristic of human nature: we don't like to be forced into decisions we're capable of making for ourselves. Even when we face more serious decisions, ones with moral implications, it is important that we choose for ourselves. God gave us our agency and will always respect our freedom to make choices. While we are “accountable” for our choices and there will always be consequences for those choices both good and bad, God has never approved of using force. In fact, God has the spirit of freedom and He knows that the human spirit requires freedom to effectively serve and believe in Him. He told Adam and Eve not to eat the forbidden fruit, but He also said, “nevertheless, thou mayest choose for thyself.” (Moses 3:17)

        We are encouraged to stand up for what we believe, regardless of prevailing opinion. It may not be easy, popular, or fun. Sometimes taking a stand means subjecting yourself to ridicule, slander or even abuse. In this kind of situation, a person can rely on the Lord to help them maintain their beliefs. He expects us to do what we believe is right in any situation, and He will help us have the moral courage to do it.  For example, just because many films portray physical intimacy before marriage as perfectly acceptable doesn’t mean it is. Our character will be developed and refined when we make choices based on what’s morally right. And despite prevailing wisdom, there really is a right and wrong in the world. Truth isn’t relative to ones circumstances and neither is sin.

       I know that as we use our agency to do good, we will be blessed in our life and we will find ourselves happy to the end of our lives and in a state of "never ending happiness" in the life to come. (Mosiah 2:41)