Agency: Our Right to Chose

​    The Lord is completely dedicated to the gift of agency. He will never compel chase or demand. His is not a game of tag where he is chasing after you to proclaimed “you’re it” with a forceful hand on your back. He is however, as Elder Patrick Kearon recently said in his talk "God Intends to bring you home, in relentless pursuit of you." The former bing as one seeking a fugitive with shackles to drag the offender back to prison. Latter done in love and persuasion. As one would in courting or "pursuing" a companion. Not done in force negating the pursued agency but done with the love and right of his children to choose in mind      

    His commitment to agency has been from the beginning. Even in the pre-existence and at the  presentation of the plan. he gave us an opportunity to choose. A plan were given to us. One of agency directed by our savior with the ability to make mistake and learn from said mistakes. Another plan was raised in opposition. one presented by Lucifer which would rob us of our opportunity to learn and grow. A plan built on compulsion. Even though the plan the devil presented was flawed. Our father in heaven still allowed him to present it and choose not to follow the other. Our father even allowed a third of his children to follow Lucifer in not choosing the better way. Many say why would god allow bad people to do bad things. The fact is he has allowed it even before the foundation of the world and at the outset of the plan. And the consequences fallowed. 

    With that said all choices have consequences. Now that word I think comes with some baggage. We tend to only use it when speaking of the results of poor choices. But the fact is good choices and bad have consequences. But in the case of the good we would call them blessings. "In this mortal process all individuals have great worth, but not all individuals make equally worthwhile choices....while we are free to choose, we are not free to alter the consequences of our choices" ( Elder Neal A. Maxwell "Not My Will, But Thine") So those that do bad will reap bad and those that do good will reap good. 

    Going back to the grand council. There were consequences for rebelling against our father. It wasn’t like Lucifer said I have an idea, when he was told no we will go the other way, he didn’t just said ok sounds good thanks for listening. His was full on revolt and rejection of the father’s plan. His was to seek honor and glory for him and him alone. There was no selflessness, or sacrifice. Because of such actions he was no longer permitted in the kingdom and was cast out. Along with his followers. Because they had no faith or trust in the father and saviors and in their plan. They only saw that pain and suffering that would come from such a plan, and thought them self more wiser than God. They didn’t see the eternal blessing and promise that was only available through the father’s plan. The risk reward was not sufficient to them. 

    To this day we fight this same battle. The compulsion of choice and the liberty of choice. The former allows for no growth. Drones that are programmed to never step outside there programing. Ever kept in line by those around them scoffed and scored to correction if they falter. "Satan Shall be their father, and misery shall be their doom; and the whole heavens shall weep over them, even all the workmanship of mine hands; wherefore shall not the heavens weep, seeing these shall suffer." (Moses 7:37) under The Satan's plan we would have indeed suffered having to face the full weight of justice and with no mercy to save us.

    The latter allows those to make mistake. They may learn that all has its opposite. They may learn from there own experience. ".... know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for they good" (D&C 122:7) hands on learning. As such there will be those that choose things according to their own desires. They will reject virtue and grab hold of sin. And there will be those who do not. But we are allowed to choose. Because of this many will do good in this world and there will be others who take advantage of their fellow man. That is the risk our father offers that we might choose him and his ways. That we might come to a greater understanding of his laws and what he is offering if we follow them. "....I gave unto them their knowledge, in the day I created them; and in the Garden of Eden, gave I unto man his agency; And unto they brethren have I said also given commandments, that they should love one another, and that they should choose me, there Father; but behold, they are without affection and they hate their own blood" (Moses 7:32-33) If we choose him we have hope receive the “consequences” offered to those who turn from the natural man -the selfish and prideful self- and are made new through Christ. being able to return home and save us from danger and suffering. that is why he is in "relentless pursuit of us 

"True discipleship is for volunteers only. only volunteers will trust the Guide sufficiently to follow Him into the dangerous ascent which only he can lead" (Elder Neal A. Maxwell "Not My Will, But Thine") 

     He will lead us in the fight that was started long ago. The battle to chose to learn and become as our Father. The battle to return home. The other side led by Lucifer cannot return home they will do everything to make sure you can’t ether. He wants you to rebel as he did. To toss aside the blessing of heaven and seek your own honor and glory as he did. All by getting you to miss use the one thing he was afforded in heaven and which he desperately wants to take away, that he might be greater than God. "Satan cried with a loud voice, and ranted upon the earth, and commanded, saying I am the Only Begotten, worship me....(Moses) Calling upon God he received strength, and he commanded, saying: Depart from me, Satan, for this one God only will I worship, which is the god of glory." (Moses 1:19-20) Moses chose wisely. 

    Choosing is ours to wheeled for good or bad. And let’s face it many of us are a mix of broth. We reap the outcome of both. We are all flawed and have been since the fall of Adam. But the devil ether didn’t account for or was unwilling to do the work necessary to truly save us. Because of the love and devotion of our savior for us. And because of his love and submissions to the father, he gave us a safety net. Something that catches us from that fall. Where Lucifer would have had it that we never jumped to begin with. He would have made our choices for us. 

    "When you make choices, I invite you to take the long view--an eternal view. Put Jesus Christ first because your eternal life is dependent upon your faith in Him and in His
Atonement. It is also dependent upon your obedience to His laws....

As you focus on thinking celestial expect to encounter opposition...

As you think celestial you will find yourself avoiding anything that robs you of your agency"

(President Russell M. Nelson "Think Celestial" Oct 2023 General conference, Sunday afternoon Session) 

In the name of Jesus Christ amen.