Relief Society Lesson 2/21/10

Freedom to Choose
(Excerpts from Chapter 4 of Gospel Principles)

Agency is an eternal principle....In our premortal life we had moral agency. One purpose of earth life is to show what choices we will make. If we were forced to choose the right, we would not be able to show what we would choose for ourselves. Also, we are happier doing things when we have made our own choices.

Agency was one of the principal issues to arise in the premortal Council in Heaven. It was one of the main causes of the conflict between the followers of Christ and the followers of Satan.

When we choose to live according to God's plan for us, our agency is strengthened. Right choices increase our power to make more right choices.

As we obey each of our Father's commandments, we grow in wisdom and strength of character. Our faith increases. We find it easier to make right choices.

Satan does all he can to destroy God's work. He does not love us (emphasis added). He does not want any good thing for us.

Even though we are free to choose our course of action, we are not free to choose the consequences of our actions.

Heavenly Father has told us how to escape the captivity of Satan. We must watch and pray always, asking God to hep us withstand the temptations of Satan. Our Heavenly Father will not allow us to be tempted beyond our power to resist (see 1 Corinthians 10:13; Alma 13:28).

God's commandments direct us away from danger and toward eternal life. By choosing wisely, we will gain exaltation, progress eternally, and enjoy perfect happiness (see 2 Nephi 2:27-28).

*Sister Marsden gave a beautiful lesson and we had a wonderful discussion on moral agency. She said (from something she had heard from President Monson) that the things we learn in church should cause us to change and be better. We should "think about, feel about, do something about living gospel principles" not just learning the principles. We all have been given the Light of Christ, whether or not we are members of the Church. From this we all know what is inherently right and wrong. And we have been given the gift of moral agency to choose right or wrong. God allows there to be opposition. He allows Satan to tempt us because he would never take away Satan's agency or anyone elses. We are free to choose for ourselves. This is an eternal gift from God.