Agency

Agency

“He cannot influence us unless we allow him to do so, and he knows that! The only time he can affect our minds and bodies—our very spirits—is when we allow him to do so. In other words, we do not have to succumb to his enticements!” Act for Ourselves: The Gift and Blessings of Agency, Robert D. Hales, April, 2006

“Agency used righteously allows light to dispel the darkness and enables us to live with joy and happiness in the present, look with faith to the future, even into the eternities, and not dwell on the things of the past.” Act for Ourselves: The Gift and Blessings of Agency, Robert D. Hales, April, 2006

“When you choose whether to make or keep a covenant with God, you choose whether you will leave an inheritance of hope to those who might follow your example.”  A Priceless Heritage of Hope, President Henry B. Erying, April, 2014   

“Our loving Heavenly Father knows that choosing to develop a spirit of gratitude will bring us true joy and great happiness.” Grateful in Any Circumstances, President D Uchtdorf, April, 2014

“We cannot force God’s children to choose the way to happiness. God cannot do that because of the agency He has given us.” To My Grandchildren, President, Henry B. Eyring, October, 2013

“It is impossible for us to fail when we do our best when we are on the Lord’s errand. While the outcome is a result of the exercise of one’s agency, sharing the gospel is our responsibility.” Put your trust in the Lord, Elder Ballard

“Strong, proactive obedience is anything but weak or passive. It is the means by which we declare our faith in God and qualify ourselves to receive the powers of heaven. Obedience is a choice. It is a choice between our own limited knowledge and power and God’s unlimited wisdom and omnipotence” Obedience through Our Faithfulness, Elder Perry

“Each choice you and I make is a test of our agency—whether we choose to be obedient or disobedient to the commandments of God is actually a choice between “liberty and eternal life” and “captivity and death.”” Obedience to Law Is Liberty, Elder Perry

“Our agency—our ability to choose and act for ourselves—was an essential element of this plan. Without agency we would be unable to make right choices and progress. Yet with agency we could make wrong choices, commit sin, and lose the opportunity to be with Heavenly Father again.” Agency: Essential to the Plan of Life, Elder Robert D. Hales, October, 2010

“As we understand the challenge of repenting, we appreciate the blessings of the Holy Ghost to guide our agency and Heavenly Father, who gives us commandments and strengthens and sustains us in keeping them. We also understand how obedience to the commandments ultimately protects our agency.” Agency: Essential to the Plan of Life, Elder Robert D. Hales, October, 2010

In reading each talk to find the quotes that I liked best I learned many new things about agency.  I believe that the Lord was very smart in letting us have agency in our lives.  Without the opportunity or agency to make our own choices we would not be able to show that Lord that we could or are willing to make right choices.  Agency gives us the opportunity to show how much we have learned and how we are going to us that information that we have gained.  As we us agency in our lives and gain more confidence in the choices we are making.