Agency

Some quotes and thoughts about Agency

"We teach that agency is the ability and privilege God gives us to choose and “to act for [ourselves] and not to be acted upon.” ¹ Agency is to act with accountability and responsibility for our actions. Our agency is essential to the plan of salvation. With it we 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.” 

^{-Robert D. Hales, "Agency: Essential to the Plan of Life", LDS General Conference October 2010}

"Today the only power Satan and his followers have is the power to tempt and try us. Their only joy is to make us “miserable like unto [themselves].” Their only happiness comes when we are disobedient to the Lord’s commandments. But think of it: in our premortal state we chose to follow the Savior Jesus Christ! And because we did, we were allowed to come to earth. I testify that by making the same choice to follow the Savior now, while we are here on earth, we will obtain an even greater blessing in the eternities. But let it be known: we must continue to choose to follow the Savior. Eternity is at stake, and our wise use of agency and our actions are essential that we might have eternal life."

-Robert D. Hales, "Agency: Essential to the Plan of Life", LDS General Conference October 2010

"God has sent mortal servants who can, by the Holy Ghost, help us recognize what He would have us do and what He forbids. God makes it attractive to choose the right by letting us feel the effects of our choices. If we choose the right, we will find happiness - in time. If we choose evil, there comes sorrow and regret - in time. Those effects are sure. Yet they are often delayed for a purpose. If the blessings were immediate, choosing the right would not build faith. And since sorrow is also sometimes greatly delayed, it takes faith to feel the need to seek forgiveness for sin early rather than after we feel its sorrowful and painful effects."

-Henry B. Eyring, "A Priceless Heritage of Hope", LDS General Conference April 2014

"He is pleased every time you try to choose the right. He sees not only what you are but also what you may become."

-Henry B. Eyring, "Daughters in the Covenant", LDS General Conference, General Women's Meeting, April 2014

"In all of this, let us remember that there is an adversary who personally seeks to disrupt the work of the Lord. We must choose whom to follow. Our protection is as simple as deciding individually to follow the Savior, making certain that we faithfully will remain on His side."

-Boyd K. Packer, "The Witness", LDS General Conference April 2014

"Too often we think of obedience as the passive and thoughtless following of the orders or dictates of a higher authority. Actually, at its best, obedience is an emblem of our faith in the wisdom and power of the highest authority, even God."

-L. Tom Perry, "Obedience Through Our Faithfulness", LDS General Conference April 2014

"Obedience is a choice. It is a choice between our own limited knowledge and power and God’s unlimited wisdom and omnipotence."

-L. Tom Perry, "Obedience Through Our Faithfulness", LDS General Conference April 2014

"Truth is truth! It is not divisible, and any part of it cannot be set aside. Whether truth emerges from a scientific laboratory or through revelation, all truth emanates from God. All truth is part of the gospel of Jesus Christ."

-Russell M. Nelson, "Let Your Faith Show", LDS General Conference April 2014

"Spiritual truth cannot be ignored--especially divine commandments. Keeping divine commandments brings blessings, every time! Breaking divine commandments brings a loss of blessings, every time!"

-Russell M. Nelson, "Let Your Faith Show", LDS General Conference April 2014

"We can gain great knowledge from the scriptures and obtain inspiration through prayers of faith. Doing so will help us as we make daily decisions. Especially when the laws of man are created and enforced, God’s laws must ever be our standard."

-Russell M. Nelson, "Let Your Faith Show", LDS General Conference April 2014

"Even if “everyone is doing it,” wrong is never right. Evil, error, and darkness will never be truth, even if popular."

-Russell M. Nelson, "Let Your Faith Show", LDS General Conference April 2014

"Relationships can be strengthened through the veil with people we know and love. That is done by our determined effort to continually do what is right. We can strengthen our relationship with the departed individual we love by recognizing that the separation is temporary and that covenants made in the temple are eternal. When consistently obeyed, such covenants assure the eternal realization of the promises inherent in them."

-Richard G. Scott, "How to Obtain Revelation and Inspiration for Your Personal Life",

LDS General Conference April 2012

"Be Strong. Live the gospel faithfully even if others around you don't live it at all. Defend your beliefs with courtesy and with compassion, but defend them."

-Jeffrey R. Holland, "The Cost - and Blessings - of Discipleship", LDS General Conference April 2014


God blessed us with an incredible gift: our agency. He loves us and wants us to have the opportunity to learn and choose for ourselves. We must respect that gift and now choose wisely. We must make it so we can return back to Him. It's not easy, there are many people choosing the wrong around us and yet society claims it as right, we must not be deceived.  Satan is cunning and will do his best to lead us astray. He must follow the guidance of the Holy Ghost, and always choose the right - we must stand for truth and righteousness.