Day 323
Principle: Agency is eternal.
Book of Mormon Reading: Mormon 2:17 - 2:29
Mormon writes about the wickedness he views, if God loves these people why does he allow them to choose wickedness?
What does the phrase “we were left to ourselves” mean to you in verse 26?
Ray H. Wood taught: “When a person violates any of God’s commandments, if there is no repentance the Lord withdraws His protective and sustaining influence. When we lose power with God, we know of a certainty that the problem lies within us and not within God. ‘I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise’ (D&C 82:10). Our misdeeds bring despair. They sadden and extinguish the ‘perfect brightness of hope’ offered by Christ (2 Nephi 31:20). Without God’s help, we are left to ourselves” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1999, 54; or Ensign, May 1999, 40–41).
Have you ever wished someone else would just tell you what to do? Moses 3:17 states “Thou mayest choose for thyself, for it is given unto thee"
Why is agency important to you?
Turn to 2 Nephi 2: 11-12 and think about why agency requires opposition.
You are free to choose your actions but not free to choose the consequences. see Galatians 6:7; Revelation 22:12
Additional Study:
Paul V. Johnson, “Free to Choose Liberty or Captivity”, November 6, 2012, BYU Devotional
Choose the Right, Hymns No. 239
The Things I Do, Children’s Songbook No. 170