Agency- The Freedom to Choose

One thing I love about God's plan for us is that he gives us agency. Agency can be simply defined as the freedom to choose for ourselves. God will never force us to make a decision or do something. We choose our actions (but not the consequences).

God could have created a different plan where we would be forced to choose good all the time. There could have been no suffering, sin, or evil. But how would we learn? How would we grow? Without sickness, could we really understand and appreciate health? There must be opposition so that our mortal experience is full of learning and growth.

Ultimately we are choosing daily to follow God or to follow Satan by the actions we make. When we help someone in need, we are obviously following God. When we say unkind words, we are following Satan. The sum of our smaller actions determines the path that we are on.

Lehi, in the Book of Mormon, taught:

"Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and call things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they 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; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself."
2 Nephi 2:27

This teaching clearly explains the consequences of choosing to follow God's plan (through Jesus Christ, the great Mediator) versus that of devil. The choice really is up to us. Living righteously is not the "popular" thing in today's world, which makes it tough. But it is the only way to obtain liberty and eternal life. All other paths, no matter how glamorous they appear, lead to captivity and death (spiritual death).

CTR: Choose the Right!

Why Is LDS Missionary Work So Successful?

I just read a promise that was given by the Lord through his prophet, Joseph Smith, back in 1840 to a couple of missionaries. This same promise holds true for today's nearly 60,000 missionaries throughout the world. First I'll give the quote, and then I'll explain why I think it is important:

"Do not be discouraged on account of the greatness of the work; only be humble and faithful...He who scattered Israel has promised to gather them; therefore inasmuch as you are to be instrumental in this great work, He will endow you with power, wisdom, might, and intelligence, and every qualification necessary; while your minds will expand wider and wider, until you can circumscribe the earth and the heavens, reach forth into eternity, and contemplate the mighty acts of Jehovah in all their variety and glory."
- Joseph Smith, May 14, 1840

First of all, you must understand what missionary work is. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is God's church on the earth, so it is doing His work. The same Jehovah that scattered Israel in Old Testament times, is now gathering Israel, just as he promised dozens of times throughout the Bible. This gathering is being done by our missionaries. The house of Israel are all those who convert to Christ's church and choose to gather to it.

This post's title phrases the question, "Why is LDS missionary work so successful?" Well an obvious answer is because it's God's work. This promise quoted above from Joseph Smith is more specific. The promise is that those who are instrumental in His great work [missionary work or the gather], will be endowed with "power, wisdom, might, and intelligence, and every qualification necessary." How can anyone fail with a promise like that from God's prophet?

Think about it. Mormon missionaries are almost all between the ages of 19 and 21. How much does a 19-year-old boy know? How influential and persuasive are 19-year-olds? How smart, intelligent, wise is a 19-year-old kid? Sometimes they think they know everything, but really they are weak. Paul was not far off at all when he said:

"But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;"
1 Corinthians 1:27

So, with this explanation, I hope it is a little more clear how our missionaries are so successful. They not only are on the Lord's errand, but they are also filled with his power. Feel free to see for yourself by inviting them to speak to you some time. You'll notice in just one visit that they are empowered from on high.

What Are Our Priorities?

I just wanted to share a verse that I read 5 minutes ago and that hit me really hard:

"And verily I say unto thee that thou shalt lay aside the things of this world, and seek for the things of a better."
D&C 25:10

Even though this was directed to Emma, I think it applies to all of us (if you don't believe me read verse 16). I've had a super busy week with hardly a second to breathe, so when I read this verse it made me ponder about my life for a minute. School is important; Work is important; ASM (the Association for Systems Management) is important. But they are all things of this world. How easy it is to set our focus and main attention on the things of this world when the things of a better are what will bring us happiness and eternal joy.

Life is busy for all of us- I know I'm not the only one. Sometimes all of these good things that keep us busy in our lives are also distracting us from those that really matter. Let us keep our focus on the things of a better world as we go about our busy lives!

Salvation and the Fourth Article of Faith

The fourth Article of Faith states:

"We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost."
Articles of Faith 1:4

This statement teaches us some basic things about salvation and how it is achieved. There are many people in the world that believe that God has preselected a group of people on this earth to receive salvation and that the rest of us are out of luck unless we are part of that group. What a false, sad doctrine that is! God loves us as our Father and wants ALL of us to return to him. However, he will not force us to be obedient to his commandments and live in such a way that will qualify us for the blessing of returning to him because he has given us agency to choose for ourselves.

God has given us his gospel with steps that we should follow to prove ourselves to him and qualify for his greatest gift, that of eternal life. The first principles and ordinances of the gospel are the first steps in following the path that God has prepared for us to return to him. Not only are they inspired of God, but they also make sense logically.

Faith
First we must have faith in him. We must believe and more importantly do. Faith is an action word that implies that we will not only believe but do as the Lord wants us to.

Repentance
As we begin to have faith in God and in his son, Jesus Christ, we will naturally change to be better. We will want to make changes to leave our old lives behind and start fresh. We will ask God for his forgiveness and as we do this, repenting, he will forgive us.

Baptism
We show our repentance and change of heart through the ordinance of baptism. When we are baptized, we promise to follow Jesus Christ and his teachings. We come out of the baptismal waters clean just as we were when we were born. Baptism opens the door to salvation but does not guarantee salvation.

The Gift of the Holy Ghost
There is a second part of baptism. After we are baptized with water, we must be baptized with fire, or the Holy Ghost. This ordinance is performed soon after baptism. The gift of the Holy Ghost is given by the laying on of hands by someone who has the priesthood authority. It is important to note that the Gift of the Holy Ghost does not just come upon baptized members of the Church automatically. It must be given by the laying on of hands as recorded in the New Testament in Acts 8:16-18.

Of course following these steps, the first principles and ordinances of the gospel will not guarantee salvation, but as I mentioned, these are the first steps that we must take. After we have completed these steps, we have begun on the path that will lead us to eternal life if we press on, enduring to the end. One of my favorite scriptures that talks about this responsibility is found in 2 Nephi 31:20, which reads:

"Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life."