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Agency,
Opposition, and Choice - The patriarch/prophet Lehi gave a final admonishment to each of his sons shortly before his death. 2 Nephi chapter Two are his words to his son Jacob and address the issues of Agency, Opposition, and Choice. What is ‘Agency’? In sports, a person is call a ‘free agent’ when they attain the status of being able to choose the team they will play for instead of being a ‘draft choice’. Well, in Real Life, God has given us a conscience to let us know right from wrong, has given us commandments and covenants to lead and guide us, and has sent prophets and teachers to continue this teaching and revealing process – and then made us ‘free agents’ to act for ourselves, guided by His leaders, His word, and by the Holy Spirit. In the LDS Church we refer to this as 'Free Agency'. The following is a sample of the items covered in this address: - Mankind is sufficiently instructed to know good from evil - Redemption comes through the Holy Messiah, who will make intercession for mankind - There must be opposition to learn right from wrong and for creation to answer the purpose of its existence - God gave to mankind the freedom to act for themselves that they may be enticed by one or the other and thus learn to make correct choices - God prolonged mankind’s time on earth to give them time to repent from wrong choices - The Fall of Adam and Eve was a necessary step in the progress of Mankind (See 2 Nephi chapter 2.) - We are free to choose freedom with God or captivity with the devil - The will of the flesh gives the devil power to captivate mankind to his will; we must learn to over come this --------------------------------------
THE FOLLOWING ARE
MY OWN PERSONAL ANSWERS -- WHY DO BAD THINGS HAPPEN? Because people make bad/wrong choices. -- WHY DOES SUFFERING HAPPEN? Because of how wrong or bad choices affect other people. We are not islands; all we do effects others for good or for ill. Will the Lord hold us responsible for how our wrong choices affect others? Yes. What can we do about the wrong choice we’ve made and how they’ve affect ourselves and others? Repent and work to change what our wrong choices did to ourselves and others – this is called ‘making restitution’. -- When the suffering is so great that the victims go through great suffering – what then? They will stand as a witness against that person in the day of Judgment. (Alma 14:11) -- WELL, THAT'S FINE - BUT How do victims get rid of the burden of suffering and pain due to other peoples’ wrong or bad choices? God has promised us relief: Isaiah 53:4; also quoted in Mosiah 14:4 in the Book of Mormon. Combine this with Christ’s invitation in Matthew 11:28. And then go to Alma 7:11. Of course a person should seek professional help in cases where the action(s) against them has left mental and psychological scars. Also, the perpetrator needs to face a court of law and pay for their crimes. But I know from experience these scriptures quoted above are a must to complete the healing process. The Atonement was not meant just to take the burden of our sins from us (the ones we've repented for), but it is meant to carry all our burdens that we don't really need to be carrying - all our pain and sorrows and griefs. God will not allow us to be tempted past what we can bear - He also will not command us to do something without opening the way for us to do it: 1 Corinthians 10:13 1 Nephi 3:7 1 Nephi 17:5 SEE IN THE BOOK OF MORMON INDEX: Agency Opposition Choice Choose |
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