Making Decisions

Our prime function in this life is the wonderful ability to make choices.  Our agency has always been the main focus of our Heavenly Father's plan.  It was through the agency of Jesus Christ that he offered himself up as a sacrifice, it was through the agency of our spirit that we choose to accept that plan and come to earth, and it is through the agency that has always been afforded us that we can still choose to follow him or not in these days.

The second chapter from the second Book of Nephi teaches us plainly that there must be a choice in all things given by God, for if not, it "must needs destroy the wisdom of God and his eternal purposes, and also the power, and the mercy, and the justice of God." ((2 Nephi 2:12)

"For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not so, my first-born in the wilderness, righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad. Wherefore, all things must needs be a compound in one; wherefore, if it should be one body it must needs remain as dead, having no life neither death, nor corruption nor incorruption, happiness nor misery, neither sense nor insensibility.  Wherefore, it must needs have been created for a thing of naught; wherefore there would have been no purpose in the end of its creation." (2 Nephi 2:11-12)

Gordon B. Hinckley, former President of the Church, offers his thoughts on the impact of our decisions:

"In my quiet moments, I think of the future with all of its wonderful possibilities and with all of its terrible temptations. I wonder what will happen to you in the next 10 years. Where will you be? What will you be doing? That will depend on the choices you make, some of which may seem unimportant at the time but which will have tremendous consequences.

"Someone has said, 'It may make a difference to all eternity whether we do right or wrong today' (James Freeman Clarke)

"You have the potential to become anything to which you set your mind. You have a mind and a body and a spirit. With these three working together, you can walk the high road that leads to achievement and happiness. But this will require effort and sacrifice and faith."

"Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all 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)