Good Morning or Good Afternoon or Good Evening,
this post should take five minutes to eight minutes to read from start to finish.
This post focuses on a BYU (Brigham Young University) Devotional in June 1984 and it is called "You and Your Free Agency" by Elder Angel Abrea. This post is part two. I would like to share with you some highlights while I was reading the Devotional.
Elder Abrea has mentioned the following; "Procrastinators
... What is procrastination? In simple terms it is postponing unnecessarily, and in an irrational way, something that one knows should be done. Why do people procrastinate? Many reasons can be given, but it all boils down to the protection of a vulnerable feeling of self-esteem. ...
Test Avoiders. These are people who fear they will fail in their attempts to reach their own standards, standards which demand outstanding effort each time. By waiting until it is too late to do a great job, they justify the situation by convincing themselves, “I didn’t have sufficient time.” ...
Rebels. These are the people who believe that if they follow in someone else’s footsteps they are being controlled or dominated. For them, to procrastinate becomes a way of retaining a feeling of power and control. ... I think it is much better and more honorable for us, whether children or adults, youthful, middle-aged or old, it is better to live by and better to die by, to have our hearts pure, and to yield strict obedience to the principles of life which the Lord has revealed, than be a slave to sin and wickedness. [JD, 18:246]
Myopics. Some people procrastinate because they believe that certain jobs, obligations, or assignments are not rewarding, or that they demand too much sacrifice. So they decide to put their efforts in other directions that appear to be more worthwhile or necessary. They seek immediate rewards rather than rewards obtained in the long run, though they are more valuable.
The words we find in Doctrine and Covenants 78 show the promised blessings for those who live with their vision toward eternity: ... And ye cannot bear all things now; nevertheless, be of good cheer, for I will lead you along. The kingdom is yours and the blessings thereof are yours, and the riches of eternity are yours. And he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; ... And he that is a faithful and wise steward shall inherit all things. Amen. [D&C 78:17–22]
... Self-Defeaters. Some people become so depressed that they postpone working toward goals because they have a fear of being successful, then that procrastination guarantees that they don’t attain the success they fear.
If people who behave in this manner would apply the words of the Savior to their lives, it would totally change their attitude. “Wherefore, be of good cheer, and do not fear, for I the Lord am with you, and will stand by you” (D&C 68:6).
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| "We have agency. What happens in our lives and in our pattern of eternal progression is just what we decide it will be." - Boyd K. Packer. |
Excuses for Not Acting
If you will analyze the before-mentioned cases, you will notice that without fail each one of them condenses down to fear of doing the job as an excuse for not acting, or to an irrational assumption such as, “I’ll be able to get that work done the night before it is due.” The solution is simple (the Prophet has said it), “Do it now.”
Slaves to Customs
There is another false concept, an idea frequently implanted in the minds of many persons, not necessarily placed there by themselves, but by others and by customs.
I refer to the tendency to do certain things because everyone else does them. Even though this seems to be a simple matter ... We often become slaves to routines, we act conforming to custom or as the surrounding conditions dictate.
Just because most of the people do it does not mean that it is right. The important issue in determining our salvation is to be certain and know with a clear conscience what the motives are that move us to actions, and what the thoughts are that we hold within us and which later lead to actions.
Agency Regarding Our Minds
We exercise our agency in our thinking process just as much as we use our agency in our actions. ... If we do not learn to grow from within and make effective use of our agency regarding our thoughts, our actions will lack direction; they will lack significant meaning, since what we wish to accomplish will not be clearly defined in our mind, and our mind will not be trained in setting goals, desires, and objectives.
Opposition
There is also another of Satan’s snares which lures many people, another of the common phrases used as justification for not acting, for not getting the job done, for not exercising fully the right of free agency. How many people do you know that say (with a type of defeat and resignation), “The opposition is strong, and I’m only human.”
... How can anyone justify himself with such reasoning to fail or to not act positively? How can anyone think of the opposition as a limiting factor or condition in exercising our free agency?
... The trials, the opposition, the conditions which some would define as unfavorable, will ever be with us throughout this life of probation. It is a principle which has been with us from the first; therefore we must not complain we must not lament or fail to act positively when we are confronted with one of these situations in our lives.
There are those who believe that because we are human, that is justification for our weaknesses. This is to deny the wisdom and justice of God, since that is implicitly saying or thinking that he has sent us here to earth on the preconceived condition that we would fail, yielding inevitably to the temptations of Satan. ...
Let us see what the Prophet Joseph Smith said in regard to this point.
He commenced his observations by remarking that the kindness of our Heavenly Father called for our heartfelt gratitude. He then observed that Satan was generally blamed for the evils which we did, but if he was the cause of all our wickedness, men could not be condemned. The devil could not compel mankind to do evil; all was voluntary.
Those who resisted the Spirit of God, would be liable to be led into temptation, and then the association of heaven would be withdrawn from those who refused to be made partakers of such great glory. God would not exert any compulsory means, and the devil could not; and such ideas as were entertained [on these subjects] by many were absurd. [Teachings, p. 187]
There are various other examples which we could analyze. However, we will consider only one more aspect of free agency.
Proceed with Vigor
In the Doctrine and Covenants we read: For behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is compelled in all things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant; wherefore he receiveth no reward. Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness. ... [D&C 58:26–29]
I believe that these verses clearly indicated the attitude which we should develop as we confront each task or undertaking an attitude of proceeding with enthusiasm, vigor and good will. In that quotation from the Savior we find several word phrases such as compelled in all things, anxiously engaged, own free will, the power is in them, and do good, ... but all of them together motivating us to use our talents and our free agency willingly.
In those words the Savior indicated that we should serve willingly because of a desire to do so which we have developed, rather than doing the job dutifully because we are obligated. In order to find the joy of living in accordance with the Savior’s will, there should be a sincere desire to please him, doing it correctly, since this will bring us peace of mind and a rewarding feeling which cannot be obtained in any other way.
... And so we have reviewed several concepts which I am sure are well known by you, but at times forgotten the purpose being to pause in the midst of our daily careers and meditate on the great blessing that free agency is in our lives.
Be Found on the Lord’s Side
It is my desire that in our daily struggle to make decisions, we will always be found on the Lord’s side. As President George Albert Smith expressed it, There are two influences ever present in the world.
One is constructive and elevating and comes from our Heavenly Father; the other is destructive and debasing and comes from Lucifer. We have our agency and make our own choice in life subject to these unseen powers. ... If we live on the Lord’s side of the line Lucifer cannot come there to influence us, but if we cross the line into his territory we are in his power.
By keeping the commandments of the Lord we are safe on His side of the line, but if we disobey His teachings we voluntarily cross into the zone of temptation and invite the destruction that is ever present there. ... [George Albert Smith, “Our M.I.A.,” Improvement Era, May 1935, 38:278]
Brothers and sisters, the purpose of this life is to prove ourselves, to allow us the opportunity of choosing and to gain a dwelling place in the mansions of our Father. I testify to you that this will be our reward if we have the faith, the determination, and the deep desire to follow the words of the Lord to Enoch, “Choose ye this day, to serve the Lord God who made you” (Moses 6:33). ..."
If you would like to read the whole Devotional either now or in your own time, here is the link below.
Stay tuned until next time.
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