How have I applied agency in my life?

   Good Morning or Good Afternoon or Good Evening, 

this post should take approximately five minutes to read from start to finish.

I have often asked myself "How have I applied agency in my life?" It gets me thinking about the many choices that I have made throughout my life. I would like to share some of those examples about how I have applied agency throughout my life. 

~ I am very grateful for my parents allowing me to attend schooling from when I was in Preschool until I was grade 12 (senior). Duration of my schooling years; I have chosen to allow my parents, most of my teachers and my teacher aides to help me with my studies. Sometimes I would just encouraged myself to feel motivated to get assignments to be completed and submitted on the due dates. 

I remembered when there was some afternoons and evenings after school when I did not feel like focusing my time on doing homework, assignments, and studying for exams; and I have allowed some distractions to stop me from doing homework, assignments, and studying for exams. Those distractions was spending too much time on one of my family's computer with playing online games and spending too much time on Facebook

~ When I was fourteen years old, I have chosen to do seminary. I am so grateful that I was able to do seminary from when I was fourteen years old to when I was seventeen years old. I have been able to learn so much about the scriptures. It has helped me to gain spiritual knowledge while I was in high school. I am very grateful that I was able to graduate seminary when I was seventeen years old. 

~ I remembered making the choices of attending EFY when I was fifteen years old and SMYC when I was seventeen years old. I am very grateful for attending because I was able to meet and make a lot of new friends. Some of the friends that I have met and made during EFY and SMYC, I was able to see them and catch up with them during my YSA years. It has been a small amount of friends that I still stay in touch these days. 

~ The year that I was turning eighteen years old, I have made the decision to start attending institute. I have made several commitments to make myself available on the same evenings when institute was held because I wanted to continue gaining spiritual knowledge after graduating from seminary. I was able to graduate institute when I was twenty-one years old. 

~ When I was nineteen years old, I have made the decision to move away from my family for temporary. I have been able to stay in Perth for six weeks, I have made some new friendships, and I have made the decisions to go on dates about getting to know other guys. I had more dating opportunities while I was in Perth than I was living in Queensland. 

~ I remembered when I have made the decision and felt right for me to start filling out my full-time mission papers online because I had a very strong desire to serve a full-time mission when I was eighteen years old. I have completed and submitted all the full-time mission papers to the bishop, followed by he passed it onto the stake president. I had both interviews with the bishop and the stake president. 

I have made my decision to feel very upset, and very disappointed when I was twenty-two years old that my full-time mission papers did not got submitted to Salt Lake City Church Headquarters by the stake president who interviewed me. 

I ended up finding out by a phone call that I received from a new stake secretary of the new ward that I was in. Jacob and I had a dream about me leaving to go and serve a full-time mission. Prior to speaking with my new bishop, I have made the decision to get a priesthood blessing for guidance. I felt very strongly and knew from then what Heavenly Father would like me to do. I am very grateful for the priesthood holders to be worthy to give me a blessing. 

I have been guided to take a different path to take and that was not to serve a mission. I went ahead with my plans to fly to visit Jacob, meet his family, Jacob purposed to me, and I felt so happy for being engaged. Of course that engagement ended and turned into Jacob and I to be married. 

~ After graduating institute, I have made the decision to apply BYU (Brigham Young University) Pathways program that was run by the church. I am grateful for getting an email for acceptance into the BYU Pathways program, and I was able to start in the first spring semester. I am grateful for studying BYU Pathways program because I was able to learn so much about things that I did not know before, and it has helped me to continue gaining spiritual knowledge after graduating institute. 

~ When I was twenty years old, I have made the decision to receive my endowments on my twenty-first birthday. I am very grateful for receiving my endowments when I was twenty-one years old because within a few weeks after I have received my endowments, I felt privileged to attend a sealing session with my Mom's parents. My Nanna was able to get SEALED to her parents, my Poppy was the proxy for Nanna's father and I was being the proxy for my Nanna's mother. 

~ When I was twenty-three years old, I have made the decision to get sealed for all time and throughout all eternity with Jacob. I am very grateful for making that decision because I always have been excited and looking forward to be sealed to my eternal companion since during my teenage years. 

I have shared with those examples because it has helped me how I have applied agency in my life that has helped me to become for who I am today, and I have learned so much. Agency can teach us a lot of things that we did not know before but also remembering that whatever decisions that we go with, we can not go back to the past and change our minds to find out what our choices would have been like if we made a different decision and path that we have taken. 

Stay tuned until next time. 

You and Your Free Agency ~ Part Two

  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).

"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.

https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/angel-abrea/free-agency/

Stay tuned until next time.

You and Your Free Agency ~ Part One

  Good Morning or Good Afternoon or Good Evening, 

this post should take approximately five minutes to read from start to finish.

What is your definition of the word agency? What does agency means to a immediate relative? 

What does agency means to a friend? How do you apply agency in your life? 

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 one, and I would like to share with you some highlights while I was reading the Devotional. 

Elder Abrea has mentioned the following; "... A Good Moral

There’s a story told to the children in Argentina that will serve to introduce the theme I wish to present. ... A pack of dogs was gathered on a street corner. The dogs were telling each other the woes and troubles they had suffered in their lives. There was a large number of them and the conversation became very loud. 

Suddenly the most observant one let out a loud cry, “The dog-catcher!” Immediately animals scattered in every direction as fast as they could go. About one or two blocks away one of them stopped and asked, “Why am I running? I’m a cat.” It’s a story for children, but it has a good moral, don’t you think?

Many times we act like that cat of that group that are swept along with the current, as the style may be, and, because of what others do, we lose our individuality and don’t exercise one of the greatest gifts God has given to man, that of making choices the gift of free agency, or standing on one’s own feet.

We all have our free agency and we will each be responsible before our Heavenly Father for what we gain from it, since our exaltation depends on it. Let us see if with the help of some good examples, some reasoning, and a few passages and comments from the scriptures, we can stop for a few moments and ask ourselves, “Why am I running?” and analyze the use we are making of our free agency.

We Are Constantly Faced with Decisions

Concerning the misuse of free agency, I have observed many times that the error is not necessarily what others do to limit our free agency, but rather our lack of making the correct decisions; it is the lack of courage to exercise this agency.

From the time the power of reasoning first begins in the early stages of the journey through life, men are continually faced with decisions, with the constant challenge of choosing, of determining which of two roads to take the right one leading to progress and happiness or the wrong one leading to frustration and unhappiness.

Man determines his own destiny by the decisions and choices he makes, which is definitely an eternal law. Our success or our failure, our peace of mind or our anxiety, all depend upon the choices we make day by day.

Certainly Samuel the Lamanite expressed emphatically and clearly that same concept:

... He hath given unto you that ye might know good from evil, and he hath given unto you that ye might choose life or death; and ye can do good and be restored unto that which is good, or have that which is good restored unto you; or ye can do evil, and have that which is evil restored unto you. [Helaman 14:30–31]

President Wilford Woodruff emphasized the responsibility that each individual assumes when he exercises his right of free agency: This agency has always been the heritage of man under the rule and government of God. ... By virtue of this agency you and I and all mankind are made responsible beings, responsible for the course we pursue, the lives we live, the deeds we do in the body. [Millennial Star 51:642]

President David O. McKay said, “So fundamental in man’s eternal progress is his inherent right to choose, that the Lord would defend it even at the price of war” (CR, April 1942, p. 73). The reason is that without this gift the responsibilities of men having to answer for their own acts would be totally invalid. 

"As precious as life itself is our heritage of individual
freedom; for man's free agency is a God given gift."
- David O McKay."

No one can be judged for acts committed under circumstances and conditions which deprive the individual from exercising completely his ability to choose, in determining the direction to follow.

President John Taylor explained this idea in the following manner: If man be not a moral agent, he cannot be responsible for the present position of the world; and it would be unjust in God to punish him for acts that were not his and for circumstances over which he had no control. [Daniel H. Ludlow, ed., Latter-day Prophets Speak (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1977), p. 157]

So free agency then makes it possible to exercise justice to the fullest extent, and this results in what James E. Talmage explains: Man’s accountability for his individual acts is as complete as is his agency to elect for himself. 

The ultimate result of good deeds is happiness, the consequence of evil is misery; these follow in every man’s life by inviolable laws. ... [The Articles of Faith, 12th ed. (Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1924), p. 55]

Through Our Choices We Determine Our Future

We need to remember when we make decisions that as we sow, so shall we reap. ... We cannot sow seeds of the slothful and of less effort and expect to receive the blessings of dedication and diligent effort. By our daily decisions we determine whether we will live according to God’s commandments or whether we will just follow along with, as Paul said, “commandments of men, that turn from the truth” (Titus 1:14).

Each day of our life, through the choices we make, we determine whether we will augment the building of our eternal dwelling with Heavenly Father or whether we want to slide along on a path which deprives us of the blessings of life eternal.

As everyone knows, frequently it is easier to go along with the current than to row upstream toward the mountain. However, once recognizing the importance of free agency, we come to the conclusion that self-discipline is fundamentally important in the task of making decisions.

We often see examples of how free agency is inhibited. For instance, sometimes we slip backward, instead of going forward, by letting others make decisions for us. We follow the decisions and goals of others and do not appreciate the blessings of free agency.

We Have All the Time There Is

Let us consider first those who go along with commonly used phrases, those who use them without reasoning through their meaning phrases which become popular, and in many cases determine one’s manner of action.

Let’s talk a few minutes about those who say, “There is not time for anything,” and see if they are not a typical example of those who unthinkingly leave it to others to make their decisions for them. ... Many persons declare daily that they do not have sufficient time. Nevertheless, each one has all that there is.

Others say that time flies when actually it moves at a set rate. Or they speak of saving time, but time cannot be saved, lost, or borrowed. How many times have you heard someone say that they want to make up for lost time? Once time has passed it cannot be replaced. Still others say, “The time just goes.” The truth is that we are the ones who go, and time remains the same.

... The fact is that time is on our side the very minute we have it organized. You have heard it said, “There is not sufficient time.” We have all the time that there is; it all depends on how we distribute it. All of these erroneous ideas lead to wrong actions, and if we think about that for a moment, we realize they are commonly used in some cases we ourselves use them unthinkingly. 

What we need to ask ourselves is this: “Is the problem with the time or is it with myself?” ... Unless we use our head and are not fooled by these meaningless phrases, we will be caught in the current with those who do not make decisions, but allow others to make them for them; we will not be standing on our own feet. ..."

Stay Tuned until next time.