Why Does God Give Us Moral Agency or the Power to Choose?

My Come Follow Me studies for this week took me to the book of Deuteronomy (Deuteronomy 6-8; 15; 18; 29-30; 34) to Moses’ repeating what the Lord told the Israelites forty years earlier. The title of this lesson is “Beware Lest Thou Forget the Lord,” and the following information introduced the lesson. 

Moses’ earthly ministry began on a mountain, when God spoke to him from a burning bush (see Exodus 3:1-10). It also ended on a mountain, more than 40 years later, when God gave him a glimpse of the promised land from the top of Mount Nebo (see Deuteronomy 34:1-4). Moses had spent his life preparing the children of Israel to enter that promised land, and the book of Deuteronomy records his final instructions, reminders, exhortations, and pleadings with the Israelites. Reading his words makes it clear that the real object of Moses’s ministry – the preparation the people needed – wasn’t about wilderness survival, conquering enemies, or building a nation. It was about learning to love God, obey Him, and remain loyal to Him. That’s the preparation we all need to enter the promised land of eternal life. So although Moses never set foot in the “land flowing with milk and honey” (Exodus 3:8), because of his faith and faithfulness, he did enter the promised land that God has prepared for all those who follow Him.

Some principles taught in this scripture block are (1) “Love the Lord thy God with all thine heart” (Deuteronomy 6:4-7; 8:2-5, 11-17; 29:18-20; 30:6-10, 14-20); (2) “Beware lest thou forget the Lord” (Deuteronomy 6:4-12, 20-25); (3) Helping people in need involves generous hands and willing hearts (Deuteronomy 15:1-15); (4) Moses was “like unto” Jesus Christ (Deuteronomy 18:15-19); (5) The Lord invites me to choose between good and evil (Deuteronomy 29:9; 30:15-20).

This essay will discuss principle #5 about using our agency to choose between good and evil. We will begin by looking at those scripture verses.

Deuteronomy 29:9

9 Keep therefore the words of this covenant, and do them, that ye may prosper in all that ye do.

Deuteronomy 30:15-20

15 ¶ See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil;

16 In that I command thee this day to love the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the Lord thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it.

17 But if thine heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them;

18 I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish, and that ye shall not prolong your days upon the land, whither thou passest over Jordan to go to possess it.

19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:

20 That thou mayest love the Lord thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the Lord sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.

These verses tell us that we will be blessed and “prosper in all that ye do” if we (1) keep the covenants that we make with God, (2) love the Lord, (3) walk in His ways, (4) keep His commandments, statutes, and judgments, (5) obey His voice, and (6) cleave unto Him.

Now we will compare the last words of Moses to the final teachings of Lehi to his family in

2 Nephi 2:26-29; 4:4.

2 Nephi 2:26-29

26 And the Messiah cometh in the fulness of time, that he may redeem the children of men from the fall. And because that they are redeemed from the fall they have become free forever, knowing good from evil; to act for themselves and not to be acted upon, save it be by the punishment of the law at the great and last day, according to the commandments which God hath given.

27 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.

28 And now, my sons, I would that ye should look to the great Mediator, and hearken unto his great commandments; and be faithful unto his words, and choose eternal life, according to the will of his Holy Spirit;

29 And not choose eternal death, according to the will of the flesh and the evil which is therein, which giveth the spirit of the devil power to captivate, to bring you down to hell, that he may reign over you in his own kingdom.

2 Nephi 4:4

4 For the Lord God hath said that: Inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments ye shall prosper in the land; and inasmuch as ye will not keep my commandments ye shall be cut off from my presence.

These verses tell us that we have freedom to choose good or evil because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. We can choose good or evil -- captivity and death or liberty and eternal life – because God gave us agency. He gave us the power to choose while we lived with Him in the premortal world, and He allowed us to take agency with us when we came to earth.

Lehi also taught his family that Satan (the devil) would have power to tempt us, but we have power over him if we choose righteousness. Like Moses, Lehi tells us that we will “prosper in the land” IF we keep God’s commandments.

God wants us to use our moral agency to choose righteousness because we love God. It is not enough to say and do the “correct” things. God wants us to desire to do the correct things and choose to do them because we love Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

 

Choices

            We are all faced with choices every day. Our choices start first thing in the morning with the decision to get up and face the day or to stay in bed. This decision is sometimes the most difficult choice of the entire day. I am guilty on some mornings of staying in bed longer than I should, and I pay the price by missing the valuable morning hours.

            Most of us face challenging choices from time to time, and those most critical decisions are often difficult to make. Whenever my children discuss a difficult decision with me, my first question is, “Did you pray about it?” My best piece of advice is to pray about choices.

            This advice is becoming more valuable to me as times passes. Where I once prayed about difficult choices, I find myself asking quick prayers about fairly minor decisions. I will give you a couple of examples of what I consider to be minor choices. They were small decisions in the overall picture, but they were important to me.

            The first decision was several years ago when my husband and I were replacing our windows and doors. We opted to have beige windows installed instead of white ones because we were planning to stain the frames. I went to all the paint stores looking for the appropriate stain but could not find it. I decided that I would have to paint the frames and looked at various paints without being able to come to a decision. I gave up and headed home. I was about half a mile from the store when the Holy Ghost prompted me to go back to the store and buy some paint. I still had no idea what color of paint to purchase, but I turned around and went back. As I stood there looking at all the colors, the Spirit prompted me to purchase a certain color. I bought the paint as prompted, but I also took several different paint chip cards home with me. As I looked at all the colors and compared them with the color of the windows, I decided on a certain color. Then I compared the color that I had chosen with the color that I had purchased and found that it was the same color. With the help of the Spirit, I made the right decision!

            My second example happened a few weeks ago when I stopped at a local nursery to purchase some plants for a new garden. I have researched plants for this garden for months, so I had a fairly good idea what type of plant I wanted. However, I did not know how many of each plant to buy. Again, I went to the Lord for help. Should I get one of these plants or two? With the Bleeding Heart plants, I was prompted to purchase two plants. With another plant, I was prompted to purchase only one. When it came time to put the plants in the garden, I discovered that I had purchased exactly the number of plants that I needed to fill the spot. When I went to another nursery later to purchase more plants, I had the same experience.

            I fully subscribe to the counsel to pray about decisions. When the decision is important, there is a greater need for prayer. Then-Elder Russell M. Nelson spoke on the topic of “Choices” in the October 1990 General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and suggested three questions that we should ask ourselves when we have choices to make.

I would suggest three questions you might ask yourself as you consider your options. Whether they are once-in-a-lifetime or routine daily decisions, serious reflection on these three questions will help clarify your thinking. You might wish to review these questions first alone and then with your [spouse].

1. “Who am I?”

2. “Why am I here?”

3. “Where am I going?”

Truthful answers to these three questions will remind you of important anchors and unchanging principles.

As you consider these fundamental questions, it will become clear that decisions you first thought to be purely personal virtually always impact the lives of others. In answering these questions, then, you must be mindful of the broader circle of family and friends who will be affected by the consequences of your choice.

            Elder Nelson then proceeds to discuss the three questions and suggests some possible answers. He suggests that the first answer for “Who am I?” is a simple one. We are all children of God. I should be able to say, “I am a daughter of God.” As I remember that I am a daughter of God, I will also remember that I was created in His image and that I have the potential to become as He is. I will also remember that I came to earth to perform a certain mission in preparation to returning to His presence. As I ask this question, I will also remember that I am a wife, mother, and grandmother and carry responsibility to love and support my family.

            In answer to “Why am I here?” This question can be asked of many situations. I often ask myself a similar question – What did I come in here for? – when I forget why I went to another room. Elder Nelson is speaking about why we came to earth and gives the following answer.

One of the most important reasons is to receive a mortal body. Another is to be tested – to experience mortality – to determine what you will do with life’s challenging opportunities. Those opportunities require you to make choices, and choices depend on agency. A major reason for your mortal existence, therefore, is to test how you will exercise your agency. (See 2 Nephi 2:15, 25.)

Agency is a divine gift to you. You are free to choose what you will be and what you will do. And you are not without help. Counsel with your parents is a privilege at any age. Prayer provides communication with your Heavenly Father and invites the promptings of personal revelation….

            As Elder Nelson explains, we are here on earth for some very important reasons. We are here to gain a mortal body and to be tested. We have the necessity to exercise our agency and the opportunity to make decisions about what we will do and what we will become. Elder Nelson then discusses the third question, “Where am I going?” This is a question that I often ask as I drive around town, but Elder Nelson is asking a much more serious question.

This question reminds us that eventually you (and I) are going to die, be resurrected, be judged, and be awarded a place in eternal realms…. With each passing sunset, you are closer to that inevitable day of judgment. Then you will be asked to account for your faith, your hopes, and your works….

As all will be resurrected, your physical body will then be restored to its proper and perfect frame…. The day of your resurrection will be a day of judgment that will determine the kind of life you shall have hereafter.

That judgment will consider not only your actions, but also your innermost intent and heartfelt desires. Your everyday thoughts have not been lost. Scriptures speak of the “bright recollection” (Alma 11:43) and “perfect remembrance” (Alma 5:18) that your mind will provide in times of divine judgment.

            Our everyday choices are important, so we must make every effort to be sure that they are good ones. We can make good choices, even the best ones, if we will remember to pray about our decisions and to ask ourselves the three questions given by Elder Nelson. As we do this, we will find ourselves making choices that will help us return to the presence of our Heavenly Parents. As President Thomas S. Monson said, “Decisions determine destiny.” When we make our decisions in light of who we are, why we are here, and where we are going and then ask Heavenly Father for help, our destiny will be eternal life with God and our loved ones.

Rich Habits

            Families, communities, and nations are strengthened when individuals form good habits. President Thomas S. Monson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints often reminds us that our destiny is determined by the decisions that we make. Since decisions begin with thoughts, wise parents will teach their children the importance of thinking the best thoughts, taking the best actions, and forming the best habits.

            The habits we form determine what we do as well as what we become. The simple habits of daily prayer and scripture study strengthen us against the temptations of Satan. The simple habit of attending Church every Sunday brings great blessings from God. Other simple habits determine whether we will be rich or poor.

            Thomas C. Corley posted an interesting article titled “Will Your Child Be Rich or Poor? 15 Poverty Habits ParentsTeach Their Children.” Do you believe that parents are actually teaching their children to be rich or poor? I know that it happens. Since having “enough and to spare” is much better than living in poverty, wise parents will teach rich habits. Corley includes a lot of statistics that show how habits affect what we become. Then he gives a list of rich habits for parents teach their children.  Here are some of those rich habits.

. Limit TV, social media, video games and cell phone use to no more than one

  hour a day.

. Require that children read one non-fiction book a week and write a one page

  summary of what they learned for their parents to review.

. Require children to aerobically exercise 20-30 minutes a day.

. Limit junk food to no more than 300 calories a day.

. Teach children to dream and to pursue their dreams. Have them write a script

  of their ideal, future life.

. Require that children set monthly, annual and long-term goals.

. Require working age children to work or volunteer at least ten hours a week.

. Require that children save at least 25% of their earnings or the monetary gifts

  they receive [and donate another 10%].

. Teach children to send thank you cards to individuals who helped them in any

  way.

. Reassure children that mistakes are good and not bad [and that mistakes are

  learning opportunities].

. Discipline children [for temper tantrums] so they understand [that anger is a]

  very costly emotion….

. Teach children that the pursuit of financial success is a good thing [if handled

  correctly.

. Teach children how to manage money….

. [Communicate daily with children face-to-face]

. Teach children how to manage their time….

            There are a lot of good ideas in this list as well as the rest of his suggested habits. I know many parents who are already doing some or even all of them. If you are not, you can start slowly with one or two ideas and add others over time. By teaching rich habits to the rising generation, we can strengthen families, communities, and nations.

We Reap What We Sow

                Families, communities, and nations are strengthened when we teach the rising generation that choices have consequences, decisions determine destinies, and we reap what we sow.   Children and youth must be taught to accept responsibility for their lives in general or they will fall into the trap of being “victims.”  People who accept responsibility for themselves usually do not need much help from anyone else.

                Amid all the noise about redistribution of wealth and economic equality, I found an article by Dave Ramsey to be very enlightening. 

In his article entitled “20 Things the Rich Do Every Day,”  Ramsey asked the question, “so what do the rich do every day that the poor don’t do?”  He quoted a list first printed by Tom Corley on his website outlining a few of the differences between the habits of the rich and the poor.  This list is very interesting, and it gives us much cause to think.

1. 70% of wealthy eat less than 300 junk food calories per day [while] 97% of poor people eat more than 300 junk food calories per day.  23% of wealthy gamble [while] 52% of poor people gamble.

2. 80% of wealthy are focused on accomplishing some single goal [while] only 12% of the poor do this.

3. 76% of wealthy exercise aerobically four days a week [while] 23% of poor do this.

4. 63% of wealthy listen to audio books during commute to work [while] 5% of poor people [do].

5. 81% of wealthy maintain a to-do list [while] 19% of poor [do].

6. 63% of wealthy parents make their children read two or more non-fiction books a month [while] 3% of poor [do].

7. 70% of wealthy parents make their children volunteer 10 hours or more a month [while] 3% of poor [do].

8. 80% of wealthy make Happy Birthday calls [while] 11% of poor [do].

9. 67% of wealthy write down their goals [while] 17% of poor [do].

10. 88% of wealthy read 30 minutes or more each day for education or career reasons [while] 2% of poor [do].

11. 6% of wealthy say what’s on their mind [while] 69% of poor [do].

12. 79% of wealthy network five hours or more each month [while] 16% of poor [do].

13. 67% of wealthy watch one hour or less of TV every day [while] 23% of poor [do].

14. 6% of wealthy watch reality TV [while] 78% of poor [do].

15. 44% of wealthy wake up three hours before work starts [while] 3% of poor [do].

16. 74% of wealthy teach good daily success habits to their children [while] 1% of poor [do].

17. 84% of wealthy believe good habits create opportunity luck [while] 4% of poor [do].

18. 76% of wealthy believe bad habits create detrimental luck [while] 9% of poor [do].

19. 86% of wealthy believe in lifelong educational self-improvement [while] 5% of poor [do].

20. 86% of wealthy love to read [while] 26% of poor [do].

                So what can we take from the information in this list that we can teach to the rising generation?  We can teach them the importance of developing good habits.  We can teach them the importance of taking care of their physical bodies by eating nutritional food, exercising regularly, and getting appropriate amounts of sleep.  We can teach them to love reading and learning new things.  We can teach them the importance of setting appropriate goals and working towards those goals.  We can teach them appropriate uses of time.  We can teach them that no one owes them anything unless they work for it.

                Dave Ramsey said that he had received “so much negative and ignorant response” from the first time he posted this list, that he felt he “needed to respond and teach” by adding some commentary.  He stated that for the past two decades, his “company has taught people what the Bible says about money:  getting on a plan...; getting out of debt…; living on less than you make…; saving money and thereby building wealth…; being generous and remembering God owns it all….  We teach living like no one else so that later you can live and GIVE like no one else.  Our lessons are about getting your family under control financially so you can take care of your own household first.  We also teach the importance of giving no matter where you are in the process, first with tithing and then with extraordinary generosity when you’re able.  We have always taught that responsible generosity is the natural walk for a believer.  Anyone who has attended our courses or read our work knows this is a fact.

                “In addition to that, I have railed on things where the poor are oppressed in our culture – things like payday lending, rent-to-own, or our own government-sponsored oppression, the lottery….

                “This list simply says your choices cause results.  You reap what you sow….

                “There is a direct correlation between your habits, choices and character in Christ and your propensity to build wealth in non-third-world settings….

                “Biblically speaking, poverty is caused and perpetuated primarily by some combination of three things:  1) Personal habits, choices and character; 2) Oppression by people taking advantage of the poor; [and] 3) The myriad of problems encountered if born in a third-world economy.

                “The third-world economy is and should be a whole different discussion.  If you are broke or poor in the U.S. or a first-world economy, the only variable in the discussion you can personally control is YOU.  You can make better choices and have better results….

                “One of the main reasons our culture has prospered is because of our understanding and application of biblical truths.  Bible-believing Christians believe in sowing and reaping -- what the world calls cause and effect – as well as in God’s sovereignty and providence.  The scientific method you should have learned in seventh-grade science class is based on sowing and reaping (cause and effect).  Bible-believing Christians understand God has called us to have an impact, to take dominion, on our environment, and logic follows that our habits, choices and character have consequences and harvests.  For over 200 years, that belief system has led to life-changing industry, inventions and a standard of living never known before on this planet.  This is not hate; on the contrary, it is love….”

                Our nation and world need adults who know how to take care of their own needs without expecting others to do it for them.  In order for adults to be responsible citizens, we must teach the rising generation how to become responsible citizens and to pay their own way.  When our children and youth grow to adulthood with this understanding, then our families, communities, and nations are strengthened.

Decisions Determine Destiny

                We can bring the greatest of all liberties into our individual lives by living true and correct principles.  This liberty comes to us as we live as though Jesus Christ were walking beside us. 

                The liberty principle for today is the fourth in a series of true principles suggested by Elder Richard G. Scott in his book 21 Principles – Divine Truths to Help You Live by the Spirit.  I will merely introduce the principle and suggest that you obtain Elder Scott’s book in order to truly understand this principle.  Elder Scott explained that principles “are concentrated truth, packaged for application to a wide variety of circumstances.  A true principle makes decisions clear even under the most confusing and challenging circumstances.”  You can see principle #1 “True Principles of Freedom” here, principle #2 “Trust the Holy Ghost” here, principle #3 “Try New Things” here,  and principle #4 “Accept Promptings” here.  

                Principle #5 is the simple fact that our final destiny is determined by the decisions we make and the actions we take because of those decisions.  Elder Scott wrote, “It can appear that we control outcomes in our life, but we do not.  Worthiness, righteousness, faith in Jesus Christ, and the plan of our Father assure a pleasant, productive future, while lying, cheating, and violating the laws of personal purity assure a life of misery here on earth and beyond the veil, unless there is the requisite repentance.

                “You may be tired of others trying to run your life – always telling you what to do.  After all, you have the right to make your own choices.  That is correct.  You have that right.  It is your agency.  The secret to solve problems in your life will be found in understanding and using the eternally beneficial interaction of your agency and His truth.

                “…Please understand that no one can change truth….  Satan knows that, so he tries to create an atmosphere where one unwittingly begins to feel that he can not only choose what to do, but can determine what is right to do.  Satan strives to persuade us to live outside truth by rationalizing our actions as the right of choice.

                “But our Eternal Father defined truth and established what is right and wrong before the creation of this earth.  He also fixed the consequences of obedience and disobedience to those truths.  He defended our right to choose our path in life so that we would grow, develop, and be happy, but we do not have the right to choose the consequences of our acts….”

                As we think about how our decisions determine our destiny, we should reflect on this statement from the Prophet Joseph Smith:  “Happiness is the object and design of our existence; and will be the end thereof, if we pursue the path that leads to it; and this path is virtue, uprightness, faithfulness, holiness, and keeping all the commandments of God” (History of the Church, 5:134-35).

                Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints spoke about the true path to happiness and listed the following steps to be happy:  “Always be grateful for your blessings, especially your heritage.  When we are blessed with goodly parents, we should be grateful.  This is the debt each of us owes for our heritage….  Second, commit yourself to the eternal institution of the family as the foundation for happiness…. The family is an eternal institution ordained of God from before the foundation of the world….  Third, be involved in the world in a positive way and be a powerful force for good.  A significant challenge is to adhere to the scriptural injunction to live in the world but not of the world (see John 17)….  Fourth, live and communicate your standards to those you interact with….  Finally, be a light to the people where you live.”

                Elder Cook then described how he and his wife started their marriage in the San Francisco Bay area in the mid-1960s.  There were few members of the Church there, and the area had “become a magnet for drug abuse and all manner of promiscuous and sinful conduct.”  A stake president was concerned enough about the situation to ask the leadership of the Church if Church members should even remain in the area.  The issue was given to President Harold B. Lee (1899-1973) who was then a senior member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and he met with a group of priesthood leaders to discuss the problem.  He “told them that the Lord had not inspired the construction of a temple in our area only to have the members leave” and gave the following counsel:  “1. Create Zion in our hearts and homes.  2.  Be a light to those among whom we live.  3. Focus on the ordinances and principles taught in the temple.”  Elder Cook summarized, “If we will follow President Lee’s counsel today, we can successfully be in the world but not of the world.  However, we must each determine whether we will look to the world or focus on the temple.”  (See “The True Path to Happiness,” Ensign, June 2011.)  

                President Thomas S. Monson, then a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, spoke about decisions determining destiny.  “Youth of today are faced with monumental decisions.  The world in which you live is not a play world or a pretend world.  It is a very competitive world that will require the very best that you can bring to it, and it will reward you when your best efforts are put forth.  Important to remember is the solemn truth:  Obedience to God’s law will bring liberty and eternal life, whereas disobedience will bring captivity and death.

                “It has been said by one, years ago, that history is influenced by seemingly small decisions, and so are people’s lives.  Our lives will depend upon the decisions which we make – for decisions determine destiny” (“Decisions Determine Destiny,” Liahona, July 1980).  

                Three Apostles have echoed the words of the Prophet Joseph Smith in telling us that we can determine our destiny by the decisions we make.  We can confirm their counsel by thinking about the decisions made by various people in history.  1) Those who laughed and made fun of Noah for building the Ark were no longer laughing when the rain fell and the water got deep.  2) Those that rebelled against Moses were not allowed to enter the Promised Land.  Moses led the children of Israel in the wilderness for forty years until the older generation had all died.  3) Fourteen-year-old Joseph Smith made the decision to pray about which church to join.  The consequences of his choice have blessed the lives of millions of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and will affect all mankind.  We would be wise to heed the counsel of Apostles and Prophets to make good decisions in order to determine that our destiny is one of happiness.