Exercising our Agency

Today I read Exodus 24 where Moses goes before the people and reveals what the Lord has told him so far.  This scene reminds me a lot of Mosiah chapter 5 where the people share their testimony, or of the modern day church when the members are asked for their sustaining vote.  The Lord always has us do things of our own free will.  That is why when we make a choice not to do something, it is even more detrimental in my opinion, because we made the original choice to do it freely.

I have always wondered about opponents of the Church and how we are called a cult.  Some even go so far as to accuse us of being brainwashed or duped.  Such people have never seen a church meeting and have no idea that all decisions in the church are ratified by the members of our own free will and choice.  That to me is one of the great things about this church.  We all have a say in it and we get to voice our thoughts and opinions.  Even in the temple, where we make our most sacred covenants, the Lord stresses that we are making them of our own free will and can leave at any time if desired.

Agency, or the ability to act, has always been the most fundamental and important part of God's plans.  It is what Lucifer tried to take away from us.  It's what a third of the host of heaven wanted removed from the plan of salvation.  What they did not understand is that agency is the essential to our progression.  We have to make choices in order to progress and become better than we currently are.  Only by making covenants of our own free will can we grow closer to Heavenly Father.  Everything is our own choice and that is what makes us unique.  We understand the role that agency plays in our Heavenly Father's plans.  We understand how agency works in our own lives.  We understand what it means to be agents.  And like the Israelites before us, we have an opportunity to accept the Gospel and agree to live its teachings.  In our day and age we do this through baptism by immersion.  But we still are saying as our ancestors did of old that we agree to abide by God's laws and precepts.  And by so doing we grow one step closer to our Heavenly Father.  Until tomorrow.