Freedom to Choose (GP 4)

Gospel Principles Lesson 4

In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve were given agency concerning whether to eat of the tree of life or not.

(See Moses 3:17)

Heavenly Father has given us the right to choose between good and evil for ourselves. (See 2 Nephi 2:25-27) This right is called agency, meaning that we become agents of our own lives. The scriptures and the prophets have taught us about this agency and that we are all born with the Light of Christ that helps us discern between right and wrong. (See John 1:1-9) If we choose to follow the commandments of Jesus Christ, our freedom increases, as well as our opportunities to become better. 

Heavenly Father has always allowed us this gift of agency, even in our pre-mortal life. Remember Stan wanted to destroy this agency; this gift caused a major conflict between the followers of Jesus and the followers of Satan. Because Satan wanted to steal Heavenly Father's identity and receive all glory and honor for himself, and because he openly rebelled against Heavenly Father and against Jesus Christ, whom Heavenly Father had chosen to be our Savior, Satan and his followers were cast out of heaven. (See Moses 4:1-14; Doctrine and Covenants 29:36-37)

Now that we are on earth, we are subject to testing. We are at school so to speak. Agency gives us the ability to choose. So how well we don on our individual tests really is an indication of our choices and our actions. Heavenly Father wanted to see if we would be obedient to Him even though we were no longer in His presence. (See Abraham 3:25) Following Heavenly Father now will require faith and an honest desire to choose the right. Although we have the freedom to choose what we do now, we also carry the responsibility for our choices. (See Helaman 14:30-31)

Following Heavenly Father's Plan will bring us peace and happiness and eventually a fullness of joy. Each time we make a good choice, our ability to choose the right is strengthened. Wrong choices weaken our ability to choose the right, and they narrow the choices available to us.

Faith in Heavenly Father and Jesus should always be followed by living the principles of the gospel and keeping the commandments. As our obedience increases, so will our faith. It will become part of our nature to want to do what is right. it is our Heavenly Father's desire for us to be happy. He wants us to learn and grow and progress. Through keeping His commandments, we can do so, and we will be on the path to becoming like Him. (See Moses 1:39)

Without a choice between good and evil, agency does not exist. Agency is the right and power to choose between two conflicting things. Lehi taught his son Jacob that opposition is necessary to our growth. (See 2 Nephi 2:11)

God allows Satan to oppose good. Satan was cast out of God's presence, and he seeks to turn all of us from following God. (See Moses 4:3-4) Satan has never wanted our happiness. It is his purpose to destoy us and to destroy God's work. He does all that he can to get us to deviate from the path of righteousness so that he can enslave us and take away our agency. He does not love us or want us to be happy. His design is to lead us to misery, because he himself is miserable. (See 2 Nephi 2:18, 27; Moroni 7:17)

Following Satan limits our future choices. When we succumb to temptation, we are weakened and prey to further temptation. We can become trapped in situations of insecurity and danger, addiction and wickedness; and we may find ourselves unable to pull ourselves out of the trap. We may need help.

We can choose whatever we want to do, but we cannot choose the consequences that follow our actions. 

Faith in Jesus Christ and repentance can free us from Satan's grasp and put us back on the right course. We must be prayerful and ask Heavenly Father in Jesus's name to help free us from our sins and help us to resist temptation. We need to give up our wayward course and our wrong decisions and keep the commandments if we want to regain peace and freedom in our lives. If we are watchful and prayerful and keep the commandments, the Lord will bless us and deliver us from temptations. (See 1 Corinthians 10;13; Alma 13:28)

God's commandments lead us to peace, joy, and happiness. They lead us away from danger, imprisonment, misery, and woe. If we continue to use our agency to follow Heavenly Father's Plan by keeping the commandments of Jesus Christ, we will progress on the pathway to our heavenly home, where we will have a fullness of joy in God's presence, and where we will be exalted with Him.