We are free to choose.
27 Wherefore, men are afree according to the bflesh; and call things are dgiven them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to echoose fliberty and eternal glife, 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 hmiserable like unto himself.
Doctrinal Mastery Core Document: The Plan of Salvation
2.1. In the premortal existence Heavenly Father introduced a plan to enable us to become like Him and obtain immortality and eternal life (see Moses 1:39). To fulfill this plan and become like our Father in Heaven, we must come to know Him and His Son, Jesus Christ, and have a correct understanding of Their character and attributes (see John 17:3).
2.2. The scriptures refer to Heavenly Father’s plan as the plan of salvation, the great plan of happiness, the plan of redemption, and the plan of mercy. This plan includes the Creation, the Fall, the Atonement of Jesus Christ, and all of the laws, ordinances, and doctrine of the gospel. Moral agency—the ability to choose and act for ourselves—is also essential to Heavenly Father’s plan. Our eternal progression depends on how we use this gift (see Joshua 24:15; 2 Nephi 2:27).
2.3. Jesus Christ is the central figure in Heavenly Father’s plan. The plan of salvation enables us to become perfected, receive a fulness of joy, enjoy our family relationships throughout the eternities, and live forever in the presence of God.
Read 2 Nephi 2:27 and look for words or phrases that indicate how our use of agency affects our eternal progression.
- Who is “the great Mediator of all men”? (Jesus Christ.)
- How does choosing to follow Jesus Christ give us liberty, or freedom?
- How does choosing to give in to the devil’s temptations lead to captivity and death?
Our eternal progression depends on how we use our agency—the ability to choose and act for ourselves—that God has given us.
Some people may criticize us for choosing to use our agency to do God’s will and keep His commandments, claiming this limits us and causes us to lose our individuality.
- What would you say in response to this type of criticism?
Read the following statement by Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and look for how our righteous use of agency allows us to reach our full potential.
“Using our agency to choose God’s will, and not slackening even when the going gets hard, will not make us God’s puppet; it will make us like Him. God gave us agency, and Jesus showed us how to use it so that we could eventually learn what They know, do what They do, and become what They are” (D. Todd Christofferson, “Moral Agency,” Ensign, June 2009, 53).
- How does using our agency to choose God’s will help us achieve our full potential?
Ponder and write in your journal what you will do to better use your agency to choose God’s will. Seek guidance from the Spirit as you ponder and write and to act on any promptings you receive.
Work to memorize 2 Nephi 2:27, a scripture mastery verse. Read it several times, and then close your scriptures and use the first letter of each word in this verse listed below to try to recite it to yourself or to a family member. Repeat this exercise until you feel that you can do it well.
W, m a f a t t f; a a t a g t w a e u m. A t a f t c l a e l, t t g M o a m, o t c c a d, a t t c a p o t d; f h s t a m m b m l u h.
Using only the first letter of each word in 2 Nephi 2:27 above, write this scripture mastery passage in your scripture journal. No peeking!
Book Of Mormon Central
General Conference
Decisions for Eternity, by Pres. Nelson
Approaching the Throne of God with Confidence, by Elder Klebingat of the Seventy
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