180th Conference--- Robert D. Hales

Letter from a friend about gospel related conversation. Friend didn't understand what mormons mean by agency (because it makes no sense). Agency is the ability and priviledge god gives us to act for ourselves and the responsibility for our actions. We are free to choose liberty and life or the captivity and death of the devil. The hymn "know this that every soul is free" teaches this.

What we know about agency: before we came to earth, we were presented with the plan of salvation and progression. Our agency was an essential element of this plan. Without agency we can't progress, but with agency, we can chose wrong. This is why we need a savior to redeem us through repentance and atonement. After HF presented the plan, satan wanted to redeem everyone and have all the honor. This plan was rejected by HF because it would have denied us agency. Then JC exercised his agency by subsuming his will into the will of HF. Because of lucifer's rebellion, there was a war in heaven (hello Milton plagarization). We all had the chance to chose between JC and Lucifer in heaven, and 1/3 chose wrong. Lucifer was cast down and his angels with him. They lost the opportunity to have a mortal body and progress. The only power satan has is to tempt and try us. They want to make us miserable and make us disobey HF. We chose to follow the savior once, and that's why we are here on earth. If we make the same choice to follow HF here, we will have a great reward in the eternity.

Eternity is at stake. Throughout JC's life, he showed us how to use our agency. He obediently chose to do his father's will.. not by my will, but by thine will. He chose to love his enemies on the cross. Through his choosing and actions, JC was left alone by HF, then he endured to the end. Though he was in all points tempted, LIKE US, he exercised his agency to be the savior. By his perfect life, he shows us that PURE OBEDIENCE is our ONLY FREEDOM.

Job lost everything, but he was still faithful. Mary and Joseph obeyed and preserved JC. JS followed Moroni, and the restoration was acheived. In our mortal journey, we have to remember when we don't keep commandments, our opportunities are reduced. Your spiritual progress will be stopped.

Story about varnishing a wooden floor. He worked his way into the room, so he had no way to get out... painted himself into a corner... stuck. Whenever we disobey, we are captive to our choices. Tho we are spiritually stuck, we can repent. It is more work... refinishing. Returning to the lord isn't easy, but it is worth it. Obedience protects our agency. By following the WOW, we avoid poor health and addiction. Obey getting out of debt. Hold FHE and scripture study.

By our righteous choices and actions, we liberate our children from darkness. The world says that we should eat drink and be merry. Others embrace secularism.

Scriptures teach that we have agency and our righteous agency leads to eternal progression. King Saul and Samuel... harken thou unto the lord.... Smite Amulek... Saul practiced selective obedience and brought back cattle and stuff... Saul said he followed the lord... Saul blamed others.... Obey the lord... to obey is better than sacrifice (is this the BOM???). Saul confessed his sin because he feared the people. Because he didn't harken with exactness, he lost the opportunity to be king.

Are we harkening with exactness to the voice of the lord and his prophets, or are we practicing selective obedience???? (WOW... just WOW. This is a kick in the face for those who think they can chose what they believe.)

Invitation to come back for sinners... Life eternal knowing god and JC... testimony that they live. When we exercise agency in righteousness, we shall be prepared for the second coming. May we continue to follow him like we did in the beginning.