Agency

During my time in Fairview, Elder Dallof and I have come across two people, in particular, I felt the Lord prepared for us. Several things made me come to that conclusion: 1) We prayed to find these people; 2) We found them in unusual circumstances; 3) They were interested in and receptive to our message; 4) We set return appointments with both of them.

Unfortunately, both of those appointments fell through, and we haven't seen either of them again.


Satan sends obstacles, large and small, our way to deter us from making correct choices

As missionaries, we joke that the most effective way to teach the gospel and prepare people for baptism would be to take away their agency to choose. Of course, that is not the Lord's way, and neither is it ours. But it's interesting to think about—especially in times of disappointment and discouragement.

It's hard to see initially receptive people resist truth for any reason. We pray for, prepare for and worry about these people. We yearn for what is best for them. We love them. We're offering them the greatest blessing in the world, and they either don't know why they need it or aren't willing to receive it.

I suppose that's how our Father in Heaven feels about us when we make bad choices. He loves us beyond our capacity to understand. He yearns for what is best for us. He offers us everything He has, and too often we are unwilling to receive those blessings.

He loves us so much that He will not take away our agency, our right and privelege to choose. He's given us commandments: eternal laws which, when obeyed, bring peace and happiness. He's given us everything we need to return to live with Him. All we need to do is follow Him.

I'm hopeful that we will be able to reach these people in a coming day. I'm hopeful they will accept our wonderful message. When we choose what is right, we choose happiness; when we choose what is wrong, we choose misery.

Learn more about the divine principle of agency from an apostle of the Lord, Elder Robert D. Hales.