Speeches by Topic Topics | Agency
Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believe that agency, or the ability to choose for ourselves, is an essential part of Heavenly Father’s plan of salvation. A war was fought in heaven when Satan advocated an opposing plan that stifled the agency of Heavenly Father’s children. Because we are here on earth, we know that all of us fought for and chose God’s plan.
One of our major purposes in this mortal life is to show that we are willing to follow God of our own free will. Therefore, Heavenly Father will never take away our ability to choose. He will give us commandments, but He will not force us to obey.
Every choice has a consequence. God ensures our agency, but by so doing He also allows us to face the consequences of our actions, good or bad. We are also often faced with the consequences of the actions of others. While it is difficult to deal with the consequences of our own agency and the agency of others, the alternative—a world without consequences—would effectively be a world without choices. Without agency, we would be unable to learn and grow. Our righteousness would be meaningless and our joy empty. In the Book of Mormon, Nephi teaches that without wickedness, we cannot know righteousness, and without sorrow, we cannot know happiness (2 Nephi 2:22-23). Thankfully, the Atonement of Jesus Christ makes the negative consequences of agency, which would otherwise be eternal, only temporary if we will accept His grace. He can forgive our sins and heal the bitterness and pain caused by the wrongs of others.
Agency is empowered by knowledge. The more we know, the more power we have to make choices—and the more accountable we become for those choices. Therefore, we strive to learn all we can to enable us to not just choose good over evil, but best over “good enough”. We also strive to teach others so that they are empowered to choose.
These BYU devotionals explore the necessity and significance of human agency, its place within God’s plan for each of us, and its implications in many earthly endeavors.
The Path to Transformative Change
Pam Musil gives five suggestions to help make permanent change a part of your life. Her knowledge of dance greatly influences her advice.
“We Seek After These Things”
May we learn how to learn by the Spirit; may we choose and decide in time how best to prepare for eternity; may we offer global experience and training to contribute to every nation, kindred, and tongue; and may we seek and rejoice in spiritual strengthening.
“Look unto Him in Every Thought”
Obviously we cannot completely control the events that come at us daily, but we can indeed control the worthwhileness of those events. We worship an omniscient God and know that “all things wherewith you have been afflicted shall work together for your good, and to my name’s glory, saith the Lord.”
Agency, Accountability, and the Atonement of Jesus Christ: Application to Sexual Assault
Whether you are aware of it or not, there is someone around you whose life has been altered by sexual violence. Being “an example of the believers,” living a life of kindness and compassion, keeping your covenant “to mourn with those that mourn,” and serving others can all have powerful effects on those around you. Please do not underestimate the influence of diligent obedience, daily worship, and active service. You can do much good in a general way without realizing how the Spirit is working through you to bless the lives of others.
Be 100 Percent Responsible
Agency and responsibility are inseparably connected. You cannot avoid responsibility without also diminishing agency. Mercy and justice are also inseparable. You cannot deny the Lord’s justice without also impeding His mercy. Oh, how Satan loves to divide complementary principles and laugh at the resulting devastation!
A Banquet of Consequences: The Cumulative Result of All Choices
The family proclamation could not be more clear about the consequences of choices inconsistent with the Father’s plan. It unequivocally proclaims: "We warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets."
“Without Compulsory Means”
Have you ever been absorbed by a project? Have you ever been driven internally by a goal you wished to accomplish? I believe that when we exercise our agency to learn, grow, and accomplish good in this world and when we apply “the principles of righteousness,” our influence will naturally increase.
The Blessings of Choice
As important as choices are—such as what to major in, what career path to take, where to live, and where to send the kids to school—the choices you make regarding the type of person you want to be are, in my opinion, more important and will help you make those very important decisions regarding the direction you choose for your life and your family.
Free to Choose Liberty or Captivity
How could we become like the Savior if we did not have agency to make those choices? By using our agency to choose the right, we begin to put on the divine nature—to pattern our lives after His. We find peace, happiness, and freedom as we make right choices.
Our Essential Spiritual Agency
In our fast-paced world, we are sometimes impatient for His plan to unfold. Popular culture tells us, “Get a life.” My advice to all of us is, “Get an eternal life.” By making right choices today, tomorrow, and for the rest of our time on earth, that eternal goal means the most to us.
The Sacred Gift of Agency
Well-meaning people may honestly disagree with my interpretation of how the universe is put together. Agency allows and requires this possibility. But for me, as I noted above, science is faith affirming because I choose to believe, and everything else follows.
Moral Agency
We cannot look to the law to save us when we have broken the law. We need a Savior, a Mediator who can overcome the effects of our sins and errors so that they are not necessarily fatal. It is because of the Atonement of Christ that we can recover from bad choices and be justified under the law as if we had not sinned.
Decisiveness in the Face of Uncertainty: The Basis of Progress
What is relevant to you today? A few weeks ago I attended a young single adult ward in Washington, D.C., where I met Dean Magleby for the first time. As we came here this morning, I was a little apprehensive about this assignment until I was able to see some of you whom I have known: some of our missionaries—well, many of our missionaries; those of you we have visited…
Choices and Changes, Burdens and Blessings
A well-worn and much-loved poem by Robert Frost introduces the subject. You may know the work, or perhaps you have heard only the oft-quoted last lines: Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth; Then took the other, as just as…
Agency and Context
A friend of mine who was critical of religion once asked me, “What does it really mean if a person behaves righteously because of external rewards and punishments? Every animal will choose reward over punishment.” Elder Maxwell gave a marvelous talk about agency from this podium three weeks ago. I want to reiterate one of the points he made: A central feature of agency is that God doesn’t coerce us.…
“Free to Choose”
Though we are free to choose our actions, we must weigh them against eternal consequences. Agency is a gift from God and we must treasure it.
The Wind Beneath Your Wings
At times we will go through trials and need to be lifted up. Control, attitude, and faith in divine power will create wind beneath our wings and lift us up.
Seasons of Choice
It is a great pleasure to be with you today in this devotional. I am prayerful that the time we spend together will motivate each of us to consider our lives and to evaluate where we are as we begin this new year. Have you noticed how the seasons of our lives move forward in a never-ending stream? I have been fascinated—sometimes surprised, but almost always invigorated—by the changes I…
Living on the Lord’s Side of the Line
Choose to keep God's commandments—always—and stay out of Satan's territory. You are promised safety and peace if you stay on the Lord's side of the line.
Weightier Matters
An important discussion of controversial topics such as the family, abortion, choice, and diversity, in terms of earthly objectives and eternal goals.
“Remember That Ye Are Free to Act for Yourselves”
Some of you may be wondering what it would be like to stand here at a podium where prophets, apostles, presidents of the United States, a prime minister of England, Nobel Prize winners, university presidents, and many learned men and women have spoken—particularly some of you who may feel you are not quite as qualified as those who have occupied this place. As the least-qualified devotional speaker in the history…
The Three A’s: Atonement, Agency, and Accountability
The atonement, along with our own agency and accountability, work together to comprise the essence of the Plan of Salvation.
Do What Is Right
Richard G. Scott emplores listeners to resolutely decide to keep the Lord's standards and live so that the Holy Ghost can inspire all to do what is right.
Agency: A Gift with Responsibility
Ruth E. Brasher, director of the BYU Honor Code Office, shares insights into the dangers of separating agency from accountability.
Get a Life
To "get a life," we must use our agency to love God and serve others. Then, no matter our circumstance, we can say "Life can't get any better than this."
Therefore Choose Life
In the thirtieth chapter of Deuteronomy we read, “I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life” (19). With these words Moses challenged the children of Israel to renew their covenant with the Lord. We may have heard the same words earnestly addressed to us by parents, teachers, and church leaders. We know what they mean. Or do we? Perhaps we could gain by pondering…
Choice—The Crucible of Character
Christlike character is cultivated through our choices, not our circumstances or predispositions. We are always accountable for the outcome of our actions.
Free Agency and Freedom
God's plan of salvation includes "free agency" - the freedom to choose. That cannot be taken away, but our "freedom," or ability to act on our choices, can.
The Elusive Balance
There is a balance to be found in life between looking to the Lord's hand in all things and using your God-given agency to guide you through life.
You and Your Free Agency
Your free agency is a gift from God and can save you from being tied down by procrastination, bad habits, and debilitating excuses.
On Giving and Getting
In life's constant opportunities for giving and getting, let us be more concerned with giving. Nothing worth getting comes without effort and sacrifice.
Spiritual Is as Spiritual Does
Using the tagline, "spiritual is as spiritual does," Mary Ellen Edmunds reminds us that spirituality is determined by the steps we take to develop it.
Agency
The gift of agency is central to the Plan of Salvation. Using our agency to follow God's commandments gives us true independence and power over our destiny.
Let Your Light So Shine
Our light will shine and we will influence the world for good as we respect the agency of others and have pure intentions.
The Eternal Conflict
God desires all His children to return to Him, but the conflict of life is to choose between eternity's blessings and compromising for worldly things.
Moral Free Agency
Daniel H. Ludlow outlines the conditions necessary for our moral free agency to be effective. In our lives and our country, we must preserve this freedom.
Agency or Inspiration—Which?
It is our obligation to go to work on our problems and then counsel with the Lord and get the ratifying seal of the Holy Spirit on the conclusions that we’ve reached; and that ratifying seal is the spirit of revelation.
The Endowment of Time
Time is a god-given gift that the wise will cherish and that the foolish will waste or misuse; what we do here will determine what we are in the eternities.
Doing the Right Things for the Right Reasons
It isn't enough to be doing the right things; we need to make sure we are doing them for the right reasons. Ask yourself, "Are my motives pure?"
Tickling the Tiger
The text for this speech is unavailable. Please see our FAQ page for more information.
What Are You Making of Your Life
What are you making of the many opportunities you have? Adam S. Bennion counsels students to take advantage of their time devoted to study and improvement.
Discover and Actualize Your Potential Self
Your soul is as powerful as the atomic weapons which our age fears. As you discover your divine potential, you will be able to actualize it.
Personal Liberty vs Social Control
Your personal liberty does not give your the right to flout standards and rules that you have agreed to, nor to ignore when others who do so.
Raising the World to a Higher Plane of Morality
The morality of the world can be no greater than the goodness of its individuals. Use your knowledge and God's guidance to make the world a better place.
