Agency

I have been thinking about agency lately, not only pertaining to things on earth, but ultimately our final destination is about choice. Many scriptures tell us that we are free to choose. Free to choose life and happiness or darkness and misery. If we desire things of the telestial world then that is where we will want to be. If we choose things of the celestial world then that is what we will strive for. These are some of my favorite scriptures about this subject. 2 Nephi 2:27-29 "Wherefore men are free according to the flesh;.... And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life 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 miserable like unto himself. "
"And now my sons, I would that ye should look to that great Mediator, and hearken unto his great commandments; and be faithful unto his words, and choose eternal life, according to the will of his Holy Spirit;
And not choose eternal death, according to the will of the flesh and the evil which is therein, which giveth the spirit of the devil power to captivate, to bring you down to hell, that he may reign over you in his own kingdom.
And then 2 Nephi 10:23-25 "Therefore cheer up your hearts, and remember that ye are free to act for yourselves-to choose the way of everlasting death or the way of eternal life."
"wherefore my beloved brotheren, reconcile yourselves to the will of God, and not the will of the devil and the flesh ; and remember, after ye are reconciled unto God, that it is only in and through the grace of God that ye are saved."
"Wherefore, may God raise you from death by the power of the resurrection, and also from everlasting death by the power of the atonement, that ye may be received into the eternal kingdom of God, that ye may praise him through grace divine. Amen.
Alma chapters 12 and 13 are really good as well.
If we can overcome our own desires, through faith on Jesus Christ and repentance, and desire the things of the spirit then we will receive eternal life and happiness. May we all be able to overcome the flesh and desire all that is good and of God, that we may live with Him again. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

The Infinite and Eternal Sacrifice

My last few posts have been about sacrifice. Sunday was Fast and Testimony meeting in the LDS church's sacrament meeting, so I have been thinking since then of the great and last sacrifice the infinite and eternal sacrifice, that of Jesus Christ our brother, friend, and Savior. My 4 children were sick on Sunday and my husband stayed home with them. My niece and nephews (2) that come with us did family things so I was at church by myself. Before the Sacrament ( bread and water) was to be passed, I thought no children to quiet down or take care of what am I going to do. So I had decided to use this time to pray and think about things in my life I need to repent of and change and how I can be better this week. Then the thought came to me that I should open up my scriptures and read about the Atonement and Crusifiction of the Savior Jesus Christ. So I argued with myself for a second or 2 about which was better and then decided that both were equally good and better yet the thought to open my scriptures most likely came from the Holy Ghost. I took out my bible and read in Matthew and Luke about the sacrifice for sin in the garden of Gethsemane and in Matthew Luke and John about the death on the cross. I felt the spirit so strongly as I read these scriptures. And some things really stood out to me. For Example it is incredible to me that he would suffer so much pain and anguish for me. I know it is not just for me but He did it for me as well. Also, how loving and perfect our Savior is. While on the cross, after suffering so much in the garden of Gethsemane, being whipped enough times to kill a normal man, a crown of thorns placed on His head and then nails driven into His hands and feet and wrists and a sword wound in His side, with all of this pain he still has the love and patience to take care of His mother and then asks Heavenly Father to forgive the soldiers because "they know not what they do". I thought of how when Iam sick or in pain or even just tired how impatient I am with my children and yet here He is suffering more than any of us will ever know and He is thinking about all those around Him. It is Amazing to me. Then because of this Great and Last Sacrifice, Infinite and Eternal, we are able to repent and return to our Heavenly Home again. And They are there patiently waiting for us to figure it out, to accept the plan and live it, once again as we accepted it before we came to earth. Those of us who have made mistakes or just not really figured things out quite yet, we can learn and grow and accept the truth and then like the Prodigal Son we can return to waiting, open, forgiving arms. In the name of Jesus Christ Amen.