Well, this last week was sweet.
Elder Tripp and I killed it. We worked way hard. The only problem that my allergies are going WILD! I need to get better allergy medicine. Our apartment is pretty hot too, so it makes it difficult to sleep at night. But it's all good. A good 10 minute nap during our lunch our takes me through the day. Technically I shouldn't be doing that, as far as I know, but it helps me work harder through the day and that is important to me.
We had a really good lesson with Selina this last week. During weekly planning we were trying to figure out how we could teach her about obedience to God's commandments and our Moral Agency. When suddenly it hit us! We went and bought a bag of KISSES! We decided what we would do is offer a KISS (it symbolizing a choice). It was her choice to accept the KISS or to reject it. If she accepted it, we'd ask her how it was and what she liked about it. Then we'd offer her another. If she took that one we'd offer her another. Then another, and another until she rejects a KISS. We would ask her why she said 'no', and listen. The actually answer she gave was she'd "had enough." We pointed out that the choices we make have consequences. Particularly in this examples, we compared it to sin. At first a sin might seem gratifying, and pleasing, so you want to do it again; because you want that continuous pleasure. However, the more KISSES you eat, the more you realize the downside to eating them. You might realize they are very rich, and so you are thirtsy, or maybe you realize you might gain weight. Whatever the reason is, there is always a downside to sin. Sin is our choice. Every decision, in the long run, is ours to make. With every choice there is a concequence. Our Father in Heaven wants us to make the right decision, and Satan does not. But nevertheless, our Father in Heaven gave us the ability to choose for ourselves. This is called 'Moral Agency'! We chose to read with Selina 2 Nephi 2:27
27 Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. 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.
notice the contrast in word choice that we are given by Jacob in this sermon:
Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to chooseliberty 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.
Now notice the source of the contrasts:
Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. 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.
Notice that the Devil is only able to do so much with us as his captivity will allow us, as well as the Savior. We have to make choices for ourselves. I remember hearing an analogy by a General Authority once describe it as a voting process- Satan has 1 vote for us, and Jesus Christ has 1 vote for us. The question is where will OUR vote go? Either way the decisions we make determine our happiness. We are free "according to flesh" and so we must also recognize that while our decisions do appear "according to the flesh" the things we know and share as members of the Church of Jesus Christ are of ETERNAL significance. That is why it is important to make right decisions- the liberty and eternal life we are talking about is ETERNAL! The death and captivity that we are talking about can be as well- if we allow ourselves to fall.
I've learned alot on my mission, that with every choice there is a consequence. We can choose it either way-
1. We can just make a choice, and face the consequences the come as a result. If you choose to steal something and you get caught you go to jail. You made the choice, now you must face the consequence.
however if we look at our other option!
2. We can evaluate the consequence, see what we want and then make the choices necessary to get the best result- we are happier. So if you feel tempted to steal, and you realize that there are bad consequences to stealing, you'll probably choose otherwise. Unless you're an idiot.
I could go on and on about how important our decision making is. But I know that decision making is critical in our lives. It is through our decision making that we are able to qualify for the Grace of Christ, and by that that we are ultimately saved by His grace.
So make good decisions, people!
I also had a way sweet insight this last week when reading the Book of Mormon. But I'm going to save that for another time. But it's something that has really impacted me and I'm glad I had that insight.
Have a great week!
Elder Prows
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