Wherefore Men are Free

I was preparing for my Sunday School lesson earlier this evening and a scripture that I memorized in seminary, struck me in a new way. As I read it's message, I realized how true this is in all aspects of our lives and how important it is for us to understand.

Lets read from the Book of Mormon in 2 Nephi chapter 2. Here Lehi is giving his last words to his children which are the most important for his children to learn (or what he thought was most important. Note: there is no doubt in my mind that the Spirit led his words here). After a beautiful discourse on the Fall and the Atonement, he finishes by talking about Agency when he gives the scripture that struck me so deeply,

"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."

Our Heavenly Father in His perfect love for all of his children, has built us the path and given us everything that we need. All that is "expedient unto man" for their salvation He has provided through His Beloved son Jesus Christ. However, this does not mean that we have a free ticket into the Celestial kingdom of our Father to live with Him and the Son forever. No, we must prove our worthiness by our actions and our decisions. "Men are free according to the flesh... to choose liberty and eternal life... or to choose captivity and death." The Lord loves us enough, that He gives us the opportunity to choose poorly so that we learn from our own mistakes. He loves us enough to allow us to gain that sacred experience that we need.

How do we choose eternal Life? How do we choose eternal exaltation? By our day to day actions. We choose where we are going to go by the small choices that we make and by our willingness to repent of our wrongdoings. These choices do not need to be large important decisions, but by "small things, are great things brought to pass". The music we listen to, the movies/t.v. programs we watch, the language we use (that's another topic that will get it's own post soon) and the opportunities to serve others that we waste. That list is very long. If you read the scriptures you will know what it contains.

However the line that separates is not grey, but black and white. All you must do is choose liberty! Choose Eternal Life! Obey the Commandments of the Father and follow the counsel of a living prophet of the Lord! Do all things "according to your [capacity]" to invite the Holy Spirit into your lives and to rebuke the Father of all Lies from it. I know that if you do so, it will become easier and easier to choose the right, and do all that your father expects of you to do.