Atonement, Agency, and Accountability

I know I've been slacking a lot for a while. but, I'm really going to try to update my blog every week. starting today.

ok, so today in church I heard someone way the phrase "FREE Agency" I'm not sure why it bugs me so much when people say that, but it does.  because agency is NOT free. there was a debt paid so that we could have agency. We fought for the ability to have agency in the pre-existance. when we chose to keep our first estate and come here to this earth. Adam and Eve were given Agency in the garden.

Jesus Christ Paid the price for agency. he paid the the price for us to be able to choose. Elder Packer said "had agency come without the Atonement, it would have been a fatal gift". I found this wonderful talk given by Elder Packer on the Atonement, Agency, and Accountability.

Agency, is not just the freedom to choose good from evil, but it comes with consequences. If we choose to do evil, we face the consequences of those choices, if we choose to do good,  we receive those great blessings for doing so.

Elder Bednar said that the principle of Moral Agency is the least understood principle of the Gospel, he said "as I listen to members all over the world define agency this is what they say, its the ability to choose, and I can do what I want" he said "THAT'S FALSE.  in the Pearl of Great Price, in the book of Moses, its defines agency. it reads:

Moses7:32-33

32 The Lord said unto Enoch: Behold these thy brethren; they are the workmanship of mine own hands, and I gave unto them their knowledge, in the day I created them; and in the Garden of Eden, gave I unto man his agency;

33 And unto thy brethren have I said, and also given commandment, that they should love one another, and that they should choose me, their Father...

I am sharing a couple of videos tonight. 

I am first sharing the video of Elder Packer speaking on the Atonement, Agency, and Accountability. and I am sharing the video by Elder Bednar, it goes pretty deep so I hope that you understand it. if not, let me know and I will do what I can to help you. I would try to explain agency but there is no way that I can do it as good as Elder Bednar does. I do however urge you to go look it up in the scriptures like Elder Bednar says. there  is so much on Agency in the scriptures that we can learn. go onto www.LDS.org and look it up. I did that, and sooooo much comes up.

I also hope that this post makes sense, but I just wanted to let you all know that Agency is NOT free. it was paid for, and once we make those covenants we are NOT free to do what want. we are commanded to keep those sacred covenants that we make with our Father in Heaven, and if we don't, there are consequences, just like if we break a mortal law, there are consequences, we have the same with spiritual laws. we need to exercise that agency that Jesus Christ paid for with the Atonement, and keep those sacred covenants that we make with our Father in Heaven. I Promise you that as you keep those covenants you will be blessed beyond measure. We have so many blessings coming our way, but ONLY if we exercise our agency and keep those Covenants. I know that Jesus Christ paid that price for us in Gethsemane and that he know exactly how we feel at all times. He KNOWS us! he KNOWS all of us! he LOVES us! 

I say this in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.