I had to read a talk by Elder Dallin H. Oaks for one of my classes. The talk is entitled "Weightier Matters".
Elder Oaks says at the beginning "I wish to speak about some "weightier matters" we might overlook if we allow ourselves to focus exclusively on lesser matters"
This talk is awesome and there is one quote I just have to share.
He says
"it will not do to pretend that our agency has been taken away when we are not free to exercise it without unwelcome consequences"
My father always said "you can choose your choice but you CANNOT choose the consequence". Every choice we make comes with some sort of consequence, whether it be positive or negative.
When we make poor choices, we are going to receive the poor consequence. Elder Oaks is saying that if we choose to disobey a law or commandment, we will get that consequence. Laws and commandment do NOT take away our AGENCY. We can still choose to do whatever we went. But we may receive an unwanted consequence because of that choice.
Yes, our FREEDOM may be taken away. But AGENCY can never be removed. We are always responsible for our actions and can choose what to do in any situation.
Talk can be found here at lds.org
