Robert D. Hales on developing the gift of agency

Elder Robert D. Hales (1932- ) served as a Seventy from 1976 to 1985, when he was called as a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles.

"May I suggest a few basic choices that you can begin to make now—this very day.

"Choose to accept—truly accept—that you are a child of God, that He loves you, and that He has the power to help you.

"Choose to put everything—literally everything—on the altar before Him. Believing that you are His child, decide that your life belongs to Him and that you will use your agency to do His will. You may do this multiple times in your life, but never, never give up.

"Choose to put yourself in a position to have experiences with the Spirit of God through prayer, in scripture study, at Church meetings, in your home, and through wholesome interactions with others. When you feel the influence of the Spirit, you are beginning to be cleansed and strengthened. The light is being turned on, and where that light shines, the darkness of evil cannot remain.

"Choose to obey and keep your covenants, beginning with your baptismal covenant. Renew these covenants weekly by worthily partaking of the sacrament.

"Choose to prepare to worthily attend the temple, make and renew sacred covenants, and receive all of the saving ordinances and blessings of the gospel.

"Finally, and most importantly, choose to believe in the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Accept the Savior's forgiveness, and then forgive yourself. Because of His sacrifice for you, He has the power to 'remember [your sins] no more' (D&C 58:42). You must do likewise."

- Robert D. Hales, "To Act for Ourselves: The Gift and Blessings of Agency," Ensign, May 2006, pp. 4-8
Click here to read the full talk

This is a thought-provoking talk from Elder Hales, investigating not only what agency is, but also how we can develop the gift and make better use of it.

The second point is especially interesting to me — the thought that we have to put everything on God's altar.  Each person must "decide that your life belongs to Him and that you will use your agency to do His will. You may do this multiple times in your life, but never, never give up." It is not giving up agency to decide that you will always choose to use it in a certain way. It is glorifying agency to do this.

And then this insight on HOW to increase spirituality and expand agency:

Wise choices in our behavior and lifestyle lead to an expanded ability to choose what is sacred and holy. That's a beautiful concept.