Elder Ulisses Soares on not allowing Satan's power in our lives

Elder Ulisses Soares (born October 2, 1958 in Brazil) has served as a Seventy since April 2005, and as a member of the Presidency of the Seventy since January 2013. He was sustained to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles on April 1, 2018.

"The war of good against evil will continue throughout our lives since the adversary’s purpose is to make all people as miserable as he is. Satan and his angels will try to shroud our thoughts and assert control by tempting us to sin. If they can, they will corrupt all that is good. Nevertheless, it is essential to understand that they will have power over us only if we allow it.

"The scriptures also contain several examples of those who gave that permission to the adversary and ended up becoming confused and even destroyed, like Nehor, Korihor, and Sherem. We need to be alert to this danger. We cannot allow ourselves to be confused by popular messages that are easily accepted by the world and that contradict the doctrine and true principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Many of these worldly messages represent nothing more than an attempt of our society to justify sin. We need to remember that, at the end, all will stand before Christ to be judged of our works, whether they are good or whether they are evil (see 3 Nephi 27:14). As we encounter these worldly messages, great courage and a solid knowledge of the plan of our Heavenly Father will be required to choose the right.

"All of us can receive the strength to choose the right if we seek the Lord and place all our trust and faith in Him. But, as the scriptures teach, we need to have 'a sincere heart' and 'real intent.' Then the Lord, in His infinite mercy, 'will manifest the truth unto [us], by the power of the Holy Ghost. And by the power of the Holy Ghost [we] may know the truth of all things.' (Moroni 10:4-5.)"

- Ulisses Soares, "Yes, We Can and Will Win!", General Conference April 2015
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In some of father Lehi's final counsel to his sons, he warned them that Satan "seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself" (2 Ne 2:27). Elder Soares counseled that Satan is very active in that ongoing endeavor in our time.

The broader context of Lehi's counsel also includes that caveat stated by Elder Soares—Satan has "power over us only if we allow it":

"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." (2 Ne 2:27)

When we exercise our agency to follow the Adversary's temptations, we find ourselves "becoming confused" and losing our power to choose. The eventual result result will be that we choose "captivity and death." It becomes critical that we not be misled by the messages of the world, but that we stay focused on the foundation of the Gospel message and the Savior.

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2019)

Elder Quentin L. Cook on avoiding moral bondage

Elder Quentin L. Cook (b. September 8, 1940) was called as a Seventy in 1996, then as a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in 2007.

"God intended that men and women would be free to make choices between good and evil. When evil choices become the dominant characteristic of a culture or nation, there are serious consequences both in this life and the life to come. People can become enslaved or put themselves in bondage not only to harmful, addictive substances but also to harmful, addictive philosophies that detract from righteous living.

"Turning from the worship of the true and living God and worshipping false gods like wealth and fame and engaging in immoral and unrighteous conduct result in bondage in all its insidious manifestations. These include spiritual, physical, and intellectual bondage and sometimes bring destruction....

"Our challenge is to avoid bondage of any kind, help the Lord gather His elect, and sacrifice for the rising generation. We must always remember that we do not save ourselves. We are liberated by the love, grace, and atoning sacrifice of the Savior. When Lehi's family fled, they were led by the Lord's light. If we are true to His light, follow His commandments, and rely on His merits, we will avoid spiritual, physical, and intellectual bondage as well as the lamentation of wandering in our own wilderness, for He is mighty to save.

"Let us avoid the despair and sorrow of those who fall into captivity and can no longer bear to sing the songs of Zion."

- Quentin L. Cook, "Lamentations of Jeremiah: Beware of Bondage," General Conference, October 2013
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The freedom to choose between good and evil is one of the foundational principles of our mortal experience. Elder Cook suggests that if an individual or a group make too many choices of evil, so that it becomes the dominant path, there is a loss of freedom, an enslavement to the evil that robs man of the freedom of choice. We fall into "spiritual, physical, and intellectual bondage" that prevent us from acting for ourselves. It's a dangerous situation, and it's good to be reminded and warned so we can do all we can to avoid the problem and help those around us be aware and wary.

If we continue to make righteous choices, we retain the ability to choose our course in life:

It is only through righteous choices that we are able to continue to "sing the songs of Zion" in our lives. Joy comes through the proper exercise of agency; bondage is the result of misuse. We must guard against Satan's efforts to persuade us with "harmful, addictive philosophies" or the "false gods like wealth and fame" as well as "engaging in immoral and unrighteous conduct."

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2017)

President David O. McKay on the principles of America's founding

President David O. McKay (1873-1970) was called to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in 1906.  He served as a counselor in the First Presidency to Heber J. Grant and George Albert Smith beginning in 1945, then then as the president of the Church from 1951 to his death in 1970 at age 96.

"As we celebrate the birthday of the Declaration of Independence on July 4... let us catch the spirit of that morning and awaken appreciation for the blessings and privileges that are ours if we but remain loyal and true to the Constitution of the United States as established by our Founding Fathers....

"After the Revolutionary War was over and nine years after the Declaration of Independence was signed, the Founding Fathers met in that same Old State Hall to frame the Constitution of the United States.

"The French historian, Francois Pierre Guillaume Guizot, while visiting in the United States, asked James Russell Lowell, 'How long will the American Republic endure?' Lowell’s answer was: 'As long as the ideas of the men who founded it continue dominant.'...

"Actuated by these two fundamental and eternal principles—the free agency of the individual and faith in an overruling Providence—those 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence, those who drew up the Constitution of the United States nine years later, gave to the world a concept of government which, if applied, will strike from the arms of downtrodden humanity the shackles of tyranny, and give hope, ambition, and freedom to the teeming millions throughout the world."

- David O. McKay, “The Founding of an American Republic” pp. 249–51
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In most of our holiday celebrations, packed with family fun, community celebrations, and many personal traditions, it's easy to forget the origins of the holiday and its significance. President McKay reminds us of the significance of July 4 and the principles of independence and agency represented by that day. He quotes Lowell to point out how critical it is for us to preserve the memory of those principles today in order to help preserve the integrity of the American Republic.

The foundational principles of agency and faith were profoundly present in the founding of the United States of America, and must be preserved today. The Constitution's principles must be protected and defended in order to "give hope, ambition, and freedom to the teeming millions throughout the world."

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2017)

Boyd K. Packer on the freedom and choice to be obedient

President Boyd K. Packer (1924-2015) served as an Assistant to the Quorum of the Twelve (a position that no longer exists) from 1961 to 1970, when he was called to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles.  He served as president of that Quorum from 1994 until his death on July 3, 2015 at age 90.

"I am free, and I am very jealous of my independence. I am quick to declare my independence and my freedom. Choice among my freedoms is my freedom to be obedient. I obey because I want to: I choose to.

"Some people are always suspicious that one is only obedient because he is compelled to be. They indict themselves with the very thought that one is only obedient because he is compelled to be. They feel that one would obey only through compulsion. They speak for themselves. I am free to be obedient, and I decided that—all by myself. I pondered on it; I reasoned it; I even experimented a little. I learned some sad lessons from disobedience. Then I tested it in the great laboratory of spiritual inquiry—the most sophisticated, accurate, and refined test that we can make of any principle. So I am not hesitant to say that I want to be obedient to the principles of the gospel. I want to. I have decided that. My volition, my agency, has been turned in that direction. The Lord knows that....

"Obedience to God can be the very highest expression of independence. Just think of giving to Him the one thing, the one gift, that He would never take. Think of giving Him that one thing that He would never wrest from you."

- Boyd K. Packer, address at BYU, December 1971; see also "That All May Be Edified," pp. 253-261
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This was a classic topic addressed by a young Elder Packer shortly after being called to the Quorum of Twelve. Sometimes believers are accused of "blind obedience" or being compelled to obey. But Elder Packer boldly declared his independence and agency. He had chosen to obey, and did so very willingly after careful consideration.

I love the thought that our willing obedience is a precious gift that we can give to God, one that He would never take from us, demand or compel.

M. Russell Ballard on our responsibility to preserve freedom through righteousness

Elder M. Russell Ballard (1928- ) was called as a Seventy in 1976, and has served as a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles since 1985.

"Samuel Adams, who is sometimes called the father of the American Revolution, wrote: 'I thank God that I have lived to see my country independent and free. She may long enjoy her independence and freedom if she will. It depends upon her virtue.' (Wells, The Life of Samuel Adams, 3:175.)

"That means it depends on us. If we would maintain the independence and freedom the Founding Fathers intended, we must work to preserve and protect the moral foundation upon which they built the U. S. government. We must stand boldly for righteousness and truth, and must defend the cause of honor, decency, and personal freedom espoused by Washington, Madison, Adams, Lincoln, and other leaders who acknowledged and loved God. Otherwise, we will find ourselves in the same predicament President Lincoln observed in 1863.

"Said Lincoln: 'We have grown in numbers, wealth and power as no other nation has ever grown. But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us; and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of their own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us!' (A Proclamation 'to designate and set apart a day for national prayer and humiliation.')

"Let us resolve to make our own families truly free by teaching them that God holds us all accountable. His laws are absolutes; breaking them brings misery and unhappiness; keeping them brings joy, happiness, and the blessings of heaven. Let us teach our families and others the importance of moral responsibility based on the laws of God.

"The freedom we give thanks for is at stake—for ourselves and for our posterity. No nation or people that rejects God or His commandments can prosper or find happiness. History and the scriptures are filled with examples of nations that rejected God. Let us be wise and remember the source of our blessings and not be timid or apologetic in sharing this knowledge with others."

- M. Russell Ballard, "Religion in a Free Society," Provo Freedom Festival, July 5, 1992; see Ensign, October 1992, pp. 64-65
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This is a wonderful thought from Elder Ballard, appropriate for the Memorial Day weekend. He reminds us that "independence and freedom" are a gift from our Founding Fathers, but are also an obligation given to us to preserve through righteousness. His premise, based on the quote from Samuel Adams, is that freedom depends on the virtue and righteousness of the citizens. We have the duty to "stand boldly for righteousness and truth" in our time. That struggle has been a difficult one for at least 150 years, as witnessed by these thought-provoking words of President Lincoln:

I thought it was significant that Elder Ballard emphasized that perhaps the most important thing we can individually do, today, is to focus on our own families; "make our own families truly free" as we teach accountability and righteousness, and "moral responsibility based on the laws of God." As we strengthen and bless individual families, we strengthen and bless the whole nation.

Ezra Taft Benson on the responsibility to preserve America

President Ezra Taft Benson (1899-1994) was called to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in 1943, and served as the 13th President of the Church from 1985 until his death in 1994 at age 94.

"I do not believe the greatest threat to our future is from bombs or guided missiles. I do not think our civilization will die that way. I think it will die when we no longer care, when the spiritual forces that make us wish to be right and noble die in the hearts of men, when we disregard the importance of law and order.

"If American freedom is lost, if America is destroyed, if our blood-bought freedom is surrendered, it will be because of Americans. What's more, it will probably not be only the work of subversive and criminal Americans. The Benedict Arnolds will not be the only ones to forfeit our freedom....

"If America is destroyed, it may be by Americans who salute the flag, sing the national anthem, march in patriotic parades, cheer Fourth of July speakers—normally good Americans, but Americans who fail to comprehend what is required to keep our country strong and free—Americans who have been lulled away into a false security.

"Great nations are never conquered from outside unless they are rotten inside. Our greatest national problem today is erosion, not the erosion of the soil, but erosion of the national morality—erosion of traditional enforcement of law and order....

"If America is to withstand these influences and trends, there must be a renewal of the spirit of our forefathers, an appreciation of the American way of life, a strengthening of muscle and sinew and the character of the nation. America needs guts as well as guns. National character is the core of national defense."

- Ezra Taft Benson, "Americans are Destroying America," Conference Report, April 1968, pp. 49-54
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Having had significant exposure to politics and government (including service as the US Secretary of Agriculture for 8 years under President Dwight D. Eisenhower), President Benson had a special concern and sensitivity to America's strengths and challenges. He often spoke about freedom, liberty, government, and the responsibility of citizens.

In this excerpt from a talk given almost 50 years ago, President Benson talks perceptively on forces that threaten the country today, particularly the erosion of spiritual values and respect for law; and offers the critical challenge that America needs "a renewal of the spirit of our forefathers" and increasing "national character."

Robert D. Hales on preserving religious liberty

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.

"Brothers and sisters, we are responsible to safeguard these sacred freedoms and rights for ourselves and our posterity. What can you and I do?

"First, we can become informed. Be aware of issues in your community that could have an impact on religious liberty.

"Second, in your individual capacity, join with others who share our commitment to religious freedom. Work side by side to protect religious freedom.

"Third, live your life to be a good example of what you believe—in word and deed. How we live our religion is far more important than what we may say about our religion.

"Our Savior's Second Coming is drawing nearer. Let us not delay in this great cause. Remember Captain Moroni, who hoisted the title of liberty inscribed with the words 'In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children' (Alma 46:12). Let us remember the people's response: exercising their agency, they 'came running together' with a covenant to act. (Alma 46:21.)

"My beloved brothers and sisters, don't walk! Run! Run to receive the blessings of agency by following the Holy Ghost and exercising the freedoms God has given us to do His will."

- Robert D. Hales, "Preserving Agency, Protecting Religious Freedom," General Conference, April 2015
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I always appreciate messages from leaders that include specific assignments or charges. Elder Hales provided such a message in the most recent conference. He first discussed the concept of religious freedom, suggesting "four cornerstones of religious freedom that we as Latter-day Saints must rely upon and protect." They include the freedom to believe, to share belief with others, to worship in religious organizations, and to live the tenets of our faith.

Religious liberty is threatened in our time. The challenge form Elder Hales was to be actively involved in working to preserve it. That is where the "charge" to us comes, in the three areas mentioned:

• Be informed; understand the issues
• Join with others in the community eager to help
• Live as a good example of our religious principles

So that's the invitation, and this is the specific call to action with a promise: