Contributed by: Ann Scripture
2 Ne.
10:23
23 Therefore, cheer
up your hearts, and remember that ye are free to act for yourselves-- to choose the way of
everlasting death or the way of eternal life.
Quotations
Quote 1
"If a person,
whether knowingly, ignorantly, intentionally, or accidentally, touches a hot stove or a
bare high-voltage wire, he will be burned to the extent of the exposure. If for any reason
he steps in front of a rapidly moving vehicle, even to save another life, he will be
injured and possibly killed. Numerous examples could be given to show that we are subject
to these laws regardless of who we are or what our intentions might be. We cannot change
the laws of nature.
"As we understand the natural laws and respect them, we
can apply them to our good. If we violate law, we suffer; and if we obey it, we are
blessed!" (N. Eldon Tanner, Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God [Salt Lake City: Deseret
Book Co., 1973], p. 117).
Quote 2
"One of
God’s greatest gifts to man is freedom of choice.
"At an early period in the journey through life, man
finds himself at a crossroad where he must choose one of two great highways—the
right, leading to progress and happiness; and the wrong, leading to retardation and
sorrow. There exists this eternal law that each human soul, through the choices he makes,
will shape his own destiny. Our success or failure, peace or discontent, happiness or
misery, depends on the choices we make each day. …
"Recently I was talking to a young man who said, in
effect, ‘I’m fed up and tired of being told, "You have to do this," or
"You have to do that." I want to be free to decide for myself what I want to
do.’
"My response was, ‘You are free to choose exactly
what you want to do, as long as it does not restrict or impose on the rights or liberties
of others, but you must be responsible for your acts and be prepared to take the
consequences’ " (Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God, pp. 83, 116).
Quote 3
"Life gives to
all the choice. You can satisfy yourself with mediocrity if you wish. You can be common,
ordinary, dull, colorless; or you can channel your life so that it will be clean, vibrant,
progressive, useful, colorful, rich. You can soil your record, defile your soul, trample
underfoot virtue, honor, and goodness, and thus forfeit an exaltation in the kingdom of
God. Or you can be righteous, commanding the respect and admiration of your associates in
all walks of life, and enjoying the love of the Lord. Your destiny is in your hands and
your all-important decisions are your own to make" (The Miracle of Forgiveness [Salt
Lake City: Bookcraft, 1969], p. 235).
Case Studies
Case
Study 1
Peggy has left home
to work in another city. She is invited to a party with her colleagues who know nothing of
her beliefs and would probably not understand them if they did. She is graciously offered
a drink. Rather than embarrass her host and others there, she accepts.
Case Study 2
Amy knows that many
of her classmates often cheat on tests and borrow each other’s assignments. She
wasn’t able to study for a history exam because she tended the neighbor’s
children, so she decided that just this once she would cheat. To her dismay, the teacher
discovered what she was doing. She went to her teacher and complained that others were
cheating also, that she had never cheated before, and that she would never cheat again.
She felt that the teacher was unfair in giving her a penalty.
Case Study 3
Jane was invited to a
movie with some school friends, whose family rules and moral standards were as high as
hers. Her friends said that they were going to see a movie that Jane knew was acceptable.
When they arrived at the theater, the movie was sold out, so they decided to see a
different and inappropriate movie. Jane decided to go along, but now she blames the others
for making the choice.
Case Study 4
Nancy was invited to
a party, and all of her popular school friends were in attendance. One girl told a joke
that gave rise to vulgar language, dirty jokes, and obscene insinuations. These seemed to
become the main activity of the evening. This type of thing was against Nancy’s
standards, but she thought it would be rude to say anything to the others. She found
herself participating. After all, she rationalized, she had not started the storytelling.
She also thought it would be rude to leave the party.
Story
Early one morning the
Olson family went to visit a large cave. As they moved through the dimly lit caverns, they
listened to the guide explain the history of the cave. In one room, the lights went off.
The guide said, "Do not panic; we are demonstrating total darkness for you. This is
the way it would be if there were no light at all. Before I turn the lights back on, I
want to try an experiment. You are now in the deepest part of the cave. How many of you
think you could find your way out without lights? I want you to point in the direction you
would take and keep pointing until I turn the lights back on." When the lights were
turned on, the people were all pointing in different directions. Without light to guide
them, they had lost their way.
Jesus told us, "I am the light of the world: he that
followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life" (John 8:12).
"Know This, That Every Soul Is
Free" (Hymns, no. 240).
Know this, that ev’ry soul is free
To choose his life and what he’ll be;
For this eternal truth is giv’n:
That God will force no man to heav’n.
He’ll call, persuade, direct aright,
And bless with wisdom, love, and light,
In nameless ways be good and kind,
But never force the human mind.
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