I'm Free to Choose!

In my personal study time this morning, I was reading the scriptures about agency. I like to joke that agency should really be withheld from children until they are grown--as parents have to deal with their choices and the consequences. But that is only in jest. I know that having agency is what gives this mortal life purpose. I just don't always like that fact.

But liking it and understanding it are not the same. Lucky for me.

Some days I would love to have a job list waiting for me--left by someone wiser and smarter and much more in tune. There are days when I think I am just spinning my wheels , and maybe the things I am doing and spending my time with really aren't that important. It might actually be great having someone telling me what to do every day that would guarantee the gold ticket back to God.

But it doesn't work like that. I know.

So much of the agency dilemma, for me at least, is the attitude portion of it. Don't get me wrong. I want to do what is right, but sometimes I find myself doing it with a grumpy attitude, or with mumbling, murmuring thoughts in my head as I go about the good things I am supposed to be doing. That can't really be the right way.

Indiana Jones learns about this when he meets the knight who guards the Holy Grail. The knight tells them to "Choose." Of course, the greedy, treasure-hunting, double-crossing, Nazi-sympathizer chooses a golden cup decorated with jewels, thinking it would be appropriate for the Son of God. He gets his face melted. The knight tells Indy, "He has chosen poorly." Indy, being the wildly reasonable professor he is, selects a plain earthenware cup. The knight reassures him, "You have chosen wisely."

In a more applicable lesson, 2nd Nephi chapter 2, Lehi teaches his son Jacob, the child born in the wilderness, about agency. The last several verses Lehi tells Jacob to CHOOSE. My personal notation in the margin says "I'm free to choose!" That was a song in seminary loooooong ago that still flares into my mind when I read this section. 'Choose' is a command that demands action. You can't just coast through and let you choices go to waste. Or worse yet, allow your choices, and the consequences that follow, to be given away.

Ultimately, I am responsible to choose wisely. I am responsible for the consequences that come from my own choices. And generally, we are subject to the consequences of other people's choices at times too. Sometimes, those are not pleasant, or fun at all. But it reminds me that I need to choose wisely, every time. And my attitude ought to match to good choice--not be the opposition in all things by itself. Then I really would see the advantage of righteous choices. And I wouldn't have a melted face, either.

But the agency concept for kids should really be looked at just in case we can tighten that up a bit....I'm just saying.