Agency

Agency:  

#1. “Each of us has come to this earth with all the tools necessary to make correct choices.” (President Monson-The Three R’s of Choice)

 Each of us were given talents and the light of Christ so that we may develop into good and righteous people to work in his cause. We have a choice though for that is the way the pure love of God works. There is no grater choice though than to live in the light and love of our Savior; it bring joy and peace to our souls and purpose to our lives. These tools are for us to use, it is up to us though to actually use them.

#2. “Next to the bestowal of life itself, the right to direct that life is God’s greatest gift to man.” (David O McKay from President Monson-The Three R’s of Choice) 

First God gives us life and then He also gives us the choice of what to do with it. That's a lot of responsibility and freedom to be given, and a lot of trust that He gives us that we will choose to do good. Agency is a gift, one that our Father in Heaven hopes we use correctly to become an instrument in His hands and bless the lives of others, His children. We are capable of so much, how blessed are we to use our own minds and discover this purpose in each of us.

#3. “with the right of choice comes the responsibility to choose. We cannot be neutral; there is no middle ground.” (President Monson-The Three R’s of Choice)

There is no possible way to stand neutral in any matter. By choosing to not choose at all we are in turn still choosing to go against the other choice. There is no gray area, only one way or the other. We are responsible for our choices and the consequences of them will always follow, whether they be good or bad. Every action and though is a choice, but we also have the capability to change and that is the great beauty of agency.

 #4. Our agency—our ability to choose and act for ourselves—was an essential element of this plan. Without agency we would be unable to make right choices and progress. (Robert D. Hales-Agency: Essential to the Plan of Life) 

Progression applies to everything in this life, and the only way we get from one "phase" to the next is through choices. It is a part of God's plan for us to learn and grow and come to know of and trust Him through sincere faith, but we cannot progress towards such a goal without making each choice to get there. Agency is the way of God, and since it is His way, why would we choose anything but righteousness?

#5. “…We must continue to choose to follow the Savior. Eternity is at stake, and our wise use of agency and our actions are essential that we might have eternal life.” (Robert D. Hales-Agency: Essential to the Plan of Life) 

Making righteous decisions is a second-by-second act. Think of what a difference we would make if we made daily choices like the Savior did. Those who have ever read the Holy Bible will know of the perfect life that He lived. It was beautiful and wonderful and full of peace, joy, grace and love. If we desire to have eternal life, this should be the choice of our heart: to live purely, humbly and righteously every day. Every action is essential in gaining that highest level of eternal joy.

#6. And by His perfect life, He taught us that when we choose to do the will of our Heavenly Father, our agency is preserved, our opportunities increase, and we progress. (Robert D. Hales-Agency: Essential to the Plan of Life) 

Agency is truly a gift, one that we must treat kindly and carefully for it is only if we use our agency well will we be able to continuously progress. The consequence of being good and doing good, is good and eternal joy. Let us not abuse this gift in this life and risk having goodness and peace for the rest of eternity. 

#7. "In our mortal journey, it is helpful to remember that the opposite is also true: when we don’t keep the commandments or follow the promptings of the Holy Ghost, our opportunities are reduced; our abilities to act and progress are diminished." (Robert D. Hales-Agency: Essential to the Plan of Life)
This entirely applies to every aspect of agency. I find it peculiar when others not of the faith of the LDS people ridicule us and say we have "too many rules", but instead we have direct guidelines to ensure happiness and progression. We also have the gift of the Holy Ghost and when we us our agency poorly, he too leaves us reducing our opportunities to make a good difference in this world. 

#8. "Whenever we disobey, we spiritually paint ourselves into a corner and are captive to our choices. Though we are spiritually stuck, there is always a way back." (Robert D. Hales-Agency: Essential to the Plan of Life)

Each choice has a consequence. Good choices have a consequence of freedom and joy, whereas poor choices diminishes our progression and weighs on our soul. Although hope always seems lost int hat moment, it never is. What is great and good about God is that he is merciful and loving and is always waiting there for us to mak the choice to come back to Him. 

#9. "For those who find themselves captive to past unrighteous choices, stuck in a dark corner, without all the blessings available by the righteous exercise of agency, we love you. Come back! Come out of the dark corner and into the light. Even if you have to walk across a newly varnished floor, it is worth it." (Robert D. Hales-Agency: Essential to the Plan of Life)
No trek back into light is too hard to endure. We are held back by fear and the degrading words that Satan whispers in our ear. He wants us to be miserable, just as miserable as he is, for he knows that the light of righteousness is far more powerful than and amount of evil. It is never too late to shake off the chains and return to God! He waits for each of us to undo our wrong dongs and make the choice to return to His love and kindness.

#10. “Agency used righteously allows light to dispel the darkness and enables us to live with joy and happiness.” (Robert D. hales-To Act For Ourselves: The Gift and Blessings of Agency)
The light of our Heavenly Father always chases away any darkness we may possess in our life from poor use of agency. We must rid the thought from our mind that we are "not good enough" and humbly ask for His help, help that I know He will willingly give. Our God-given gift of agency is one to be kept close to us; we should view it with great value and exemplify its worth. He loves us and wants nothing more than for us to choose to follow Him.