With celestial sight, trials impossible to change become possible to endure.
Russell M. NelsonRead
Agency, or the power to choose, was ours as spirit children of our Creator before the world was. It is a gift from God, nearly as precious as life itself. Often, however, agency is misunderstood. While we are free to choose, once we have made those choices, we are tied to the consequence of those choices. We are free to take drugs or not. But once we choose to use a habit-forming drug, we are bound to the consequences of that choice. Addiction surrenders later freedom to choose.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the importance of agency and the consequences that follow our choices.
Russell M. Nelson's quote reflects on the concept of agency, which is the ability to make choices granted to us by our Creator. While having the freedom to choose is a valuable gift, the quote warns that our decisions carry consequences, and once we make certain choices—such as engaging in a habit-forming drug—we lose some degree of our freedom due to the repercussions of those choices, highlighting the profound responsibility that accompanies our agency.
Themes
AgencyChoicesConsequencesFreedomResponsibility
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about personal responsibility, one might quote this to highlight the importance of making wise decisions.
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As we go through life, even through very rough waters, a father's instinctive impulse to cling tightly to his wife or to his children may not be the best way to accomplish his objective. Instead, if he will lovingly cling to the Savior and the iron rod of the gospel, his family will want to cling to him and to the Savior.
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Each daughter of God is of infinite worth because of her divine mission.
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While musical experts of the world focus on what choir members can do, I would like to focus on what choir members can be.
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