Just a thought...
Today in a meeting an interesting topic was brought up. We were discussing different talks at General Conference that stuck out to us. Of course, someone was going to bring up President Packer (check it out here: http://lds.org/conference/talk/display/0,5232,23-1-1298-23,00.html). We were sent here with our own agency. We can make any and all choices we want to, because of the gift of agency. Say, I was born to be a murderer. Would I or could I NOT be a murderer? Would I have a choice or would I be out murdering people, since I was born that way? Our Heavenly Father would not take away our agency, so using this example, because Heavenly Father gave us our agency, I could decide whether or not I was going to be a murderer. It would be my choice. I'd never thought of it that way!
1 comment:
"I was born that way" sure is a useful and universal excuse, though. It is similar to "The devil made me do it."
President Packer's talk cannot logically be understood to be hate speech, as the protesters claim. It was consistent with everything we know. Tendencies and temptations are not sins or transgressions, unless they are offered a permanent and active place in our lives. We are to avoid the sin, not shun the sinner.
If an individual has internal struggles going on, an Apostle of the Lord telling them that there is hope cannot realistically "push them over the edge" like the protesters have argued. Again, it is a segment of society looking to someone other than themselves to blame.
Living one's life contrary to the will of God will sooner or later bring utter sadness into one's life, followed by a humble desire to return to the innocence of childhood.
Good point on the whole agency thing. Very similar to alcoholics who claim they were genetically doomed to be angry addicts; if one never takes the first drink, one will never be an alcoholic. To be fully committed to an alternative lifestyle, one must first choose to act or partake. Avoid it the first time and you will become stronger and stronger each day.
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