Moral Agency School

 

With all the alternatives to choose among
We've moral agency for the right or wrong
With freedom of choice and accountability
We've knowledge to increase our sensibility

While God preserves us from day to day
There's laws to obey or disobey
And though many opinions and preferences numb
We can't change the consequences or a fixed outcome

While Satan promotes conduct that narrows our station
Our God does not intend that we yield to temptation
He's given us a Savior, and redemption is possible
If we come to Him, to be like Him, and be responsible

The glory of God is intelligence
With wisdom learned through obedience
When we receive truth it is full of light
Till line upon line we are made bright

Knowing these things is only the start
The test comes as we experience the dark
That we can become independently strong
To yield to the right and flee from the wrong

And that we might know true liberty
While we are here in mortality
We've been given God's resources in full
That we might pass moral agency school

Moral agency

Our gift from God

Use it wisely

Choose the right not the wrong

Be accountable

And repent oft

D. Todd Christofferson
BYU Devotional
31 January 2006
click on the title
to link to the talk

D&C 101: 78
That every man may act in doctrine and principle pertaining to futurity, according to the moral agency which I have given unto him, that every man may be accountable for his own sins in the day of judgment.

[Verse 1] With all the alternatives to choose among We've moral agency for the right or wrong With freedom of choice and accountability We've knowledge to increase our sensibility While God preserves us from day to day There's laws to obey or disobey And though many opinions and preferences numb We can't change the consequences or a fixed outcome [Pre-Chorus] While Satan promotes conduct that narrows our station Our God does not intend that we yield to temptation He's given us a Savior, and redemption is possible If we come to Him, to be like Him, and be responsible [Chorus] Moral agency Our gift from God Use it wisely Choose the right not the wrong Be accountable And repent oft Moral agency Our gift from God [Verse 2] The glory of God is intelligence With wisdom learned through obedience When we receive truth it is full of light Till line upon line we are made bright Knowing these things is only the start The test comes as we experience the dark That we can become independently strong To yield to the right and flee from the wrong [Pre-Chorus] And that we might know true liberty While we are here in mortality We've been given God's resources in full That we might pass moral agency school [Chorus] Moral agency Our gift from God Use it wisely Choose the right not the wrong Be accountable And repent oft Moral agency Our gift from God [Bridge] The test comes as we experience the dark That we can become independently strong To yield to the right and flee from the wrong And that we might know true liberty [Final Chorus] Moral agency Our gift from God Use it wisely Choose the right not the wrong Be accountable And repent oft Moral agency Our gift from God

God's Anger and Wrath

God's anger and wrath
Is evidence of His love
For behavior's the path
To where we'll dwell above...

Disappointments today
Surely help us think
Ought I not to pray...
And spiritually drink

When we know self-defeat
From the wicked things we do
It's the bitterness we eat
That oft humbles us too

Tender mercy sweet
Our Father waits to shower
When to our knees we weep
In our darkest hour

Loving relationships
Endure but through law
As with purity one sips
There's closeness and awe

Shall a parent ignore
What is harming a child?
Nor shall our dear Lord
Would that we be sin wild

Ever free to choose
Still there's consequence
Ever He's our good news
For rock or offense

Dallin H. Oaks
Love and Law
Ensign, Nov 2009, 26–29

With All the Alternatives to Choose Among

With all the alternatives to choose among
We've moral agency for the right or wrong
With freedom of choice and accountability
We've knowledge to increase our sensibility

While God preserves us from day to day
There's laws to obey or disobey
And though many opinions and preferences numb
We can't change the consequences or a fixed outcome

While Satan promotes conduct that narrows our station
Our God does not intend that we yield to temptation
He's given us a Savior, and redemption is possible
If we come to Him, to be like Him, and be responsible

The glory of God is intelligence
With wisdom learned through obedience
When we receive truth it is full of light
Till line upon line we are made bright

Knowing these things is only the start
The test comes as we experience the dark
That we can become independently strong
To yield to the right and flee from the wrong

And that we might know true liberty
While we are here in mortality
We've been given God's resources in full
That we might pass moral agency school

Moral agency

Our gift from God

Use it wisely

Choose the right not the wrong

Be accountable

And repent oft

D. Todd Christofferson
BYU Devotional
31 January 2006
click on the title
to link to the talk

D&C 101: 78
That every man may act in doctrine and principle pertaining to futurity, according to the moral agency which I have given unto him, that every man may be accountable for his own sins in the day of judgment.

[Verse 1] With all the alternatives to choose among We've moral agency for the right or wrong With freedom of choice and accountability We've knowledge to increase our sensibility While God preserves us from day to day There's laws to obey or disobey And though many opinions and preferences numb We can't change the consequences or a fixed outcome [Pre-Chorus] While Satan promotes conduct that narrows our station Our God does not intend that we yield to temptation He's given us a Savior, and redemption is possible If we come to Him, to be like Him, and be responsible [Chorus] Moral agency Our gift from God Use it wisely Choose the right not the wrong Be accountable And repent oft Moral agency Our gift from God [Verse 2] The glory of God is intelligence With wisdom learned through obedience When we receive truth it is full of light Till line upon line we are made bright Knowing these things is only the start The test comes as we experience the dark That we can become independently strong To yield to the right and flee from the wrong [Pre-Chorus] And that we might know true liberty While we are here in mortality We've been given God's resources in full That we might pass moral agency school [Chorus] Moral agency Our gift from God Use it wisely Choose the right not the wrong Be accountable And repent oft Moral agency Our gift from God [Bridge] The test comes as we experience the dark That we can become independently strong To yield to the right and flee from the wrong And that we might know true liberty [Final Chorus] Moral agency Our gift from God Use it wisely Choose the right not the wrong Be accountable And repent oft Moral agency Our gift from God

When In Truth I was Speaking

When in truth I was speaking
You supposed I must be mad
For otherwise you'd be angry
As that means you have been bad

When you've a consequence
We tiptoe around like a birds
I know to not speak thence
For as eggshells are our words

At a party you lost your phone
Should I be sorry? Your consumption abused
The choice was soley yours to own
But, if I say a word, then I'm the one accused

Why must I be so careful?
When it's you who broke the rules?
Well, I'm afraid I've been a fool
In the chosen parent school

With a friend, you lost your purse
Now, who is looking after you?
What more is there to rehearse
As my cautions are futile too

For you, I've hope and love- not pity
I'd show you a path that's straight
For I believe in your ability
Though it's not been shown as of late

May this truth cut just so deep
That with your heart you'll listen
And desire to covenant keep
That for joy this time, eyes will glisten

Consequence

Whate'er we've done- It's not unique to man.
And we have Christ to lead us by the hand.
It's Satan who planned that we take a shortcut.
Our Lord helps us be strong when we're in a rut.

Though one's pregnant with a face that's red.
There can be sweet peace, although unwed.
The Lord can guide and place that small infant.
To a new home... where will it best be sent?

Though one may need to have an AIDS test,
There can be peace, with the soul at rest.
Though one may be sent to an early grave,
The Lord is ready and mighty to save.

What have we stolen? What is really ours?
Life's not a time for if, but, mine or yours.
What lasts for happiness? Our possessions?
From the Lord, we get peace through our confessions!

If we've killed someone, then what of that?
Who, but the Lord, can judge where we're at?
Who speaks in His name, with authority?
A Prophet, who serves us most willingly.

Our life is our school, let's help each other learn.
What should we do? Our Lord helps us discern.
We are here with our free agency.
And, our Lord will help us- with our best to be.

Traces

My body bears traces of whom I'm yet to be
I can discover talents of divine quality
Then my Spirit will soar as I learn unique purpose
Though crossroads yield temptations- as Satan chases us

My body bears traces of what I was in my youth
Yet my Lord, He erases the pain of sin, this is truth
It's my Spirit that soars though there's disease, just the same
Pain and sorrow, He bears- when I cry out in His name

We must train up each child to be prepared for trials
With Celestial Self-Esteem one faces them with smiles
Through patience and long suff'ring we have much yet to learn
And, those distant traces cause us to strive and to yearn

Though we are forgiven, when we repent, the consequence can
still remain. We are free to make choices, we are not free to
choose the consequences. We must learn in our youth what ways
we will be tempted, how to resist evil, how to hold to the rod,
how to recognize the Spirit and have deep gratitude
for the atonement, how to repent, and how to forgive.

2Nephi 28:15,16, 20-22
1. Pride in our hearts (arrogance, self-centeredness, bragging).
2. False doctrines (false teachers, false religions).
3. Whoredoms (immorality, immodesty, lust, passions).
4. Reviling that which is good (mockery of God, religion, chastity, or marriage).
5. Anger at good (persecution of the righteous).
6. Carnal or worldly security (excessive desire for money or other worldly possessions).
7. Flattery (insincere praise).
8. Deception and lies (claiming there is no God, devil, sin, or hell)

Aaronic Priesthood Manual 3,
Lesson 5: “How Art Thou Fallen from Heaven, O Lucifer”

We Have Joy in Bad Works

We have joy in bad works for a season
As we're complacent and don't listen to reason
Our selfishness makes the heart grow so hard
But, exactly what is there to guard?

Is there excitement in some infraction?
Are we angry with some others actions?
If we lose sight and follow the wrong crowd
We'll push the limits to what’s not allowed

Till one day, comes a feeling of remorse
For how far we journeyed down the slippery course
Yet, we've a friend whom we can turn to
If we'd but return Jesus’ love, too?

For He will lift us up. It is time to mend
He can soften the heart. He's our best friend
There’s a lesson every wise man has learned
Perfection only one man has earned.

As we apply principles taught by the Savior
We feel His love change our reckless behavior
Then in humility one prays morning, noon and night
For strength to stay on the path that is right

When we look for good it’s easy to find
When we’re Christ-like we’re patient and we’re kind
We are grateful for the chance to take
Part in joy everlasting with a new heart

3 Ne. 27: 11
11 But if it be not built upon my gospel, and is built upon the works of men, or upon the works of the devil, verily I say unto you they have joy in their works for a season, and by and by the end cometh, and they are ahewn down and cast into the bfire, from whence there is no return.

Life's Lessons Learned

If I were to examine my life,
Would I like who I have come to be?
Have I learned life's lessons, though there's strife?
Did I listen to those who coached me?
All I have learned has shaped my destiny.

Prayerfully, I'll reflect on my life.
Have I kept the Lord close beside me?
Did I stay strong though there's fear of strife?
Did I say no when things tempted me?
All I have done has shaped my destiny.

I'll set high goals to improve my life.
And create what will inspire me.
Consistently, I will pray through strife.
I will think of those who have taught me,
With my eyes on the things that will shape me.

- Elder Wirthlin

45–47, Joseph B. Wirthlin, May 2007,
“Life’s Lessons Learned, ” Ensign

Building an Eternal Home

The home is the basis of a righteous life
As such no other instrumentality can take its place
A home is founded by love, respect and sacrifice
Where our thoughts and deeds, and how we live, can build a founding base
Our homes can withstand the rains of adversity
Because the home has promise when built for eternity

A home is a house of order and of prayer
If divided against itself how can it stand?
A house of order can be a bit of heaven here
For then it is built by the wise upon the rock and not the sand
Where one can withstand the floods of opposition
There to improve our dispositions

We must learn our duty and act with diligence
The service we perform can have eternal consequence!
We cannot afford to skip our heavenly assistance
With prayer we must step up to serve with more obedience
For families can withstand the turbulent winds of doubt
There to be of service as each daily go about

- Thomas S. Monson

2, Oct 1999, Thomas S. Monson,
“Building Your Eternal Home, ” Ensign

1903

In 1903, A dream of mankind was fulfilled
Wilbur and Orville made the first controlled powered flight
They'd worked many jobs. But, as inventors, how they thrilled.
For 13 seconds they soared and proved their hopes were right.

They'd done their homework. They knew the laws of gravity.
They had controls, wings and an engine to stay aloft.
They could get up off the ground and brave they proved to be.
They were determined and they did not heed those who scoffed.
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With our goals defined, and if we work diligently.
We will soon be on a controlled path that takes us far
Where self mastery and the Spirit guides us gently.
And choices mirror where our thoughts and desires are.

To lift up our souls we raise our eyes unto the hills.
Where there is brightness above the thick clouds which threaten.
Where there is brilliance so bright that the whole being thrills.
Where shines God's power to lift us up and thus strengthen.

- Elder Uchtdorf

14–19, Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Jul 2006,
“On the Wings of Eagles, ” Liahona