Mormon Musings

"At what point then is the approach of danger to be expected? I answer, if it ever reach us, it must spring up amongst us. It cannot come from abroad. If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen, we must live through all time, or die by suicide." --January 27, 1838

  30  And now remember, remember, my brethren, that whosoever perisheth, perisheth unto  himself ; and whosoever doeth iniquity, doeth it unto himself; for behold, ye are  free ; ye are permitted to act for yourselves; for behold, God hath given unto you a  knowledge  and he hath made you free.   31  He hath given unto you that ye might  know  good from evil, and he hath given unto you that ye might  choose  life or death; and ye can do good and be  restored  unto that which is good, or have that which is good restored unto you; or ye can do evil, and have that which is evil restored unto you. Helaman 14:30

Many are disposed through their own wickedness "to do as I damned please"--and they are damned. Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses 11:254

"We have implanted in our souls a desire to be free. The Lord understood this when He granted us our mortal probation. With that freedom, however, comes accountability. We are instructed not to idle away our time nor bury our talents and not use them. We are expected to make our lives better through our own initiatives and efforts." —L. Tom Perry, "Youth of the Noble Birthright", Ensign, November 1998

Our submission to God is not simply a question of duty or obligation. The blessings that flow from welcoming God's rule in our lives are so enticing, and the alternative so appalling, that if we see things in their true light, we cannot be kept from walking in wisdom's paths. Among the greatest of the blessings that come from yielding to His will, though it seems ironic to some, is freedom. Let me explain. First, we must recognize that there are only two options available to us, two paths. Alma put it this way: Behold, I say unto you, that the good shepherd doth call you; yea, and in his own name he doth call you, which is the name of Christ; and if ye will not hearken unto the voice of the good shepherd, to the name by which ye are called, behold, ye are not the sheep of the good shepherd. And now if ye are not the sheep of the good shepherd, of what fold are ye? Behold, I say unto you, that the devil is your shepherd, and ye are of his fold; and now, who can deny this?  [Al