I Believe in Being Agents

I Believe in Being Agents that Act and

Not Objects that are Acted Upon.

This was really what I talked about in church last Sunday.  Elder Bednar in April 2012 conference said:

"As bearers of God’s holy authority we are agents to act and not objects to be acted upon."

Last week in conference he said: 

"As we are yoked with Him through sacred covenants and receive the enabling power of His atonement in our lives, we increasingly will seek to understand and live according to His will.  We also will pray for the strength to learn from, change, or accept our circumstances rather than praying relentlessly for God to change our circumstances.  We will become agents who act rather than objects that are acted upon."

I have thought a lot about what this phase means to be agents who act and not objects be acted upon.   I believe Elder Bednar thinks this is important he has been talking about this for more than 2 years.  So what does it mean to be agents who act and not objects that are acted upon? 

 Let’s start in D and C 58: 26-28, 

26 For behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is compelled in all things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant; wherefore he receiveth no reward.

 27 Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness;

 28 For the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves. And inasmuch as men do good they shall in nowise lose their reward.

I believe Elder Bednar is saying agents act for themselves they don’t wait to be told to do good.  That agents are anxiously engaged in a good cause and do many things of their own free will and agents bring to pass much righteousness.  

Let me read verse 28 again.  For the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves, and inasmuch as men do good they shall in nowise lose their reward.

Elder Bednar is teaching us that learning to become agents will help us gain eternal life.  It is not enough to keep the commandments we have to be anxiously engaged in a good cause and bring about much righteousness of our own free will.  We have to choose to be engaged in the work of salvation.  We have to act for ourselves.  I believe in being agents that act and not objects that are acted upon.