Sister Garibaldi taught chapter #3 from our Ezra Taft Benson manual today.
The topic segued nicely from where we left off last week when we talked about the war in Heaven and our fight for agency. To be like Christ, we have to come to Earth and have trials and challenges in order to grow and learn. Satan's plan would have returned us all to heaven, yes, but it would have returned us exactly the same as when we left.
President Benson talks about all the hard work that was required of him when he worked on his family's farm while growing up. He quickly learned the practical consequences of good and bad choices - working hard resulted in buckets of milk, trucks loaded with hay and pay. He also observed the peace and happiness that came his parents being faithful to each other and the Lord. "...whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap" (Galatians 6:7). Sister Garibaldi shared a story from her youth when she was offered a job washing and ironing. She excelled and was quickly offered more and more work as word of her capability spread. If you work hard, you receive blessings.
Another comment centered on work being a commandment. Adam and Eve had everything given to them until they were driven out of the Garden of Eden. They were then told that they would have to work for everything by the sweat of their brow. "Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work. But the seventh is the Sabbath of the Lord..." (Deuteronomy 5:13-14). While most of us realize that keeping the Sabbath day holy is a commandment, the reverse of this scripture is also true: It is a commandment to work.
"Freedom of choice is a God-given eternal principle. The great plan of liberty is the plan of the gospel. There is no coercion about it; no force, no intimidation. A man is free to accept the gospel or reject it. He may accept it and then refuse to live it, or he may accept it and live it fully. But God will never force us to live the gospel. He will use persuasion through His servants. He will call us and He will direct us and He will persuade us and encourage us and He will bless us when we respond, but He will never force the human mind."
The war of Heaven is still raging on Earth in both obvious and subtle ways. The adversary is sneaky and manipulative and will look for any way to break into our will and slowly start to take our agency from us. Little things like debt, lack of self-sufficiency, lying will chip away at our free agency. Be careful and protect what you fought for in the pre-existence.
"The biggest business of any life is making decisions. While one of the greatest gifts of God to man is … the right of choice, he has also given man responsibility for these choices. … We put our own lives in the direction of success or failure. We may not only choose our ultimate goals, but we may also determine and decide for ourselves, in many cases, the means by which we will arrive at those goals, and by our industry or lack of it determine the speed by which they may be reached. This takes individual effort and energy."
The beautiful thing about our Heavenly Father and Christ is that they will never leave us alone. They are always there to lead us and guide us. Therefore, when we have crucial decisions to make, we also are blessed to be able to approach the Lord to assist us in those decisions. The answers to our prayers may sometimes take great effort on our part but that is also part of the growth experience here on Earth.
"Wise decisions are usually arrived at following work, struggle, and prayerful effort. The Lord’s response to Oliver Cowdery’s ineffective effort makes this clear: “But, behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right.”
(D&C 9:8.)
Let us begin, therefore, by saying that earnestly seeking our Father in heaven, having faith that he will answer our prayers, is a comforting base on which to begin. … The Lord will not take water from a dry well, so we must do our part. Sometimes attempting to find a correct decision takes great amounts of energy, study, and long-suffering.
In decisions of crucial importance, fasting combined with prayer can bring great spiritual insight."
Many sisters today commented that it is easier to make right choices the more right choices you make; they become stronger against temptation as they learn from their mistakes and act accordingly.
“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.
“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;
“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.
“But he that doeth not anything until he is commanded, and receiveth a commandment with doubtful heart, and keepeth it with slothfulness, the same is damned.”
(D&C 58:26–29.)
