Becoming One With Christ: LIBERTY OR CAPTIVITY?

A. What is it that makes man free?

"And because that they are redeemed from the fall they have become free forever..."
(2 Nephi 2:26)

B. What do you mean, I am free? (2 Nephi 2:26-29)

1. I am free because I know the difference between good & evil.
2. I am free to choose (what I will think, feel & do) (LIBERTY or CAPTIVITY)
3. I a free to act for myself not to be acted upon.
4. I am free to follow the 'will of the flesh' or the 'will of the Spirit.'
5. I am free to enjoy the day and make it worthwhile.

"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." (Helaman 14:30)

"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."
(D & C 58:26-28)

C. Jesus said, "THE POWER IS IN THEM.

If one adds the power of the Holy Ghost to his power of agency, he becomes a temple president that is in charge of what he sees, thinks, feels & does.

"Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are." (I Corinthians 3:16-17)

D. How do I give my power of agency away?

By giving others (the temporal world) the responsibility for your happiness.

You mean to tell me that I am responsible for my happiness, and not others? This is scary! I am not sure I want all that responsibility. I am not sure I can handle it!
You are correct, it is scary, if you take on this responsibility alone. But if you invite Heavenly Father, the Savior, and the Holy Ghost to assist you, it becomes enjoyable and exciting. It never was Heavenly Father's intention to send us all here to earth without providing the assistance we needed to endure and overcome this world. However, the heavens will not interfere with our sacred "power of agency" and therefore, the heavens must wait for our invitation. This applies to the Godhead, the angels, and our loved ones who have passed on.

EXAMPLES OF USING ONE'S "POWER OF AGENCY."

The school principle calls and informs this particular parent that their son has been kicked out of school for cheating. The parent will have to come down to the school before he can be readmitted. After the parent hangs up the phone, they observed how the felt. They felt unhappy, hurt, and disappointed. Why? The parent says, "because of what the son had done." And as the hours went by, the parents did not feel any better.

TO WHOM has the parent given their "power of agency?" (the principal & their son)
Observe how the parents argue so they can keep giving their "power of agency" away.

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN my unhappiness does not come from what my son did?" You are nuts! I did not cause this to happen. I have to suffer embarrassment. I have to go to school and meet with the principle. I have to try to get my son to change his ways. I do not deserve this. I do not have time nor the energy to handle this problem on top of everything else. Wait until he comes home, boy is he going to get it!"

ANOTHER EXAMPLE of a temporal focus would be as follow:
"I guess it is my fault. If I were a better mother, and if his father would have spent more time with him, this probably would not have happened. I guess we need to take some of the blame. I know he is hurt and embarrassed. I better give him some time before I tell his father, and all hell breaks loose!"

OBSERVE HOW THIS MOTHER KEEPS HER "POWER OF AGENCY".

"Thank you Father, for this opportunity for me to grow spiritually. Thou knowest this is hard for me, but I am thankful for the opportunity to serve Thee. Tim has made a serious mistake and needs Thy help. Help me to draw closer unto Thee, so I can be an instrument in Thy hands. Help me, to help him work this through, to repent, and learn from this mistake. Help me to stay spiritually focused and not waiver, so I can be a light unto him. Help me to overcome my embarrassment, and my negative feelings, so Thy love can fill my soul, and so I can be at peace, and feel good about all that I will soon go through for Thee & Tim. I recognize that I have been given this stewardship assignment. Help me to be steadfast in Christ."

The above are examples of THREE DIFFERENT WAS OF SELF COUNSELING FROM THE VERY SAME EVENT. What will be the result for the parents, and the son from the different paradigms used for self counseling? Which parents will grow spiritually from the event? Which parents will be of most help and assistance for the son? Which parents will take charge of their temple the quickest? Which parents have maximized the power to act.

The first two self counseling sessions come from a temporal focus. The third comes from a person who is seeing with her spiritual eyes. All three sets of parents will feel the pain, the embarrassment, and the sadness which comes from the event. But each will determine the end result for these emotions, by what they tell themselves about the event, and how they choose to see it. Jesus counseled:
"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."
(Mathew 11:28)

The last parent have empowered the spiritual world to help them determine their happiness. They are using their son's poor performance (behavior) to grow spiritually and to draw closer to their Heavenly Father. Their joy & happiness comes from serving Heavenly Father & feeling the Spirit. They are in charge of their happiness. They did not empower their son's performance nor the Principal's attitude to determine what they were going to think, feel & do.

WHAT A PERSON TELLS HIMSELF ABOUT THE EVENT WILL DETERMINE IF HE IS KEEPING HIS "POWER OF AGENCY" OR IF HE IS GIVING IT AWAY.

In this next example, observe how one uses their self counseling to give his "power of agency" away.

"These stupid drivers, if it wasn't for them I wouldn't be so upset. They drive too close. They do not even signal! And they drive over the speed limit and recklessly. It just infuriates me to no end!"

This person has given his agency away to other drivers. What each driver does determines what happens inside his temple. He lets the drivers behavior determine if he will do an upset or a steadfastness in Christ.

AGAIN, IT IS NOT WHAT OTHERS CHOOSE TO DO THAT IS CAUSING THE PROBLEM, BUT WHAT HE IS TELLING HIMSELF ABOUT THEIR BEHAVIOR THAT IS CAUSING THE PROBLEM.

ONE GIVES UP SOME OF HIS AGENCY (FREEDOM) BY DISOWNING, THAT IS, BY MAKING SOMEONE ELSE RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT IS HAPPENING WITHIN HIS TEMPLE, HE IS EMPOWERING OTHER'S BEHAVIOR TO DETERMINE WHAT HE WILL FEEL, THINK & DO. HE IS ALSO USING THIS PERSON'S BEHAVIOR TO KEEP THESE NEGATIVE EMOTIONS ALIVE FOR SOME TIME AFTER THE EVENT. AND HE HAS EMPOWERED THE OTHER PERSON'S BEHAVIOR TO GET HIM UPSET IN THE FUTURE.

Why is Disowning so Popular?
It creates the feeling that I am not responsible for what is happening to me, therefore, I do not have to do anything. The solution, the effort, and the repentance must all come from someone else. I am free from any responsibility to solve this problem.

Why is Disowning so Destructive?

First, it places other people in charge of my temple., my happiness, and my day. I become completely dependant upon others to see the need to change, and to make the great effort to effect change within themselves, so I no longer will be enticed. Secondly, if this person doesn't repent or change the behavior so I can be happy again, then my only other choice is to make the other person feel the same misery that I feel. I will hate them, say bad things about them, treat them rudely, and try to find ways to get even with them. I will point out their faults. I will tell them how dumb the are. I will find ways to disrupt their life. In other words, I have completely turned over to them all my duties as a temple president. They are now in complete charge of what is happening within my temples. They will determine my happiness, what I think about, and how I act. They have become my God for these moments in time.

The DISADVANTAGE of disowning is that it places my happiness in the hands of other people or events. I become dependant upon others or events to make me feel happy. The events of the day determine if I will have a good day or a bad day. I have given my power of agency to how other people treat me, and if they like me, or to how my children perform. Why is this the Big lie? Because other people are not in charge of my being happy, or sad, or disappointed. THAT IS MY JOB! I am in charge of my temple. What I think, feel & do is under my leadership. No one can take away this God given power without my permission and approval.

TO WHOM OR TO WHAT HAVE I GIVEN SOME OF POWER?

1. Parents (I have this problem or habit because of my parents)

2. Children (My children drive me up the wall)

3. Traffic (I can't stand these stupid drivers)

4. Food (I wouldn't have this problem if it weren't for food)

5. Spouse (He/She makes me so mad at times)

6. Bills (The collectors are causing me so much stress)

7. My job (I hate my job)

8. Family members (Her family is so unforgiving)

9. Politicians (I am so tired of listening to these politicians)

10. The Ward (It is not very friendly)

11. The Bishop (He does not spend any time trying to help me)

12. Requests (I wish people would quit asking me for help)

13. They cut my pay! (I am so mad)

14. I feel worthless (no one treats me with respect)

Disowning is Satan's best program to take away agency. He did not like us having agency in the pre-mortal life and he doesn't like us having this power of agency here. He wanted this power of agency given to him, for his own glory.

Heavenly Father gave us our power of agency to use for good or bad. He will not interfere with our use of it. He keeps inviting us to come unto Him, so He can help us expand this power of agency to see, think, feel & act. Satan invites us to give up our agency by disowning (making others and/or events responsible for what is occurring within our temples). One choice brings misery while the other brings immense joy, happiness and worthwhileness into our lives.

WHAT PRICES DO I PAY FOR GIVING THE TEMPORAL WORLD MY POWER OF AGENCY?

1.I feel helpless

2.I am controlled by others

3. I am powerless

4. I am dependant upon others

5. I feel worthless

6. I am tossed to & fro

7. I am not sure of myself

8. I lack confidence in myself

9. I need others so much

10. I am upset at my self and others most of the time

WHAT BENEFITS DO I RECEIVE FOR KEEPING MY POWER OF AGENCY OVER WHAT I SEE, THINK, FEEL & DO?