Preserving Agency, Protecting Religious Freedom

Preserving Agency, Protecting Religious Freedom
Elder Robert D. Hales

(link to talk)

(remember I am using the "language of faith" meaning I am wording the counsel and teaching "as if" I already believe or am already doing it. All bold type is my insertion.)

• I am grateful for my freedom of religion, assembly, speech and my God-given right of agency.
• I see the fulfillment of prophecy in "false accusers, despisers of those that are good; of those who call evil good, and good evil and put darkness for light, and light for darkness."
• Knowing moral agency is an essential part of God's plan for all His children helps me respect others around me that do not accept my beliefs.
• I exercise my agency to keep the commandments.
• This enables me to fully understand who I am and to receive all the blessings the Father has. Some of these blessings are: 
• a body, 
• the opportunity to progress, 
• to experience joy, 
• to have a family, and 
• to inherit eternal life.
• I know the official doctrine of the Church, so I am able to keep the commandments without being diverted by the ever-changing whims of others.
• I receive the supernal gift of the Holy Ghost through:
• my faith in Christ, 
• believing in His Atonement, 
• repenting of my sins, and 
• being baptized.
• The gift of the Holy Ghost provides me with:
• knowledge and 
• understanding, 
• guidance and 
• strength to learn and gain a testimony, 
• power, 
• cleansing to overcome sin, and 
• comfort and 
• encouragement to be faithful in tribulation.
• These blessings of the Spirit increase my freedom and power to do what is right, for "where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty."
• I walk the path of spiritual liberty in these last days. The faithful use of my agency depends on having religious freedom. It is essential to my spiritual life and my very salvation.
• I rely upon and protect these four cornerstones of religious freedom:
• freedom to believe - all should be free to believe what they choose about God. It is very personal and important.
• freedom to share my faith and beliefs with others.  I am commanded to teach the gospel to my children and to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 
• freedom to form a religious organization, a church, to worship peacefully with others. 
• freedom to live my faith at home, in church and in public places.  The Lord commands me to pray privately but also to let my light shine before men.
• As I face increased pressure to bow to secular standards, forfeit my religious liberties, and compromise my agency, I raise my voice for what is right in unity with others as directed by the Holy Ghost.
• I am responsible to share my personal witness with conviction and love; to safeguard these sacred freedoms and rights for myself and my posterity.
• I am informed and aware of issues in my community that could have an impact on religious liberty.
• I join with others who share my commitment to religious freedom and work with them to protect religious freedom.
• I am a good example of what I believe in word and deed. How I live my religion is far more important than what I say about it.
• I know "our Savior's Second Coming is drawing nearer" so I do not delay in this great cause. Like the people in response to Captain Moroni's hoisting the title of liberty, I "come running together" with others with a covenant to act. I Run!, not walk!
• I run to receive the blessings of agency by following the Holy Ghost and exercising the freedoms God has given me to do His will.
• I choose liberty and eternal life through the power and blessings of the Atonement of my Savior, who freely chose to give His life for me.
• I freely choose to follow Christ today and always.
  
  Conference Challenge:
• Recognize fulfillment of prophecy. The Second Coming is drawing nearer
• Respect the beliefs of others
• Know the official Doctrine of the Church 
• Raise my voice with like-minded individuals (as directed by the Spirit) to protect the freedom to believe, to preach, to worship, to live my religion. 
• Be informed and aware of issues in my community that impact religious liberty 
• I do not delay in this great cause and “run” with others to act