We can control our choices

We were fortunate during the crisis in Ecuador to not lose any utility services.  We stayed connected, and were even able to view all five sessions of General Conference on the internet.

Roy Zane Howard in
San Francisco

As I listened to Elder Packer talk about the consequences of our choices, I was reminded of my Grandpa Lambert's Grandpa Lambert.  He and his brother joined the church in England during a time of persecution against anyone not of the official church.  They traveled together as young men, arriving in Nauvoo on a raft they built to float down the Mississippi River.  They were body guards to Joseph Smith, Seventies serving missions, and builders of the temple.  John went west with Brigham Young.  Most of his descendants to the 7th generation have been blessed by being born in the Covenant, and taught principles of righteousness that uplift and strengthen them.  His brother stayed in Nauvoo with another church, and all of his descendants for 7 generations have missed those priesthood blessings.

 When my first son was born, I held him in my arms, was filled with love and gratitude, and decided to give him my name, which I received from my Grandpa Lambert.  Every time he signs his name, he is reminded of his pioneer heritage, and the testimonies of his ancestors that were the foundation of their choices.  Every time he looks out the window across the bay he sees the temple where I first took out my endowments, and is reminded that he was born into a Covenant that seals him to his parents.  Therefore, he knows we love him and are interested in everything he does.  He is reminded that the choices we make affect us and thousands of will come after us and are of concern to thousands of others who came before.  We are family.

President Boyd K. Packer

President Boyd K. Packer

 We, the first presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator's plan for the eternal destiny of His children.

 All human beings -- male and female--are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual pre-mortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.

Agency is precious. We can give away our agency, we can yield to temptation, but no power in heaven, earth, or hell can make us do anything we don´t choose to do.

16 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. Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.  Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours; Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.

Oakland Temple,
as seen from San Francisco

We are free to ignore the commandments, but when the creator of Heaven and Earth says, ¨thou shalt not¨, we had better pay attention. For example, in our day, the influence of pornography is like a plague that is spiritually fatal. Pornography will always destroy our family relationships as well as our contact with God. By the principle of obedience, your priesthood leaders can help you overcome all things. The standard of moral behavior we teach will protect you from danger. Wickedness never was happiness. 13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

Moral standards cannot be changed by ballot or legislation. We will hold to the principles and laws and ordinances of the Gospel. We quickly lose our way when we do not live the principles and ordinances of the Gospel.  "In these latter days, the Lord revealed that 'when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated' (D&C 130:21). The Lord makes generous promises, and He certifies that He will not vary from these promises, for, said He, 'I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise' (D&C 82:10)."

Repentance is the key to returning to favor with God. 17 But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I; Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit -- and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink -- Nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men. Wherefore, I command you again to repent, lest I humble you with my almighty power; and that you confess your sins, lest you suffer these punishments of which I have spoken, of which in the smallest, yea, even in the least degree you have tasted at the time I withdrew my Spirit.

The most difficult part of repentance is to forgive yourself. However, it is not our choice. God does have the power we lack to achieve forgiveness. Don´t look back. Move on in your new life and don´t return to contemplate, worry about, or repeat your sins.