Agency

"One of the greatest indicators of our own spiritual maturity is revealed in how we respond to the weakness, the inexperience of, and the potentially offensive actions of others. A thing, an event, or an expression may be offensive, but you and I can choose not to be offended. "
-Elder David A. Bednar  (Act in Doctrine p. 60)

"Moral agency expands endlessly when exercise righteously. Acting in doctrine yields the ever-increasing blessings of assurance, direction, protection, and joy."
-Elder David A. Bednar, (Act in Doctrine, p. 47)

" Agency in its fullest sense requires the individual to be in command of himself, for one who is a prisoner of his bad impulses can not really choose; another truth about "things as they are," therefore, is that we either control our bad impulses or they control us."
-Elder Neil A. Maxwell, (The Smallest Part, pp. 10-11)

 "Each choice you and I make is a test of our agency-whether we choose to be obedient or disobedient to the commandments of God is actually a choice between "liberty and eternal life" and "captivity and death".
-Elder L. Tom Perry, "Obedience to Law is Liberty", April 2013 General Conference

"We must not pick and choose which commandments we think are important to keep but acknowledge all of God's commandments. We must stand firm and steadfast, having perfect confidence in the Lord's consistency and perfect trust in His promises."

-Elder L. Tom Perry, "Obedience to Law is Liberty", April 2013 General Conference

“Agency is to act with accountability and responsibility for our actions. Our agency is essential to the plan of salvation. With it we are 'free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil. ”
 -Elder Robert D. Hales, "Agency: Essential to the Plan of Life" Liahona, Nov. 2010

“Agency used righteously allows light to dispel the darkness and enables us to live with joy and happiness.”
-Elder Robert D. Hales, "To act for Ourselves: The Gift and Blessings of Agency" Liahona, May 2006

“The choices we make determine our destiny.”
-President Thomas S. Monson, "Choose You This Day, Liahona, Nov. 2004

“Because the eternal principle of agency gives us the freedom to choose and think for ourselves, we should become increasingly able to solve problems. We may make the occasional mistake, but as long as we are following gospel principles and guidelines, we can learn from those mistakes and become more understanding of others and more effective in serving them.”
-Elder M. Russell Ballard, "Be Wise," Liahona, Nov. 2006

“You have agency, and you are free to choose. But there is actually no free agency. Agency has its price. You have to pay the consequences of your choices.”
-Pres. Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "On the Wings of Eagles," Liahona, July 2006

My Thoughts:
Agency has always been something that I have taken for granted, it wasn't until I was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints for a few years, I truly understood the value of having our agency. I know when we exercise our agency in a way that would be pleasing unto the Lord, we are deeply blessed. Some people think we are limited in our church and we don't have freedom. I know that the ultimate freedom is choosing the right even when others around you, aren't. I love having a testimony on the gift of agency, the quotes I have chosen for this section are reminders that simply help build my testimony even more and simplify the ideas behind choosing our destiny.