Agent or Object?

Last weekend several Latter-day Saint congregations in our area were blessed to hear from David A Bednar, a General Authority in our church, and someone we sustain as an Apostle, someone who we believe receives direct revelation from God.

While I know that not all my readers are religious – least of all Mormon – he shared one particular principle I think is useful to all, and so I want to pass it along.

At one point he taught that – at our ideal – we are

agents who act, not objects to be acted upon.

Though he taught this in relation to the power we have to choose righteousness, and not just be carried by the wind toward temptation, I think it can be applied to any of life’s experiences, emotions, and decisions.

For instance, a few days I ago I was feeling overwhelmed with stress.  Four of our five kids are about to begin a new school year, and I had a mile-long list of to-dos, to-gets, to-signs, etc.  My brain felt scattered, my pulse ran high all day with anxiety, and I was on the verge of tears.

But then Elder Bednar’s words came back to me:  was I being an agent who acts or an object to be acted upon?  Was I doing what I could, the best that I could, and standing by my actions without allowing fear or stress to consume me?  Or had I lost my footing, rolled up into a mental fetal position, and just let the stresses of my day assault me?

I found that when I began to look at myself as an agent, and stood firmly in doing what I could to meet my goals and expectations, I was able to let go of my stress.  That does NOT mean that I got everything done; I still have plenty of loose ends to tie.  But letting my emotions carry me away meant that I was satisfied with becoming an object to be acted upon.

It’s a very empowering concept if you think on it and embrace it.  I’m realizing it has to the capacity to change my everyday perspective for the better.  Life doesn’t just happen to us – or at least, it doesn’t have to feel that way.  We – each of us – have the power to stand and decide, to act, to move forward, and then have confidence in however things play out.  Because we also have the ability to resist being overcome by disappointment, regret, offense, and hurt.  We can use our agency to avoid becoming just an object that is acted upon.  We can use our agency to act, and to be happy.

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