Choices

Why is it that we do the things we do? What is the mechanism behind our actions? What drives that mechanism? That is a question that I have been working over lately. Why do we keep/follow the commandments of God? What drives us to do so? There are many different reasons I’ve come across and some of them call for a little personal introspection. Do I fear the consequences? Am I looking for blessings? Do I do it solely because I’ve been taught to all my life? Are these the reasons that drive me?

The prophet Jarom, while recounting the history of the Nephites, told of how there was a great need for prophets and teachers to diligently teach and exhort the people to constantly perform good works and learn the principle of enduring to the end. They taught the people the law of Moses and the “intent to which it was given.” Jarom goes on to say that these teachings “pricked” the hearts of the people and it did continually stir them to repentance. Taking this example we can see that these people did good works, but were constantly being prodded to do so. Had they been left to their own volition they most likely would have not made those right choices. Earlier, Enos said that “there was nothing save it was exceeding harshness, preaching and prophesying of wars, and contentions, and destructions, and continually reminding them of death, and the duration of eternity, and the judgments and the power of God, and all these things – stirring them up continually to keep them in the fear of the Lord. I say there was nothing short of these things, and exceedingly great plainness of speech, would keep them from going down speedily to destruction.” Again, these people did righteous and good works…but what was the mechanism behind these works? For some it was the fear of death, for others it was the judgments of God, but the commonality among them was that, for whatever reason, it was for the convenience of the individual.

For the convenience of that individual? Do we do things solely to benefit ourselves? Is that why we obey the commandments? Would we still obey them if there were no blessings or punishments? Sadly I think we wouldn’t. We’re not at that state of being. We’re mortal and carnal and selfishness is primary nature. Read the words of the Lord in Isaiah 443:23-24:

“Thou hast not brought me the small cattle of thy burnt offerings; neither hast thou honoured me with thy sacrifices. I have not caused thee to serve with an offering, nor wearied thee with incense. Thou hast bought me no sweet cane with money, neither hast thou filled me with the fat of thy sacrifices; but thou hast made me to serve with thy sins, thou hast wearied me with thine iniquities.”

Israel had been given a law and was commanded to follow it. But, as the Lord says, they wouldn’t even do those things that would be pleasing unto the Lord. However, when it came time to reconcile their sins and iniquities they were willing to let the Lord take care of them (made me to serve with thy sins = atonement). Only when it’s convenient would Israel turn to the Lord and obey His commandments. Many times, that’s how we are as well. But does it have to remain that way?

We have been given an amazing gift that no other creation on this world has been given. That is the gift of agency. This is much more than just choosing right and wrong. It is the ability to better ourselves and those around us through the choices and actions that we make. At first we need to be guided to doing the right thing. This is done through a system of rewards and punishments based on our actions. While this at first serves to help us understand what it is that the Lord wants from us we must eventually come to the realization that we are capable of so much more. We are capable of making decisions because we know them to be the right ones, not just the ones that will get us blessings or spare us punishments. We can learn to make choices because they please the Lord and know that that is what he wants of us.

The perfect example to follow is that of our Savior. When studying his life in the scriptures I challenge you to find anything he did that was for his benefit or personal comfort. When asked why he did what he did his response was always that it was “the will of the Father.”

What kind of society would we live in if the choices we made were based on how they would affect the lives of others? What if we were to be constantly checking our actions against the pros and cons? Consider the words of the Buddha:

“He who for the sake of happiness does not hurt others who also want happiness, shall hereafter find happiness.” (Dhammapada 10:132, pg 54)

Now there might be individual benefit in doing good to others, as in finding happiness, but what if everyone were to do good. Would we not all find happiness?

In summary, there is always a right and wrong choice to make. For many of us the problem isn’t distinguishing between the two, it is understanding the reason why the right is right and the wrong is wrong then choosing based on that knowledge and not based on a balance between rewards and consequences.