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I fear that too many have sadly surrendered their agency to the adversary and are saying by their conduct, 'I care more about satisfying my own desires than I do about bearing the Savior's power to bless others.'
Russell M. Nelson
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote emphasizes the importance of agency and prioritizing service to others over personal desires.

Russell M. Nelson's quote reflects on the concept of personal agency, suggesting that many individuals forfeit their ability to choose wisely in favor of indulging their own wants. It serves as a reminder that true power comes from the willingness to serve others, especially in a faith context where one might bear the influence of a higher moral authority, like the Savior, to positively impact the lives of those around them.

Themes

AgencyServiceDesiresBlessingSavior

In practice

Example use cases

In a motivational speech about selflessness and community service.

More from Russell M. Nelson

With celestial sight, trials impossible to change become possible to endure.
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Marriage is sanctified when it is cherished and honored in holiness. That union is not merely between husband and wife; it embraces a partnership with God.
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Agency, or the power to choose, was ours as spirit children of our Creator before the world was. It is a gift from God, nearly as precious as life itself. Often, however, agency is misunderstood. While we are free to choose, once we have made those choices, we are tied to the consequence of those choices. We are free to take drugs or not. But once we choose to use a habit-forming drug, we are bound to the consequences of that choice. Addiction surrenders later freedom to choose.
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We live in a time of turmoil. Earthquakes and tsunamis wreak devastation, governments collapse, economic stresses are severe, the family is under attack,_x000D_ and divorce rates are rising. We have great cause for concern. But we do not need to let our fears displace our faith. We can combat those fears by strengthening our faith.
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As we go through life, even through very rough waters, a father's instinctive impulse to cling tightly to his wife or to his children may not be the best way to accomplish his objective. Instead, if he will lovingly cling to the Savior and the iron rod of the gospel, his family will want to cling to him and to the Savior.
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Each daughter of God is of infinite worth because of her divine mission.
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