Under a title “Building Ourselves to Act in All Holiness” Elder David A. Bednar, current member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said: “As we turn to the Savior and away from self through covenants we in essence bind ourselves to act in doctrine. “And now, behold, I give unto you a commandment, that when ye are assembled together ye shall instruct and edify each other, that ye may know how to act and direct my church, how to act upon the points of my law and commandments which I have given.
“And thus ye shall become instructed in the law of my church, and be sanctified by that which ye have received, and ye shall bind yourselves to act in all holiness before me—
“That inasmuch as ye do this, glory shall be added to the kingdom which ye have received” (D&C 43:8-10; emphasis added). The word bind is instructive and suggests fastening tightly, tying together, and securing. Hands that are bound have no slack or wiggle room.
The earth was created and prepared as a place whereon Heavenly Father’s children could be proved to see if they would do “all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them” (Abraham 3:25; emphasis added) The very purposes of our creation and of our mortal existence are to see if you and I will do and become what the Lord instructs and commands us to do and to become. We have not been blessed with moral agency to do whatever we want whenever we will. Rather, according to the Father’s plan, we have received moral agency to choose the right, to do good, and to become whatever God intends for us to become.
The Lord instructed Enoch on this precise point of doctrine: “Behold these thy brethren; they are the workmanship of mine own hands, and I gave unto them their knowledge, in the day I created them; and in the Garden of Eden, gave I unto man his agency; “And unto thy brethren have I said, and also given commandment, that they should love one another, and that they should choose me, their Father” (Moses 7:32-33)
As we learn in these scriptures, the fundamental purposes for the gift of agency are to love one another and to choose God. Note that we are commanded—not admonished, not urged, and not counseled, but commanded—to use our agency to turn outward, to love one anther, and to choose God. For this purpose the earth was created. For this purpose you and I are here in the second estate. For this purpose we are blessed with the gift of moral agency.” (From Elder Bednar’s book ‘Act in Doctrine’ pg 43-45, Deseret Book Company 2012)
