“It was a wintry Sunday morning in northern New York. The temperature was several degrees below freezing. The walks were icy; roads were blocked with heavy snowdrifts. No one came to church that morning except the minister and an 89-year-old woman, who had slowly hobbled ten blocks from where she lived.
“Surprised at seeing her, the minister called her by name and asked: ‘How did you get here on such a stormy morning?’
“ ‘My heart gets here first,’ was the cheerful reply, ‘and then it’s easy for the rest of me’” (quoted by John H. Vandenberg, in Conference Report, Apr. 1973, 40; or Ensign, July 1973, 32).
This short story shows the importance of these three elements; the elderly woman could have stayed home that day and felt justified in her decision. However, given her agency and her fervent belief and faith, she felt a desire, even an accountability, to trudge through terrible weather conditions and attend church.
We all have been given the gift of moral agency, also known as free agency. Agency is an eternal principle; it is an all-important piece in the larger plan of salvation. We know it was so important that it was one of the main points of discussion during the war in heaven. Satan wanted agency to be taken from us; we would all be forced to choose what was right. He would take all the glory unto himself, but in return he promised that none would be lost. Heavenly Father knew our personal progression and growth could not occur under these conditions; although some would be lost through poor choices, His plan provided a Savior for those who had sincere desires to do what was right, repented of their sins, and followed the commandments to the best of their ability.
In a wonderful discourse given by Lehi in 2 Nephi, Chapter 2, we learn the conditions that must be present for agency to exist. In essence, we learn that Agency requires that there be choices and “opposition in all things.” We learn that Agency is essential for existence and progression.
We also learn that although we have Agency to choose, our choices have consequences. If you choose to not sleep, you will be tired. If you choose to not eat, you will be hungry. When you choose to read the scriptures, you can learn Heavenly Father’s words (John 5:39). When you draw near to Heavenly Father in prayer, He will hear you and will draw near to you and listen (D&C 88:62–63).
David O. McKay, former prophet and president of the Church, stated, "It is the purpose of the Lord that man become like him. In order for man to achieve this it was necessary for the Creator first to make him free." Without free agency, mortality would be useless. Men are ultimately responsible for their own destiny, through their faith and obedience to the commandments of God. "Free agency" therefore should not be interpreted to mean that actions are without consequences; "free" means that it is a gift from God and consequences must necessarily come as a result of choices made. Thus free agency and accountability are complementary and cannot be separated.
Making a choice is like picking up a stick. When you pick up one end of the stick, the other end always comes with it. When you make a choice, a consequence always comes with it.
Some consequences come quickly after you make a choice. You touch a hot burner on a stove and you pull your hand away quickly because you are burned. Other times, you may not recognize a consequence until long after you make the choice. But eventually there is always a consequence—good or bad.
The scriptures teach that accountability is not limited to public behavior; everyone will be asked to answer for all they do and say and even for what they think (Matt. 12:36; Alma 12:12-14), and for the use they make of every resource and opportunity God gives them (TPJS, pp. 68, 227).
The parable of the talents, found in Matthew 25, helps us understand the interrelatedness of agency and accountability.
Starting in verse 14, we read:
For the kingdom of heaven is as a man traveling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.
15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.
16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.
17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.
18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.
19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.
20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.
21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.
23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:
25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.
26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:
27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.
28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.
29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
In this parable, we learn a lot about how agency and accountability affect and influence our callings. Like the monetary talents alluded to in this parable, each of us is entrusted with natural talents.
The Lord desires of us to use these natural talents to serve Him and bless the lives of others. Through our local leaders, He will often call us to serve in different capacities to assist in the work. For example, if we have a proclivity to work well with children, we may be called into Primary; if we have a natural ability to bond well with teens, we may be called to work with the youth. However, sometimes when we are called to serve, we begin to question our abilities and aptitudes. Our faith in ourselves sometimes wavers and we consider that perhaps we should bury our talents out of fear of failure.
So often the Lord calls inexperienced people to His service and gives them important and decisive assignments. At first they may be fearful of the task.
President Monson has said:
“If any brother or sister feels unprepared—even incapable—of responding to a call to serve, to sacrifice, to bless the lives of others, remember this truth: ‘Whom God calls, God qualifies.’ He who notes the sparrow’s fall will not abandon the servant’s need.”
As we read the stories of those whom the Lord has called out of their weakness, we can have the assurance that we will receive the strength to fulfill callings. I have always enjoyed this quote by Neal A. Maxwell:
“God does not begin by asking us about our ability, but only about our availability, and if we then prove our dependability, he will increase our capability.”
If we use our agency to undertake the work of the Lord and serve where He would have us serve in His vineyard, serving with our full heart, might, mind, and strength, and show Him of our true desires to be the best we can be, He will help us grow and fulfill the duties required of that calling in equal proportion to our dependability and faith in Him.
One thing I often wonder about the parable of the talents is this: What would have happened if one of the servants who invested the money realized a loss instead of a gain? There’s a clue to how Jesus would have answered this in how He addresses the third servant as “wicked” and “slothful.” That’s pretty harsh language considering the servant still gave the master all his money back. Is Jesus saying that inaction is wicked? I believe so. In other words, if you do nothing with your talents… if you hide them in the ground and hoard them, you are not investing what He has given you and helping build His kingdom by serving others.
In modern scripture, the Lord uses the same word “slothful” to describe someone who does not use their agency to actively engage in doing good things.
"For behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is compelled in all things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant; wherefore he receiveth no reward.
"Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness;
"For the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves. And inasmuch as men do good they shall in nowise lose their reward." (D and C 58: 26-28).
Another clue as to how the Lord sees us using our agency to serve is found in how He praises those servants who realized an increase. Note that he compliments them for being “faithful.” He does not compliment them for being “shrewd” or “effective”—just “faithful.” Praise is given for their faith, not for their results. Again, if we do the best we can, the Lord will make up the difference.
Another notable quality of the parable is the lack of competition. The servants aren’t competing with each other for their master’s favor. It’s not a zero-sum game. The first two servants both contribute something of value to their master’s estate. For us, it doesn’t matter where we serve—the bishopric, the Primary, the nursery, the youth program, or one of my favorite callings I had 15 years ago at BYU—the hymnbook distributor for priesthood opening exercises. I am doing my best to get called to that position again.
All that matters is that we do the best we can and serve faithfully and dutifully, and we will be blessed. In the church we should not aspire to positions; the Lord will not look more favorably on someone who served higher in the hierarchy of the Church than one who served as a hymnbook distributor—do your best with the talents you have been given and the Lord’s measuring stick will be fair and unbiased.
What’s the ultimate reward for the faithful servants in this parable? Although Jesus doesn’t explicitly say it, it seems obvious they don’t get to keep the money. The two successful servants aren’t even working for their own personal increase. It’s not their money. They’re working for the increase of their master, but they share in the increase to his estate. Their true reward is to share in their master’s happiness. So happiness is the reward, and happiness comes from serving others.
I know from experience that if I undertake some action to create increase only for myself, it doesn’t usually add to my happiness by large amounts. But if I focus on serving others through home teaching and other opportunities my calling provides me, thus creating an increase for others, then I feel great joy, which ultimately creates an increase for me too.
Those of you that are parents know about the effort and sacrifice that is required to raise them to be happy and healthy. And I would submit that you feel that your children are your greatest source of happiness. This same feeling of pride and love comes to many who willingly serve others in the Gospel. Serving others is sometimes a thankless job, yet we should not do it begrudgingly. Those who serve willingly, out of a love for the Lord and for those whom they serve, know it remains a huge reward in and of itself.
As Jesus implies in The Parable of the Talents, creating abundance requires you to move beyond fear. If you’re too fearful or self-conscious, you’re going to bury your talents. And this leads to sorrow and depression. It was President John Taylor who warned: "God will hold you responsible for those whom you might have saved had you done your duty" (Journal of Discourses 20:23). This warning must not be taken lightly; we must use our agency to serve others as we will be held accountable by the Lord for what we do and what we might have done.
So what about those who want to serve but are still somewhat self conscious? I hope they do not feel indicted by what I have said today. It all takes time. Said the Prophet Joseph: ''. . . the nearer man approaches perfection, the clearer are his views, and the greater his enjoyments, till he has overcome the evils of his life and lost every desire for sin, and like the ancients, arrives at that point of faith where he is wrapped in the power and glory of his Maker and is caught up to dwell with Him. But we consider that this is a station to which no man ever arrived in a moment.'' (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, Section Two 1834-37, p. 51).
Thus the work of eternity is not done in a moment, but, rather, in ''process of time.'' Time works for us, when our desires do likewise! We should be willing to step outside our personal comfort zone and try new things, renewed by the promise of the Lord that He will strengthen us and make us equal to the task if we but ask Him for assistance and revelation. It is up to us. God will facilitate, but He will not force.
In closing, a Chinese proverb seems to sum things up well:
"If you want happiness for an hour—take a nap.
If you want happiness for a day—go fishing.
If you want happiness for a month—get married.
If you want happiness for a year—inherit a fortune.
If you want happiness for a lifetime—help others.
You can actually help yourself by helping others. Remember that, and it will help you to take —and keep—your eyes off the mirror.
Open your eyes to the people around you and serve them well today."
