To Act or Be Acted Upon

Elder Bednar explains in a talk called Seek Learning by Faith, the difference between things to act and things to be acted upon (2 Nephi 2:15).  He says that we have the freedom to act, to choose, to be proactive and to cause good things to happen.  Satan would have us be acted upon, to be passive, to be pushed and tossed by outside forces without exerting our will.

". . . In the grand division of all of God’s creations, there are things to act and things to be acted upon (see 2 Nephi 2:13–14). As sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father, we have been blessed with the gift of agency—the capacity and power of independent action. Endowed with agency, we are agents, and we primarily are to act and not only to be acted upon—especially as we seek to obtain and apply spiritual knowledge.

Learning by faith and from experience are two of the central features of the Father’s plan of happiness. The Savior preserved moral agency through the Atonement and made it possible for us to act and to learn by faith. Lucifer’s rebellion against the plan sought to destroy the agency of man, and his intent was that we as learners would only be acted upon. . ."

When Joseph Smith sought inspiration in a grove of trees, he was motivated by his scripture study and his prayers.  " . . . Note the questions Joseph had formulated in his mind and felt in his heart—and which he took into the grove. He clearly had prepared himself to “ask in faith” (James 1:6) and to act."

" . . . Notice that Joseph’s questions focused not just on what he needed to know but also on what he needed to do."

He points out that we learn not only by hearing, but by doing, and quotes this from Brigham Young, "More people have obtained a testimony while standing up trying to bear it than down on their knees praying for it.” ⁶ 

Ponder this scripture from D&C 93:30 :  All truth is independent in that sphere in which God has placed it, to act for itself, as all intelligence also; otherwise there is no existence.

But we need to be inspired in where to put our efforts and time.  Note this quote from Elder Nelson:

One can be anxiously engaged in a meaningless cause. Or one can do something wrong a hundred times and call it experience! Some would avoid labor while pursuing the goals of wealth without working for it, or an honored position without preparing for it.  Russell M. Nelson

So if I seek the Lord's will, armed with the power of scripture study and righteous desires, He will show me where and how I need to act.  Then I need to do those things I was inspired to do and report back.  Note these instructions from President Eyring, "Ponder deeply and diligently in the scriptures and in the words of living prophets. Persist in prayer for the Holy Ghost to reveal to you the nature of God the Father and His Beloved Son. Plead that the Spirit will show you what the Lord wants you to do. Plan to do it. Promise Him to obey. Act with determination until you have done what He asked. And then pray to give thanks for the opportunity to serve and to know what you might do next."

If I neglect to do these things, I will drift along, being acted upon, and watch T.V. and spend my precious hours browsing Pinterest or FaceBook, and Satan will be very happy.