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Near the beginning of the Book of Mormon, Lehi tells his sons about the importance of agency and action. "And now, my sons, I speak unto you these things for your profit and learning; for there is a God, and he hath created all things, both the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are, both things to act and things to be acted upon." (2 Nephi 2:14). I have been thinking about this concept off and on for a long time. I noticed on my mission while listening to Elder Bednar's talks that he often quotes this verse and refers to this idea in his speeches. It seems that Lehi is hitting on something that so often we all forget in our daily life, regardless of what has happened in the past we can choose how we will act in the present.


"You got to let go of the stuff from past - because it just doesn't matter! The only thing that matters is what you choose to be now." This quote, as great as it is - is not from Lehi or anyone in the Book of Mormon. Po the Panda spoke this words of wisdom to the evil Peacock in the end of Kung Fu Panda 2. This is the lesson that he learned, while the bird couldn't.

President Monson stated, "The past is behind us - learn from it. The future is ahead - prepare for it. The present is here - live it." These three quotes have inspired me to more fully live up to my potential each day and not allow past or even far reaching future events to dictate too much what I am doing. For it is really the decision today that will make a difference, not ones that have happened and are gone and done.


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