Choice—The Crucible of Character | J. Richard Clarke | February 1989
Sep 6, 2023
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This podcast explores the cultivation of Christlike character through our choices, emphasizing personal integrity, regulating passions, self-control, and making righteous choices. It highlights the importance of character development and taking responsibility for the consequences of our actions.
Character is molded through personal choices, not circumstances or predispositions.
We have the power to control our desires and develop self-discipline, resisting external pressures.
Deep dives
Developing Christlike Character
Developing a Christlike character is the purpose and design of our divine creator. Our character is created through personal exertion and is produced through the crucible of human experience. It is the power to act upon principle and the discipline to follow through with resolutions long after the initial spirit has passed. Character defends and secures our happiness and honor in times of temptation and struggle.
The Power of Choice and Accountability
Life is a test, and blessings are predicated upon learning and obeying divine laws. The Lord established a pattern of behavior and consequence in the Garden of Eden, emphasizing freedom of choice and the necessity of accountability. We can choose what we become by exercising correct choices and being responsible for the consequences. We have the power to develop any appetite or habit through repetitive behavior.
The Importance of Integrity and Self-Control
Integrity and self-control are paramount in maintaining personal honor and resisting temptation. Many individuals in society today use the excuse of not being able to help themselves as a justification for questionable behavior. However, we have the capacity to control our desires and develop self-discipline. Examples from athletes and individuals in various professions show the importance of personal values and the ability to resist external pressures. By choosing to live by gospel principles, we can play the sweeter music of decency and navigate the tests of character in a world ripening in iniquity.
Christlike character is cultivated through our choices, not our circumstances or predispositions. We are always accountable for the outcome of our actions. Click here to access the speech page.