SOURCE - World Wide YA Devotional 2020
Obedience
"God knows that as we keep the commandments two things happen. First, we will be steering a path in life that will bring peace and joy. We will avoid numerous sorrows and much needless pain, and even when the traumas of mortality come upon us, the sadness will be swallowed up in Christ. . . . Secondly, by choosing to obey His commandments—by this exercise of our agency—we allow God to pour out help and blessings upon us," Elder Christofferson said. "Some have not understood and have used the love of God as an excuse for not changing, for not growing, for not keeping His commandments. 'God loves me just the way I am,' they say, not recognizing that His love demands and deserves their love and loyalty in return."
Agency
"Our Heavenly Father is not a 'helicopter parent.' He does not generally intervene to protect us from the consequences of our choices. If He routinely acted in that way, our cherished moral agency would become meaningless. . . . That is what Satan has always wanted, but our Heavenly Father wants us to learn how to act independently and choose well."
Atonement
Despite what may come into our lives, Elder Christofferson reminds us:
"Christ, by His grace, can give you strength to endure what you must and faith to change what in His wisdom should be changed. And if you should perhaps carelessly hurt someone else, Christ can answer your pleas to make good and repair what you cannot. Christ not only forgives sin but removes the stain of sin in you. His grace can make you holy. Because of the Savior and His Atonement, you need not remain the victim of anyone or anything. In a coming day, His perfect Judgment will set all things right.
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