Acting on our own

We learn from today's scripture mastery that God wants us to do much on our own, and of our own choice.  Doctrine and Covenants 58:26-27 is today's scripture mastery:

 26 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.

 27 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;

Joseph in the Old Testament is an excellent example of someone who lived the way that makes God happy.  He went through a lot: being sold in to slavery by his brothers, being wrongfully accused of attempted adultery, being forgotten in prison for many years, and finally ending up as the second most powerful man in all of Egypt.  How did this happen?  Well, Joseph was of course faithful to the Lord in all his trials--but even more than that, he didn't sit around and wait for his current master to command him to do something.  He just did what he knew to be right and good. 

Because of Joseph's abilities, he rose from a humble servant to the overseer of Potiphar's house.  He could have done the bare minimum as a slave in Potiphar's house, but he would not have been given so much trust and responsibility (Genesis 39)
He was put in charge of all his fellow prisoners by the keeper of the prison--again, because he showed that he could be trusted.  He could have sat in self pity in his prison cell, and not done anything except eat and sleep.  Had he done that, he probably would have died in prison. . . (Genesis 39)
Because of his trustworthiness, he was able to interpret the dream of the Pharaoh, and gain his trust.  That is amazing that the Pharaoh would elevate a common prisoner from a foreign land to the second most powerful man in the entire kingdom(Genesis 41).  It happened because Joseph was not a slothful nor did he wait for the Lord to come save him from bondage--he made the best of every situation he was in.

Just as Joseph was able to "bring to pass much righteousness" (saving the entire kingdom from famine, as well as many others, including his own family), we too can bring to pass much righteousness if we always seek to do the right, without waiting for somebody to tell us what to do.

There is a saying that "The Lord helps those who help themselves."  That is, I believe, a true statement. (i.e. it means that God blesses those who actively do His will, and don't wait to be commanded in all things) If we actively do things that are righteous (i.e. we keep His commandments), and we seek to improve ourselves and others' then we will be blessed by God.  He opens doors for us that would otherwise remain closed.  He gives us insight that is hidden from others.  He blesses the lives of millions of people through our actions.  This quality to act without being commanded is called initiative.  Let us take initiative and do good works as we have seen Christ do.  Let us bless the lives of those around us, of our own free will and choice!