16 For behold, the Spirit of the Lord hath already ceased to strive with their fathers; and they are without Christ and God in the world; and they are driven about as chaff before the wind.
17 They were once a delightsome people, and they had Christ for their shepherd; yea, they were led even by God the Father.
18 But now, behold, they are led about by Satan, even as chaff is driven before the wind, or as a vessel is tossed about upon the waves, without sail or anchor, or without anything wherewith to steer her; and even as she is, so are they.
(Mormon 5:16-18)
It is tragically ironic that people will, in the name of independence and personal agency, make decisions which erode their agency. When we choose to follow the Savior, we choose a loving and supportive leader who wants us to become more capable and to develop a deeper understanding of the world around us. Therefore, when we follow Him, our set of options expands, and we have more opportunities to act for ourselves. But when we choose to follow Satan, our options are constricted. We become slaves to addictions, we struggle to meet the expectations of the world, or we simply wander aimlessly, lacking a clear game plan. Mormon’s description of those who follow Satan, as being like “chaff driven before the wind,” is apt. As we learned from watching Korihor, Satan isn’t loyal to those who follow him, and his temptations are not calculated to bring us either happiness or increased freedom.
Today, I will remember that obedience to God’s commandments enables me to grow and to expand my options in life. I will strive to live in a way that I can be guided by the Good Shepherd, and therefore become more capable, wiser, and ultimately more free.
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