中英對照/福音原則/第4章

選擇的自由
Freedom to Choose

選擇權是一項永恆的原則
Agency Is an Eternal Principle

● 如果有人問你，選擇權有什麼重要？你會怎麼說？

• If someone asked you why it is important to have agency, what would you say ?

「你可以為你自己選擇，因為那已給了你」（摩西書3：17）。

“Thou mayest choose for thyself, for it is given unto thee” (Moses 3:17) .

神透過先知告訴我們，我們有選擇善惡的自由。

God has told us through His prophets that we are free to choose between good and evil.

我們可以跟隨耶穌基督，選擇自由及永生，也可以跟隨撒但，選擇束縛和死亡。（見尼腓二書2：27。）

We may choose liberty and eternal life by following Jesus Christ. We are also free to choose captivity and death by following Satan. (See 2 Nephi 2:27.)

這種在善惡之間作選擇和為自己採取行動的權利，稱為選擇權。

The right to choose between good and evil and to act for ourselves is called agency .

我們在前生就已經有道德選擇權。

In our premortal life we had moral agency.

今生的目的之一就是要看看我們會作什麼樣的選擇（ 見尼腓二書2：15-16）。

One purpose of earth life is to show what choices we will make (see 2 Nephi 2:15–16).

如果我們被迫選擇正義，就無法顯示我們會為自己作什麼樣的選擇。

If we were forced to choose the right, we would not be able to show what we would choose for ourselves.

此外，自己作選擇的時候，做起事來也會比較快樂。

Also, we are happier doing things when we have made our own choices .

在前生的天庭會議裡，最重要的議題之一就是選擇權。

Agency was one of the principal issues to arise in the premortal Council in Heaven.

這也是基督的跟隨者和撒但的徒眾之間主要衝突的原因之一。

It was one of the main causes of the conflict between the followers of Christ and the followers of Satan.

撒但說：「看啊，我在這裡，派遣我，我要作您的兒子，我要救贖全人類，使一個靈魂都不失落，我一定會做；所以把您的榮譽給我」（摩西書4：1）。

Satan said, “Behold, here am I, send me, I will be thy son, and I will redeem all mankind, that one soul shall not be lost, and surely I will do it; wherefore give me thine honor” (Moses 4:1).

他說這話，是要「背叛〔神〕，尋求破壞……世人的選擇權」（摩西書4：3）。

In saying this, he “rebelled against [God] and sought to destroy the agency of man” (Moses 4:3).

撒但的提議被否決了，他和他的徒眾從天庭被驅逐出去（見教約29：36-37）。

His offer was rejected, and he was cast out of heaven with his followers (see D&C 29:36–37) .

選擇權是救恩計畫的必要條件選擇權讓我們今生的生活成為一段考驗時期。

Agency Is a Necessary Part of the Plan of Salvation Agency makes our life on earth a period of testing.

神在計劃祂兒女的塵世創造時，說：「我們要藉此驗證他們，看他們是否願意做主他們的神命令他們的所有事情」（亞伯拉罕書3：25）。

When planning the mortal creation of His children, God said, “We will prove [test] them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them” (Abraham 3:25).

如果沒有選擇權這項恩賜，我們就無法向天父表明我們是否願意做祂命令我們的一切。

Without the gift of agency, we would have been unable to show our Heavenly Father whether we would do all that He commanded us.

因為我們能選擇，所以我們要為自己的行為負責（見希拉曼書14：30-31）。

Because we are able to choose, we are responsible for our actions (see Helaman 14:30–31) .

我們選擇按照神為我們擬定的計畫生活時，我們作選擇的能力就增強了。

When we choose to live according to God’s plan for us, our agency is strengthened.

正確的選擇會讓我們更有能力作更多正確的選擇。

Right choices increase our power to make more right choices .

我們若服從天父的每一條誡命，就會變得更有智慧，具有更好的品格。

As we obey each of our Father’s commandments, we grow in wisdom and strength of character.

我們的信心會茁壯。

Our faith increases.

我們會發現作正確的選擇變得更容易了。

We find it easier to make right choices .

我們在天父面前還是祂靈體兒女的時候，就開始作決定了。

We began to make choices as spirit children in our Heavenly Father’s presence.

我們在那裡所作的決定，使我們能配稱來到世上。

Our choices there made us worthy to come to earth.

天父希望我們在信心、能力、知識、智慧及其他一切好事上成長。

Our Heavenly Father wants us to grow in faith, power, knowledge, wisdom, and all other good things.

我們只要遵守祂的誡命，作正確的選擇，就能有所學習和了解。

If we keep His commandments and make right choices, we will learn and understand .

我們會變得像祂一樣。（見教約93：28。）

We will become like Him. (See D&C 93:28.)

● 正確的選擇如何幫助我們作更多正確的選擇？

• How does making right choices help us make more right choices ?

我們需要有機會來運用選擇權
Agency Requires That There Be a Choice

● 對立為什麼是必要的？

• Why is opposition necessary ?

除非善與惡同時擺在我們面前，否則我們無法選擇正義。

We cannot choose righteousness unless the opposites of good and evil are placed before us.

摩爾門經中一位偉大的先知李海，告訴他的兒子雅各，為了實現神的永恆目的，「萬事必須有對立，……

Lehi, a great Book of Mormon prophet, told his son Jacob that in order to bring about the eternal purposes of God, there must be “an opposition in all things.

若不這樣，正義就無法出現，邪惡也無法出現，神聖或悲慘，好或壞，也都無法出現」（尼腓二書2：11）。

If not so, ... righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad” (2 Nephi 2:11) .

神容許撒但反對良善。

God allows Satan to oppose the good.

神談到撒但時，說：「我……使他被拋下去；「於是他就成了撒但，是的，就是魔鬼，一切謊言之父，欺騙和蒙蔽世人，並且隨他的意引導他們成為俘虜，就是所有不聽我聲音的人」（摩西書4：3-4）。

God said of Satan: “I caused that he should be cast down; “And he became Satan, yea, even the devil, the father of all lies, to deceive and to blind men, and to lead them captive at his will, even as many as would not hearken unto my voice” (Moses 4:3–4) .

撒但竭力破壞神的事工。

Satan does all he can to destroy God’s work.

他力圖「使全人類同遭悲慘。

He seeks “the misery of all mankind….

……力圖使所有的人都像他一樣悲慘」（尼腓二書2：18，27）。

He seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself” (2 Nephi 2:18, 27).

他並不愛我們，不希望我們有任何好的事物（見摩羅乃書7：17）。

He does not love us. He does not want any good thing for us (see Moroni 7:17).

他不希望我們快樂。

He does not want us to be happy.

他要我們作他的奴隸。

He wants to make us his slaves.

他用許多幌子使我們受他擺佈。

He uses many disguises to enslave us .

我們若順從撒但的誘惑，我們的選擇會就受到限制。

When we follow the temptations of Satan, we limit our choices .

以下例子可以說明這一點。

The following example suggests how this works.

想像在海邊看到一個牌子寫著：「危險──有漩渦。禁止在此游泳。」

Imagine seeing a sign on the seashore that reads: “Danger—whirlpool. No swimming allowed here.

我們可能認為這是一種限制。

” We might think that is a restriction.

但真的是這樣嗎﹖我們還是有很多選擇。

But is it ? We still have many choices.

我們可以到別處游泳，可以在海邊散步，撿拾貝殼，可以觀賞落日，或是回家。

We are free to swim somewhere else . We are free to walk along the beach and pick up seashells. We are free to watch the sunset. We are free to go home.

我們也可以不理會那個告示，到危險的地方游泳。

We are also free to ignore the sign and swim in the dangerous place.

可是，一旦漩渦把我們捲住，往下拖時，我們就沒有什麼選擇的機會了。

But once the whirlpool has us in its grasp and we are pulled under, we have very few choices.

我們可以盡力逃命，或大聲呼救，但是也可能會被淹死。

We can try to escape, or we can call for help, but we may drown .

我們雖然可以自由選擇要做哪些行為，卻無法隨意選擇自己的行為所帶來的後果。

Even though we are free to choose our course of action, we are not free to choose the consequences of our actions.

後果不論好壞，都是我們的選擇所帶來的自然結果（見加拉太書6：7；啟示錄22：12）。

The consequences, whether good or bad, follow as a natural result of any choice we make (see Galatians 6:7; Revelation 22:12) .

天父已經告訴我們如何逃避撒但的束縛。

Heavenly Father has told us how to escape the captivity of Satan .

我們必須隨時警醒，常常禱告，祈求神幫助我們抗拒撒但的誘惑（見尼腓三書18：15）。

We must watch and pray always, asking God to help us withstand the temptations of Satan (see 3 Nephi 18:15).

天父不會讓我們受到超過我們所能抵抗的誘惑（見哥林多前書10：13；阿爾瑪書13：28）。

Our Heavenly Father will not allow us to be tempted beyond our power to resist (see 1 Corinthians 10:13; Alma 13:28) .

神的誡命會引導我們遠離危險，邁向永生。

God’s commandments direct us away from danger and toward eternal life.

藉由明智的選擇，我們能獲得超升，享有永恆的進步，並享受完全的快樂（見尼腓二書2：27- 28）。

By choosing wisely, we will gain exaltation, progress eternally, and enjoy perfect happiness (see 2 Nephi 2:27–28) .

● 哪些例子可以說明某些行為會限制我們的選擇？

• What are some examples of actions that limit our choices?

哪些例子可以說明某些行為會為我們帶來更多的自由？

What are some examples of actions that give us more freedom ?

給教師：一張簡單的圖片可以幫助班員集中注意力。

For teachers: A simple picture can help learners focus their attention.

如果你要用本章提到的比喻來討論，可以在黑板或一大張紙上畫出警告標誌的圖案。

If you discuss the analogy of a warning sign as it is presented in this chapter, you may want to draw a picture of such a sign on the board or on a large piece of paper .

其他經文
Additional Scriptures

● 摩西書7：32（選擇的自由）
• Moses 7:32 (freedom of choice)
● 亞伯拉罕書3：24-25（今生是一項試驗）
• Abraham 3:24–25 (earth life a test)
● 阿爾瑪書41：3；摩羅乃書7：5-6（按行為受審判）
• Alma 41:3; Moroni 7:5–6 (works judged)
● 尼腓二書2：11-16（對立是必要的）
• 2 Nephi 2:11–16 (opposition is necessary)
● 摩羅乃書7：12-17（選擇善惡）
• Moroni 7:12–17 (choosing good and evil)
● 彼得後書2：19；約翰福音8：34（罪是束縛）
• 2 Peter 2:19; John 8:34 (sin is bondage)
● 尼腓二書2：28-29；阿爾瑪書40：12-13（按行為得酬賞）
• 2 Nephi 2:28–29; Alma 40:12–13 (reward according to works)