Agency (Isaiah 5)

Isaiah 5:4 — What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes?

The Lord does all that He can to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of men. But one vital ingredient in the recipe of growth is agency. After all that we are given from the Lord, and after all He does to help us, we choose what type of fruit to bring forth. If we yield good fruit, we will have joy. If not, as the Lord said in this verse, there is nothing more He could have done - for He does his work diligently.

Isaiah 5:13 — Therefore my people are gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge: and their honourable men are famished, and their multitude dried up with thirst.

Knowledge of God and our covenants with him keep us from captivity. These verses make me think of 2 Nephi 2:27: "Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself."

Isaiah 5:20 — Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

We have the God given power of agency to choose light and good. No one can take that away from us. What a precious gift.