At first glance, submitting our wills to the will of God seems to be a voluntary acquiescence, a trading of freedom for subservience. But over this seeming paradox, hidden truth prevails in the doing, not the talking. "If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine . . ." (John 7:17). This doctrine, our leaders have told us, is that as we submit our will to that of the Father, He then gives freedom back to us in greater abundance than we had originally.

The decision to turn one's will over to the Lord must be renewed daily, hourly as we make choices on the basis of obedience. To be thus guided in our choices, we must literally connect with the powers of heaven, and stay connected.

Moral choice is the essential commerce of mortality. "Scarcely an hour of the day goes by but what we are called upon to make choices of one sort or another," said President Thomas S. Monson in the priesthood session of the recent general conference. "Some are trivial, some more far-reaching. Some will make no difference in the eternal scheme of things, and others will make all the difference."

The adversary has faught against agency and accountability since before the foundation of the world and, in these last days, he is fighting it as never before. In fact, he attained his current fallen role by deliberately rebelling against the will of the Father.

President Monson warns: "As long as we live upon this earth, Lucifer and his hosts will never abandon the hope of claiming our souls." And, he said, "He seeks not just the so-called refuse of humanity; he seeks all of us, including the very elect of God" (Priesthood session, October 2010 general conference).

Fulfilling the outward form of our religion is not enough. Living the commandments as though they were rituals is not enough. Each of us must at some time with total inner transparency come before the Lord and make the free will choice to submit ourselves to Him.

Said the Savior: "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 7:21).

He also said: "I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me" (John 5:30). After His mortal ministry was complete, He said, "I came by the will of the Father, and I do his will" (Doctrine and Covenants 19:24), adding to mortal testimony with immortal testimony.

We face many challenges as we seek to follow the Savior's example. Let us not proceed down this path with vacillation, trepidation or hesitation. Let us find confidence through tutoring at the feet of the prophets. Let us do so with constant hearts, prepared.

One of the ways to be edified, said President Monson, is to have a grateful heart. "A grateful heart, then, comes through expressing gratitude to our Heavenly Father for His blessings and to those around us for all that they bring into our lives. This requires conscious effort — at least until we have truly learned and cultivated an attitude of gratitude. . . .

"When we encounter challenges and problems in our lives, it is often difficult for us to focus on our blessings. However, if we reach deep enough and look hard enough, we will be able to feel and recognize just how much we have been given.

"My brothers and sisters, to express gratitude is gracious and honorable, to enact gratitude is generous and noble, but to live with gratitude ever in our hearts is to touch heaven."

This edifying influence of continual gratitude stregthens our connection to God.

Gratitude, President Monson explained, is also an expression of discipleship: "Let us follow Him. Let us emulate His example. Let us obey His words. By so doing, we give to Him the divine gift of gratitude" (Sunday morning session, October 2010 general conference).

Beside gratitude, President Monson, spoke of prayer. "I speak too of the whisperings from that still, small voice within each of us, and I do not overlook the holy scriptures, written by mariners who successfully sailed the seas we too must cross" (Priesthood session, October 2010 general conference.)

The holy scriptures of which he spoke have many important insights into the importance of following the Father's will; that is in making ourselves obediently available for guidance from the whisperings of the Spirit.

In compiling the Book of Mormon, wrote Mormon, "he worketh in me to do according to his will" (Words of Mormon, 1:7). Paul encouraged the Colossians to "stand perfect and complete in all the will of God" (Colossians 4:12). Modern revelation tells us "he that endureth in faith and doeth my will, the same shall overcome, and shall receive an inheritance upon the earth when the day of transfiguration shall come" (Doctrine and Covenants 63:20).

In moments when such obedience seems impossible or pointless or too hard, let us remember the Savior's exemplary moment in Gethsemane, His pivotal choice that now benefits each of us when He said: "nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt" (Matthew 26:39).

May we also do "as thou wilt."