In Brother Hales’ first conference talk, he told how he had accepted the call.  He had originally been asked to be a mission president, and because his personal, business, and family affairs were in order, he was free to obey.

A few weeks later the phone rang again. This time it was a man whom I have greatly admired—Brother Arthur Haycock. I spoke to him briefly; and then, the prophet’s voice—distinctive, clear, the clarion call.

“Brother Hales, do you mind if we change your mission?”

I had thought I was going to the London England Mission. But I figured someone else would have that call, and I said, “I will be glad to go to whatever place you send me.”

He said, “Do you mind if we change it to Salt Lake City?”

And I said, “No, that will be fine, President.”

“Do you mind if it is little bit longer than three years?”

“However long you want it, President.”

“We would like a lifetime of service.”

-thus Brother Hales.  This story of unquestioning obedience is the centerpiece of a talk on free agency.  “Free to obey” is a good summary.  The kind of freedom you have on vacation is great.  But the kind of creative freedom an artist has to pursue their vision, to improve their vision, to cleanse the inner vessel and express more truly the inner fire, is a better freedom.  That is the kind of freedom the man of God has.


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