They are Their Own Judges, Whether to do Good or Do Evil

I was reading in Alma 41 this morning, and I came on verse 7, the end of which says:  "for behold, they are their own judges, whether to do good or do evil."  It struck me when I read that that I am also my own judge in this matter, and that I ultimately do have the choice to do good or do evil.  For me, this was a great comfort as I've struggling feeling like others have thought of me poorly.  The truth of the matter is that their judgement doesn't matter as much as my own choices.  If I choose to do good, then I can feel confident in feeling good.

I think this all goes back to the doctrine of agency.  Whatever others think, whatever they may do or say, I truly am in charge of my own choices, and only those matter ultimately to me and are of consequence to my eternal fate.  What others do, whether they are kind or cruel, can only effect me if I choose to allow it do so.

It's certainly an enabling doctrine, to know that we are free to act for ourselves and to choose our own fate even though we cannot choose what circumstances we are in or how others act.