"The purpose of life

is to increase our resolve to choose good over evil." in other words, to choose to follow (live up to) Light and Truth. There is no such a physical thing as darkness, but there is such a physical thing as evil - evil is a misapplication of Light - choosing not to follow it. Conversely, righteousness is a proper application of Light - choosing to live up to truth. Thus, a choice is necessary for us to be able to do righteousness, which is why agency is necessary. 

It's in the choice of good (or, application of light) that it is incorporated into our nature. We must have chances to apply something for it to be able to become part of our nature, by definition. Just by having a knowledge alone does not make something our nature - it simply cannot be part of our nature without a chance for application - without being able to look at our track record and see that yes, we will choose right - it is our nature - it is who we are. 

As light (or truth) is only applicable (vs a lack of light) our progression in life is dependent upon how much light we choose to incorporate (literally - take into our beings). That is why, after the resurrection, the degree of glory we receive is judged by our works - those of us who have attempted to incorporate light will go to varying places depending on the degree of light we choose to incorporate. Only if we choose 100% light can we achieve Celestial glory - we cannot have the attitude: it's good enough / it's not that bad if I... / I'm not going to go to hell if I ... -> these attitudes are attitudes of the Terrestrial kingdom, not the Celestial. 

That's a wee summary of the things I've been mulling over recently. :) Hope you all can get something from it! 

This has been a stellar week! We've got Serena lined up for baptism on this Saturday! She's a miracle and a half, and has such powerful resolve. She practically gave up ecigs overnight! It's amazing to see her resolve, and we're so grateful to know her. :) She's really nice as well, and the members have been stellar in being good friends. 

Love you all! Hope you're keeping well! :D Just remember that trials are given us to grow - without trials, we would not progress. 

Cheers! 

– Elder William Kevin Black

An excerpt from some of my thoughts on people having trials: 

Well, God must love you. :) I've been growing in my understanding of the necessity of trials for growth - the more trials we are given, the greater chance we have to grow. We cannot assimilate Light into our nature without trials - physical trials, trials of faith, trials of emotion, trials of mind - without trials, we'd never grow, and the plan of salvation would be frustrated. "The purpose of life it so increase our resolve to choose good over evil" i.e. to choose Light/Truth. I've really been growing to know this for myself. 

"are there times when [we have to do things on our own]?" Yᴇs. Absolutely. We cannot learn to walk like our Father without Him setting us on our own feet. The plan of the devil was to be carried the entire way - we wouldn't learn, we would merely move. The purpose of life is to learn to apply light, even when it's not evident, therefore, we need times in which we can't see the light, and are left on our own. 

At least, those are the first thoughts that come to mind. 

We rely on God too much when we fail to seek and follow inspiration, and desire for him to carry us. My baby sister would often cry: Up! asking us to carry her - but she must learn to walk on her own! Yes, she must be carried and lifted sometimes, but we cannot force inspiration - if God's not pointing the way clearly, we must act in faith. Without acting in faith, our resolve to follow Light would never grow! Thus God must leave us to our own sometimes, else our faith would not grow. Faith is living, like every Christlike attribute, and therefore must be exercised, not merely given. 

[ . . . ]

I'd say the bottom line with relying on God is this: Always ask Him first for guidance, but don't stand paralyzed if you don't get a clear answer. 

Also, just like a tree needs {water, sun, dirt}, we need {application, inspiration, scriptures (including past revelations to ourselves)} If we don't apply, the leaves have insufficient water, and will shrivel in the sun. Without studying past inspiration, we'll have no root, and will be tossed to and fro with every wind of doctrine. Balance the three.