This entry is an answer to a letter I received yesterday from Elder Porter, but it is also an opportunity for me to articulate what I have been thinking lately.  I hope there is something of worth for others.  Nick expressed his frustration in finding that most of the people that he meets are not exactly receptive to the message that he has come to know and love.  He understands agency, but that doesn't really explain it.  I have considered the same question since my own mission and have a few thoughts that I have recently been able to organize.  I refer to what has become my favorite scripture:  D & C 4.   I have found that it contains the answer to almost everything.  My idea is that people chose pride and selfishness over the gospel or are lazy in keeping the commandments, and that is the major reason for the opposition here in mortality.  D & C 4: 5 reads 'faith (in the Lord Jesus Christ) hope (in the atonement of Jesus Christ) charity (the pure love of/for Jesus Christ) and love (for God and our fellowmen) with an eye single to the glory of God'.  Note that each of those ideals are 'outward'  supporting the idea of a 'broken heart and a contrite spirit' (meekness) which are required of us.  To turn 'inward' is the opposite of what we are commanded to do.  In verse 6 you can define those 10 character traits as positive and 'outward' as well with their opposites representing selfishness and pride and idleness.  It is a list to be pursued regardless of the fact that it will take a lifetime plus to acquire them.  Verse 7 describes for me a life of communion with God during our journey to return home, while the opposite would describe being lost, lonely and wandering in darkness.  We are all free to chose our path and looking outward and to our Heavenly Father is obviously the correct choice.  Most seem to chose otherwise.  BUT I must add that the knowledge or truths that I have described are not in the minds and hearts of most of the people that Elder Porter meets.  Most are wandering without that 'hope' or the understanding of the love of God or even the knowledge of who they really are.  This is a very limited formula to judge individual people.  Sure, some we encounter have understood and turned away from those truths, but most are still looking.  That is why Nick is where he is right now.  It is for you, Elder Porter, (and the rest of us too) to truly live according to the formula taught in D & C 4 so that when the Lord desires to use us to reach out to another of his children looking for Him we will qualify to be worthy to be used in such a cause.  We know that most of our 'family' will ultimately chose a lesser blessing then the one that we are pursuing.  That is their right, but we want more for them and us.  And we have to live as though all of us will 'find the treasure' so that all will have that opportunity through us.  Verse 5, 6 and 7 need to be our guide that will finally cause us 'to be like him, for we shall (return home) and see him as he is'.