Checkmate!

"Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them that are expedient unto man.  And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life through the great mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself." - 2 Nephi 2:27 (see also Gal. 5:1)

I enjoy playing an occasional game of chess.  One thing I really like about it is you're always making choices.  Some are not so good.  Every choice you make decides the outcome of the game.  Careful consideration must be taken with each move.  Because your opponent has the same object as you, there will be opposition in your attempts to win.  Once you make too many poor choices you will be placed in checkmate.  However, if you are careful in your choices, you will win the game.

Imagine your life like a chess board.  You're making decisions every day.  Being able to make choices is a wonderful gift called "Free Agency", the ability to choose for ourselves.  But just because you can decide what you want to do doesn't mean you will always be right.  Just like in a chess game good decisions bring us closer to winning, good decisions in life bring us closer to happiness.  We are all trying to find happiness, just like in chess we are trying to put the opposing king in checkmate.  When we make a choice in life we are held responsible for the choices we make.  We can't blame others or certain events for making us.  We are our own masters, but if we allow someone to make our choices for us, then we are surrendering our freedom to choose.  You might as well let your opponent control your pieces and say nothing about what he does.

The decisions we make shape who we are and who we are decides our futures.  Satan is going to try and steal our freedom to choose by tempting us.  He is positioning is pieces to where he can checkmate your king.  When you refuse to listen to the lies he tries to feed you, you're counter moving him and exposing his king.  When we follow Christ he gives us strength and direction to where Satan has no say in our lives.  When we follow Christ with all our hearts Satan has no more power over us and he is put in Checkmate. (see Helaman 5:12, John 8:12)