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Free Agency and Freedomby Jason Park |
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In one of my groups, I developed a close friendship with a man who was a temple worker and had a beautiful family. Although he tried hard and made some good progress he eventually gave it up for a single, carefree life. He made a choice and ultimately chose cutoffs and the gym over the church and his family. I think part of the reason he made that choice was because he felt he had no choice. But, you do have a choice, there is a way out. There are many men and women who are making correct choices in difficult situations and as a result are making significant changes in their lives. Our lives are made up of a series of small choices. Seldom do we make a
large, consequential decision. It's the little things we do that shape our
character and make us who we are. Our character is the composite, the net
result, of all those small choices. Let's explore our power to choose and how
those choices influence our eternal lives. Agency, free agency, and moral agency all refer to our power to exercise our will and make choices. Freedom refers to the power and privilege to carry out those choices. [Many of the ideas in the following paragraphs are taken from a talk titled "Free Agency and Freedom," by Dallin H. Oaks, Brigham Young University 1987-88 Devotional and Fireside Speeches, BYU Publications, Provo, UT, 1988, pp. 46-47. An edited version is also found in The Book of Mormon: Second Nephi, The Doctrinal Structure, Papers from the Third Annual Book of Mormon Symposium, edited by Monte S. Nyman and Charles D. Tate, Jr., Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, 1989. pp. 1-17.] Free agencyBefore we came to earth, God gave each of us our free agency the power to choose see Alma13:3). In fact, one of the principal reasons we came to this earth was to be proven, to see if we would do everything we are commanded to do (see Abraham 3:25). In the council in heaven, Satan presented an alternative plan that denied free agency. When it was rejected, he rebelled, "and sought to destroy the agency of man, which I, the Lord God, had given him" (Moses 4:3-4). Knowing that Satan is anxious to have us misuse the power of free agency, we need to be careful in the choices we make. "Wherefore, the Lord God gave unto man that he should act for himself" (2 Nephi 2:16). "Therefore, cheer up your hearts, and remember that ye are free to act for yourselves to choose the way of everlasting death or the way of eternal life" (2 Nephi 10:23). God has given us our free agency, the power to choose, and no person or organization can take it away. FreedomWhat can be taken away or reduced in this life is our freedom, which is the power to act on our choices. Elder Dallin H. Oaks has explained that "free agency is absolute, but in the circumstances of mortality freedom is always qualified." ["Free Agency and Freedom," by Dallin H. Oaks, The Book of Mormon: Second Nephi, The Doctrinal Structure, Papers from the Third Annual Book of Mormon Symposium, edited by Monte S. Nyman and Charles D. Tate, Jr., Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, 1989. p. 10.] He explains that freedom may be qualified or taken away in three ways:
A restriction of freedom in these ways "reduces the extent to which we can act upon our choices, but it does not deprive us of our God-given free agency." ["Free Agency and Freedom," by Dallin H. Oaks, The Book of Mormon: Second Nephi, The Doctrinal Structure, Papers from the Third Annual Book of Mormon Symposium, edited by Monte S. Nyman and Charles D. Tate, Jr., Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, 1989. p. 11.] ConsequencesWe tend to think of agency as a personal matter. Often overlooked, however, is the fact that choices have consequences. We are free to consider our options, to make choices and to act, but once an action has been taken we are not free from its consequences. An astronaut, for example, makes the choice to enter the rocket. He can withdraw any time before the rocket fuel is ignited, but once it is, he is bound by the consequences of his choice. There is an eternal principle of the Law of the Harvest (see Galatians 6:7-9). We reap what we sow. Actions have consequences. Each of us has a choice between right and wrong. But with that choice there
inevitably will follow consequences. Those who choose to violate the
commandments of God put themselves at great spiritual and physical jeopardy. The
Apostle Paul said, "The wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23). Gordon B. Hinckley
[Ensign, May 1987, p. 47] Copyright © 1996 by Century Publishing, PO Box 11307, Salt Lake City, UT
84147. This document may be duplicated and shared electronically for personal
use as long as it is copied in its entirety. This notice must appear on all
copies. You may reach the author at
jasonpark@centurypubl.com |
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