Freedom of Choice=Free Agency?


zippy_do46
 Share

Recommended Posts

A recent thread had me asking myself some questions about our "Agency".

Are the values of the world changing our Agency?

Is Religious freedom slowly being taken from us through laws of the land?

Do you think Joseph Smith could do what he did in our times?

Edited by zippy_do46
Link to comment
Share on other sites

There is nothing free here but choices or exercise of agency being used in this mortal probation. This is why the Apostles do not now use the word, 'free' anymore.

We still can choose the right, using a car and you as a driver; we can choose to drive the speed limits when possible without causing harm to others. How many of us keep the simple laws of the land? Every morning, as I am driving, I do see more than 70-percent of drivers who do violate a simple law. Now, it is becoming a common practice in running a right lane turn without stopping. One simple violation leads to a bigger violation until the society becomes self-complacent or filled with apathy for each other. Yet, it is a choice on whether to do so or not. Eventually, through the fault of our choices, the allowance of evil to take control of government, our lives, as was seen by Mormon the Prophet, regarding the last generation of Nephites, we are facing the same downswing of our own society.

Exercising a righteous agency is the key in being an example of those around you. We have the ‘hope’ in finding those whom GOD has chosen in waiting to come back to the light.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think religious freedom is still going to be protected in the US, as it's part of the First Amendment. There can never be a federal religion as the founders didn't want that to happen. When it comes to prayer, while Christianity is a majority religion with diverse sects, including the LDS church, there is a minority of people here who practice a different religion and even rarer, no religion might be practiced. Personally, I would fight to the death to protect religious freedom, as I strongly support letting others worship how and when they please, and that no religion is forced on others.

Edited by ADoyle90815
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think religious freedom is still going to be protected in the US, as it's part of the First Amendment. There can never be a federal religion as the founders didn't want that to happen. When it comes to prayer, while Christianity is a majority religion with diverse sects, including the LDS church, there is a minority of people here who practice a different religion and even rarer, no religion might be practiced.

I don't think most people when they are talking about erosion of the 1st amendment are worried about a National Religion. Or if they are it is because they perceive Christianity to be such and are worried it will no longer be the case. Generally in these kind of contexts it usually has to do with losing protections and allowances, the often cited fear that the Church will be forced to perform same gender marriages or that they'll not be allowed to preach homosexual relations being sinful and the like.

Edited by Dravin
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Are the values of the world changing our Agency?

I agree our "agency" is something that we still have a choice on.

Is Religious freedom slowly being taken from us through laws of the land?

Now, this is something that worries me. Through the choices of a few it seems we are loosing more and more choice. I do agree with Darvin. I do worry about that line that is drawn that gives us the right to worhip the way that we believe to be true.

Do you think Joseph Smith could do what he did in our times?

no, mliff I do agree with you about our Heavenly Father, I think He knew our times and knew the time was right for the truth to come forward. Today, they would have locked him up for his own good for saying he saw Heavenly Father or Jesus.

Edited by zippy_do46
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think the missionairies and some others are doin a very simllar thing as Joseph Smith did when he testified of the truth. When someone testifies to the world around him that he knows God lives and that the church has been restored, I think he is doing the same as Joseph Smith did when he testified to what he knew.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest mormonmusic

A recent thread had me asking myself some questions about our "Free Agency".

Are the values of the world changing our Free Agency?

I think you have to define what we mean by changing free agency - I assume you mean "reducing" our free agency.

I think free agency is reduced when you have fewer and fewer choices about how you live your life. Agency is also restricted when there are more powerful consequences for making certain choices, delivered more quickly than in the past.

The effect of socialism is to reduce the range of acceptable behaviors in society, and to provide immediate punishments and often, social rewards for behaving certain ways.

In Canada, every time you turn around there's another law which if violated, leads to a fine or some negative consequence. Further, higher taxes reduce the range of feasible choices because you simply don't have money to do the things you want to do.

I've always believed the socialism reduces your free agency, and in the current political climates in the United States, Canada and Britain, socialism is on the rise. For me, this means free agency is undergoing a recession.

Edited by mormonmusic
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Ok, Hemidakota did I miss what you said about "free agency" not being called "free agency

by the prophets. Is this just called agency now? Is moral agency just a part of our agency?

On a another thread I said I needed a new set of drums because I sometimes see something in a post that is not there. I am sorry if I have that wrong.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Agency is the common phrase since Joseph or the Lord never mentioned the term 'FREE AGENCY' or found in the scriptures (see below references)

JST Genesis 3

in JST Genesis

CHAPTER 3 Rebellion of Satan—Man's agency, temptation and fall. 1 And I, the Lord God, spake unto ...4 Wherefore, because that Satan rebelled against me, and sought to destroy the agency of man, which I, the Lord God, had given him; and also that I ...

Doctrine and Covenants 29

in Doctrine and Covenants

..., Give me thine honor, which is my power; and also a third part of the hosts of heaven turned he away from me because of their agency; 37 And they were thrust down, and thus came the devil and his angels; 38 And, behold, there is a place prepared for ...

Doctrine and Covenants 64

in Doctrine and Covenants

... that it is expedient in me that my servant Sidney Gilbert, after a few weeks, shall return upon his business, and to his agency in the land of Zion; 19 And that which he hath seen and heard may be made known unto my disciples, that they perish not. And ...

Doctrine and Covenants 93

in Doctrine and Covenants

...God has placed it, to act for itself, as all intelligence also; otherwise there is no existence. 31 Behold, here is the agency of man, and here is the condemnation of man; because that which was from the beginning is plainly manifest unto them, and they ...

Doctrine and Covenants 101

in Doctrine and Covenants

..., according to just and holy principles; 78 That every man may act in doctrine and principle pertaining to futurity, according to the moral agency which I have given unto him, that every man may be accountable for his own sins in the day of judgment. ...

Moses 4

in Moses

..., thy will be done, and the glory be thine forever. 3 Wherefore, because that Satan rebelled against me, and sought to destroy the agency of man, which I, the Lord God, had given him, and also, that I should give unto him mine own power; by the power of ...

Moses 7

in Moses

..., and I gave unto them their knowledge, in the day I created them; and in the Garden of Eden, gave I unto man his agency; 33 And unto thy brethren have I said, and also given commandment, that they should love one another, and that they should choose me,...

JST Genesis 7

in JST Genesis

... I gave unto them their intelligence in the day that I created them. 40 And in the garden of Eden gave I unto man his agency; and unto thy brethren have I said, and also gave commandment, that they should love one another; and that they should choose me ...

It was a question that I had asked when I seen the phrased 'MORAL AGENCY'. This is found in the D&C section 101;

78 That every man may act in doctrine and principle pertaining to futurity, according to the moral agency which I have given unto him, that every man may be accountable for his own sins in the day of judgment.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
 Share