Agency in the Doctrine and Covenants

One of the themes of the Doctrine and Covenants is the Lord’s commitment to agency. We see this perhaps most dramatically in the fact that He allowed “a third part of the hosts of heaven” to be turned away by Satan “because of their agency” (29:36). The Father would not force them to adhere to His plan—they had their agency and He honored that despite the terrible consequences it would bring for them. All His children have the ability to choose and act for themselves, even if they can’t always choose or control the consequences. Another verse reads this way: “All truth is independent in that sphere in which God has placed it, to act for itself, as all intelligence also; otherwise there is no existence. 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 receive not the light. And every man whose spirit receiveth not the light is under condemnation” (93:30-32). Each man or woman has their agency and can act for themselves, independent of all others, but those who receive not His light will be under condemenation. The Lord invites and offers light, but He does not force any to accept it. His words concerning His commandment for the Saints to gather to Ohio surely apply to us in all His directives: “Behold, here is wisdom, and let every man choose for himself until I come” (37:4). He offers His wisdom and guidance, but we choose for ourselves if we will obey.

               Other verses in the Doctrine and Covenants similarly highlight God’s commitment to our agency. Of the United States Constitution He said this, “According to the laws and constitution of the people, which I have suffered to be established, and should be maintained for the rights and protection of all flesh, according to just and holy principles; 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” (101:77-78). One of the purposes of the Constitution was to allow men and women to exercise their moral agency and be accountable for their own choices. The Lord also said this about not wanting to compel us to action: “For behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is compelled in all things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant; wherefore he receiveth no reward. Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness; For the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves. And inasmuch as men do good they shall in nowise lose their reward” (58:26-28). He will not force us to do everything but invites us to do that which is of our “own free will.” This is of course contrary to the plan of Lucifer who sought to “destroy the agency of man” (Moses 4:3). Ultimately we have been given our agency to determine what blessings we will receive from Him: We will “enjoy that which [we] are willing to receive” (88:32). As He declared elsewhere, “But to as many as received me, gave I power to become my sons; and even so will I give unto as many as will receive me, power to become my sons. And verily, verily, I say unto you, he that receiveth my gospel receiveth me; and he that receiveth not my gospel receiveth not me” (39:4-5). He has granted us our agency and we can choose to receive His light and salvation, but He will not force it upon us. The combined choices we make over our lifetime using our agency will determine what we are willing to receive from Him. And if we do choose to receive Him in full, the promised blessings are beyond our power to comprehend: We “receiveth [His] Father’s kingdom; therefore all that [the] Father hath shall be given unto [us]” (84:38).