Does Latter-day Saints Believe in foreordination and Predestination?
Was there any difference?
#1 The Term: Foreordination in LDS Theology
Foreordination is a principle rooted deeply in the Latter-day Saint understanding of premortal life and God's omniscience. It refers to the belief that certain individuals were appointed, or ordained, in the premortal existence for specific missions or roles to be fulfilled on earth. This does not imply a lack of agency, but rather God's recognition of an individual's strengths and potential to make significant contributions in this life.
Alma 13 gives a profound insight into this concept, particularly in verses 3-5, where it says:
"And this is the manner after which they were ordained—being called and prepared from the foundation of the world according to the foreknowledge of God, on account of their exceeding faith and good works; in the first place being left to choose good or evil; therefore they having chosen good, and exercising exceedingly great faith, are called with a holy calling, yea, with that holy calling which was prepared with, and according to, a preparatory redemption for such."
From this scripture, we learn that foreordination is based on God's knowledge of who we were before this life and our righteousness therein. It emphasizes our agency—we are foreordained based on choices we made and are still free to choose whether to fulfill these divine roles.
In General Conference April 2024, Elder Steven R. Bangerter spoke about foreordination, underscoring that while "premortal promises and blessings are called your foreordination," they do not guarantee outcomes. He emphasized that blessings and opportunities in life come through the righteous exercise of agency. This highlights the partnership between divine will and human choice. I encourage you to review his message where it highlights some important details of the importance of agency and foreordination.
Those premortal promises and blessings are called your foreordination. “The doctrine of foreordination applies to all members of the Church.” Foreordination does not guarantee that you will receive certain callings or responsibilities. These blessings and opportunities come in this life as a result of your righteous exercise of agency, just as your foreordination in your premortal life came as a result of righteousness. As you prove yourself worthy and progress along the covenant path, you will receive opportunities to serve... - "Foreordained to Serve" By Elder Steven R. Bangerter
#2 The Term: Predestination in Contrast
Predestination, often a concept more recognized in broader Christian theology, typically involves the idea of outcomes that are irrevocably fixed by divine will, particularly concerning salvation. This idea can suggest a lack of agency, which differs from Latter-day Saint beliefs. For me personally, I don't believe God does predestined a person just while at the same time using his own Agency doing the opposite. While some Latter-day Saints got confused on the terms of foreordination versus predestination. As a practicing latter-day saints, we should deepen our knowledge on such terms that sometimes got mixed up in the Gospel standards.
Basically, I do believe this was the same plan that Lucifer wants to open up. In which he tries to promote the outcome or the final destination of man that ended up losing their Agency.
And I, the Lord God, spake unto Moses, saying: That Satan, whom thou hast commanded in the name of mine Only Begotten, is the same which was from the beginning, and he came before me, saying—Behold, here am I, send me, I will be thy son, and I will redeem all mankind, that one soul shall not be lost, and surely I will do it; wherefore give me thine honor.2 But, behold, my Beloved Son, which was my Beloved and Chosen from the beginning, said unto me—Father, 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 mine Only Begotten, I caused that he should be cast down; - Moses 4:1-3
In contrast, the Apostle Paul's letter to the Ephesians (Ephesians 1:4-5) discusses being chosen before the world was made:
"According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will."
Latter-day Saints interpret these verses differently from some Christian denominations by incorporating the doctrine of free agency. Members believe that God's plan involves calling His children to prepare them, but everyone possesses the agency to accept or reject these opportunities.
Here I select some scriptural translations or example on how this was translated differently and how Christianity understood the same passage which normally understood as Destined or destiny or Tadhana in Filipino term which I'm actually was, so I'll addressing it generally. Here's the scripture in 1 Peter 1:20 Here's the KJV followed by the other translations -
Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,
Compare -
- who was indeed predestined before the foundation of the world, but manifested in these last times for us, (Haweis New Testament)
- He was destined before the foundation of the world, but was revealed at the end of the ages for your sake. (New Revised Standard Version)
- He was pre-destined indeed to this work, even before the creation of the world, but has been plainly manifested in these last days for the sake of you who, through Him, (Weymouth New Testament)
The Greek word προεγνωσμένου (proegnōsmenou) was from pro and ginosko; which is (to know beforehand or Foresee).
The list might goes on but I couldn't add some of it here in one article. While the Catholic version mostly use foreknown or know, the Aramaic used the word foreordained or appointed while some other common translation use the word chosen or chosen. Will anyway, my point is to clear up the confusion which also happens in Latter-day Saints circles.
I, one time attending a Sunday School Class in Sta Cruz Zambales and opened up some Joseph Smith History account of the possiblity if Joseph ignores the scriptures or maybe if he didn't mind the confusion in his days, it might end up Joseph Smith won't be the Prophet of the restoration or it might delay the restoration, which actually my very point was all about his personal choices. Others then pointed out that it wouldn't be possible because he was foreordained. I couldn't give the best response that day while it's not my homeward anyway, but still the concept of Predestination was promoted as the very meaning of foreordination while it is not, dahil Hindi ako naniniwala sa tadhana, unless if we're doing thing straight to that destination where we would want, but I have my own choice to choose which path should I go. And that's the reason why foreordination as Elder Bangerter said it wouldn't guarantee us to get what we want. Which means foreordination is not equal to Predestination.
Doctrine and Covenants 58:26-31 says this clearly and should be the concept of understanding how foreordination works. Take note on the underlined words -
26 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.
27 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;
28 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.
29 But he that doeth not anything until he is commanded, and receiveth a commandment with doubtful heart, and keepeth it with slothfulness, the same is damned.
30 Who am I that made man, saith the Lord, that will hold him guiltless that obeys not my commandments?
31 Who am I, saith the Lord, that have promised and have not fulfilled?
Additionally, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, in his April 2020 conference talk, clarified this distinction by stating that God would not "predestine a select few for salvation" to the exclusion of others. God's love and opportunities for salvation are available to all, emphasizing again the role of individual agency.
The doctrines of foreordination and predestination in Latter-day Saint theology integrate the concepts of divine foresight with human agency. Elder Bruce R. McConkie emphasized that God foreordains His prophets and His people because of their faith and choices made in the premortal life. Yet, they must be faithful in this life to realize their foreordination.
The doctrines of foreordination and predestination in Latter-day Saint theology integrate the concepts of divine foresight with human agency. Elder Bruce R. McConkie emphasized that God foreordains His prophets and His people because of their faith and choices made in the premortal life. Yet, they must be faithful in this life to realize their foreordination.
Which simply means, our personal choices should be focus on doing what was the right thing to do to whatever call we receive, and I do believe we are Foreordained for that. See the difference now? I basically believe as my opinion goes that Satan's plan was simply to predestined us back to the presence of God or maybe to his own, that's why he wants to take away our moral agency, or possibly the rest of gift of choices that we own and destinated us to obey him all the way. God don't want that idea, Agency of course is the only thing we have in this life that would enable us to grow.
In a short conclusion, your right choices just leads you to understand the plan that was foreordained for you if you work on it. But that foreordained plan for you doesn't means it is destine as what you are, you might loose it if your personal choices go against it. Remember Judas as one of the Lord's Apostles, Judas wasn't selected just because he was to fulfil the Whole Story, I don't believe Christ just selected Judas like things just came out in ones mind then simply says 'pwede na yan'. But, I do believe Judas has a desire and a heart in which Christ selected him as his finest apostle. Judas would never want to be predestined as a traitor or a loser, No one would. He was foreordained to be as one of Christ Apostle and that he failed to maintain his standing ground as one of His witnesses. We are planned and foreordained the same as they were, and it's up to our own choices to fill those plan. If we think Judas was foreordained to take his role as a traitor of Christ, para na rin nating sinasabi na all unrighteous people who gained or experienced unrighteous conduct were also foreordained sinners. That's not what God wants and I don't believe on it.
Thank you for taking a little reading, and pasensya sa short conclusion, Akala ko short. 😆!
Some notes that I collected