Understanding the Foreordination and Agency

What is Foreordination?

Foreordination is the doctrine that man and women were chosen in the pre-mortal existence to fulfill specific missions or roles on Earth. This concept emphasizes God's divine plan for His children. Most importantly, foreordination does not negate personal agency; rather, it provides opportunities for individuals to serve in particular ways or to use it wisely.

Foreordination is not the same as Predestination, we do believe in divine destiny but not predestination. I will explain that later on.

In the Jeremiah 1:5 talks about the divine call of Jeremiah before the world was form, it says:

"Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations."

This scripture tells us that prophets and even leaders that has been called in their times were foreordained in the calling where they're called to minister the people in their days. But, this foreordination, doesn't mean their agency were taken out from them for the purpose of that calling.

We do have the ability to choose from ourselves what to follow or what to do, and this agency also essential or part of the salvation of man. Without agency, their will be no need for us to grown and understand the opposition of things that may ever happens in our lives. We couldn't determine Good from Bad or glory and suffering.

2 Nephi 2:27: "Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which 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."

This verse emphasizes the freedom to choose and the importance of agency in our mortal journey.

Agency is the ability to choose and act for oneself. It is a fundamental principle of the gospel and is essential for personal growth and progression. Agency allows us to make choices and learn from their consequences, both positive and negative.

Now the Question, How can we balance Foreordination and Agency?

The balance between foreordination and agency is a testament to God's respect for our freedom to choose. While He may have a plan and purpose for each of us, He allows us to make our own choices and learn from them. This balance is crucial for our growth and development in this life and the life to come.

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 in your Young Women class or priesthood quorum. You will be blessed to serve in the temple, to become a ministering brother or sister, and to serve a mission as a disciple of Jesus Christ.

Foreordained to Serve By Elder Steven R. Bangerter Of the Seventy

As I have said earlier, as Latter-day Saints, we don't believe in predestination but we do have a divine destiny and that is to become like God. We are destain to become kings and queens, priest and priestesses, gods and goddesses. Everything that God has were destain to be ours if we are doing the part we have here.

Predestination means what you become is a final destination either you're doing wrong or right the final result is fixed. Predestination will void the Agency of man; there's no point in doing the right thing while the results makes no sense. This is what Satan wants, he wants to get rid of the Agency of man and just do whatever he wanted. We will never learn to know what was right, goodness, and the principles that might help us grow.

I remember one time while attending in one of the class in somewhere outside of my Home Branch, where they're talking about the life and calling of the Prophet Joseph Smith Jr. I once ask raise the subject that if Joseph Smith didn't understand the call or would take it too lightly Joseph might not be able to get the plates and the church might not be restore in his days. I added that Joseph Smith is gifted and mature spiritually base on his reasoning during his time, that's why God trusted him his work and that he could build up his Kingdom once again. But they reason out that no it doesn't all about it, but rather it is because he was foreordain. That made me wonder that if you're foreordain so you don't need to use your agency at all? Was it the reason? Joseph Smith as I could see the history of the church, was just careful and uses his Agency wisely. As I have pointed out Foreordination could not guaranty us or even Joseph Smith to fulfill his role perfectly. It will just only help us understand that we have certain role or call but the choices was our.

When you're foreordain to a certain task or role, what's your best response?

When the leader of the Church calls you in some certain task or call, we should remember that at some point of time the Lord had set it for you to serve him and to prove yourself that you are a faithful servant.

Doctrine and Covenants 1:38 What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same.

So, what are we going do? Remember that we have the Agency or the ability to Choice for ourselves. So, choose wisely. For some might be so hard for them to take some responsibilities they couldn't do, or maybe it was a sacrifice and burdensome. We all have in common, we all have a busy days and priorities, either it is hard for us to find ways or control some amount of time for a calling, but the Lord knows our desire. So don't be afraid. We are all striving to be perfect and perfection is nothing if we're not aiming on it, if we don't choose to be perfect. There are stories in the scriptures that were similar in situations in our days. Moses is not a good Speaker, Job feels like everyone forgets about him. Paul experiences a lot of tragic incidents and persecutions. God entrusted us to do his work in our days, and it is our responsibility to prove to him and that we choose to follow him. We are foreordained to serve him, and we should be proud of that.