Although I concur with your comments I find the use of the term "Free Agency" to be a poor choice of words. Notwithstanding it has become a popular term in the church. Rather the idea of Moral Agency is the more useful and I believe correct term.
Freedom is a part of Moral Agency, but only a part. Intelligent action based on an understanding of God's will and the consequences of action is also a crucial part of Agency. You are correct when you identify the tremendous barriers, in this life, to a proper use of this crucial and eternal principle. I do not believe that it is possible to truly exercise perfect agency in this life - for anyone, although some have a better opportunity than others. The last chance we had to excursive perfect agency was in the pre-existence in the presence of God. That is why that choice was so crucial - it set the stage for all that happened subsequently. George ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jim Cobabe" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Monday, September 01, 2003 3:16 AM Subject: [ZION] freedom versus free agency > > Free agency is an inviolable gift from Heavenly Father. Each of us has > absolute free agency to make choices for good or evil. > > Our freedom, on the other hand, is constantly subjected to bounds and > conditions and restrictions. Our freedom is constrained by natural > laws, by self-imposed restrictions, by the impositions of other > individuals, and by society in general. > > What is the effect of free agency in the absence of absolute freedom? > What if government laws constrain my free exercise of choice? Perhaps > Heavenly Father will judge my decisions based on what I would have done > had I been completely free to act. > > In 2 Nephi 2:16, we read that enticement is a necessary element in our > decision-making exercise of free agency. What does it mean to be > "enticed" in choosing between good and evil? Is the test of mortal > probation in part intended to demonstrate (to myself) which choices are > most "enticing" or attractive to me personally? I assume that Heavenly > Father already knew my inclination toward good or evil choices, but that > it was something I needed to learn for myself. > > --- > Jim Cobabe > > //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// // > /// ZION LIST CHARTER: Please read it at /// > /// http://www.zionsbest.com/charter.html /// > //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// / > > ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// /// ZION LIST CHARTER: Please read it at /// /// http://www.zionsbest.com/charter.html /// ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// --^---------------------------------------------------------------- This email was sent to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?aaP9AU.bWix1n.YXJjaGl2 Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] TOPICA - Start your own email discussion group. FREE! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/create/index2.html --^----------------------------------------------------------------
