Agency

Agency

A word of explanation: This is a letter that I wrote to one of my children.  Sometimes we do not know why some leaders in the church do not act to correct errors in the doctrine or procedures and practices in local units. This is my response to the question posed.

The war in Heaven was fought over the principle of agency.  Our father in heaven desired that all of his children should come back into his presence but he would not force them or do anything to abrogate his children's agency.  We often refer to this as free agency.  There is nothing free about agency.  It is given to us freely, but we must work for it in order to constantly maintain our agency.

Adam quickly learned about agency in the Garden of Eden. He was given a commandment not to partake of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, and he was also admonished what the consequences would be of his disobedience.  You are well aware of the results of what happened.  The Lord allowed Adam his agency and did not interfere.

When the gospel was later explained to Adam and he learned why he was offering sacrifices, he taught his children.  Satan came among them and said, “I too am a son of God, believe it not.”  And many believed it not and followed Satan.

You are having a hard time understanding why the general authorities did not interfere and set this good brother aright.  It is because of agency.  You have asked the question if he leads people astray shouldn't there be interference to save the people.  That is a good question.  The Lord however does not usually work in that manner.  If he did that would interfere with agency.  We and He would not have anybody going astray, or have Satan leading other people astray.

We are first to rely upon the Lord for our direction.  If the leaders of the church ask us to do something wrong and it is against gospel principles, they are to be held accountable.

This is where accountability comes in.  We have agency and we will also be held accountable.  This is why it is said in the Scriptures that we will be judged according to our deeds or our works in the flesh. 

The history of the restored church is replete with examples of people who have gone off on tangents believing that they are right.  Some examples that you are probably not familiar with are as follows:

James J. Strang was a man who dissented from the church at the time the prophet Joseph Smith died.  He took a lot of people with him and went to Beaver Island, Michigan, where he proclaimed himself King and prophet.  He had at one time 12,000 followers.  You can get a more complete history on Wickipedia.

”The Godbeites were members of the Godbeite Church, officially called the Church of Zion, organized in 1870 by William S. Godbe. This dissident offshoot of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was aimed toward embracing all belief systems. Known for mysticism, the church died out by the 1880s.  This happened in Salt Lake City.  A more extensive history is found on Wickipedia.

These people who were led astray are all God’s children.  He did not want them to be led astray, but because he loved them he allowed them to make the choices that they did.  He could have sent an angel to strike down William Godbe or James J. Strang or Sidney Rigdon, but he did not.  He gave those people their agency and gave them the Holy Ghost to guide and direct them if they would listen.  He does not fight or quarrel or twist arms or coerce in anyway.  Everyone that has been baptized has the gift of the Holy Ghost to guide them.  All they need to do is listen and heed the promptings.  The book of Mormon has many such instances where people were led astray by slick talking people. 

You have been taught correct principles.  You have quickly identified the problem.  Now is the time to let the Lord take care of it.  It will not happen as quickly as you would like it to.  It is not your or our place to set things aright.  Your parents and your siblings all feel as you do, that the subject matter presented in the sacrament meeting was inappropriate and introduced false doctrine.  Now you just have to wait and see how this plays out.  Please know that you are loved and supported and that we will sustain you in the times ahead.

Love,

Dad

As a postscript there has recently been a case in the local and national news of a woman member of the church who has been recently excommunicated by her bishop. She believes that women should receive ordination to the priesthood.  She has organized a group and collected both money and supporters. Using the pressure tactics of demonstrations and disregard of the requests of church leaders, she tried to force her will and ideas by being refused entry into the priesthood meeting of general conference. In essence she has formed her own church, although she will deny that. Time will deal with this as it has with the examples above. In the times to come before the advent of Jesus Christ's second coming, there will be pressure on the church to change from within and without. The prophesies are there.  Do not be lead astray or cave into the ways of the world. Heber C. Kimball said that there would be a great sifting that would occur. 

Do not be among the ones who go through the sieve. Listen to the Holy Ghost.

Love,

Grandpa