When you already know the outcome, you are free!

What I mean, is that when you already know the end and what’s going to happen, then you are truly making a choice and not acting in fear or anxiety or shame or even manipulation—whatever you choose to do is done knowing that you might have chosen something else, and is truly choosing one thing over sonetging else—anything else...

Let me use a quick example to illustrate my point (and you may be able to understand what I’m talking about, in case you are not sure what I’m trying to say...):

In the movie, Minority Report, with Tom Cruise, he (or his character) doesn’t kill the man he believes to have kidnapped his son (and possibly murdered him) even though it has been that he will by the three pre-cogs that see into the future and help prevent murder.  Once Cruise has seen the future, he knows one possible outcome, and he is able to choose differently, which he does—chooses a different outcome than the “future” he sees or the one shown him by the pre-cogs or three people who have cognitive visions of the future...

Outside the world of Philip K. Dick (the author of the story), we (you and I), are more free to make choices when we are aware of what might happen.  The obvious example to me is a priesthood blessing or more specifically, a patriarchal blessing.  A patriarchal blessing is a blessing made by a man, called and ordained in Melchizedek Priesthood to give members of a stake of Zion of the Latter-Day Saints a blessing (it is possible to receive more than one patriarchal blessing, though I’m not sure why you would request more than one...).  “Patriarchal blessingsare modeled after the blessing given by Jacob to each of his sons prior to his death.”

Not only does the blessing tell you what will happen in the future, if you follow God’s will for you in your life, but it also opens-up more possibilities to that which could be my future if I choose it!

Patriarchal Blessings “are gifts of knowledge and strength of one's coming challenges and blessings” (Wikipedia).

“The purpose of a patriarchal blessing is (1) to identify the tribe of Israel to which some people belong, others who do not are then "adopted" in and given the same blessings; (2) to bless the member with knowledge and the spiritual gifts that may be obtained by obedience to Gospel principles; (3) to give advice or help to the individual (often this includes foretelling of possible future events, opportunities, and temptations). Within the church, a patriarchal blessing is considered to be a revelation for the recipient, with the promises made in the blessing considered conditional upon the recipient's obedience to Gospel principles.”

“According to former church president Ezra Taft Benson, "A patriarchal blessing is the inspired and prophetic statement of your life’s mission together with blessings, cautions, and admonitions as the patriarch may be prompted to give." (Ezra Taft Benson, Ensign, May 1986, pgs. 43-44). Blessings given in the 19th century often made use of themes, such as an millennialism and polygamy, that are not common in today's blessings. During his presidency, Joseph Fielding Smith advised patriarchs to be conservative in their blessings unless "especially inspired otherwise".^[3]

Although they may not be ordained patriarchs, every Latter-day Saint father who holds the Melchizedek Priesthoodcan pronounce blessings upon his child or spouse, as necessary. Such blessings do not reveal the Tribe of Israel to which a person belongs. The church encourages families to create their own records of such blessings, but does not accept them into the official church archives in Salt Lake City as they would a blessing from an ordained patriarch“ (Wikipedia)

So, once you have had your possible future revealed to you, you then are made an agent to choose to follow that which has been promised you, or to choose otherwise.  Other choices, made without an over-arching vision of your life and your future, are choices made based on your (one’s) understanding of a situation, preferences, worries, desires, hopes, impulses, cravings, fears, etc.  If I had a direction that I planned to follow or a destination that I intended to arrive at, I would prefer a “sneak-peak” into where I would be...  That way, I would be free to choose one thing or the other with full cognicense of what I would be doing or where I would be going!

JPS