Agency rules

In 1 Nephi chapter 7, it reads, in verses 6-10:

6 And it came to pass that as we journeyed in the wilderness, behold Laman and Lemuel, and two of the daughters of Ishmael, and the two sons of Ishmael and their families, did rebel against us; yea, against me, Nephi, and Sam, and their father, Ishmael, and his wife, and his three other daughters.

7 And it came to pass in the which rebellion, they were desirous to return unto the land of Jerusalem.

8 And now I, Nephi, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, therefore I spake unto them, saying, yea, even unto Laman and unto Lemuel: Behold ye are mine elder brethren, and how is it that ye are so hard in your hearts, and so blind in your minds, that ye have need that I, your younger brother, should speak unto you, yea, and set an example for you?

9 How is it that ye have not hearkened unto the word of the Lord?

10 How is it that ye have forgotten that ye have seen an angel of the Lord?

So, the Lord knew that they would continue to choose another path than the Spirit and/or that they needed to be spurred-along in their wickedness, even after He sent an angel to protect Nephi & Sam, and still He sent the angel.  Necessary for them to be able to harden their hearts against and be able to bring-on their cursing and to fulfill the promises that Nephi would receive—the Lord knows who is going to do what, because He’s seen it all—always allowing agency to rule, He’s seen the end from the beginning!

So, how is there agency when God HAS seen the end from the beginning?  Doesn’t that mean that He’s already seen me make my choices, and if so, how does that allow for me choosing something different than that which God has seen?  Seems like it precludes that possibility...

Oh, wait...  I see...  I maintain my agency and it is never violated and yet God sees the outcomes of all of my choices—for everyone in the entire world—like a giant tapestry where each thread is being woven or added to the tapestry to make the most beautiful tapestry ever imagined or created!  God doesn’t see things linearly, as we do—He sees things in an infinitely different dimensions yet harmoniously working together so that they create God’s tapestry (and really, OUR tapestry).  He has seen it happen in real-time and doesn’t just know us so well that He can predict perfectly what we will choose, He has seen us make our decisions and seen the consequences that flow from it (mind-blowingly beyond our comprehension, eh?).

Time.  Time?  Time is an Earthbound concept and invention.  There only is time because we, as humans (and there is no other way for us, as humans, to see life), see events linearly.  We see that 34 a.d. follows 33 a.d. because we know that Jesus Christ dies in the year 33 a.d. came before His resurrected ministry among the Nephites in 34 a.d. and beyond.  Read about it in The Book of Mormon.

God has agency and He perfectly makes every choice perfectly!  If He didn’t, He would cease to be God!  See Alma 42

JPS

It’s a sin...

During the 1980’s I was introduced to the electronic band, The Pet-shop Boys, by their song, “It’s a Sin”.  Today, I woke-up with that song playing in my mind and I was thinking about the meaning of the lyrics.  Here are the lyrics to the song:

The Pet Shop Boys — It’s a Sin

When I look back upon my life
It's always with a sense of shame
I've always been the one to blame
For everything I long to do
No matter when or where or who
Has one thing in common, too

It's a, it's a, it's a, it's a sin
It's a sin
Everything I've ever done
Everything I ever do
Every place I've ever been
Everywhere I'm going to
It's a sin

At school they taught me how to be
So pure in thought and word and deed
They didn't quite succeed
For everything I long to do
No matter when or where or who
Has one thing in common, too

It's a, it's a, it's a, it's a sin
It's a sin
Everything I've ever done
Everything I ever do
Every place I've ever been
Everywhere I'm going to
It's a sin

Father, forgive me, I tried not to do it
Turned over a new leaf, then tore right through it
Whatever you taught me, I didn't believe it
Father, you fought me, 'cause I didn't care
And I still don't understand

So I look back upon my life
Forever with a sense of shame
I've always been the one to blame
For everything I long to do
No matter when or where or who
Has one thing in common, too

It's a, it's a, it's a, it's a sin
It's a sin
Everything I've ever done
Everything I ever do
Every place I've ever been
Everywhere I'm going to - it's a sin
It's a, it's a, it's a, it's a sin
It's a, it's a, it's a, it's a sin

(Confiteor Deo omnipotenti vobis fratres, quia peccavi nimis cogitatione
Verbo, opere et omissione, mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa)

Songwriters: Neil Francis Tennant / Christopher Sean Lowe

It's a Sin lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.

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Catholic eh?  Think he was meaning sins of commission or omission?  Definitely both!  But, like Joseph Smith said, most of what we think are sins, aren’t; but we sin in ways that we wouldn’t Even consider sinning!

If you’d like to read a great book that can redefine what you think is sinning (or isn’t sinning...), you should read a book that only talks about “sin” in the 3rd person and only says it, or talks about it once: Bonds that Make Us Free, by C. Terry Warner.  You can buy it on Amazon.

It’s one of the best reads I’ve ever had in my entire life!

JPS