Agency - is it really Choice?

I find myself going through phases of what I learn and ponder.  Last year, I spent much of it contemplating the concept of "time" from a scriptural stand point.  It was an exciting year of learning - especially for a non-physicist such as myself.  Probably much of what I learned was nothing more than an intro to relativity for those that specialize in such topics.

A few weeks ago, I was reading from the LDS Ensign and found a wonderful article: "With All They Getting, Get Understanding" and it has given me focus on simple things I have previously ignored.  It made me think, with all that I study and review, do I hit pause and look at my basic beliefs?  Truth is, I do not.  I quickly dive into intricate topics, eager to expand my mind - but it has been a while since I have reviewed the foundations of my beliefs. 

For instance - as a Mormon, a very fundamental belief is that we all have "Agency".  If you go anywhere to a LDS service discussing this - you will hear phrases like "free agency is the freedom to choose".  That is certainly supported by the dictionary - but that combination of words is never found in the scriptures. 

With the ease of technology, I was able to search through the use of words in the Scriptures (being Mormon, this means the Bible (Old & New Testament - King James version), The Book of Mormon, The Doctrine & Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price [combination of Joseph Smith's story and a supplement to the books of Moses]).

Usage Review: Choice

In the Scriptures, I found the word "Choice" 48 times.  47 of the uses were the same in that "choice" was the best of options - such as Proverbs 8:10

"Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold."

This usage was not in what a person chooses but rather a reference to the quality of something. 

There was one usage of the word "choice" where it referenced a decision, Acts 15:7, this is where Peter is stating that God decided for the apostles to teach the Gentiles. 

With that in mind, it does not seem God puts much emphasis on the concept of blanket "choice".  The verbiage indicates mainly that there are things that are "choice" in life in that they ought to drive our decisions accordingly. 

This is consistent with Christ's proclamation that He is the way the truth & the light and that there are no other ways back to Father.  Christ is "Choice" as are His teachings, and therefore they ought drive our decisions accordingly. 

Usage Review: Agent

I found the word "Agent[s]" 22 times in the Scriptures.  There were 2 usages of it - many were in Doctrine & Covenants where Joseph Smith was directing the church's finances and representation to be handled via "agents".  In other words, this is the same usage we have for it now - a person who acts on behalf of another. 

The other times were along these lines from Moses 6:56

"And it is given unto them to know good from evil; wherefore they are agents unto themselves, and I have given unto you another law and commandment."

This is interesting to me, as in 2 Nephi 9:46, it states that we will be forced to exclaim that Christ's judgments are holy:

"Holy, holy are thy judgments, O Lord God Almighty—but I know my guilt; I transgressed thy law, and my transgressions are mine; and the devil hath obtained me, that I am a prey to his awful misery."

It seems that we are to represent ourselves as we will have a "perfect knowledge of all our guilt, and our uncleanness, and our nakedness; and .... have a perfect knowledge of [our] enjoyment, and [our] righteousness, being clothed with purity, yea, even with the robe of righteousness." 2 Nephi 9:14

I get from this that we are to choose what we represent - either good or evil.  There is no buffet from us to choose from, we either emulate Christ or we emulate Satan - but we cannot create something new, we only select which of the two options we wish to represent. 

Usage Review: Agency

This word was rarely used, I only found it 6 times.  I think the easiest way to show the context for its usage is in this verse, D&C 101:78

"That every man may act in doctrine and principle pertaining to futurity, according to the moral agency which I have given unto him, that every man may be accountable for his own sins in the day of judgment."

In essence, the agency we have is the ability to select the morals we will adhere to.  Given that we live in a space and time separate from God - we are sufficiently removed from His presence that we can in arrogance deny it.  But again, this provides us only 2 options, to accept God for who and what He is or reject Him and obey Satan.  This is our choice and ours alone - this is our agency.  Satan cannot force us, therefore we must be accountable to ourselves and to God for what we do. 

Summary

I think Joshua said it best in his book, chapter 24 verse 15

"And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

As Christ felt momentarily alone on the cross, each of us lives in a spiritual death (separation from God) in this life.  This separation, however painful, is necessary to provide us the ability to represent our true selves.  As God told Joseph Smith in D&C 29:36

"And it came to pass that Adam, being tempted of the devil—for, behold, the devil was before Adam, for he rebelled against me, saying, Give me thine honor, which is my power; and also a third part of the hosts of heaven turned he away from me because of their agency"

Many of God's children were sufficiently brazen to reject Christ in the presence of God.  Most of us were not, but this did not necessarily mean that we in fact desired to follow Christ.  Thus, the separation is a crucial part of God's plan (Alma 12:21):

"[T]here was a space granted unto man in which he might repent; therefore this life became a probationary state; a time to prepare to meet God; a time to prepare for that endless state which has been spoken of by us, which is after the resurrection of the dead."

This period here on Earth is, therefore, an artificial existence where we have the opportunity to be tried & tested.  The basic question is simple - will we accept or reject our King, Jesus Christ?  We can only represent one or the other and that is our choice.