Mormon Beliefs: The Nature of Evil

The Agency of Man

Agency is the ability to choose between two things in opposition to each other. It is "the ability and privilege God gives people to choose and to act for themselves" (Guide to the Scriptures). For humankind it is the opportunity to choose between good and evil, between Christ and anti-Christ, to choose life (following Christ) or death (spiritual separation from God). Agency is the guiding principle behind God's Plan of Salvation for His children.

And now remember, remember, my brethren, that whosoever perisheth, perisheth unto himself; and whosoever doeth iniquity, doeth it unto himself; for behold, ye are free; ye are permitted to act for yourselves; for behold, God hath given unto you a knowledge and he hath made you free. He hath given unto you that ye might know good from evil, and he hath given unto you that ye might choose life or death; and ye can do good and be restored unto that which is good, or have that which is good restored unto you; or ye can do evil, and have that which is evil restored unto you (Helaman 14:30, 31).

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.(Doctrine and Covenants 101:78).

The Lord said unto Enoch: Behold these thy brethren; they are the workmanship of mine own hands, and I gave unto them their knowledge, in the day I created them; and in the Garden of Eden, gave I unto man his agency; And unto thy brethren have I said, and also given commandment, that they should love one another, and that they should choose me, their Father...(Moses 7:32-33).