THE BATTLE FOR MAN'S MORAL FREEDOM IN MAN'S EARTH-LIFE.
| ANALYSIS. | REFERENCES. |
| I. Free Agency of Intelligences. 1. The moral freedom of Intelligences did not begin with earth-life. 2. Freedom, an inherent quality of Intelligences. 3. Freedom follows them through all estates, and in all spheres in which they are placed by God. | Pearl of Great Price, Book of Moses, Chs. i-iv. Doc. & Cov., Sec. 29:36-38. Seventy's Course in Theology, Year Book II, Lesson iv. Book of Mormon, Alma xxix:4; II Nephi ii:27. New Witnesses for God, Vol. III, pp. 207-214. |
| II. Transfer of the Honor and Glory of God Demanded. 1. The spirit of Lucifer. 2. The spirit of Christ. |
SPECIAL TEXT: "All truth is independent in that sphere in which God has placed it, to act for itself, as all Intelligence also. Otherwise there is no existence." (Doc. & Cov., Sec. 93.)
DISCUSSION.
1. Of the Nature of Moral Freedom: The controversy in the heavenly council between Christ and Lucifer, gives emphasis to the importance of man's agency—his freedom to will and to do as he shall elect. The choice of the Christ as the Redeemer of the world cannot be regarded as being connected with any event by which the agency or moral freedom of Intelligences was then created. It was the maintenance of that which already existed rather than the creation of any new thing which was involved. Indeed the moral freedom of Intelligences is something which is as eternal as they are. Freedom is an attribute of Intelligences and may not be taken from them without robbing them of all joy and glory and dignity of existence. "Intelligence, or the light of truth, was not created or made, neither indeed can be. All truth is independent in that sphere in which God has placed it, to act for itself, as all Intelligence also, otherwise there is no existence. Behold, here is the agency of man and here is the condemnation of man, because that which was from the beginning is plainly manifest unto them, and they receive not the light. And every man who receiveth not the light is under condemnation, for man is spirit."[A]
[Footnote A: Doc. & Cov., Sec. 93:30-33.]
Whenever God, therefore, speaks of the agency or moral freedom of man,[A] reference is had to the spirit or Intelligence which constitutes the real man, "for man is spirit," that is, mind, Intelligence is the real fact of him. All truth and all Intelligences are independent in that sphere in which God has placed them, to act for themselves, otherwise there is no existence (see above quotation). That is to say, there is no existence where this fact of the freedom of truth and of Intelligences does not obtain. Freedom of man, then, means freedom of the Intelligence which is the chief fact of man; freedom in all estates through which he shall be called to pass, in all spheres in which God shall place him to act, the quality of freedom never leaves him. In obedience or in rebellion against God, it is his freedom that keeps him in either condition, and ministers to his joy or his misery respectively.
[Footnote A: It will be observed that these terms are used interchangeably.]
"I know," says the Nephite Prophet Alma, "that he [God] granteth unto men according to their desire, whether it be unto death or unto life; yea, I know that he alloteth unto men, according to their wills; whether they be unto salvation or unto destruction" (xxix:4).
The second Nephi says: "The Lord God gave unto man that he should act for himself. Men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great mediation of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself."[A] Upon these principles it is manifest that God designed that freedom should follow Intelligences into their earth-life.