Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-01-11
A DEBATED SUBJECT.

lne SUBJECT OF pINuehunhtVH ""
troubled a few Of our young student
Of theology and we have been re
quesied to give some explanation Of
as understood by the Latter-day Saint
1t appears that some OF them thln
that II person was predestined TO oc
cupy certain position, or chosen +
perform an important work on eartf
he would have no choice In the matte
but would be compelled 20 take tn
course designed They do not appea
to be able 10 reconcile the foreknow
ledge Of God with the iroe-agenoy o
man.
In the Book Of Mormon II Is showt
that men were chosen 10 occupy i'm
portant positions In the Priesthood AZ
ter the order OF the Son Of God, on
account OF their exceeding faith and
good works. They were prepared
from the foundation Of the world ac'
cordlng to the foreknowledge OF God
But before receiving their high calling
In the flesh, they were like all other
human beings left free to choose good
or evil They chose the good and re.
fused the evll and became obedlent IA
the laws OF God, and all this was fore-
known by the Almighty, and 50 they
were predestinated and chosen Tor
those posItlons-Alma xiii
The great characters that have fig
ured prominently In the affairs Of this
world, whether In war or peace, IN the
government Of nations In the teaching
OF religion or In any other capacity IN
which a marked effect Ii exhibited on
the progress Of mankind were all pre-
destlnAted 10 come on earth at the
particular time and place for which
they were needed, and In those enyir-
onments which gave them opportunl-
ties for the exercise OF the powers With
which they were endowed, But each
one was left 10 the exercise Of that free
agency which Ia the common heritage
OF all the children Of men. None Of them
was forced to do the work for which
he was fitted, Nobody IL compelled to
do good or forced TO do evil No mat
ter what Influences may be brought
10 bear in one direction or the other
each person on arriving at the years OF
accountability can act upon his own
yoltlon. and because Of that power
and freedom, he Is responsible being
and win have TO give an account for
his dolngs 80 that everyone may be
Judged according to his works'
The fact that God knows beforehand
what people will do, does not affect In
any degree the win Of His creatures,
The commandments and purposes OF
the Almighty are just ana true AMI
righteous, His children are required
10 observe them. He knows beforehand
what VIII ocur, but that does not him
der the freedom Of action Of any hui
man being, II Is evident that lie knew
what our first parents would do whon
placed In the Garden OF Eden, for the
remedy was prepared against the con
sequences OF that sin by which death
cane into the world. Christ was the
lamb slain from the foundation Of the
world having been chosen and prode5-
tinated according to the foreknowledge
OF God, to come at the time appointed
TO make the atonemeut which was nee
essary Tor redemption from the fan,
The law OF God must be proclaimed,
no matter how wen II may be known
tha- It Will be obeyed or transgrossed.
obedience or disobedience Is the vol
untary act OF the creature, Tho law Is
INDEPENDENT Of that action and enan-
ates from The Creator His foreKuowl-
edge OF that which win occur, carries
no compulson IN either direction. Adam
was free 10 partake OF the forbidden
fruit or to refuse It. Jesus OF Nazareth
was free to do the Fathers win IN all
things even unto death, or to follow the
devices and temptations OF the EVIL
one Yet the Eternal Father under
stood In the beginning what each would
do and His designs and purposes were
prepared with that perfect understand
ing.
An earthly parent with his limited
foresight, may know from the general
disposition OF his child that dlsobedl.
ence viii follow his paterna instruc-
tons. Yet they must be given. and the
child will nevertheless exercise It's
choice and brave the inevitable conse.
quences. The parent does not compel
the child to obey nor prevent It from
dI9obeying a little careful thought
will show to reasoning mind that the
foreknowledgc OF God or OF man does
not imply Interference with the free
agency Of amy human being.
No matter what may have been
taught In the theology OF certain
schools Il should be clearly under.
stood that no individual was ever pre-.
destinated to be saved. or condemned.
irrespective Of his or her own actions
for good or evil, Christ did that for
mankind which they could not DO for
themselves. He opened the way, they
must walk In It Of their own free VIII.
or they viii not obtain the benefits OF
his sacrifice. Each one viii receive
that degree Of glory to which he is