I was taking a continuing education class the other day and came across this explanation of agency:
“Agency is a difficult concept for many people. An agent is a representative of another. Agency, then, is the set of responsibilities associated with representing another person or company. The law requires that an agent act in the best interest of the person to whom the agency relationship exists.”
If an agent is a representative of another, then how does that apply to us? Who are we representing? If we believe in the pre-mortal existence and the great plan that we voted for, then we represent our Father.
We made that choice before we came to earth. When we were free agents, we had a choice. After we chose sides, we became moral agents, or representatives of the Lord and we are no longer given the choice to violate our agreements (covenant with Him).
We have the ability to choose wrongly, but we don’t have the right. Therefore, an agent has the moral obligation to obey the contract, but the freedom to choose or act outside the contract, if that’s what you want, is not part of the contract.
Therefore, there are consequences for what you want. The quote continues:
“Problems can arise when an agent holds multiple agencies, or is obligated to more than one person or company. In this situation, a conflict of interest might occur. An agent’s responsibilities to one person might conflict with his or her responsibilities to another person.”
“No man can serve two masters, either he will hate one and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” (Matthew 6:24)
The concept of choice within moral agency then is an issue of positioning. In the first place, when free agents, we could choose. Once a side was chosen, we lost the right to choose, and have only the ability. Freedom of choice is not part of our agency, it is acted upon by the consequences of our agency.
I really like this post / concept. I think as LDS members we constantly get the ability to choose and agency mixed. My favorite quote was “We have the ability to choose wrongly, but we don’t have the right.” Very powerful concept.
Thanks for sharing.
I always love your insights brother Himmer. Taking the gospel basics and digging deeper, finding deeper meanings and messages. Hyrum and I teach sunday school for the 14 to 17 year olds, and I am trying to be insightful and find these wonderufl aspects fo the gospel that are misunderstood. I wish I had you here to confer with, especially when I feel like I’m jsut teaching the same thing over and over! I guess I’ll just have to keep praying and doing my own studying and finding. 🙂 We’re coming home in November and would love to see you guys!