Agency: Themes in the Doctrine and Covenants

Can your choices affect God’s plans? Are there times when being “acted upon” is a good thing? Does following a covenant path make you less “authentic”? If you are born with a particular nature and disposition, just how free are you? And how responsible are you for the choices you make?
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\nThe question of human agency, of how free you are to make meaningful choices, has always been a central concern of the Christian life. Philosophy, biology, cognitive science, and historical studies all have made us more aware of the ways in which agency is challenged by genes, cognitive biases, cultural contexts and personal traumas. As a result, it is more important than ever to reflect upon the meaning of agency, and how modern revelation can illuminate the central question: how do I live my best life? How can we more fully become, in President Spencer Kimball’s expression, the architect of our own destinies?