http://www.latterdayconservative.com/blog/what-is-the-difference-between-agency-freedom-and-liberty/ LDS Prophets, America, Freedom, Liberty, Constitution, Mormon Politics Mon, 07 May 2012 00:55:24 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://www.latterdayconservative.com/blog/what-is-the-difference-between-agency-freedom-and-liberty/#comment-74 Gabriel Smith Sun, 26 Sep 2010 02:46:24 +0000 http://www.latterdayconservative.com/?p=1222#comment-74 Now, Mormons, here this now, that Joseph Smith's story about the First Vision includes a statement far more important for actual active members of the church than to converts. The Lord said, "You must join none of them, for they are an abomination in My site; they draw near me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me." If we are to proclaim that the church is true, we must not be prideful about it. If we are to proclaim that we are patriotic citizens of the United States, we must understand that true obedience is nothing more than hearing God's word, and that true agency is about self judgement. We cannot be patriotic if we believe in following direct orders all the time. Now, Mormons, here this now, that Joseph Smith’s story about the First Vision includes a statement far more important for actual active members of the church than to converts. The Lord said, “You must join none of them, for they are an abomination in My site; they draw near me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.” If we are to proclaim that the church is true, we must not be prideful about it. If we are to proclaim that we are patriotic citizens of the United States, we must understand that true obedience is nothing more than hearing God’s word, and that true agency is about self judgement. We cannot be patriotic if we believe in following direct orders all the time.

]]> http://www.latterdayconservative.com/blog/what-is-the-difference-between-agency-freedom-and-liberty/#comment-73 Marvin Hall Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:38:00 +0000 http://www.latterdayconservative.com/?p=1222#comment-73 It is true that many words have several meanings. Liberty may be defined as: The absence of restraint or coercion. It is one of the five elements of freedom - life, liberty, property, knowledge and work. Agency may be defined as: The power and opportunity to choose good or evil. Freedom may be defined as: The power and opportunity to accomplish ones goals. It is essentially the same as agency. Freedom is the standard by which God judges all action. Good: Is that which increases, protects and enhances freedom without destroying or injuring someone else’s freedom. Evil: Is the injuring or destruction of any or all of the five elements of freedom. It is that which decreases, damages or destroys freedom. It is the motivating force which causes people to harm or destroy freedom. Intelligence: Is light and truth. It is the ability to receive, understand and efficiently utilize truth to achieve a desired and just goal. Intelligent Conduct: Is the compliances with divine law to obtain a desired righteous or just goal. Joy: Is the ultimate purpose of life or existence and may be measured in the amount of freedom one has. Joy is perfect freedom achieved by obedience to divine law. Justice: Is the allotting to each man the exact amount of freedom he deserves. It seems to me that liberty in the first scripture quoted means freedom, at least according to the definition that I use for freedom and liberty. One may choose liberty, but still not have liberty because he is restrain, imprisoned or coerced against his will by some tyrant. It seems to me that the scriptures quite often use liberty and freedom synonymously. The American people certainly do. You may have notice that I have thrown in an extra element of freedom (work) from what Elder Anderson states . Without work freedom is impossible, just as it is impossible without the other four elements of freedom. I have heard and read several statements by apostles of the Lord stating that work is the underlying principle of the gospel. Sorry, at present I don’t have the exact quotes. We know that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the perfect law of freedom. We also know that freedom is the cornerstone of Christ’s gospel. As President Benson has stated, “The cause of freedom is the most basic part of our religion”. If work is the underlying principles of the gospel then it has to be one of the elements of freedom. Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is the first principle of the gospel. Work is an all important element of faith. Faith without works is dead. We may have the other four elements of freedom, but if we do nothing we can not have freedom because some tyrant will take away our liberty, property etc. Without work we cannot maintain life, protect liberty, obtain and utilize property or acquire knowledge. In fact without work we cannot protect any of the five elements of freedom including work. I realize that our perception of agency, freedom and liberty depends on the definitions we use. Without agency or freedom including all of the five elements of freedom the whole purpose of life is “thwarted”. At any rate, Brian, you see things very clearly and provoke us to think and act and for that I am grateful. It is true that many words have several meanings. Liberty may be defined as: The absence of restraint or coercion. It is one of the five elements of freedom – life, liberty, property, knowledge and work. Agency may be defined as: The power and opportunity to choose good or evil. Freedom may be defined as: The power and opportunity to accomplish ones goals. It is essentially the same as agency.
Freedom is the standard by which God judges all action. Good: Is that which increases, protects and enhances freedom without destroying or injuring someone else’s freedom. Evil: Is the injuring or destruction of any or all of the five elements of freedom. It is that which decreases, damages or destroys freedom. It is the motivating force which causes people to harm or destroy freedom. Intelligence: Is light and truth. It is the ability to receive, understand and efficiently utilize truth to achieve a desired and just goal. Intelligent Conduct: Is the compliances with divine law to obtain a desired righteous or just goal. Joy: Is the ultimate purpose of life or existence and may be measured in the amount of freedom one has. Joy is perfect freedom achieved by obedience to divine law. Justice: Is the allotting to each man the exact amount of freedom he deserves.
It seems to me that liberty in the first scripture quoted means freedom, at least according to the definition that I use for freedom and liberty. One may choose liberty, but still not have liberty because he is restrain, imprisoned or coerced against his will by some tyrant. It seems to me that the scriptures quite often use liberty and freedom synonymously. The American people certainly do.
You may have notice that I have thrown in an extra element of freedom (work) from what Elder Anderson states . Without work freedom is impossible, just as it is impossible without the other four elements of freedom. I have heard and read several statements by apostles of the Lord stating that work is the underlying principle of the gospel. Sorry, at present I don’t have the exact quotes. We know that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the perfect law of freedom. We also know that freedom is the cornerstone of Christ’s gospel. As President Benson has stated, “The cause of freedom is the most basic part of our religion”. If work is the underlying principles of the gospel then it has to be one of the elements of freedom. Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is the first principle of the gospel. Work is an all important element of faith. Faith without works is dead.
We may have the other four elements of freedom, but if we do nothing we can not have freedom because some tyrant will take away our liberty, property etc. Without work we cannot maintain life, protect liberty, obtain and utilize property or acquire knowledge. In fact without work we cannot protect any of the five elements of freedom including work.
I realize that our perception of agency, freedom and liberty depends on the definitions we use. Without agency or freedom including all of the five elements of freedom the whole purpose of life is “thwarted”. At any rate, Brian, you see things very clearly and provoke us to think and act and for that I am grateful.

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