Question
Hi Gramps,
I hope I can phrase my question properly. I understand that we all have free agency. I also understand that we can pray to Heavenly Father for blessings, help, guidance, etc., both material and spiritual things can be asked for. We can pray for others to be softened to accept the gospel. We can pray for a child to pass a test at school. We can pray for a lot of things. But if the Lord allows all their free agency, then doesn’t the presumption he won’t interfere on our behalf even if we pray for him to? For example, to soften someone’s heart. Isn’t that, in a sense, interfering with that person’s free agency?
If that is the case, that no matter what we pray for, the Lord is bound by our free agency, then why pray at all? And in the matter of Him knowing us better than we know ourselves, doesn’t that make it ridiculous to pray for something that he already knows the outcome? And if He can’t interfere in our free agency, then why thank Him? Thanking him for our health? That is a direct consequence of how we live. Thanking him for our job? That again implies he intervened and thereby interfered with someone’s free agency. Thanking him for our food? Again, we worked, we are healthy due to our lifestyle, and we paid for our food or we grew it. These are questions I am struggling with, and frankly, I feel blasphemous even questioning these principles. How can I teach my children when I don’t know myself why it is important to pray? Sure, you can say it is to humble myself, teach me gratitude, etc., but those are just platitudes. Is there a concrete answer to my query?
Thank you for taking the time to answer my question, and I am sure there will be more in the future. I have added this website to my favorites list.
Dianna
Answer
Dear Dianna,
Agency, or moral agency, is a fundamental principle in the teachings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It refers to the ability of individuals to make choices and be accountable for their actions. According to the doctrine, every person is endowed with the capacity to choose between good and evil, which is essential for spiritual growth and development. As stated in the Book of Mormon, “For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things.” (2 Nephi 2:11) This opposition allows individuals to exercise their agency and make meaningful choices.
While agency grants individuals the power to choose, it does not imply that they are entirely isolated from external influences. God, as a loving Father, seeks to guide His children toward righteousness. He does this through the Holy Spirit, personal revelation, and even through the prayers of others. As noted in the teachings of William E. Berrett, “God does not compel man to do his will. Man has been left a free agent… free to do good or evil.” This perspective emphasizes that while God respects our agency, He also actively seeks to influence our decisions for our benefit.
Prayer serves multiple purposes in the life of a believer. It is a means of communication with God, a way to express gratitude, seek guidance, and request blessings. However, the question remains: if God knows our needs and respects our agency, why do we need to pray? The answer lies in the nature of prayer itself. Prayer is not merely about asking for things; it is about building a relationship with God, developing faith, and aligning our will with His.
In the Book of Mormon, Alma the Younger experienced a profound transformation after his father prayed for him. The angel that appeared to Alma was a direct response to those prayers, illustrating how divine influence can intersect with human agency. This example demonstrates that prayer can serve as a catalyst for change, both within ourselves and in others.
Intercessory prayer, or praying on behalf of others, raises additional questions about agency. When we pray for someone to have their heart softened or to make better choices, are we infringing upon their agency? The answer is nuanced. While God may influence a person’s heart or mind in response to our prayers, He does not override their ability to choose. I explained in a previous answer, “God will exert His benign influence so that if the person is susceptible to the influence of the Holy Spirit, he will be impressed to modify his behavior. This means that while our prayers can invite divine assistance, the ultimate decision remains with the individual.
The question of whether divine intervention through prayer violates agency is a common concern. For instance, if someone prays for protection from an evil person, does that prayer interfere with the evil person’s agency? The answer is no. Protecting someone from harm does not remove the agency of the person intending to do harm; it simply prevents them from acting on their harmful intentions [5]. This principle applies to prayer as well. When we pray for someone to change, we are not forcing them to do so; we are inviting God to influence their heart while still allowing them the freedom to choose.
The scriptures provide numerous examples of how prayer and agency coexist. In the case of Alma the Younger, his father’s prayers were instrumental in his conversion, but Alma still had the agency to accept or reject the angel’s message. Similarly, the story of Saul, who became Paul, illustrates that even a dramatic divine encounter does not eliminate agency. Saul had the choice to accept or reject the call to repentance, and he ultimately chose to follow Christ.
These examples highlight that divine influence can guide individuals toward better choices without negating their free will. God respects our agency while also providing opportunities for growth and change through prayer.
Gramps
