Lesson 7a – Genesis 3; Moses 4

Agency and the War in Heaven

Moses 3:15-17• “thou mayest choose for thyself, for it is given unto thee”• What is “it”?• Agency. Is agency really free?• What are some of the costs?

“The phrase ‘free agency’ does not appear in scripture. The only agency spoken of there is moral agency, ‘which,’ the Lord said, ‘I have given unto him, that every man may be accountable for his own sins in the day of judgment’ ( D&C 101:78)” – Boyd K. Packer

The Choice• Why would God give Adam

two conflicting commandments?

• Moses 2:28 – “multiply and replenish the Earth”

• Moses 3:17 – “of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil though shalt not eat”

• A lesson in agency, but that’s not all. More to come…

Moses 4:1-4

• Rewind back to Pre-mortal Existence• Not 2 Plans, 2 Options for fulfilling The Plan• What did they each say? How was it different?

The PlanIt is “extremely important to get straight what happened in that premortal council. It was not an unstructured meeting, nor was it a discussion between plans, nor an idea-producing session, as to how to formulate the plan for salvation and carry it out. Our Father’s plan was known, and the actual question put was whom the Father should send to carry out the plan”

- Neal A Maxwell

“Satan… sought to destroy the agency of man” (4:3)

• How?• Not necessarily by forcing everyone to be

good.• By destroying the requirements of agency

Requirement 1

Do the Correct Thing

There must be laws that define good and evil • 2 Nephi 2:13

Requirement 2

Do not take anything off of the table

There must be an alternate choice to what is defined as good • 2 Nephi 2:11

Requirement 3

Choose a reward

A person must have knowledge of what the choices and consequences are • 2 Nephi 2:15-16

Requirement 4

Choose the best reward

A person must have complete freedom to choose between the two choices • 2 Nephi 2:26-27

Requirements of Agency1. There must be laws that define good and evil2. There must be an alternate choice to what is defined as good 3. A person must have knowledge of what the choices and

consequences are4. A person must have complete freedom to choose between the

two choices

How does Satan’s “plan” try to get rid of these?How does Satan try to convince us that these are not important?How does the Fall of Adam bring about these requirements?

The Freedom To

Notebook Ideas

• Why are the pains of consequence worth the agency we are given?

• How can you affirm your agency over Satan’s lies?

• How does your agency help you become more like your Father in Heaven?