Predestination, Foreordination, Election and Free Agency

PREDESTINATION, FOREORDINATION, ELECTION AND FREE AGENCY. BY JOSEPH E. TAYLOR, OP THE PRESIDENCY OF THE SALT LAKE STAKE OF ZION.

Predestination is a Christian theological term and means in its extreme interpretation that it is decreed by God, and has been immutably determined from all eternity, that some of the human family are destined to happiness and the others to misery, these two conditions being independent of any action on the part of man, be they either good or bad. The reformation which took place in the sixteenth century was undoubtedly brought about according to the will of the Almighty; yet many extreme and divergent views were enter- tained and taught by the reformers of that time. Among the doctrines taught by one of the reformers of that period —John Calvin — the following appears: "Those whom God had chosen to life He effectually called to salvation and kept them in progressive faith unto the end." While those who were predestined or fore- ordined to damnation received none of this saving grace. In-

fants were said by him to be born "with theirown condemnation upon them and are bound not by anothers, but by their own fault; although they have not brought forth or exhibited any of the fruits of iniquity." Hence the conclusion reached, and the doctrine taught in the Calvinistic world, that "there are children in hell

only a span long." Josephus says that "the Pharisees and Essenes went to such extremes upon this point as to leave hardly a place for human

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freedom." While the Sadducees took such an extreme opposite view that they denied predestination altogether. James Arminius, the founder of the Arminian doctrine, takes this view of the sub- ject that "God simply foreknew who would be saved, and makes salvation conditioned upon the use man makes of the means of grace." John Kolman, of the Arminian faith, says, "High Calvinism makes God a tyrant and an executioner." John Knox, the Scottish reformer, was a close friend of Cal- vin, and was in harmony with his views in regard to predestina-

tion.

Presbyfcerianism has incorporated in its creed the extreme views of Calvin. The strong efforts that have been made of late to modify or change some of their articles of faith give promise of some success at least. It is claimed by those who advocate

such change that the offensive doctrines are altogether out of harmony with present Christian ideas, which ideas are the result of what is termed "advanced thought." Such action on the part of the Presbyterian church, presents the evidence of internal weakness. For a doctrine that was true four centuries ago, is true today. To admit that one or more of the fundamental principles of a Christian faith is an error, opens the door to have the remaining ones challenged as to their con- sistency or truth. In fact, the foundation of such a faith is by these admissions at once, and justly too, declared altogether unre- liable if not entirely false. The saying of Paul to the Romans, as recorded in chapter 8, verses 29-30, "Whom the Father did foreknow, he also did pre- destinate," etc., has been extensively quoted by Calvinists in their arguments in support of that particular faith. They also place great reliance upon the declaration of Peter on the day of Pente- cost (Acts 2: 23): "Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God," etc. Also his saying as found in his first epistle, chapter 1, verse 2, "Elect according to the foreknowledge of God," etc., as well as other similar sayings in the Old and New Testament. But the conclusions reached by them are altogether at variance with the spirit and meaning of these texts.

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The doctrine of foreordination is not only scriptural but has proceeded from the fountain of all truth. And when correctly understood, its consistency and truthfulness are easily perceived and readily accepted. The Prophet Joseph Smith declared that "Every man who has a calling to minister to the inhabitants of the world, was ordained to that very purpose in the grand council of heaven before the world was." (History of Joseph Smith, May 12, 1844.) He had previously stated, "All election that can be found in the Scriptures is according to the flesh and pertaining to the priesthood." (Ibid.

May 16, 1841). In the Pearl of Great Price, in the Book of Abraham, the following is recorded: "Now the Lord had shown unto me (Abraham) the intelligences that were organized before the world was: and among all these there were many of the noble and great ones: and God saw these sons and they were good, and he stood in the midst of them and he said: These I will make my rulers, for he stood among those that were spirits, and he saw that they were good; and he said unto me, Abraham, thou art one of them, thou wast chosen before thou wast born." The Lord said to Jeremiah, "Be- fore thou earnest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations." (Jer. 1 : 5.)

Alma, in speaking of certain ones who had been ordained to the priesthood, stated that they were "called and prepared from the foundation of the world, according to the foreknowledge of God, on account of their exceeding faith and good works." (Alma 13: 3-7.) Peter, in speaking concerning the Savior, said, "Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you." (I Peter 1: 20). Many more quotations of a similar charcter might be given but that the these that we have named are ample to prove our position; doctrine of foreordination is one of truth. occupy The choice made by our Father of certain spirits to earth was un- responsible positions in the priesthood upon the as well as doubtedly made because of their proven faithfulness must be admitted recognized ability and fitness for the same; yet it determine and make that such appointments did not in any degree

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sure their faithfulness in their second estate. While the suppo- sition may ba allowed that faithfulness in the first estate is a pretty good index of a like faithfulness in the second estate, yet the trial mu3t be made and the tests applied before that integrity which alone is acceptable to God can be recognized. It was told to Abraham that he was one of the chosen ones

in the past, and although his future faithfulness might have been known to the Father, it was not until Abraham had been put to the severest tests, and had passed the ordeals without failure, that the Lord confirmed by an oath all the former promises he had made to his servant. (Gen. 22: 15-18.) To confirm this state- ment, I will refer to the declaration of the Prophet Joseph, under date of August 18, 1843: "The sacrifice required of Abraham in the offering up of Isaac shows that if a man would attain to the keys of the kingdom of an endless life, he must sacrifice all things. When God offers a blessing or knowledge to a man, and he refuses to receive it, he will be damned." Although there are three separate and distinct existences: the past, the present, and the future, yet each one is closely re- lated to the other. The first largely, if not altogether, determin- ing the second, as well as the second determining the third. Each existence, however, disclosing this one fact, that man in the ex- ercise of his free agency did make in the past and is now making for himself his own future. It has not been made known to us what particular ordinances

were administered in our spirit existence. The words: called, chosen, elected, and ordained, are used in the scriptures we have quoted. From these expressions, we can readily imagine that ordi- nances corresponding in some degree at least to those received by us here, were employed there. We fully understand that there is no ordinance received by us here, but what relates to. and reaches into, the future life, no matter to what extent we are benefitted by them here. We also recognize another fact, that unless these ordinances are received in person or by proxy, that we are without hope even; much less any assurance for the future. We will quote Joseph's words upon this point: "All men who become heirs of God and joint heirs with Jesus Christ, will have to

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receive the fullness of the ordinances of his kingdom, and those who will not receive all the ordinances will come short of the full- ness of that glory, if they do not loose the whole." (History Joseph Smith, June 11, 1843.) He said, also, concerning the servants of God being sealed in their foreheads, that this. means "Sealing the blessing upon their heads, meaning the everlasting covenant, thereby making their calling and election sure." "The anointing and sealing, is to be called, elected, and made sure." (Ibid, August, 1843.) This establishes the principle or doctrine of f oreordination be- yond all question, and all there is of predestination is embodied in this doctrine, neither more nor less. The immutable law of the Eternal One, establishing the free agency of man, is not in the least degree thereby changed or interfered with. Were not this the case, justice could have no claim, neither could mercy find a place to bestow forgiveness, so necessary, especially considering man's present fallen condition. Although a thick veil has been drawn between man and his God, and a sleep so deep has come upon him as to utterly obliter- ate all past recollection, and he finds himself in a dark, cold, cruel world, surrounded by wicked influences that use their power to lead him astray; and he also finds himself powerless to remove or destroy them, for they are here by heaven's permission —yet is he held responsible for all of his acts, —being justified in refusing to

yield to these influences of evil, and condemned to the extent that he does so yield. This is the grand crucible ordained of heaven to test and prove the sons of man as to whether or not they will keep their second estate. Well may humanity in the darkness of their natural mind ask, Wherein is God justified? The world of Christian divines have sought long and diligently to solve this great problem by human reasoning alone; they have arrived at conclusions so diverse one from the other, and so far from truth, that it is no wonder that the minds of men are bewildered rather than enlightened through these efforts. It remained for our Father to reveal his purposes and designs in regard to the past and pres-

to give the reasons therefor, ent, as well as to the future; also all of which so beautifully harmonize, the one with the other,

that not a solitary complication presents itself. It is made so

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plain that like to the highway spoken of by the Prophet Isaiah, "A wayfaring man, though a fool, need not err therein." Having established the fact that the noble and great ones in the spirit world were chosen and appointed to special work, and that, too, at certain given times in the history of this creation: for instance, Father Adam, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, Joseph, as well as many others, would it not be proper to inquire concerning the rest of the spirits running into the billions, as we reckon numbers, and who constituted the family of heaven, as to their times and seasons, their callings, appointments and ordina- tions? For to imagine for one moment that a chosen few were all that received appointments, the others being left to accidental happenings, would stamp injustice upon Deity. When Paul stood in the highest court in Athens, called "Mars Hill," contrasting the difference between the true and living God, and the unknown God which the Athenians worshiped, among the many declarations which he made upon that occasion, this one ap- pears: "And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation," etc. (Acts 17: 26.) This would indicate that man was destined to oc- cupy the entire earth, which had been prepared for that especial purpose, and that the time of their coming was predetermined as well as the place of their birth; all of which is in keeping with the character of the Eternal One who takes cognizance of the minutest details of his entire creation. Jesus said to his disciples that a sparrow falling to the ground was noticed by the Father, and tells them, "Ye are of more value than many sparrows." He further says, "The very hairs of your head are all numbered." Surely, then, the coming of a spirit to earth, which involved consequences of an eternal character, would not be left to a mere chance. In answer to the question as to whether we had any choice in regard to the time of our coming, and the parentage through which we should come, I make this answer: If we kept our first estate, we were certainly obedient to our Father, and as obedient children we would bide the time of our Father's appointment, and willingly accept his choice of parentage as well as the place of

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our birth. As nothing has been revealed of disobedience in the spirit world since the time of the great rebellion there, we can readily imagine that not merely a passive but a most willing con- sent was given by us to Father's suggestion as to the time and place of our coming, including our parentage. As our Father knows the end from the beginning of every one of his children, would he not allow them to be placed in cir- cumstances, and to be surrounded with conditions, exactly suited to them, and thus give them ample opportunity to fully develop those various gifts and powers with which he had endowed them, to en- able them to possess and enjoy that degree of glory and exaltation of which they were capable and would prove themselves worthy to receive? I can see nothing but what is consistent in this suppo- sition.

When the story shall be fully told, which will not be until we have passed into our third existence, we will then understand the rea- son why some spirits have come to earth when gospel dispensations existed, while others came when darkness prevailed. For in all the providences of the Eternal One, nothing that even savors of unjust discrimination can be justly charged against him. Who can feel more keenly, plan more wisely, guard more carefully, and defend more successfully, the interests of every child than our all-wise and loving Father, God? The Lord has made choice not only of individuals, but of peo- ples also, to bring about and accomplish certain purposes which are highly essential according to the economy of heaven. Why is this? In regard to individuals, it must be borne in mind that any person receiving special appointment to any particular labor is not simply to benfit the individual thus chosen but to benefit the many; the same may be said in regard to peoples who are es- pecially chosen. Abraham was selected to be the father of the faithful. Unquestionably, he possessed the essential qualifications for this important position, but what great end was to be accom- plished in this choice and by this appointment? The question is answered by the one who made the appointment, "In thee and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed." In other words, Abraham and his posterity were the agents employed to bestow blessings upon the whole human family during

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the entire period of the earth's duration. It was necessary that

he should be ordained to the holy priesthood. This he received from Melchizedek, the king of Salem, who was a high priest after the holy order of God. In this line and through this lineage has been preserved and continued all there is of priesthood and the authority to bestow the blessings according to the original design. Through this lineage came the Savior of the world, and that, too, at the time before appointed. The apostles of the Lamb were also of this lineage. Paul called the Gentiles the wild olive tree, and told them that if they would obtain salvation, they must be grafted into the tame olive tree, which was the house of Israel, the seed of Abraham, to whom the promise was originally made. It has been revealed that the Prophet Joseph Smith was of this lineage; and by far the largest number who have embraced the gospel restored through him, are of this lineage also; their "lives having been hid with Christ in God" to be made manifest in the due time of the Lord. We may rest assured that heaven has made no mistake in the selections made from Adam to Abraham, and from Abraham down to our day, for the fittest have been chosen, appointed and or- dained to these several labors, namely, the benefit, blessing, salva- tion, and exaltation of the human family. Predestination, as understood and explained by Christendom, is a false doctrine. Foreordination is a blessing conferred by heaven, and is in the nature of reward for proven faithfulness and integrity. It reaches no further than the appointment itself; con- sequently, it does not guarantee anything pertaining to the future of that appointment, for faithfulness alone determines the future, as it determined the past. Election is the choice made by heaven of those who have elected to do the will of God, and can be trusted with the powers of salvation. In ministering for the salvation of others they become the partakers of the blessings they seek to bestow. The exercise of free agency by man, never was, nor ever will be curtailed or hindered. Coercion is an element used only by the evil one. Freedom of choice is heaven-given, and will be by heaven closely guarded and preserved; hence, man's responsi- bility to his God.