In God’s premortal council, He presented a plan in which men and women could come to earth, gain a physical body, and progress toward eventual exaltation. A Savior would be provided to atone for the sins of mankind. Central to this plan was agency, the ability for men and women to choose for themselves. Those who chose to repent and follow the Savior would receive forgiveness of their sins and be enabled, once they died, to return to the presence of God.
Not everyone who heard God’s plan embraced it. Richard G. Scott, an apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, describes the opposition that took place:
“From before the Creation of this earth, there was rebellion against our Father’s plan, instigated by a brilliant but evil spirit we know as Lucifer or Satan. He proposed a modification of the requirements. So convincing was his argument that one-third of the Father’s spirit children followed Satan and were cast out. They lost the extraordinary opportunity to grow and the critical advantage of a mortal body.” (“Truth Restored,” Ensign, Nov 2005, 78)
Satan’s proposed modification was the removal of agency, men and women’s ability to choose for themselves. People would be forced to do the right thing. Because no one could sin, there would be no need for a Savior. He alone would take the place of preeminence in this version of God’s plan. His rebellion caused him to be cast out from God’s presence, but Satan still strives to destroy the agency of those who have chosen to come to earth and receive a body.
One way Satan inhibits the agency of men and women is by addiction. James E. Faust wrote the following about the controlling influence of addiction:
“There are many kinds of addictions, and it is difficult for someone who has one of these serious addictions to change because some of them are mind-altering. A recent article on addiction said, “In the brains of addicts, there is reduced activity in the prefrontal cortex, where rational thought can override impulse behavior.” Some addictions can control us to the point where they take away our God-given agency. One of Satan’s great tools is to find ways to control us. Consequently, we should abstain from anything that would keep us from fulfilling the Lord’s purposes for us, whereby the blessings of eternity may hang in jeopardy. We are in this life for the spirit to gain control over the body rather than the other way around.” (“The Power to Change,” Ensign, Nov 2007, 122–24)
Satan knows that if he can enslave people through addiction, they will not be capable of living the kind of life necessary to return to God. It will not matter that they chose to follow God in the premortal world, they will be incapable of continuing to do so on earth.
Another way he inhibits agency is by waging war on democracy. Satan and his followers inspire governments which deny basic freedoms, such as the freedom of religion, so people will not be able to live according to their own principles. Joseph Smith, the Mormon prophet, taught that it was a basic tenet of the Mormon faith that all people should be allowed the same freedom of religion:
“We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.” (Article of Faith 1:11)
Governments which exercise excessive control are contrary to God’s purpose for giving us life on this earth.
Another way Satan inhibits our freedom to choose is by encouraging us to live beyond our means. When we incur excessive debt, we are no longer able to use our resources in the way God intended. Giving to charity, making desirable career changes, obtaining education, and providing for a family all become difficult if not impossible when we are burdened with unnecessary debt.
There is an oft repeated maxim that freedom is not free. The freedom of choice we possess as individuals was fought for by God and by those who chose to follow Him before the creation of this earth. The battle continues today, whether a personal struggle against addiction, the worldwide struggle against tyrannical governments, or a societal trend toward increasing consumer debt. Agency, the freedom to choose for ourselves, is something Satan is ever striving to take away and requires our constant vigilance to preserve.
