Free Agency

As I've stated before, these are my own thoughts. I don't speak for a large group as much as I speak about what I personally feel is correct. Here is something not part of my class, but just my thoughts that I wanted to share on here.     
   
       Our free agency is such a central part of our existence on this earth. It is something that God allowed us to have so that we could find where we are most happy (this is why there are 3 kingdoms of glory, but I'll address that another time). I think a perfect example in the scriptures that shows how important one's agency is, is the story of Samson (most common referred to as 'Samson and Delilah').

         When Samson was born, his mother was promised that her son would "...begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines." (Judges 13:5) So we know that Samson was foreordained to deliver Israel.  We also know that as Samson got older he wasn't very good at following the Lord's commandments. Instead he liked to do his own thing. In the end however, Samson still ended up doing what the Lord foreordained him to do, that is deliver Israel. However, what would have happened if Samson had followed the Lord's commandments and did everything he could to stay close to the Lord. I doubt that the Lord wanted Samson to die the way he did. 

         As I've said before, I believe that we are in full control of the way our lives turn out. Heavenly Father knows this too, and if we stay close to him he will spiritually inspire us to make the choices that will benefit ourselves the best and that will bring us greater happiness. Those choices will consequently lead us back to him where we can have full happiness. However, when we do not listen, when we choose not to listen, he can not help us. Not because he doesn't want to but because we do not want to hear it and we eventually stop listening. The Lord knows the best path for us, but our free agency determines how our lives end up. 

         Samson chose his life to be a certain way and so the end of his life was of his choosing. I think if Samson had listened to the Lord and stayed true to his covenants he would have delivered Israel and possibly lived a much longer healthier life. He might have been able to accomplish other things as well. The Lord knew that whatever Samson chose, he would be able to deliver Israel (foreordained) but it was up to Samson to choose how he wanted his life to be (agency).