1. We are literal children of God
2. Men and women are brothers and sisters to one another
Loving God and our neighbors as ourselves as Christ taught (Matthew 22:37-39) is the natural extension of this idea, as is the importance of family.
It is also understood that during our pre-earth life, there was a great war between the followers of our Heavenly Father, and the followers of Lucifer. (Revelation 12:7-9) The source of this conflict involved the destiny of humanity. Scripture from the Pearl of Great Price presents additional detail:
" And I, the Lord God, spake unto Moses, saying: That Satan, whom thou hast commanded in the name of mine Only Begotten, is the same which was from the beginning, and he came before me, saying—Behold, here am I, send me, I will be thy son, and I will redeem all mankind, that one soul shall not be lost, and surely I will do it; wherefore give me thine honor. But, behold, my Beloved Son, which was my Beloved and Chosen from the beginning, said unto me—Father, thy will be done, and the glory be thine forever. Wherefore, because that Satan rebelled against me, and sought to destroy the agency of man, which I, the Lord God, had given him, and also, that I should give unto him mine own power; by the power of mine Only Begotten, I caused that he should be cast down; And he became Satan, yea, even the devil, the father of all lies, to deceive and to blind men, and to lead them captive at his will, even as many as would not hearken unto my voice." (Moses 4:1-4)
The concept of agency is something frequently taught in LDS lessons and talks. The idea that people are "agents unto themselves" and that they are free to "act and not be acted upon, save it be by the punishment of the law at the great and last day" is fundamental to understanding the purpose of life on earth. (Moses 6:56, 2 Nephi 2:26)
As important as the concept of free will is as identified in these passages, it is not the same as agency, even though they are frequently used synonymously.
I have at times heard people talk about using their agency to make choices about what kind of food they want to eat or what destination they prefer for vacation. Certainly it is possible that some of these choices involve agency, but these choices do not really portray agency in the most important sense.
Before discussing the truth behind this concept, it is important to highlight the three great powers that influence the world:
* Humanity. It is not difficult to see the amazing accomplishments of mankind in the age of information. Powerful computer processors are available in devices as small as phones and watches that harness numerous technologies for tasks as simple as "liking" a cheeseburger. Humanity has harnessed power from various sources and constructed great buildings, composed beautiful music, written moving books, and launched probes beyond our atmosphere to study the universe. Mankind has demonstrated great power...but in spite of our power, humanity is the weakest of the three.
* Satan. Having accumulated experience from mankind's beginnings, the power of evil is adept at manipulating men. Great societies have crumbled due to the persistent and patient efforts of those that love to see humanity fail. In the shadows, he persuades people to secretly steal and murder sometimes without even knowing they are being persuaded. Occasionally, he does risk using his full power. Joseph Smith saw it when he prayed to God. He noted "I was ready to sink into despair and abandon myself to destruction—not to an imaginary ruin, but to the power of some actual being from the unseen world, who had such marvelous power as I had never before felt in any being" (Joseph Smith History 1:16) Only the power of God himself could free him from the powers of evil. Humanity, by itself, is powerless against Satan.
* God. The great achievements of humanity and the subtle machinations of evil are nothing compared to the power of the Most High. He that forged the earth and became mortal only to conquer death represents the ultimate strength in existence. He is omniscient, omnipotent, and his power is omnipresent.
By understanding these forces, it becomes clear that being an agent of oneself is extremely limited. The real power of agency comes not from making trivial choices... but from becoming an agent of a higher power.
Becoming an agent of evil is actually quite easy. People can do this without even realizing it. The person that encourages dishonesty, turns a blind eye to cruelty, and practices selfishness can gain power. Marriages and families can be destroyed when seemingly innocent indulgences and poor decisions win over selflessness and integrity. Greed, lust, wrath, pride, envy, gluttony, and sloth do not encompass every ill... Jesus taught "wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat" (Matthew 7:13) Constant effort may be necessary to avoid becoming a destructive influence.
Becoming an agent of God is simple, but not nearly as easy. In the Book of Mormon, prophets counseled men to "come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness" and " if ye do not watch yourselves, and your thoughts, and your words, and your deeds, and observe the commandments of God, and continue in the faith of what ye have heard concerning the coming of our Lord, even unto the end of your lives, ye must perish. And now, O man, remember, and perish not." (Moroni 10:32, Mosiah 4:30) Many prophets have indicated that it is a strait and narrow path that leads to God. Christ was clear in declaring that the only way to our Heavenly Father was through him. (John 14:6)
Although the path is substantially more difficult, and the rewards are not always immediately visible, the true power that God intended for his sons and daughters comes from becoming the kind of person that Christ was. If we are the children of God, then it is as the Apostle Paul noted: "if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together." (Romans 8:17)
Agency in the sense of becoming an agent of God himself, is the very purpose for which humanity is on the earth. Agency is the slow process by which bad men can become good men, and good men can become better men. Agency is the purpose of the conflict between good and evil. Agency is the promise that Christ gives to the faithful... for "he came unto his own, but his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name" (John 1:12)
