Agency

Occurrences: 3 (upper case) 15 (lower case)
First Reference: Enlightenment 3:31

For you know yourselves that the dominions and glories of Kolob are made lesser still by this one thing only: That God would place into the hands of men even his own Agency whereby they might choose the good and shun the evil altogether.
[words of Shaemdiel]

See: Immediate Recompense, Shaemdiel

Summary: God’s Agency refers to a person’s ability to acquire a knowledge of good and evil and make choices independent of influences arising from his or her environment and heredity. Azrael makes a distinction between the various theological interpretations of “free will” and the Agency of God in that Agency does not manifest in acts of inhumanity.

Shaemdiel, the Chief Archon of the Council of Elohim, came to view free choice as a hindrance to progression and glory (W:15:7-9). Having been influenced by the Chief Demiurge, Yaldabaoth, Shaemdiel came to believe his own view of agency, referred to as ‘Immediate Recompense’, superior to that which had been established by God from the beginning. Blinded by his pride and overzealous determination for glory, Shaemdiel rebelled against God and was eventually evicted from the Celestial Kingdom to the world of the First Power. There, midst the lives of First Man, Shaemdiel made efforts to establish his own dispensations based on the law of Immediate Recompense.

Notes/References:

See: Beginnings 21; Enlightenment 3

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[...] “The Emmanuel demonstrates what it means to acquire the will of God while living the mortal life. It is only by embracing the will of God that a person is able to overcome the dictates and limitations imposed upon them through heredity and environment. As in the case of Siddhartha, the Emmanuel was born into a world of lavish privilege, for he was a prince and the son of a king. In the life of Yeshua, the Emmanuel was born into a life of poverty and servitude. By acquiring the will of God, the Emmanuel, as a mortal person, was able to overcome his specific environment. He became a light which shined in the darkness.”

Azrael’s Commentary — El Shaloah/El Shalon: Emmanuelite & Holy Spirit

Wherefore, seeing that the natural man is not free to choose between the good and the evil by reason of his environment and heredity, yet is his spirit free to choose.

For the spirit of man was in the beginning with God, and by such knowledge as he shall acquire of his holiness are the children of men able to rise above the natural man by reason of my own agency, which agency is granted unto all who seek after holiness.

Think not, therefore, that such evil as arises from the heart of man comes by reason of free agency. For such agency as I would give cannot recompense unto any man evil.

For if the natural man chooses to kill another in anger, shall I, the Lord, be made guilty of murder because of free will? Behold, I say unto you: No! For at no time have I commanded that one man should slay another. For this is an abomination unto me.

Now seeing that I delight not in the doing of evil, why are the children of my soul made to war continually within themselves? Why will they think to excuse evil in my name?

Wisdom 22:21-25

Consider how that in the beginning, man was innocent before the Father and Mother of his soul, knowing only the goodness of Heaven; for unto the innocent was there not given a knowledge of evil.

Now seeing that the children of God had not the knowledge of good and evil wherein they might choose for themselves the good, and seeing also that they were without strength to take unto themselves the glory of Heaven;

And seeing also that the sons and daughters of God were without union whereby they might become as one before the Lord of Hosts, to take unto themselves a multitude of increase,

It became expedient to send them forth unto the earth that they might take unto themselves either husband or wife, that they might receive an abundance of blessing wherein they should give comfort and joy unto one another.

For it was determined aforetime that they should come to a knowledge of good and evil, and that by such agency as I shall grant unto them, they might choose the good and forsake evil altogether.

Thus did I desire to exalt the children of God unto the highest that is in them, whereby they might obtain for themselves a kingdom of glory wherein they might abide, whether it be unto the Telestial, Terrestrial, or Celestial; even unto that glory shall they be granted endless lives, or if it so be, the life eternal.

Wisdom 23:25-30

For in Shaemdiel’s Law of Immediate Recompense would First Man prove unable to fashion the essence of immortal soul; for in the absence of free agency are hate and ignorance made to rule in the hearts of men; forcing upon the mind the illusion of goodness born of fear.

6th Endowment 6:42

Adrian Morro

Ahgah Eaton