What is the agency of Man (D&C 93:30-32)?

J. Hathaway

- 7 minutes read - 1449 words

In Doctrine and Covenants 93:30-32 we read,

All truth is independent in that sphere in which God has placed it, to act for itself, as all intelligence also; otherwise there is no existence.

Behold, here is the agency of man, and here is the condemnation of man; because that which was from the beginning is plainly manifest unto them, and they receive not the light.

And every man whose spirit receiveth not the light is under condemnation.

These verses have always fascinated me with their direct statements of fact, but semi-confusing assumed relationships between those facts. I have pondered;

  1. Are agency and condemnation two metaphorical sides of the same coin?
  2. What is this thing that was plainly manifest which we did not receive?
  3. Is agency the thing that was plainly manifest unto us?
  4. How does the light and truth conversation in verses 30 and 32 relate to verse 31?
  5. Is truth really that similar to intelligence1 in that it can make choices and act for itself?
  6. What does agency have to do with receiving the light?

Conference references to D&C 93:30

Other than two indirect references to these verses by Joseph Smith and Brigham Young. The following three quotes are the only ones I could find by Apostles.

Spencer W. Kimball (April 1974)

There is no compulsion in any part of the gospel. The Lord said in 1833, “Behold, here is the agency of man, and here is the condemnation of man; because that which was from the beginning is plainly manifest unto them, and they receive not the light.” [D&C 93:31]

This means that since Adam the Lord has taught us correct doctrines and we may accept or reject them, but the responsibility is ours.

Spencer W. Kimball (April 1978)

Underlying this statement is the recurring theme of self-reliance. No amount of philosophizing, excuses, or rationalizing will ever change the fundamental need for self-reliance. This is so because:

“All truth is independent in that sphere in which God has placed it, … as all intelligence also; otherwise there is no existence.” [D&C 93:30] The Lord declares that herein lies “the agency of man” (see [D&C 93:31] and with this agency comes the responsibility for self. With this agency we can rise to glory or fall to condemnation. May we individually and collectively be ever self-reliant. This is our heritage and our obligation.

Marrion G. Romney (October 1968)

Latter-day Saints not only believe that freedom to make one’s own choices is an inalienable divine right; they also know that the exercise of it is essential to man’s growth and development. Deprived of it, men would be but puppets in the hands of fate.

The preservation of free agency is more important than the preservation of life itself. As a matter of fact, without it, there would be no existence.

“All truth [says the Lord] is independent in that sphere in which God has placed it, to act for itself, as all intelligence also; otherwise there is no existence.

“Behold, here is the agency of man” [D&C 93:30-31]

I have listened to most of the conference talks of the 1970s over the last year. Due to the recession and inflation during the mid 70’s and early 80’s the brethren seemed to have an overly intense focus on self-reliance. I think we can see that concept pushing through in the above quotes. In two of the above quotes, they are using D&C 93:30-32 to teach that man has to make choices in the context of our self-control. The first quote does get a little more precise about what decision should be made in emphasizing that we get the opportunity to accept or reject doctrines2.

Self-reliance and doctrine are important. However, I don’t think that these verses are pushing those concepts as forcefully as the above quotes make them sound. In addition, I don’t believe that the verses are referencing man as a self-reliant individual. They are referencing man as in mankind. Which is emphasized in the use of the words “they” and “them” in the following sentence of verse 313.

Relational agency

I believe that the verses in D&C 93:30-32 are teaching about the type of agency that was given us at our spirt birth. The choice to enter a loving relationship with God the Father. We were given relational agency. Let’s answer a few of the above questions to build out this concept of relational agency.

What does agency have to do with receiving the light?

Love and light are often used as synonyms, or they are so close together that their definitions are hard to distinguish when the apostles speak. Here are a few examples.

Thus, I see the love “which was from the beginning” that “is plainly manifest unto” us and which we do not receive as the grand choice. We have the opportunity to love or to be loving agents in a relationship with God.

What is this thing that was plainly manifest which we did not receive?

1 John 4:16: says, “God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.” God’s love is the thing that is plainly manifest from the beginning. And our loving relationship with God will be the most significant thing that abideth according to 1 Corinthians 12:134

Are agency and condemnation two metaphorical sides of the same coin?

I think this question can be answered better with the above questions settled. I might retranslate part of verse 30 as, “behold here is the relationship that man can choose to have, which then allows the evil that can condemn us.” Love and Evil are the two sides of the coin of agency. God, wanting to provide us space to freely choose Him in love, must allow us to hate him. The plan of salvation that starts with our choice to enter into a relationship with God in love must have its opposite possibility.

We get the choice to love God. It is our free choice that God does not force upon us. He gives us commandments to help us understand how this relationship can work - not pharisaical commandments but guidance on how we can love. In conclusion, Blake Ostler in Fire on the Horizon: A Meditation on the Endowment and Love of Atonement shares an insight about commandments that reinforces the concept of relational agency.

The word commandment does not refer to a command or military order that must be followed to avoid punishment; rather, the word comes from the Latin comanere, which means to “give assistance” or literally to “work hand in hand.” The commandments “give us a hand” by teaching us how to love one another and thus how to live a life in alignment with being with God in the world. The commandments are merely signposts that show the way of being in the world that is congruent with the nature of happiness. The commandments assist us to embody love as our way of being. It would serve us to see all of God’s commandments in this same light—not as demands and obligations but as hands assisting and guiding us in the way of life that will lead to happiness and salvation.

God and all His children, as agents, can choose the path to loving relationships by the light of His first and enduring love5.

  1. The BYU Religious Studies Center article on intelligence in LDS thought. In brief, intelligence is the smallest entity that has choice or agency. ↩︎

  2. Agency (LDS Church) on Wikipedia provides a good explanation of how we view agency. We have often used the phrases “free agency” or “moral agency”, which both put agency in the context of test or challenge. A 2006 Ensign orticle also quotes Elder McConkie’s four conditions. I would add a condition zero to his list. That God loves and wants to be loved. ↩︎

  3. Verse 32 does speak of an individual man and how they can be separated. ↩︎

  4. And now these three remain: faith, hope, charity; but the greatest of these is love. ↩︎

  5. I borrowed this concept from John H. Groberg when he said, ’everyone sees by the light of love' ↩︎

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