The Infinity of Choice

Over the last two weeks while in Church, I have tried to pay close attention to the promptings that I've felt and try to discern different bits of knowledge from what has been taught in classes. As I've pondered the many things that have been taught and brought up, there was an ideal that came to mind that I wish to address at this time.

Mankind has control over an infinite element - choice!

This may be somewhat of an abstract statement to comprehend, but perhaps with my explanation here it will be more clear.

Let us first examine a set of scriptures from 2nd Nephi 9:

For as death hath passed upon all men, to fulfill the merciful plan of the great Creator, there must needs be a power of resurrection and the resurrection must needs come unto man by reason of the fall; and the fall came by reason of transgression; and because man became fallen they were cut off from the presence of the Lord. Wherefore, it must needs be an infinite atonement - save it should be an infinite atonement this corruption could not put on incorruption. -- 2 Nephi 9: 6-7

The key to this passage is that the Atonement is infinite. Why? It must be infinite to cover the infinity of agency! Additionally this infinity of agency is what allowed the Plan to be presented, the war to take place in heaven, and thereafter the Fall to take place on earth! There were not just two sides in the war in heaven - there were many, just as there were not just two choices in the Garden - there were an infinite amount of possibilities.

This idea seems to be further backed up when after partaking of the fruit, Adam and Eve are brought to the realization that they have become as the Gods - knowing good from evil and everything in between. There is an even simpler way of explaining this though!

In Moses 1:39 - we learn that the work and glory of the Lord is bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. The eternal life of man is to be understood to be eternal life with God the Father, and inheriting all that he has. In two places in the 20th Section of the Doctrine and Covenants we are told about the infinite power of God. Thus if God is infinite in His power, and we are to inherit all that He hath, then the element of choice must be infinite also in order to allow for that potential!

What does this mean to us though? What good is it to know that we have infinite choice? To know that we have infinite choice is to come to the knowledge of many things: 1) That God trusts us enough that he does not necessitate commanding in all things (D&C 58:26-28). For God to command in all things is to deny us of agency.

The second element that we gain from this understanding though is probably the most important: By understanding the infinity of choice, we gain a much greater understanding of the workings of the Holy Ghost in our lives! What?!?!? Examine the following scripture:

And he said, Go forth and stand upon the mount before the Lord. and, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after after the fire a still small voice.

The Lord could easily command us to do many things or speak in heavy voices or with great power - but at that point he removes our agency from listening. The other advantage of speaking through the still small voice is that it causes men to seek for the answers and for the words that it speaks to them. In other words, in order to enjoy the guidance of the Spirit - one must choose to do so!

How blessed we are to learn from the promptings of the still small voice and to have an infinite control over our ability to choose. While our choices do not always guarantee action or success, we are still given that ability - predicated upon our exercise of righteous judgment. As long as we stay righteous though - the rest is up to us...literally!