Uploaded January 2021 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Latter-day Saints ("Mormons") present their arguments for Free Will, also known as "agency" or perhaps "Influenced Will" or simply "Indeterminacy." Although unprovable, we all feel that we have the ability to choose. Whether we have the ability to choose or not, it seems wiser to live as if we have accountability and responsibility for our choices. It also seems that we can abdicate our choices or give away our choice to others. If that's truly the case, then we must have choice! How much choice do we have? If we have free will, does that mean that God doesn't know what we are going to choose? And if God doesn't know our choices, does he know the end from the beginning? Can we have perfect faith that it will work out as he says?
*Edit from Steve: I think my argument that we are like ants playing chess against a Grand Master who knows all the possible moves would be better served if I said we are like Infants, not ants. I believe we are of the same species as God, but there is no question that he knows everything there is to know about the game, and he will win. Furthermore, there is some chance that a "novice" chess player who loses the game will become enraged and upset the table and kill the Grand Master. The infant will never enact such vengeance.
The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this video are the participants' own and do not necessarily represent any employer, organization, committee or other group or individual. Specifically, they do not necessarily represent the official position of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
Latter-day Saints ("Mormons") present their arguments for Free Will, also known as "agency" or perhaps "Influenced Will" or simply "Indeterminacy." Although unprovable, we all feel that we have the ability to choose. Whether we have the ability to choose or not, it seems wiser to live as if we have accountability and responsibility for our choices. It also seems that we can abdicate our choices or give away our choice to others. If that's truly the case, then we must have choice! How much choice do we have? If we have free will, does that mean that God doesn't know what we are going to choose? And if God doesn't know our choices, does he know the end from the beginning? Can we have perfect faith that it will work out as he says?
*Edit from Steve: I think my argument that we are like ants playing chess against a Grand Master who knows all the possible moves would be better served if I said we are like Infants, not ants. I believe we are of the same species as God, but there is no question that he knows everything there is to know about the game, and he will win. Furthermore, there is some chance that a "novice" chess player who loses the game will become enraged and upset the table and kill the Grand Master. The infant will never enact such vengeance.
The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this video are the participants' own and do not necessarily represent any employer, organization, committee or other group or individual. Specifically, they do not necessarily represent the official position of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
