Foreordination

Foreordination, an important doctrine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church),[1][2] teaches that during the pre-mortal existence, God selected ("foreordained") particular people to fulfill certain missions ("callings") during their mortal lives. For example, prophets were foreordained to be the Lord's servants, all who receive the priesthood were foreordained to that calling, and Jesus Christ was foreordained to enact the atonement.

Unlike predestination, foreordination allows for individual agency (the ability to choose whether to fulfill one's callings).

Scripture

The word "foreordination" appears in the King James Version of the First Epistle of Peter 1:20, "Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you". [3] The LDS Church has understood this to be a depiction of Christ's foreordination.[4] The church also teaches that foreordination is explained in The Book of Mormon in the 13th chapter of Alma[5] as well as in The Pearl of Great Price in the 3rd chapter of the Book of Abraham (particularly in verse 23, "thou wast chosen before thou wast born").[6]

Contemporary teachings

Foreordination is a prominent part of LDS theology. Brigham Young, the first LDS church leader to explain it, taught that God's omniscient foreknowledge does not constitute a divine decree.[7] Unlike predestination, foreordination does not exclude free will. Latter-day saints believe part of one's mission in life is choosing to fulfill what one was foreordained to do,[8] following the example of Jesus Christ who actively chose to complete the atonement he was foreordained to enact.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Gospel Topics: Foreordination", LDS.org (LDS Church), archived from the original on 2014-12-07
  2. ↑ McConkie, Bruce R. (May 1974). "God Foreordains His Prophets and His People". Archived from the original on 2014-12-07.
  3. ↑ https://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/1-pet/1?lang=eng
  4. ↑ 1 Peter 1:19-21
  5. ↑ Alma, 13:1-9
  6. ↑ Abraham 3:23
  7. ↑ http://jod.mrm.org/6/93
  8. ↑ http://www.mormoninterpreter.com/thou-wast-chosen-before-thou-wast-born-abraham-3-moses-41-4/#fn2-3063
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