Our 2nd Article of Faith states: "we believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam's trangressions." http://scriptures.lds.org/a_of_f/1

The 2nd Article of Faith is based on our belief that each person is accountable for his/her own choices; we have been given the ability to make choices, and have to be responsible for them.
No, Adam is not to blame for the poor choices I've made in my life!!! and it's my privilege to make another choice which is to repent, and choose the right!

Agency, the ability to choose for ourselves, is a gift from God, that allows us to be agents unto ourselves, act, and not be acted upon; freedom of choice is an essential tool that helps us progress according to our choices. Each person can either choose to be obedient to God, or not, but we cannot choose the consequences of our choices though. 

We were all born with different abilities, inclinations, levels of understanding, obedience, faith,..., but we were all born with the freedom to choose; the gift of agency was given to each one of us to use according to our desires. We genereally act and make choices based on the desire of our hearts... What's in our hearts? Matthew 6:21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

2 Nephi 2 [URL="http://scriptures.lds.org/2_ne/2"]http://scriptures.lds.org/2_ne/2[/URL]

D&C 58
26 For behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is compelled in all things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant; wherefore he receiveth no reward.
27 Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness;
28 For the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves. And inasmuch as men do good they shall in nowise lose their reward.

D&C 101

78 That every man may act in doctrine and principle pertaining to futurity, according to the moral agency which I have given unto him, that every man may be accountable for his own sins in the day of judgment.

http://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=bbd508f54922d010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sou rceId=68e339b439c98010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____

Agency - [url=http://scriptures.lds.org/en/tg/a/75]Topical Guide: Agency[/url]

Agency is the ability and privilege God gives us to choose and to act for ourselves. Agency is essential in the plan of salvation. Without it, we would not be able to learn or progress or follow the Savior. With it, we are "free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil" (2 Nephi 2:27).

God's children have power to choose; they had this ability even before they were born. In the premortal life, Heavenly Father presented His plan, which included the principle of agency. Lucifer rebelled and "sought to destroy the agency of man" (Moses 4:3). As a result, Lucifer and all those who followed him were denied the privilege of receiving a mortal body. All who have been or will be born on earth chose to follow Heavenly Father's plan.

In this life, people continue to have agency; even if their personal freedoms are restricted or taken away, they can choose how to feel and react. Their use of their agency determines their happiness or misery in this life and in the life to come. People are free to choose and act but are not free to choose the consequences of their actions. The consequences may not be immediate, but they will always follow. Choices of good and righteousness lead to happiness, peace, and eternal life, while choices of sin and evil eventually lead to heartache and misery.

See also Obedience; Plan of Salvation; Temptation —See True to the Faith (2004), 12–13

Accountability -  

Tags: Faith Accountability Agency Choose Choice Progress Obedience Gift

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