[Traveler]

Originally Posted by prisonchaplain

It may be determined, but it was not predetermined by God. God does not coerce us simply because he knows what we will do. It's still on us. That is why the wages of our sin is death, but the gift of our God is eternal life. We are not to be judged according to God's predetermined will for us, but according to our works. Then again, if we embrace God's love and God places our name in his book of life, then we find God's grace and mercy.

Thank you for your response - this appears to me that we agree much more than I thought. It does appear that there is one small point to which we may not agree. In LDS theology man has eternal intelligence that determines for each of us our agency and individual will. But as I understand Evangelicals - G-d alone created 100% all of the factors that contribute to each individual including all factors that determines their individuality and will.

It would seem to me that it does not matter if G-d currently coerces or if he "created" the parameters and circumstances that would over time coerce us and determine our individual will. In other words did G-d create our will or was it not created by G-d? If G-d created it - then he justly should be responsible for it - if G-d did not create our will - Where did it come from or who or what did create our will?

Again, according to LDS theology the “intelligence” of man was not created by G-d and is eternal with G-d. And from man’s intelligence we have will - G-d being all knowing therefore knows our will and therefore gives to man the gift to exercise his independent uncreated (by G-d) will. Thus man is justly judged.

What I do not understand is how can man be judged of G-d and eternally condemned for something that G-d alone created and therefore - Determined. And it does not seem to me to matter that much if we call it pre-determined or just “created”. If our will is what G-d alone created - it is not our will but his as the only actual and real creator of it.

The Traveler