As I mentioned recently, I’ve been excited about the Maxwell Institute’s “Themes in the Doctrine and Covenants” series. So far, I’ve read four books out of seven, and the entry by Terryl L. Givens on Agency has been my favorite. It’s a beautiful blend of theological and devotional reflection that leans heavier into the comparative literature and theological side of the equation, more in the vein of the “brief theological introductions to the Book of Mormon” series than other entries in this series that I’ve read so far. 

The core thesis that Givens argues in this diminutive volume is that humans do have agency that allows them to make choices independent of God, arguing against the determinism that has often been associated with Calvinism. He does some discussion about the development of the debate between determinism and free will in Christian thought, placing a lot of weight on the Augustine-Pelagius debate as the cradle of determinism, then discussing how that debate carried on through to the Protestant Reformation and onwards to the cultural context of Joseph Smith in the nineteenth century United States. He then spends most of the book exploring the meaning and implications of agency, drawing on the Doctrine and Covenants to do so. 

I found that Givens’s prose was beautiful throughout and spent a decent amount of time stopping and highlighting quotes that I would like to use in the future (whether for discussions at church meetings or online). One of my favorites was about the relationship between agency and repentance: “Repentance is the name we give to the process by which, step by step and decision by decision, we cooperate deliberately with God in the process of reshaping our own natures” (pp. 14–15). I also loved that he described agency as being relational rather than personal, since 

meaningful existence cannot pertain to solitude but unfolds in plurality. … The entire moral program of agency focuses on choice, experiencing and discerning, and choosing the sweet and good over the bitter and evil. But we do not choose those categories in the abstract, and we do not choose in an impersonal vacuum. We choose in response to the words, enticements, counsels, and actions of others. … Agency is manifest in how we choose to influence others, and in how we choose to be influenced by others (p. 34–35).

Many other examples of inspiring and beautiful thoughts shared by Givens throughout. 

The style throughout, if you couldn’t tell already, is quintessential Terryl Givens. It reminded me in particular of The God Who Weeps, and it does draw on themes and thoughts shared in that book as well as other volumes, like Wrestling with the Angel. I also found that his discussion of how humans can be co-participants with God reminded me very much of some of the thoughts that Stirling McMurrin shared on the topic (which, to be clear, is a good thing—I appreciate McMurrin’s theological writings about Mormonism). So, if you’re a fan of his writings, you will very much enjoy this volume on agency.

Thus, I highly recommend reading Agency: Themes in the Doctrine and Covenants. It is a beautiful and deep exploration of the topic and a notable entry into the theological debate over determinism and free will in its own right.