Maxwell Institute Podcast Maxwell Institute Podcast #174: Agency (Themes in the Doctrine and Covenants) with Terryl Givens
Jan 17, 2025
Terryl Givens, a prolific author and expert on Latter-day Saint thought, joins to explore the profound concept of agency in the Doctrine and Covenants. He delves into the nature of free will and its relational aspects, making compelling arguments about how our choices impact community and personal identity. The conversation navigates traditional versus Latter-day Saint views, emphasizing love and mutual influence. Givens also challenges conventional notions of worthiness and justice, ultimately rethinking how we understand grace and forgiveness in our spiritual lives.
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Agency as Relational Interaction
- Agency requires both giving and receiving, making it inherently relational.
- Being open to influences (receptivity) is as vital as actively exerting influence.
Change Desires by Exposure
- Change your desires by immersing yourself in environments that foster new yearnings.
- Actively expose yourself to influences that shape your soul and agency.
Agency Exists Within Limits
- Free will exists within constraints shaped by biology and unconscious influences.
- Agency grows gradually as we expand our capacity to choose and act.
