I think if I have the perspective that the Lord lets everything happen, and doesn’t intervene with everything we do, then I am better able to reconcile my faith. He has set up the world to be as it is and have the natural consequences that come with agency.
- In this way everything that happens is according to his will because he wills us to have agency.
- In this way everything will work out as it should because the plan prioritizes agency above specific outcomes.
- In this way the prophet and ecclesiastical leaders will do bad things because the plan prioritizes agency above safety, both physical and spiritual.
Because of agency, the Lord is not able to control the untrue or bad, but he can reveal truths he needs to be revealed.
- This may mean the Holy Ghost is more apt to confirm or encourage rather than discourage.
- This may mean that the Lord is willing to speak to shepherds according to the faith of their sheep, even while being unable to inspire those same individuals if they are not close enough to the spirit to help themselves.
- This may mean that an ecclesiastical leader can indeed be wrong in a way that hurts people. But at the same time people may always end closer to the Lord when following an ecclesiastical leader with faith and hope in the promise of agency.