People like to sometimes use the terms "foreordination" and "predestination" interchangeably. However, these terms are quite different. We could spend hours arguing over what they mean but it really all comes down to agency. Agency...meaning our ability to choose for ourselves what we want. With foreordination there is a choice. With predestination there is not. It is that simple. Since I love outlines and bullets, let's use them to illustrate the point.
Foreordination means...
- one is chosen to do a certain work on Earth
- one is chosen in the Premortal World (i.e. the place our spirits resided before coming to Earth) to do that certain work
- one is given lessons regarding that certain work before going to Earth
- one is prepared for that certain work before going to Earth
- one must be worthy and willing to accept the responsibility of this certain work once on Earth (i.e. they have a choice at the time the calling is extended to take it or walk away)
Predestination means...
- one is going to live a certain life or do a certain work no matter what they truly want (i.e. there is no agency, no way to choose anything other than the path that the individual is on)
Foreordination provides hope and a great gift of being able to choose for ourselves what we want. Predestination is a hopeless theory leaving one to feel completely unfree to live the life they choose for themselves. We are all foreordained to establish the Kingdom of God here on earth and while we've been called to take upon ourselves this great responsibility, we still have the option of walking away. Of course, we all know that it is in our best interests to fulfill our calling, our responsibility because when we do the Lord blesses us, always.
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