Lessons of 2025
Lesson No. Fifteen

Agency, Stewardship, and Accountability - D&C 58:25-29

The Creation, the Fall, and the Atonement are the three pillars of eternity – "God himself, the Father of us all, ordained and established a plan of salvation whereby his spirit children might advance and progress and become like him. It is the gospel of God, the plan of Eternal Elohim, the system that saves and exalts, and it consists of three things. These three are the very pillars of eternity itself. They are the most important events that ever have or will occur in all eternity. They are the Creation, the Fall, and the Atonement” (Bruce R. McConkie, Christ and the Creation, Ensign, June 1982, p. 9).

Agency, Stewardship, and Accountability are the three pillars that constitute the test of mortality – These three pillars were operative in our pre-mortal existence, but they are the primary test of mortality. In mortality learning and living the doctrine of agency, stewardship, and accountability is critical to realizing our divine potential as children of our Heavenly Parents.

Agency or “moral agency” (D&C 101:78) is the ability and freedom to choose between good and evil and right and wrong. Moral agency is more than the freedom to choose. Some choices do not necessarily involve the choice between good and evil, such as when we choose where to live or work. When we choose between good and evil or right and wrong we are exercising moral agency.

- Agency is a divine gift and an essential part of the plan of salvation. Agency has existed for all eternity. We had agency in our pre-mortal existence and could choose to follow Jehovah or Lucifer, who “sought to destroy the agency of man” (Moses 4:3). Pre-mortality was a “mid-term” test which we all passed. We are now taking the final test of mortality.

Stewardship – Underlying the principle of stewardship is the eternal gospel truth that all things belong to the Lord. “I, the Lord, stretched out the heavens, and built the earth, my very handiwork; and all things therein are mine. And it is my purpose to provide for my saints, for all things are mine” (D&C 104:14-15).

- “It is by the wise use of one’s stewardship that eternal life is won” (Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, p. 767). “It is required of the Lord, at the hand of every steward, to render an account of his stewardship, both in time and in eternity. For he who is faithful and wise in time is accounted worthy to inherit the mansions prepared for him of my Father” (D&C 72:3-4).

Accountability – “Personal accountability for all of one’s acts underlies the whole gospel plan and is the natural outgrowth of the law of free agency. Without such personal responsibility free agency could not operate, for neither rewards nor punishments would follow the exercise of agency. And it there were no rewards or punishments, there would be no salvation or damnation, and so the whole plan of salvation would vanish away” (Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 15).

Agency, stewardship, and accountability are closely related being born of the same Parent, even God:

- The divine gift of agency comes with the duties and responsibilities associated with stewardship – These duties are best described by the concept of stewardship. In gospel terms, the word stewardship designates a sacred spiritual or temporal responsibility to take care of something that belongs to God for which we are accountable.

- “Stewardship is a spiritual or temporal trust for which there is accountability. Because all things belong to the Lord, we are stewards over our bodies, minds, families, and properties. (See D&C 104:11-15) A faithful steward is one who exercises righteous dominion, cares for his own, and looks to the poor and needy” ( Spencer W. Kimball, Welfare Services: The Gospel in Action, General Conference Oct 1977).

- The Lord established the Constitution of the United States, “That every man may act in doctrine and principle pertaining to futurity, according to the moral agency which I have given unto him, that every man may be accountable for his own sins in the day of judgment” (D&C 101:78, emphasis added).

In D&C 56 the Lord gave direction regarding agency, stewardship, and accountability – In 1831 the Church was just over a year old and had few members. Today His Church is 195 years old and has 17 million members, but the direction given is 1831 applies just as much now as it did then:

- We should counsel together and with the Lord – Edward Partridge was the first bishop in the Restored Church. The Lord told Edward and his counselors in D&C 58 to “bring their families to [Missouri], as they shall counsel between themselves and me” (Vs 25, emphasis added).

- We are agents unto ourselves and as servants of the Lord we should not need to be commanded or compelled in most things – “For behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is compelled in all things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant; wherefore he receiveth no reward” (Vs 26, emphasis added).

- As agents we can chose righteousness and chose to be engaged in good causes – “Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness” (Vs 27).

- We have the God given power of agency – “For the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves. And inasmuch as men do good they shall in nowise lose their reward” (Vs 28, emphasis added).

- We are accountable and must personally take the initiative in most things – “But he that doeth not anything until he is commanded, and receiveth a commandment with doubtful heart, and keepeth it with slothfulness, the same is damned” (Vs 29).

Testimony – Agency, stewardship, and accountability are eternal principles and are essential parts of “the great plan of happiness” (Alma 42:8). We should desire to be worthy agents and faithful stewards, willing, even anxious, to be accountable to God for our choices. This allows us to pray with faith, certain that our prayers will be answered.

“Then shall our confidence wax strong in the presence of God; and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distil upon our soul as the dews from heaven; and the Holy Ghost shall be our constant companion” (D&C 121:45-46); and the greatest gift of God, even eternal life, will be ours.

Released on June 7th. 2025.