Dystopian novels and films (particularly those aimed at a young-adult audience) have experienced a remarkable surge in popularity in recent years. Nearly all these stories share one common theme: the struggle for individual rights and freedom against authoritarian control. Mormonism highlights a similar theme: “Satan rebelled against me, and sought to destroy the agency of man, which I, the Lord God, had given him” (Moses 4:3).

For Mormons, the freedom to make one’s own choices is considered one of the greatest gifts (if not the greatest gift) that God has given us. This gift was integral to the plan of salvation that God presented his children during premortal life (see Heavenly Parents; Divine Potential). Without this freedom, we could not exercise faith, gain experience, or become more like him (see Purpose of Life and Trials).

In Mormon theology, it’s understood that freedom of choice is meaningless without opposition in all things. The gift of free agency was so precious that it must allow for mankind to be tempted: “Wherefore, the Lord God gave unto man that he should act for himself. Wherefore, man could not act for himself save it should be that he was enticed by the one or the other” (2 Nephi 2:16).

Mormons are encouraged and encourage others to use their free will wisely (see Priorities).

God has given to all men an agency and has granted to us the privilege to serve him or serve him not, to do that which is right or that which is wrong, and this privilege is given to all men irrespective of creed, color, or condition. The wealthy have this agency, the poor have this agency, and no man is deprived by any power of God from exercising it in the fullest and in the freest manner. This agency has been given to all. This is a blessing that God has bestowed upon the world of mankind, upon all his children alike.

—Joseph F. Smith (1838–1919)

God gave his children their free agency even in the spirit world, by which the individual spirits had the privilege, just as men have here, of choosing the good and rejecting the evil, or partaking of the evil to suffer the consequences of their sins.

—Joseph Fielding Smith (1876–1972)

Freedom of choice is more to be treasured than any possession earth can give.

—David O. McKay (1873–1970)

I am more afraid that this people have so much confidence in their leaders that they will not inquire for themselves of God whether they are led by him. I am fearful they will settle down in a state of blind self-security. Let every man and woman know, by the whispering of the Spirit of God to themselves, whether their leaders are walking in the path the Lord dictates, or not.

—Brigham Young (1801–1877)

Every human has four endowments—self-awareness, conscience, independent will, and creative imagination. These give us the ultimate human freedom. . . . The power to choose, to respond, to change.

—Stephen R. Covey (1932–2012)

Each individual is entitled to determine the ultimate destiny of his or her life. We can choose to use the powers within to have a happy life of continual growth and development that leads to eternal progression, or we can choose to follow the crowd of other people struggling to a top that leads to nowhere.

—Barbara B. Smith (1922–2010)

As precious as life itself is our heritage of individual freedom, for man’s free agency is a God-given gift.

—David O. McKay (1873–1970)

Life gives to all the choice. You can satisfy yourself with mediocrity if you wish. You can be common, ordinary, dull, colorless, or you can channel your life so that it will be clean, vibrant, useful, progressive, colorful, and rich.

—Spencer W. Kimball (1895–1985)

We are free to choose, but we are not free to alter the consequences of those choices.

—Ezra Taft Benson (1899–1994)

Don’t be like anybody else. Be different. Then you can make a contribution. Otherwise, you just echo something; you’re just a reflection.

—Hugh Nibley (1910–2005)

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.

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;

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.

—Doctrine & Covenants 58:26-28

Opposition to God and his Christ, opposition to light and truth has existed since the beginning to the present day. This is the warfare that commenced in heaven, that has existed through all time, and that will continue until the winding up scene, until he reigns whose right it is to reign, when he shall come in clouds of glory to reward every man according to the deeds done in the body.

—Wilford Woodruff (1807–1898)

Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself.

—Book of Mormon, 2 Nephi 2:27

My most earnest prayer is that every man and every woman will get it into his or her heart that they are in very deed the architects of their lives.

—Heber J. Grant (1856–1945)

And it must needs be that the devil should tempt the children of men, or they could not be agents unto themselves; for if they never should have bitter they could not know the sweet.

—Doctrine & Covenants 29:39

Wherefore, because that Satan rebelled against me, and sought to destroy the agency of man, which I, the Lord God, had given him, and also, that I should give unto him mine own power; by the power of mine Only Begotten, I caused that he should be cast down.

—Pearl of Great Price, Moses 4:3

All good things require effort. That which is worth having will cost part of your physical being, your intellectual power and your soul power. Let us ever keep in mind that life is largely what we make it.

—David O. McKay (1873–1970)

God’s chief way of acting is by persuasion and patience and long-suffering, not by coercion and stark confrontation. He acts by gentle solicitation and by sweet enticement. He always acts with unfailing respect for the freedom and independence that we possess.

—Howard W. Hunter (1907–1995)