Why God Lets Us Choose:
How Agency Explains the Way Life Works
By Stephen D. Nadauld

Category: LDS doctrine

Themes: Agency; consequences of our choices; the atonement; the purpose of trials

Rating: 10 out of 10

Who Might Enjoy This Book: Adults, older teens

Reviewed By: Fred Taylor

This book helped me understand more fully that agency was God’s first gift to His children. And because He knew we would make mistakes as we exercised that gift, He also gave us the gift of His Son to provide a way to overcome the effects of those mistakes.

I gained a better understanding and appreciation of the pre-mortal life and the role agency played in what took place there. I also gained a much deeper appreciation of the atonement and the way it works for every single choice we make.

The book points out that the purpose of this life is to learn and grow, and we do that by making choices. Many times our choices bring unpleasant consequences, and we can choose whether or not to learn from those.

Everything we experience is a result of agency -- either our own or someone else's -- and any growth or learning on our part comes from exercising our agency. Knowing those things can help us to make better choices, which will result in better consequences.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who might be struggling to understand why they have to go through trials, or why bad things happen to good people.  Very inspiring and uplifting.

Fred Taylor