In Latter-day Saint theology, there is a distinction between one being foreordained (which is accepted in LDS theology) and predestined á la the Calvinistic understanding (which is rejected). Indeed, being foreordained is not an infallible guarantee that such a promise will be fulfilled; instead, such are contingent based on faithfulness, not an infallible guarantee. Discussing Cain’s free-will actions which resulted in his foreordained blessings being revoked, one LDS author wrote:
In the premortal existence Cain qualified to be born under the covenant and was foreordained to receive the holy priesthood. Anyone foreordained in this life is also foreordained to exaltation:
For whoso is faithful unto the obtaining these two priesthoods of which I have spoken, and the magnifying their calling, are sanctified by the Spirit unto the renewing of their bodies.
They become the sons of Moses and of Aaron and the seed of Abraham, and the church and kingdom, and the elect of God . . .
And he that receiveth my Father receiveth my Father’s kingdom; therefore all that my Father hath shall be given unto him. (D&C 84:33-34, 38)
At Cain’s birth his mother declared, “I have gotten a man from the Lord; wherefore he may not reject his words” (Moses 5:16). He was also instructed by his parents in all things of the gospel: “And Adam and Eve blessed the name of God, and they made all things known unto their sons and their daughters” (Moses 5:12).
Having been taught the gospel of Jesus Christ by his parents, Cain was baptized and qualified himself to receive the holy priesthood. He accepted the new and everlasting covenant associated with the gospel of Jesus Christ . . . . Initially, Cain responded to the commandments of God and lived in harmony with the gospel. Otherwise, he never would have received the sure witness of the Holy Ghost that is prerequisite to become a son of perdition (see Joseph Smith, Teachings, p. 358). Cain was promised by the Lord that if he would do well, he would be accepted (see Moses 5:23; Genesis 4:7). Cain exercised his agency, however, and chose not to listen to the Lord (Moses 5:16; see also verse 26). This resulted in Cain’s being very receptive to Satan’s temptations: “And Cain loved Satan more than God” (Moses 5:18; see also verse 28).
It was while Cain was in this frame of mind that Satan devised a plan that would lead to Cain’s excommunication from the Church. He enticed Cain to make an offering unto the Lord that was not motivated by faith in the atonement of Jesus Christ. And Satan commanded him saying, “Make an offering unto the Lord” (Moses 5:18). Cain’s offering was made in mockery of the atonement of Christ, as explained in the following statement by the Prophet Joseph Smith:
By faith in this atonement or plan of redemption, Abel offered to God a sacrifice that was accepted, which was the firstlings of the flock. Cain offered of the fruit of the ground, and was not accepted, because he could not do it in faith, he could have no faith, or could not exercise faith contrary to the plan of heaven. (Joseph Smith, Teachings, p. 58)
Cain had the authority to offer an acceptable sacrifice because he held the priesthood. But in offering a sacrifice with motives inspired of the devil, Cain perverted this sacred ordinance of the priesthood . . . Cain’s motive in making his offering was to make a mockery of the ordinance of sacrifice . . . Seeing that Satan had successfully deceived Cain, the Lord talked to Cain personally in an effort to persuade him to repent:
And the Lord said unto Cain: Why art thou wroth? Why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well, thou shalt be accepted. And if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door, and Satan desireth to have thee; and except thou shalt hearken unto my commandments, I will deliver thee up, and it shall be unto thee according to his desire. And thou shalt rule over him; For from this time forth thou shalt be the father of his lies; thou shalt be called Perdition; for thou wast also before the world.
And it shall be said in time to come—That these abominations were had from Cain; for he rejected the greater counsel which was had from God; and this is a cursing which I will put upon thee, except thou repent. (Moses 5:22-25)
In these verses the Lord made it very clear that whether or not Cain repented, remained faithful in the gospel, and attained exaltation or become a son of perdition would be determined entirely by his own agency. Cain was not foreordained (or predestined) to become a son of perdition. Yet, in spite of a personal visit from the Lord, Cain chose to follow Satan: “He rejected the greater counsel which was had from God . . . And Cain was wroth, and listened not any more to the voice of the Lord” (Moses 5:25-26) . . . Cain was afforded every opportunity to repent of his sins before he killed Abel. Had he repented, he would have realized every blessing and opportunity he had been foreordained to. This is made very clear in the following statement by Joseph Smith: “If Cain had fulfilled the law of righteousness . . ., he could have walked with God all the days of his life, and never failed of a blessing” (Joseph Smith, Teachings, pp. 168-70). Cain had his agency in choosing between the promptings of the Holy Ghost and the enticings of Satan. He cannot blame Satan, circumstances, or fate for his final status in the eternities. (Grant Von Harrison, Understanding Your Divine Nature [rev ed.; Sandy, Utah: Sounds of Zion, 2000], 39-40, 41, 42, 43, emphasis in original)
Elsewhere, while speaking of patriarchal blessings (though such can be said for any promises and prophecies to people, including those recorded in inscripturated revelation), Von Harrison wrote:
Any pronouncement we receive from the Lord through an ordained patriarch, or any other priesthood bearer, is contingent on our faithfulness to the gospel of Jesus Christ. The pronouncements are things we can be, not things that will automatically be realized. The blessings pronounced upon us in a patriarchal blessing can be lost through unworthiness. All blessings promised in a patriarchal blessing are contingent upon faithfulness.
It is a serious misconception to assume that promises and blessings pronounced in a patriarchal blessing will be realized no matter how we choose to live. This point of view is inspired of the devil. We cannot expect blessings and promised to be fulfilled if we are not worthy. If we remain unworthy, not only will we lose certain opportunities and blessings, we will forfeit our rights to exaltation.
Satan has established counterfeits of patriarchal blessings, such as fortune telling and astrology. No relationship exists between these counterfeits and patriarchal blessings. Satan’s counterfeits usually imply that what is declared will inevitably happen, which implies predestination. Predestination is a doctrine of the devil. (Ibid., 81-82)
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