Eighth in a series on "ity" words"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." (Doctrine and Covenants 101:78)
"Accountability" is the quality of being accountable. That is, that a person may be "liable to be called to account, or to answer for responsibilities and conduct." Accountability has the sense of being answerable and responsible for one's actions. Accountable also has the sense that one can be counted on in the discharge of his responsibilities. An accountable person can be called upon "to give, yield, or render an account" with respect to particular responsibilities (Oxford English Dictionary).In the scriptures, there are three related uses of accountability. The first relates to membership in the church and the age of baptism. "No one can be received into the church of Christ unless he has arrived at the years of accountability before God, and is capable of repentance" (D&C 20:71; see Moroni 8:9-13).The second sense of accountability in the scriptures relates to our accountability as stewards. "That every man may give an account unto me of the stewardship which is appointed unto him. For it is expedient that I, the Lord, should make every man accountable, as a steward over earthly blessings, which I have made and prepared for my creatures" (D&C 104:12-13). "Every man shall be made accountable unto me, a steward over his own property, or that which he has received by consecration, as much as is sufficient for himself and family" (D&C 42:32).The third sense in which accountability is used has to do with our accountability in our use of the God-given blessing of agency. In the October 2009 general conference, Elder Quentin L. Cook taught, "The War in Heaven was fought after Satan said that he would force everyone to obey his ideas. That was rejected. As a result, we have our moral agency and the freedom to choose our course in this life. But we are also accountable for that agency. The Lord has said we will be 'accountable for (our) own sins in the day of judgment' " (Ensign, November 2009; see D&C 101:78).Indeed, the ideas of agency and accountability are inseparable. "And now remember, remember, my brethren, that whosoever perisheth, perisheth unto himself; and whosoever doeth iniquity, doeth unto himself; for behold, ye are free; ye are permitted to act for yourselves; for behold, God hath given unto you a knowledge and he hath made you free. He hath given unto you that ye might know good from evil, and he hath given unto you that ye might choose life or death" (Helaman 14:30-31).