Know this, that every soul is free.

We sang this hymn is sacrament meeting on Sunday and the words really touched me, so I copied the lyrics below.

1. Know this, that ev’ry soul is free
To choose his life and what he’ll be;
For this eternal truth is giv’n:
That God will force no man to heav’n.

2. He’ll call, persuade, direct aright,
And bless with wisdom, love, and light,
In nameless ways be good and kind,
But never force the human mind.

3. Freedom and reason make us men;
Take these away, what are we then?
Mere animals, and just as well
The beasts may think of heav’n or hell.

4. May we no more our pow’rs abuse,
But ways of truth and goodness choose;
Our God is pleased when we improve
His grace and seek his perfect love.

Isn't that beautiful? My favorite verse is the first one, I love the sincerity and truth of the words. I have a true testimony that we choose our lives and what we will become. Yes, sometimes bad things happen to good people. But it is typically not the trial that is the test, it is how we handle the trial and rise above it. That is how we prove ourselves to our maker. 

This is what I have chosen, and together we have it all.