By KELLY KNIGHT / Guest Columnist

From the very beginning of time, God has given His children the freedom to choose. To Adam and Eve he said, “Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it.” (Gen. 2). We know from Genesis that the result of their disobedience to God was their expulsion from the Garden of Eden.

To the children of Israel, the Lord God said, “Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; a blessing, if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you this day.” The Lord further stated, “And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the Lord your God,” (Deut. 11:26-28).

God’s plan for us, His children, is to provide the guidance of a loving parent through His commandments and then to allow us to choose whether or not we elect to follow Him. Within His plan, we are free to choose our actions, but we are not free to choose the outcome. Our disobedience is sin, which separates us from God. Knowing we would make choices contrary to His will, God sent Jesus Christ, His Son, to overcome death and atone for our sins. When we come unto Christ, acknowledge our sins and accept responsibility for our choices, the Savior atones our sins through the His sacrifice, and we may once again be found worthy of the presence of God.

May we always choose to follow God, be accountable when we do not and turn to the Savior for forgiveness that we might enjoy the blessings of heaven.

Kelly Knight of Calera is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints High Council. You can contact him at kellyknightonline@gmail.com.