In the Book of Mormon we read that the Messiah came to redeem the children of men from the fall. Men are free to act for themselves, to know good from evil and be able to choose. They can choose righteously and receive liberty and eternal life or they can choose evil and receive captivity and death. If we look to the great Mediator and hearken to His commandments, and are faithful to the end, we will receive eternal life. If we choose evil, we give the devil power to reign over us and bring us down to hell. Lehi spoke these words in the last days of his life and stated that his only object was the everlasting welfare of our souls. 2 Nephi 2:26-30 "And the Messiah cometh in the fulness of time, that he may redeem the children of men from the fall. And because that they are redeemed from the fall they have become free forever, knowing good from evil; to act for themselves and not to be acted upon, save it be by the punishment of the law at the great and last day, according to the commandments which God hath given. Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself. And now, my sons, I would that ye should look to the great Mediator, and hearken unto his great commandments; and be faithful unto his words, and choose eternal life, according to the will of his Holy Spirit; And not choose eternal death, according to the will of the flesh and the evil which is therein, which giveth the spirit of the devil power to captivate, to bring you down to hell, that he may reign over you in his own kingdom. I have spoken these few words unto you all, my sons, in the last days of my probation; and I have chosen the good part, according to the words of the prophet. And I have none other object save it be the everlasting welfare of your souls. Amen."
In the Old Testament I read that the Lord led the children of Israel in the wilderness for 40 years in order to prove them to know whether they would keep the commandments or not. He humbled and chastened them, feeding them with manna and preventing their clothing from getting old. They were commanded to keep the commandments of the Lord, walk in His ways, and reverence Him. Deuteronomy 8:2-6 "And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no. And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live. Thy raiment waxed not old upon thee, neither did thy foot swell, these forty years. Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son, so the Lord thy God chasteneth thee. Therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, and to fear him."
Some verses with a thought booklet remind us that it's not enough to merely hear the word of God, we need to obey it and do what it says. James 1:22-24 "But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was."
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