"Stand Forever" Ep. 27 | The Truth—The Truth Shall Make You Free | Elder Lawrence E. Corbridge

People at times criticize the Church, claiming it unreasonably restricts lifestyle and free choice. This point of view, while understandable, is truth turned upside-down. There is no freedom without choice and there is no choice without knowledge. Agency is expanded, not restricted by knowledge of truth. The greater the knowledge, the broader the agency and the greater the freedom. One cannot, for example, choose an eternal family, to be sealed to one’s spouse and children without the knowledge of sealing ordinances, priesthood, and the Restoration. One cannot choose to live the law of chastity without understanding the law and the consequences of obedience and disobedience. Many people do not understand and, therefore, they are not free to choose.The Lord reveals knowledge, line upon line, precept upon precept gently expanding agency commensurate with one’s capacity to understand and obey.Only by gaining knowledge are people “placed in a state to act according to their wills.” Otherwise, there is no decision to be made, no choice, no agency, no freedom—only the bondage of ignorance.