I awoke this morning with the words of this hymn running through my mind.  I don’t often hear it sung, but the hymn has a wonderful message for us all about the eternal nature of God’s gift of personal freedom.

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.

“Know This, That Every Soul Is Free,” Hymns of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, no. 240

Text: Anon., ca. 1805, Boston. Included in the first LDS hymnbook, 1835.

Music: Roger L. Miller, b. 1937. © 1985 IRI