"Choose you this day whom ye will serve;...but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord," Joshua 24:15. God wants us to choose Him and His way but will never force us to righteousness. The truth is each person on earth has control over emotions and actions regardless of the choices and actions of others. Certainly, all people have feelings, but feelings are no excuse for inappropriate, illegal, and immoral actions or reactions.
"And I said unto them: Have ye inquired of the Lord?" 1 Nephi 15:8 Nevertheless, He doesn't send us to Earth without a means of learning to do the right thing. Like all His commandments, the commandment to pray always is for the benefit of man and not the benefit of God. Still, I believe He wants a personal relationship with me as I do with Him.
"Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ. Wherefore, I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do," 2 Nephi 32:3. Another means Heavenly Father has given us to determine the right path is His Holy Word.
"Yea, humble yourselves, and continue in prayer unto him. Cry unto him when ye are in your fields, yea, over all your flocks. Cry unto him in your houses, yea, over all your household, both morning, mid-day, and evening. Yea, cry unto him against the power of your enemies. Yea, cry unto him against the devil, who is an enemy to all righteousness. Cry unto him over the crops of your fields, that ye may prosper in them. Cry over the flocks of your fields, that they may increase. But this is not all; ye must pour out your souls in your closets, and your secret places, and in your wilderness. Yea, and when you do not cry unto the Lord, let your hearts be full, drawn out in prayer unto him continually for your welfare, and also for the welfare of those who are around you," Alma 34:19-27. The image I receive, when reading this passage, is that of intensity and not simply some rote, repetitious recitation. It brings to mind a questioning, trusting child. Grammy, why is this? Mommy, what is that? Daddy, how do you do that? Papa, may I do this? Brother, will you help me?
Ether 2-3 Heavenly Father wants to help and is waiting in the wings to do so. However, He won't force His will upon men neither will He deviate from His plan. He must allow for mistakes so that men might be humbled. He must allow evil and designing men and women to show their true colors.
"Behold, you have not understood; you have supposed that I would give it unto you, when you took no thought save it was to ask me. But, behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right. But if it be not right you shall have no such feelings, but you shall have a stupor of thought that shall cause you to forget the thing which is wrong; therefore, you cannot write that which is sacred save it be given you from me," Doctrine and Covenants 9:7-9. Finally, He doesn't want us to be robots or thoughtless. He wants us to use the blessing of human intelligence to work things out. Of course like little children, we must ask for permission. As little children, we don't have the same experience and cannot see the whole picture. Heavenly Father knows what is best for us and wants to help us down the path of joy and righteousness.
