To see if we will do all things He has commanded

This life is an exam. We are the subject of the examination. Down here on earth we will find ourselves in all sorts of different circumstances, up against all kinds of challenges, struggling against all manner of temptations, having the opportunity to seize all kinds of opportunities. God is watching, always watching. Watching, but not always intervening, because the test is to see what we will do. As the prophet Alma puts it, we are

...in the first place... left to choose good or evil;

And if we choose the right,

...therefore they having chosen good, and exercising exceedingly great faith, are called with a holy calling.... 

That first statement impresses me, that we are left to choose good or evil. We are free to choose our life and what we'll be, for good or no.We are in the drivers seat. We our manning the steering wheel of our own vessel.

Of course God has given us the Spirit of Christ which is an innate gift everybody receives that helps us know instinctively what is right and what is wrong. Additional heavenly guidance is available through prayer, scripture study, and receiving the gift of the constant guidance of the Holy Ghost after baptism. Still more Divine direction is available as we align our lives with the commandments of God and serve Him in His Temples.

Even with all these guiding tools, however, the choice is still always in our own hands. We are left to choose good or evil. God can make our conscience burn, He can send the Holy Ghost to whisper in our ears with a still, small voice, He can even send a prophet to preach to us. But He will never force the human mind. He respects our ability choose for ourselves the way we will go.

I am thankful for how perfectly respectful God is of our ability to choose for ourselves between good and evil. I am grateful for the invaluable guidance He gives me on a daily basis. I hope that at the end of this examination it can be said of me that I made my choices wisely and chose Him faithfully.