Know This—That Every Soul is Free … – Sunday, January 20, 1946
There would seem to be in all men an inborn desire to have others think as they think, and believe as they believe. All of us are pleased when others share our views; when the things we think are right, others also think are right; and when the things we think are wrong, others also think are wrong. Certainly in some respects it would simplify living and avoid many contests of will and of force if men were to share common convictions concerning the major issues of life. And certainly there are many basic principles of morality, of justice, of right, and of truth concerning which all men should think and believe alike. But sometimes we are liable to become intolerant, to become resentful of mankind in general and of individuals in particular when their thoughts are not in accordance with our thoughts, when they are not enthusiastic about some of the things for which we have great enthusiasm, when the values they place upon some things are different from the values we place upon them.
We are sometimes prone to set ourselves up as the measure by which all things should be appraised, and to judge all men by our standards and from our viewpoint. But we will never find anyone who thinks just as we think in all things. Moreover, no mortal man has ever been known to be right in all that he thinks. Therefore, so long as we are mortal and fallible, some divergence of thought in matters of opinion is a safeguard against our own limitations and fallibility. Assuredly, there is nothing wrong in and of itself with the desire to have other men think as we think. It is a natural and seemingly universal desire. But there may be much wrong with the methods sometimes used to bring this about. We are justified in moving men by persuasion, by reason, by conversion, by “patience and long-suffering,” but not by deception or coercion.
To force a man as to his thoughts and convictions is a violation of man’s free agency—even though we feel sure our way is the right way. The forcing of the mind is a practice which even the Lord God does not impose upon His children, much as He would like them to believe and to observe those things which He has commanded them for their own soul’s salvation:
“Know this, that every soul is free
To choose his life and what he’ll be;
For this eternal truth is given,
That God will force no man to heaven.
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.”
-William C. Gregg
“The Spoken Word,” heard over Radio Station K S L and the nationwide Columbia Broadcasting System, from the Tabernacle, Temple Square, Salt Lake City, Sunday, Jan. 120, 1946. Copyright 1946
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January 20, 1946
Broadcast Number 0,857