Commandments: the Foundation of Freedom

When God led Israel out of slavery and bondage in Egypt, the first thing He did was give Israel the 10 Commandments which were intended to preserve their freedom.  If mankind knew nothing about God we would be ruled exclusively by our appetites and our fears-- mostly our fears. 

Lehi taught in the Book of Mormon that we are not free unless we are "enticed by the one or the other." Without a knowledge of God, there would be no two sides, there would only be the Law of the Jungle and as Korihor taught, "whatsoever a man did was no crime" but that "every man prospered according to his genius, and that every man conquered according to his strength".

However, because we know God and the Atonement of Christ; we have agency, a choice, and we are free to choose.  Because of God we can be hungry but choose to fast, we can feel tempted but choose to abstain, we can feel entitled but choose to give, and we can be offended but choose to forgive.