You can't choose consequences.

Growing up in the bible belt meant that a lot of people I associated with, was not of the LDS faith. When the discussion of Mormonism was brought up, the "rules" we have almost always followed.
No alcohol.
No sex before marriage.
No coffee.
No smoking.
No swearing.
Etc.

A lot of people seem to be under the assumption that we can't break a rule, otherwise we'll be kicked out of the church. Or that if you did those things, you were a bad Mormon.
This felt unsettling to me for a long time. I wasn't sure how to answer these assumptions. It was difficult for me to explain that these "rules" were not the core of our religion.
The church is there to welcome people from every manner of life, no matter how "good" or "bad" you are. The church is a place for people to make themselves better, no matter where they are at on the "righteous" scale.
It's not that we can't do any of those things, we totally can, it's the consequences that you can't choose.
For example, every member of the church is allowed to choose whether they drink coffee. We don't kick people out of the church for breaking that rule. They are there so you don't have to suffer the consequences of things, like addiction.

In Acts 27, Paul is goes on a perilous voyage. Before departing, Paul foresaw into the future and determines that this voyage would be a disaster and warns the people to not leave. Despite Paul's warning, the voyage continued because all of the conditions seemed to be perfect.
In verse 14-15 it says, "But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon. And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive."

They lost total control of the ship. That was the consequence of their actions.
They had the option so sail or not, Paul didn't take that away from them, but since they went against what he advised, they had to suffer those consequences.

I think that's why a lot of members follow the rules we have. It's not because we'll get kicked out of the church, it's because we don't like the consequences.
You are always free to make your own choices, but you're not free to make your own consequences.

Don't forget to be awesome!