This was originally posted on the web site http://www.redefinegod.com.
Recent discussions have led me as of late to ponder the idea of freedom, and what is true freedom of liberty. My mind was drawn to reflect upon one of the lessons in my History Class at BYU-ID. My professor was an interesting guy, and one of my favorite teachers ever. He made history interesting enough for a group of college students to enjoy and stay awake at 9am. Prof. Lenhart had an interesting take on the world and history. He sought to understand the importance of certain events by studying the culture surrounding them. He would define baseline cultures (a common set of problems and their solutions that unites a group of people) and study how the events, when compared to that baseline culture. Bro. Lenhart, by some would be considered somewhat heretical (especially at predominantly Mormon university).
One of his comments that some thought crazy was his comment that The Star Spangled banner should not be our national anthem. He said it was good and all, but he said a more appropriate example of the beliefs that helped found the nation are in the words to America the Beautiful. There is one particular phrase in one of the verses that he clamed personified the ideals of the founding fathers. These ideas also illustrate an important principle regarding freedom in the eyes of God.
For more than a century the British Colonies had existed. While still under the direction leadership of Brittain, the distance allowed for the Americans to learn the basics of Government. They had established growing cities, and had learned what he called the "trench work of the terrestrial." They had learned to govern themselves. They had learned the importance of what some might consider the mundane topics discussed at a city council meeting." They knew how to handle the little things. In their protests, they demonstrated a great deal of self control. The Boston Tea party is a great example. It was very orderly, and those involved were kind and polite. Phillip Deloria wrote:
"No one tried to stop the tea party, least of all the crowd of spectators gathered on the well-lit wharf. When they had finished, the raiders cleaned up the ships, apologized to the guards for a broken lock, and went home to wash off their war paint. The tea party had been street theater and civil disobedience of the most organized kind. In full costume, the actors had waited patiently in the wings for Francis Rotch to deliver his lines. And the appointed guardians of social order had willingly turned a blind eye and deaf ear in order to facilitate the citizens' effort to resolve an apparently unresolvable standoff." - Playing Indian, Philip Jospeh Deloria
The Declaration of Independence is another example of the American's experience in the "trench work of the terestrial." Most often quoted is the opening "we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the persuit of Happiness...." and so on. Most americans know this part because it is the interesting part. The rest, is a list of greivences against the monarch in England. It looks like a list of issues to be raised in a city council meeting. It was very organized, and effective in declaring why the colonies were seeking to be independent.
The main idea I want to focus on in this discussion of freedom is the part that reads:
...to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.
I do not want to get into politics at all. It want to discuss the principle of freedom through consent to be governed, and how the principle applies to the commandments and laws of God.
In society, the principle of submitting yourself to a higher authority is pretty well understood. Laws are established by governments. Obedience to these laws brings freedom to enjoy life. Disobedience brings penalties, fines, and even inprisonment. One is still free to do all he wants, but if he wants to enjoy that freedom, he has to abide by the set laws. Even if we disagree with the laws, obdeience to them ensures our freedom.
This principle is generally accepted by most people in regards to secular government, but it is often rejected when considering the need of Religion and God. As with many on this board, the concept of submitting oneself to the laws that God has established is considered enslavement or psychological imprisonment.
The Laws of God - For our own benefitprotection.
Our Heavenly Father's ultimate work and glory is to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. To achieve this goal, rules and conditions were laid down as part of an eternal plan that would bring the salvation and eternal happiness of his children. Joseph Smith taught: There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated— And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated. - Doctrine and Covenants 130: 20-21
These eternal laws were established before the creation of the world. They were revealed to Adam, as the first man, and have been taught in every age where a prophet of God has walked the earth. Obedience to them brought the blessings of heaven. These laws are eternal and universal. They will bring joy and hapiness to all who abide by them.
God's greatest gift to man is the ability to choose our actions. Like in normal society, we are free to choose to obey the established laws or not. No man can force us to obey. As one of my favorite LDS hymns says, "God will force no man to heaven." He will persuade, direct, and do all he can to help us make the right choice, but in the end, the choice lies with us.
We can choose to submit ourselves to the laws which God has outlined, and receive the blessings or spend our lives searching for some other method.
The Burger King Doctrine - Have it your way
Given such freedom of choice, there are many who prefer to things their way. There are people who feel they can find a better more suitable way to live. Many reject the living God and replace him with some other form of "deity" be it intellect or science or a statue. Some try and walk the path of God and the world together. They are like stubborn teenages who think that their parents don't know what they are talking about. They feel their parents rules restrict them and keep them from having fun. they argue and fight their parents tooth and nail.
I was like this. I was always angry at my parents because they wouldn't let me do the things I wanted to. All my friends had later curfews. I wanted to stay out with them. If I broke curfew, I'd be punished. I hated these restrictions. Eventually I realized that by complying with my parents rules and submitting myself to them, I truly became free.
There is one line in "America the Beautiful" which my History professor emphasized that sums up this post: Confirm thy soul in self control, thy liberty in law!
True liberty comes through obedience to the law. By submitting ourselves to the law, we become free. For example, God has commanded his children to avoid wine and strong drink. To some this might seem like a huge restriction, especially in a world where alcohol is so prevalent. Yet, he who never drinks never risks becoming an alcoholic.
Most of the commandments of God are like a funnel. They may seem strict and hard at first, but as one conforms to them, the Lord blesses them and opens the doors. He will open their hearts to the Spirit and they will find treasures of knowledge. While restricted in this life, they will ultimately be free in the next...Free to progress in knowledge and light for all eternity. All other means will ultimately fail. If one embraces "freedom" and lives by their own will, they will one day be held accountable for the laws they disregarded. They will find themselves trapped by the knowledge that had they obeyed the laws of God, they would be truly free, obtaining all that the Father has. They will recognize that God's judgements are just, and they missed out on eternal freedom
It takes self control and discipline to submit one's will to that of a higher authority. It takes humility to accept there is a better way. It takes effort to live and do the "trench work of the terrestrial." As one humbly bends his will to follow that of God's one learns what true freedom is. I testify that these principles are true. True freedom comes only through the submission of one's will unto God's.
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