"And those sons of the people of Ammon, of whom I have so highly spoken, are with me in the city of Manti; and the Lord has supported them, yea, and kept them from falling by the sword, insomuch that even one soul has not been slain.
But behold, they have received many wounds; nevertheless they stand fast in that liberty wherewith God has made them free; and they are strict to remember the Lord their God from day to day; yea, they do observe to keep his statutes, and his judgments, and his commandments continually; and their faith is strong in the prophecies concerning that which is to come.
And now, my beloved brother, Moroni, may the Lord our God, who has redeemed us and made us free, keep you continually in his presence; yea, and may he favor this people, even that ye may have success in obtaining the possession of all that which the Lamanites have taken from us, which was for our support. And now, behold, I close mine epistle. I am Helaman, the son of Alma."
Alma 58:39-41
The way that we often interpret liberty and freedom seems at odds with the way that God thinks about it. Here, the stripling warriors are standing fast in liberty, but also strictly remembering God and keeping his commandments. Instead of being free *from* God, they are free *in,* or because of God.
I think that is the real disconnect in our lives. If all we want is to be free from God, it is super easy to walk away from him. But we can't be free from the consequences of our choices. Walking away from God is going to make us miserable, soon or late. Sticking with God is the way to happiness, despite any sorrow and hardship along the way.
Today, let's think about what we are really looking for, and seek the right kind of freedom: the freedom to choose and live and love, rather than getting bound down to sin and misery.
But behold, they have received many wounds; nevertheless they stand fast in that liberty wherewith God has made them free; and they are strict to remember the Lord their God from day to day; yea, they do observe to keep his statutes, and his judgments, and his commandments continually; and their faith is strong in the prophecies concerning that which is to come.
And now, my beloved brother, Moroni, may the Lord our God, who has redeemed us and made us free, keep you continually in his presence; yea, and may he favor this people, even that ye may have success in obtaining the possession of all that which the Lamanites have taken from us, which was for our support. And now, behold, I close mine epistle. I am Helaman, the son of Alma."
Alma 58:39-41
The way that we often interpret liberty and freedom seems at odds with the way that God thinks about it. Here, the stripling warriors are standing fast in liberty, but also strictly remembering God and keeping his commandments. Instead of being free *from* God, they are free *in,* or because of God.
I think that is the real disconnect in our lives. If all we want is to be free from God, it is super easy to walk away from him. But we can't be free from the consequences of our choices. Walking away from God is going to make us miserable, soon or late. Sticking with God is the way to happiness, despite any sorrow and hardship along the way.
Today, let's think about what we are really looking for, and seek the right kind of freedom: the freedom to choose and live and love, rather than getting bound down to sin and misery.
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