FREEDOM!
We have been studying: The Making of America, The Federalist Papers, and
the Declaration in Independence.
These graphics illustrate some of what I have been learned.
Dr. Brooks has explained freedom as follows:
We are here on this Earth, we are born and have the ability to choose either, Light or Darkness. Commandments given from God, are what lead us to light. In the beginning of our life we are told what to do, we do things because we're told to do them, not because we want to do them.
As time goes on (from left to right of fig). we get older and we exercise our own will, As we are going along we get to a point where we choose to either follow the commandments (the left side of the triangles) , that lead to light (freedom side of figure),or we choose darkness by not following the commandments. The Commandments either become more of a burden to us and we turn away from them (arrows pointing back to the left).
or we embrace them and make them our own at which point we're through a tight and uncomfortable passage that has changed our will to the kind that knows what do you with freedom. We are on the other side where freedom then expands
“But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.” (Galatians 5:18)
At first when I read this I thought it meant “You can do whatever you want, as long as you say the spirit tells you to do it.” I knew this to be incorrect, so I looked into it farther. I realized that it means, If we follow the commandments long enough pretty soon we will only be guided but the spirit. The commandments are our training wheels. When we are trained to listen to the spirit and govern ourselves. The commandments are no longer a burden for us and we gain so much freedom! Nephi experienced this in Helaman 10:4-5 God says “Blessed art thou, Nephi, for those things which thou hast done; for I have beheld how thou hast with unwearyingness declared the word, which I have given unto thee, unto this people. And thou hast not feared them, and hast not sought thine own life, but hast sought my will, and to keep my commandments. And now, because thou hast done this with such unwearyingness, behold, I will bless thee forever; and I will make thee mighty in word and in deed, in faith and in works; yea, even that all things shall be done unto thee according to thy word, for thou shalt not ask that which is contrary to my will.” Nephi understood what it was like to have true freedom. His will and mind were in line with the Lords. We sometimes need rules and regulations to help form us into the people we need to become to fulfill our missions in life. Those that do not follow the commandments will never know what true freedom is.
