Battle for Freedom

Happy Memorial day everyone! I've been thinking lately about Memorial Day and how it relates to the gospel. On Memorial day we remember those who have died fighting for our freedom, and the defense of our rights. I am so grateful for these incredibly brave men and women who gave their lives to ensure that we would have better lives of our own. There have been many wars fought, and millions of lives given in the defense of our country and freedom over the past few centuries. However, the battle for our freedom actually started much, much, earlier than that. In the Pre-existence there were two plans presented: God the Father's plan of happiness and agency, and Lucifer's plan of bondage and "No risk salvation." Lucifer's plan centered around the idea that if we simply had no freedom to choose, we couldn't commit any sin, and therefore would be guaranteed a place back in heaven after our lives here. Of course, our Father in heaven would never accept a plan where we would be enslaved.   Lucifer was not happy when his plan was rejected.  Thus, the war in Heaven began.

It all started in the Pre-existence, but it certainly didn't end there. Lucifer, now Satan, is still relentlessly trying to take away our freedom and happiness. How does he do this? By getting us to commit Sin. You may wonder how sin takes away our freedom: Christ said that "Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin." (John 8:34) It turns out, that Sin itself is addictive. Whenever we sin, we take a step further away from God. Then Satan gains more control over us. Every time we sin, it becomes easier to sin again, and harder to stop sinning. Even in the very beginning, after Adam and Eve transgressed in the garden of Eden, Satan was then able to get the to do something they never would've done before: Hide from God.

In Moses 7: 25-26, Enoch the prophet sees a horrifying vision of Satan that shows what Satan is doing to the world: "...(Enoch) heard a loud voice saying: Wo, wo be unto the inhabitants of the earth. And he beheld Satan; and he had a great chain in his hand, and it veiled the whole face of the earth with darkness; and he looked up and laughed, and his angels rejoiced." Satan's chain that "veiled the whole face of the earth with darkness" represents sin. Every time we sin, no matter how small, Satan wraps his chain around us just a little bit tighter. If we were left on our own, the chain would only get tighter and tighter until we had no freedom left.

However, we are not, and never will be left alone. The ultimate martyr who died for our freedom was none other than Jesus Christ, the Son of God. When Christ performed the Atonement, He literally stepped inside our lives and broke the chains the hold each of captive. If we but turn to Him and use His infinite sacrifice, we will be freed from the chains of sin. Christ also said "If the son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." (John 8:36)

Let us never forget that the real battle for our freedom is still raging today.  The adversary wants to take our freedom away, but Christ died so that we could have infinite freedom. We know who will ultimately win this war. Because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, someday we will all truly be "free indeed." Of this I testify, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.