"Celebrating Independence"

One of my grandkids asked me if they have a 4th of July where we live in Brazil.  Well, they do, but it is actually on the 2nd of July.  That is the day the state of Bahia (where we live) celebrates their independence. For today's post I thought I would share the letter that David wrote to our missionaries this week regarding both personal and national independence.  I loved what he wrote.

Dear Missionaries,

Happy Independence Day!

On Saturday, July 2, the state of Bahia, Brazil celebrated it’s independence from Portugal. It was the famous battle of Pirajá right here in Salvador on July 2, 1823 that sent the Portuguese away and ultimately was the turning point for Brazil’s complete independence even though São Paulo was liberated on September 7, 1822.

Today, (July 4)  the United States celebrates it’s independence from England.  The United States “declared” it’s independence on July 4, 1776 but didn’t win it until several years later after many bloody battles. This battle for freedom was largely a battle for the freedom to worship God according to man’s own personal conscience. This battle for freedom led to the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ upon the earth in 1830. 

Why is freedom so important to mankind?  Why are we willing to fight and die for it?  Our freedom to think, to act, to worship, to protect our families and pursue our personal happiness is at the core of humanity and is a god-given right within us all. (Alma 46:12-13.)

The greatest freedom man can have is the freedom from the grasp of satan. Having faith in Jesus Christ, repenting and being baptized are the first steps to experience true freedom and ultimately enter the kingdom of God! (3 Nephi 11:38-40) We are all in a battle for freedom from temptation and we are on the front lines, battling satan’s army.  He wants to enslave us, chain us with bad habits and self indulgence, self pity and selfishness. (2 Nephi 26:22) Jesus Christ wants to liberate us and does so by teaching us to have faith in Him, repent, be baptized and be filled with the Holy Ghost and “speak with the tongue of angels.” (2 Nephi 31:13) What greater expression of freedom is there than to have the Holy Ghost with us?

It is my testimony that true freedom for all mankind comes only through the atonement of Jesus Christ which not only frees us from the fall of Adam and Eve but from our own personal sins and from the chains of the evil one. It is my testimony that He lives and wants to liberate us all if we will but repent, keep His commandments and confess His hand in all things. (D&C 59:21)

I pray that this last week of the transfer will be your best week and that you will yet encounter others who are seeking true freedom.  I pray that you may be free of bad thoughts, temptation and feel of the influence of the Holy Ghost in your life every day this week!  

Sister Lisonbee and I love you and pray for you constantly!

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

President Lisonbee