Nephi was apparently the first one to learn that God was leading his family not merely away from Jerusalem (the land of his father’s inheritance) but toward a promised land. (See 1 Nephi 2:4, 11, 20.) Soon after, his father Lehi began speaking of this land of promise as their destination. (See 1 Nephi 5:5.)
After arriving on the American continent, Lehi praised their new home as “a land which is choice above all other lands” (2 Nephi 1:5). What made this place special? Partly simply that it was theirs. God had given this land to Lehi and to his descendants “forever.” God had led them out of a destructive environment, and he was grateful to have a place where his family could flourish. And he didn’t think of this promise in exclusive terms. God had also given this land to “all those who should be led out of other countries by the hand of the Lord.” He even added “There shall none come into this land save they shall be brought by the hand of the Lord” (2 Nephi 1:5-6). So his descendants should be welcoming and accepting of others who might relocate here in search of peace and prosperity.
Another unique characteristic of this land was its tendency to foster freedom and independence:
If it so be that they shall serve him according to the commandments which he hath given, it shall be a land of liberty unto them; wherefore, they shall never be brought down into captivity; if so, it shall be because of iniquity; for if iniquity shall abound cursed shall be the land for their sakes, but unto the righteous it shall be blessed forever.
2 Nephi 1:7
Notice that this is freedom with a condition, freedom based on righteousness. In fact, he prophesied that when his descendants turned away from God, they would be “scattered and smitten” (2 Nephi 1:10-11).
It might seem ironic to claim liberty while also being bound to obey the law, but that is exactly the way Lehi talked about it. “Because that they are redeemed from the fall they have become free forever, knowing good from evil; to act for themselves and not to be acted upon, save it be by the punishment of the law at the great and last day, according to the commandments which God hath given” (2 Nephi 2:26). Freedom doesn’t mean absolution from the consequences of your actions. It means autonomy within the constraints of the law. When we are free, we are beholden to law, not to another person.
President Dallin H. Oaks described the liberty established by the Constitution of the United States in this way:
We are to be governed by law and not by individuals, and our loyalty is to the Constitution and its principles and processes, not to any office holder. In this way, all persons are to be equal before the law. These principles block the autocratic ambitions that have corrupted democracy in some countries.
“Defending Our Divinely Inspired Constitution,” General Conference, April 2021, italics in original
Today, I will be grateful to live in a land of liberty. I will remember that as a free citizen, I am beholden to law, and that our freedom is sustainable only to the degree that we act in accordance with God’s commandments.
Thank you, Paul, for sharing such timely and rock solid principles
of “law and liberty.” May we all cleave to these Divine Truths which will be our source of protection in times of imminent danger.
Thanks for your comment. When things get chaotic and noisy, it’s often best to return to first principles and make sure we’re grounded. I’m grateful that these truths are laid out so clearly in the Book of Mormon.