Nephi saw in a vision that “many multitudes of Gentiles” would one day be led to his promised land, the Americas. He prophesied that “their mother Gentiles” would be “gathered together upon the waters, and upon the land also, to battle against them” (1 Nephi 13:14, 17). He described their victory over their oppressors this way:
I, Nephi, beheld that the Gentiles who had gone forth out of captivity did humble themselves before the Lord; and the power of the Lord was with them. …
And I, Nephi, beheld that the Gentiles that had gone out of captivity were delivered by the power of God out of the hands of all other nations.
1 Nephi 13:16, 19
While this could refer to any number of countries, it appears to have specific reference to the American Revolution. Notice the way Nephi describes this event: These people who had been oppressed by their former nations were delivered by the power of God because they humbled themselves before Him. They didn’t achieve this by force of will nor by clever strategy. God delivered them because they needed His help and because they relied on Him.
Lehi declared that God intended this land to be a place of liberty:
There shall none come into this land save they shall be brought by the hand of the Lord.
Wherefore, this land is consecrated unto him whom he shall bring. And 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 1:6-7
And Moroni made a similar conditional promise:
Behold, this is a choice land, and whatsoever nation shall possess it shall be free from bondage, and from captivity, and from all other nations under heaven, if they will but serve the God of the land, who is Jesus Christ, who hath been manifested by the things which we have written.
Ether 2:12
For those of us who are celebrating Independence Day in the United States, these are meaningful and sobering promises. God intends for us to be free, and He will preserve our liberty if we will follow Him. Just as the founders of the United States were delivered from captivity after they humbled themselves and put their trust in God, we will continue to enjoy that liberty as we continue that pattern of faithfulness.
Today, I will be grateful for the blessings of liberty which I inherited as a result of the faithfulness of earlier generations. I will remember that God wants me to be free and that He will help me to overcome every form of captivity if I will trust Him and follow Him.
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