Freedom or Slavery

                The liberty principle for this Freedom Friday concerns our freedom to choose liberty or slavery.  There is much fear in the world and in our nation about ISIS since their attack on Paris.  We have reason to be fearful of them because they desire to destroy us and our way of life.  I believe that an even greater danger comes from progressives who are attempting to move our nation closer and closer to socialism and then communism.

                Elder Ezra Taft Benson served as President of the European Mission at the close of World War II, eight years as the US Secretary of Agriculture during the Eisenhower administration, and later as President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  He saw the “godless evil of the socialist-communist conspiracy on both sides of the iron curtain.”

                “I have talked face-to-face with the godless communist leaders.  It may surprise you to learn that I was host to Mr. Khrushchev [First Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, 1953-1964] for a half day when he visited the United States.  Not that I’m proud of it – I opposed his coming then and I still feel it was a mistake to welcome this atheistic murderer as a state visitor.  But according to President Eisenhower, Khrushchev had expressed a desire to learn something of American agriculture, and after seeing Russian agriculture I can understand why.

                “As we talked face-to-face, he indicated that my grandchildren would live under communism.  After assuring him that I expected to do all in my power to assure that his and all other grandchildren will live under freedom, he arrogantly declared in substance:

                “`You Americans are so gullible.  No, you won’t accept communism overnight, but we’ll keep feeding you small doses of socialism until you’ll finally wake up and find you already have communism.  We won’t have to fight you.  We’ll so weaken your economy until you’ll fall like over-ripe fruit into our hands.’

                “And they are ahead of schedule in their devilish scheme” (An Enemy Hath Done This, [1969], p. 320).

                Whether it is progressives, ISIS, or communism that threatens us, it does not really matter.  They all build their beliefs and programs on the foundation of Satan, who hates freedom and enslaves as many people as he can.  Our only safety from Satan and those who follow him is to turn to the God of this land, even Jesus Christ, the Son of God.  Heavenly Father gave us agency to give us the opportunity to freely choose who we would follow.  Satan offers us slavery, and God offers us freedom to grow, develop, and finally reach our full potential.  Freedom is very important to God; He wants all His children to be free to choose for themselves.  He will never force anyone to follow Him, but He does try to persuade us to do so.  As a nation, we must choose to turn our hearts to God.  I know that true freedom comes no other way than by following Jesus Christ!