Freedom of Religion

I read this particular verse about what Lamoni did after he and Ammon returned back to Ishmael (Lamoni's kingdom):

"And he also declared unto them that they might have the liberty of worshiping the Lord their God according to their desires, in whatsoever place they were in, if it were in the land which was under the reign of king Lamoni." (Alma 21:22)

He had built up synagogues, and taught people and had Ammon teach people, because sure, he wanted them to have what he had, just like any good missionary.

However, the thing that jumped out to me was that this freedom of religion is super important. I don't always appreciate what I have, growing up in the United States. This right to worship is something that is worth fighting for. Really, it is just an earthly expression of what Heavenly Father wants for us -- our agency. We need the ability to choose for ourselves.

Anyway, not a long post, but I just thought I'd share that I had a feeling of gratitude as I read this verse, that I live where I live and have the freedoms that I have. I love that I can just worship the way I choose, without any governmental entity telling me what I can and can't do in that regard.

I am blessed to be here in this place and alive in this time.

Trust in Revelation

Ammon was asked by King Lamoni to accompany him to go visit with Lamoni's father, the king over all the land.

"And the voice of the Lord came to Ammon, saying: Thou shalt not go up to the land of Nephi, for behold, the king will seek thy life; but thou shalt go to the land of Middoni; for behold, thy brother Aaron, and also Muloki and Ammah are in prison." (Alma 20:2)

Ammon, having heard about his brothers, tells Lamoni that he can't go with him, because he had to free his brethren. Lamoni just trusts Ammon, but offers to help. Then, almost as an afterthought, Lamoni said "Who told thee that they brethren were in prison?" Ammon replied, "No one hath told me, save it be God;".

Both Lamoni and Ammon prepare immediately and head out toward Middoni. At least in the record, neither of them even hesitated. They just went trying to do what the Lord had told them to do.

Interestingly, they meet up with King Lamoni's father along the way, and an exchange happens between them that I will discuss more in detail later, but they get an opportunity to get sign-off from Lamoni's father to free Ammon's brethren.

I think it's one thing to act on a prompting, maybe to call a friend, or to do something nice for someone. It's really a different thing to pack up and begin to travel to a place where clearly there is danger (or else why would Ammon's brethren have been imprisoned in the first place?), and they just go, no questions asked.

I hope I can recognize the voice of the Lord in my own life and have that much trust and faith in the promptings I receive, every day. It's definitely something I need to improve on.