FREEDOM!!!

Almost ten years ago, I read a book called The Four Hour Work Week by Timothy Ferris where he describes his hack for working away from an office, having both time and money.  The "new rich" are those who have no stuff of the world to bind them down, they are mobile and free.  I sure liked the idea of freedom, it was so synergistic with what I wanted.  When I read the book I was so excited about it that I couldn't sit still.  I would periodically get up and run around the room laughing.  This was the most wonderful book I had ever read in my life.  I was going to do it!  I was there!  I wanted freedom more than anything in the world.

Well, as it turned out, life happened differently from my plans and ideas.  Within a couple of years I found myself in the middle of a divorce, and then a new business, and next a new marriage and family that tripled my responsibility.  Every time I turned around I would have another line staked to the ground, like Gulliver.  I now have thirteen children and four houses in two states, four jobs (two full-time and two part-time), and I'm tied down so tight by my own sense of duty that it seems I'll never get away.  I'm not happy.  I wanted freedom, and got instead so many more tethers to tie me down to one spot.  Instead of enjoying life, I'm hating it!

Types of freedom
We live in a world with millions of intelligent beings that have ideas of how life works -- these are the philosophies of men.  People who are not lazy will go after what they want, and those who are lazy also get what they want.  All of us find a way to get what we want.  Tim Ferris wanted freedom, and he found a way to do it.  When I read his philosophy, I saw that I could do what he did, and it was so exciting to me, because that's what I wanted, and I could see a way out.  I could do it!  However, it was not to be.  The Lord had a higher calling for me.  I had to learn about the different types of freedom.

There are two types of freedom:

1. Freedom from responsibility 
2. Freedom of responsibility

Children are in the first category.  They are completely free from responsibility for themselves.  They have parents to take care of them, allowing them to do anything they want, however, they have boundaries.  The parents will limit their activities to those things that are safe, setting guidelines, and even physically restraining them in car seats, high chairs or cribs.  Thus, while there is a measure of freedom, children are not really free to do whatever they desire.  Many children buck against these restraints, but good parents are firm.

Adults are free to do as they please.  Without the oversight of parents, adults can make decisions for their lives according to their own desires.  However, there are still restraints and limits.  We all need the work of others in order to get what we want.  We need thousands of people working for airlines to fly us from one place to another.  We need all the farmers growing the food so we can eat.  We need people who invent cool gadgets that allow us to communicate... and so forth.  In order to get the goods and services of others, we need to provide others with something valuable.  We can use our brain or brawn to provide something for the needs and wants of others in a fair exchange.  So, we work.  Other restraints include the laws of our land that allow us to live together in peace.  We aren't completely free, but within these parameters we have a great deal of latitude.

This is what got me so excited.  I would be free to do what I wanted, without any responsibility to tie me down.  My business would be impersonal, I can provide a service without being there -- they could watch me on You Tube and get all the information.  I could be anywhere and speak with them on Skype.  The loose bonds with others would allow me to do what I wanted, to go where I wanted, and be whatever I wanted.  It's all about me!  I'm the lone ranger, free to do as I please!  It's real freedom from responsibility.  It feels so unconstrained.  It's intoxicating!

The paradox of freedom
However, there is more to freedom.  The highest level of freedom is being bound to others more tightly.  The connections of love that we form as we care for others is so much greater than being able to do anything we want.  Taking on responsibility allows us to be more than we can be alone.  We have power in unity with others.  Becoming one with others is true freedom.  The more people we are bound to, the more power we have.  More power gives us so much more freedom.

There are many paradoxes in the word "freedom."  True freedom is being bound to the right things, and loosed from the rest.  Being bound to God is freedom, bound by covenants, commitments, and commandments.  In like manner, being bound to a family is freedom.  Being bound by your work where you make a contribution to the world.  When people work together in harmony on a common goal, there is something called synergy.

Synergy is where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.  Relationships bring synergy, "some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold."  (Matthew 13:8)  The closer we are to others, the greater is the potential.  A family is very binding, requiring that we give up a lot of things we want.  We need a place to raise the children so we get a mortgage, they need to be taught so we put together schools.  As the children grow, they have different needs, and we become bound to so many things, taking on more responsibilities for soccer teams, boy scouts, play practices, dance recitals, and so forth -- ad infinitum.  All of these things bring groups of people together to reach a common goal.  We have synergy in the relationships.

Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.
Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them:
(Psalm 127:3-5) 

People take time and effort.  Relationships are built as we get to know the heart of others by caring for them.  It is a process that takes many years and a great deal of effort.  If we are never bound to others, we don't forge a relationship.  The efforts of freedom from responsibility are wasted on ourselves, and we end up alone and miserable.  However, when we take responsibility for others, we develop a bond of trust and love, bringing ultimate happiness.  The more people we care for, the more connected we will be, and the happier we are.

True Freedom
The greatest freedom comes with even more strings attached.  In fact, it is the exact opposite of what I got so excited about when I read that book.  Instead of being set free to do whatever I wanted, I was given responsibility for others, being tied down to my family, my employees, and my patients -- and then to God.  God brings people together for unity, power, and happiness.  The Prophet Joseph Smith explained how happiness is being bound to God:

“Happiness is the object and design of our existence; and will be the end thereof, if we pursue the path that leads to it; and this path is virtue, uprightness, faithfulness, holiness, and keeping all the commandments of God.”

I wanted freedom from responsibility, but I got freedom of responsibility.  I wanted to do everything I wanted, but had to give up all I wanted.  I was asking for one thing, but got the opposite because I didn't know what I really wanted.  God was merciful and loving by not giving me what I thought I wanted, but rather what I really wanted, but couldn't understand.  I couldn't see how freedom comes from sacrifice.

Sacrificing our will brings us closer to God.  He has all knowledge and all power so when we're connected to Him, we participate in what He has.  A relationship with God is built over time as we bind ourselves to Him, submitting completely to Him, not doing our own pleasures or desires, but rather only His will.  This is the ultimate synergy, as it leads us to infinity where there is no end to our potential.  Paradoxically, the more we are bound to God, the more we are empowered to become ourselves because we learn the truth about ourselves.  Now, I'm happier than ever!  I love the freedom of responsibility because I love the connections of the heart!  I love truth!

Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
(John 8:31-32)