7 And thus endeth the fifteenth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi;
8 And this is the account of Ammon and his brethren, their journeyings in the land of Nephi, their sufferings in the land, their sorrows, and their afflictions, and their incomprehensible joy, and the reception and safety of the brethren in the land of Jershon. And now may the Lord, the Redeemer of all men, bless their souls forever.
My goodness! All this hell broke out within just 15 years from the time they became a truly free people, having no kings among them, but being ruled by the voice of the people through a system of laws and judges. Did their freedom raise the ire of him who loves to enslave? Perhaps. For Satan fights against agency at all costs. Perhaps the Father of Lies still believes his own lies, and believes that force and coercion are still superior to liberty and agency.
Ever meet someone who is more concerned about being right than doing what is right? Perhaps Satan is the Father of Stubbornness also, and the Father of Force. One thing is for sure. Everything he does is in opposition to agency. He seeks to force and control and manipulate and enslave. Our loving Father allows us to suffer if we choose to suffer, or have joy and peace if we choose those things. He will not violate our agency. And he should not. For agency is of priceless value and necessity, not only for our growth and progression, but for our happiness. We cannot be happy without choosing happiness. And we cannot be happy without knowing the opposite.
I love this quote by John Taylor:
I was not born a slave! I cannot, will not be a slave. I would not be slave to God! I'd be His servant, friend, His son. I'd go at His behest; but would not be His slave. I'd rather be extinct than be a slave. His friend I feel I am, and He is mine:—a slave! The manacles would pierce my very bones—the clanking chains would grate upon my soul—a poor, lost, servile, crawling wretch to lick the dust and fawn and smile upon the thing who gave the lash! . . . But stop! I'm God's free man: I will not, cannot be a slave! Living, I'll be free here, or free in life above—free with the Gods, for they are free. [B. H. Roberts, The Life of John Taylor, Bookcraft, 1963, p. 424]
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