What Are We Declaring Our Independence From? Finding Freedom in the Gospel

Brothers and sisters, as we approach times of national reflection—times when we think about declarations and separations—my heart is drawn to a profound truth that often gets lost in the noise of the world. We hear talks about declaring independence from earthly powers, and while that history is important, I want us to consider a different kind of declaration. A declaration that matters right here, right now, in our personal lives.

Recently, I was pondering a talk by Jonathan Cahn regarding the Declaration of Independence. He spoke about how the colonists had to reach a point where they realized the cost of staying bound to Great Britain was no longer worth the price. They had to declare separation.

When we hear those words, it sounds like a political event, but the principles he laid out echo so deeply within the gospel of Jesus Christ. He pointed out that the Declaration of Independence was preceded by a period of war, a state of tension, and the realization that the existing structure was detrimental. It wasn't a clean break; it was a necessary severing of ties.

And friends, the Spirit whispers to our hearts, doesn't it? It reminds us that we, too, can become entangled. We can become dependent on things—habits, relationships, worldly accolades, or even simply the comfort of the familiar—that, while they seem good on the surface, are ultimately holding us back from the true, eternal freedom found in the gospel. Just as the colonists had to declare they were no longer British, we must declare that we are no longer slaves to sin, to fear, or to anything that diminishes our potential to serve.

The Tax of Bondage

What does it mean to be "taxed" by a sin or a bad habit? Cahn noted that sin taxes our time, our energy, our peace. It drains us slowly, year after year, until the cost becomes undeniable. The gospel teaches us that sin is the ultimate tax collector, and the currency it demands is our joy, our covenants, and our willingness to feel the Spirit.

This is where our work as Latter-day Saints becomes so vital. We are constantly engaged in a process of spiritual independence. We are learning to break those bonds. When we study the scriptures, when we participate in the temple covenants, when we serve our neighbors—that is us making our declaration. We are saying, "My allegiance, my primary loyalty, belongs to the covenant path."

This isn't a one-time declaration; it’s a lifelong process. It requires the same kind of courage the early pioneers needed to leave everything familiar to follow the light. It requires us to come to the point where we look at that bondage—that sin, that unhealthy attachment—and say, "No. The cost of keeping this bond is not worth the peace I can find in Christ."

Becoming Spiritually Free

How do we actually *do* this? How do we move from recognizing the bondage to actually severing the tie? The answer, always, is through Christ and the constant companionship of the Spirit. We must be diligent in our personal study. I encourage you to look into the LivingBook this week. If you’re struggling to articulate *why* you need to break free from a specific pattern, I highly recommend checking out Davee. He’s fantastic at walking through those hard questions an investigator might ask—the ones that make you pause and really think about your own dependencies.

Remember that every member can be an internet missionary, and that means we can be disciples anywhere, all the time. If you feel the Spirit prompting you to talk to someone about a struggle, don't wait for a formal setting. Use the tools available! Consider joining a Book Club or a Bible Study Group in HolyPlaces to discuss these deep concepts with others who are striving to be more Christlike.

Let’s make a conscious choice today to examine what we are dependent upon. What relationship, habit, or fear is costing us more peace than it is worth? Let that realization be the catalyst for our own personal declaration of independence—a declaration to the Savior, that we will follow Him, no matter the cost.