Submission

I've been working on creative non-fiction piece that explores the concept of submission. This is one of those tricky things that I constantly struggle with. I'm not a big fan of authority. Any kind. I like to be my own authority. The problem with that is that I'm not very good at governing myself. I've been trying to understand why people submit to things that are so difficult for them. How do one maintain faith in a dark and dreary world? When other people's choices take away some of your agency how to submit to the consequences of that? I was reading in Mosiah Chapter 21 and I find the example of the people of Limhi very enlightening:


And it came to pass that after many days the Lamanites began again to be stirred up in anger against the Nephites, and they began to come into the borders of the land round about.

3 Now they durst not slay them, because of the aoath which their king had made unto Limhi; but they would smite them on their bcheeks, and exercise authority over them; and began to put heavy cburdens upon their backs, and drive them as they would a dumb ass—

4 Yea, all this was done that the word of the Lord might be fulfilled.

The Lord had a plan for these people. He knew of them and He had given prophecies concerning them. Sometimes when we remember the times when we have had things revealed to us we have a greater understanding of our current sufferings.

5 And now the afflictions of the Nephites were great, and there was no way that they could deliver themselves out of their hands, for the Lamanites had surrounded them on every side.

6 And it came to pass that the people began to murmur with the king because of their afflictions; and they began to be desirous to go against them to battle. And they did afflict the king sorely with their complaints; therefore he granted unto them that they should do according to their desires.

7 And they gathered themselves together again, and put on their armor, and went forth against the Lamanites to drive them out of their land.

We cannot help but battle against injustice. We have to fight against it. We have to try. But....
8 And it came to pass that the Lamanites did beat them, and drove them back, and slew many of them.

9 And now there was a great mourning and lamentation among the people of Limhi, the widow mourning for her husband, the son and the daughter mourning for their father, and the brothers for their brethren.

Sometimes we will not win. Sometimes our fighting will only cause more suffering.

10 Now there were a great many widows in the land, and they did cry mightily from day to day, for a great fear of the Lamanites had come upon them.

11 And it came to pass that their continual cries did stir up the remainder of the people of Limhi to anger against the Lamanites; and they went again to battle, but they were driven back again, suffering much loss.

12 Yea, they went again even the third time, and suffered in the like manner; and those that were not slain returned again to the city of Nephi.

13 And they did humble themselves even to the dust, subjecting themselves to the yoke of bondage, submitting themselves to be smitten, and to be driven to and fro, and burdened, according to the desires of their enemies.

These people were subjected to the bondage of the Lamanites because of the choices of the people they associated with. They were forced to submit to the burdens that were placed upon them. They could not escape on their own.

14 And they did humble themselves even in the depths of humility; and they did cry mightily to God; yea, even all the day long did they cry unto their God that he would deliver them out of their afflictions.

This group of people were humbled and prepared for the arrival of a powerful missionary (Ammon). The yokes they bore were heavy and they suffered so much. However, in their afflictions they were open to personal revelation.

nevertheless the Lord did hear their cries, and began to soften the hearts of the Lamanites that they began to ease their burdens; yet the Lord did not see fit to deliver them out of bondage.

16 And it came to pass that they began to prosper by degrees in the land, and began to raise grain more abundantly, and flocks, and herds, that they did not suffer with hunger.

The Lord did not take away their burdens. He eased them. We have to be patient in our afflictions. Sometimes even when we do the right things, even when we pray for help and we serve and love and bear our burdens with humility, the Lord (in His infinite wisdom) sees fits to let us gain strength. He doesn't lift our burdens because they are lifting us. Our suffering becomes a gym in which we are able to excercise our spiritual muscles and grow. The people of Limhi did not know Ammon was coming. They did not know when the hour of their deliverance would come but they had faith and hope and they ministered to each other in the meantime. Cool.