Rites of worship, rights of (to) worship

I had yet another epiphany in my scripture study this evening, this time in relation to the use of a particular word. I'm not sure I had ever truly noticed it before. (It emphasizes the existence of orality in conjunction with literacy: speaking/hearing a word as opposed to reading it.)

The verse that stood out to me was Alma 43:45:

"Nevertheless, the Nephites were inspired by a better cause, for they were not fighting for monarchy nor power but they were fighting for their homes and their liberties, their wives and their children, and their all, yea, for their rites of worship and their church."

Because this is not long after king Mosiah established freedom of religion and several stories show that unbelievers could not be punished for their unbelief (only for crimes), I think I have always thought more of "rights" when I have read this in the past. They were fighting for the right to worship as they chose. But that does not describe it in its entirety. You see, no one can take away the right to worship--no one! Several stories come to mind as examples (and I am certain there are more):

1. From the Book of Mormon, Mosiah chapter 24: Alma and those who fled with him from king Noah were in bondage to the Lamanites and prayed to have their burdens lightened. When they were discovered, the Amulonites "put guards over them to watch them, that whosoever should be found calling upon God should be put to death" (verse 11). Were they successful in preventing Alma and his people from praying? Of course not! "And Alma and his people did not raise their voices to the Lord their God, but did pour out their hearts to him; and he did know the thoughts of their hearts" (verse 12). They held onto their rights.

2. Also from the Book of Mormon, Alma chapter 24: The Lamanites were angry that so many of their brethren had been converted unto the Lord. They came against them to kill them. 1,005 were killed. But did this take away their right to worship? No! "Now when the people saw that they were coming against them they went out to meet them, and prostrated themselves before them to the earth, and began to call on the name of the Lord; and thus they were in this attitude when the Lamanites began to fall upon them, and began to slay them with the sword. And thus without meeting any resistance, they did slay a thousand and five of them; and we know that they are blessed, for they have gone to dwell with their God" (verses 21-22). Many of them lost their lives, but they did not lose their right to worship. And because they exercised their right to worship, though they lost their mortal lives, they returned to their God.

3. From the Old Testament, Daniel chapter 6: King Darius's counselors asked him to enact a law "that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions" (verse 7). Did Daniel obey the king? Did the king or his counselors have power to take Daniel's right to worship? Again, no! "Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime" (verse 10). You know the story. The king was compelled to cast Daniel into the den of lions, but the angel of God shut the mouths of the lions. Daniel was spared, and the king was forced to acknowledge the power of God.

4. Also from the Old Testament, Daniel chapter 3: King Nebuchadnezzar created an image and issued the following decree: "To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages, That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up: And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace" (verses 4-6). Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego refused and put their trust in the Lord, and the king was so angry that he ordered the furnace to be made hotter. The men who cast them into the fiery furnace died because the heat was so great, but Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego not only walked freely in the furnace, but a fourth figure was seen with them. After calling them back out, King Nebuchadnezzar said, "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God" (verse 28).

Regardless of the end circumstances, each of the above stories illustrates that the right to worship cannot be taken. We will find ways to worship our God, even if it must be in secret.

But, oh, how much the meaning changes when we consider that they were fighting for their rites of worship. (And I believe this is particularly significant in light of the brief released by the Obama administration today. I am disappointed that our president wants to see prop 8 overturned and same sex marriage legalized.) What are rites? Rituals, outward acts. For members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (and for the Nephites in the Book of Mormon), I would say that these are outward ordinances, physical actions by which we enter into covenants with God. Can men or governments take away rites of worship? Unfortunately, the answer is yes. Because rites consist of physical actions and are often associated with specific locations, they can be taken or prevented. Locations could be destroyed, or we could be denied access to them. In the case of temple marriage and sealings, legal recognition could be denied. Rites of worship for those of other faiths could also be prevented or halted.

We are fighting an ongoing battle for our rites of worship. We fight this battle because we know there are ordinances associated with salvation and exaltation. It does not always require physical fighting, armor, or weapons. What it does require is faith and integrity. Will we remain true to our covenants? Will we remain true to our God? Will we give all, even to giving our lives, to preserve our religious freedom and the rites associated with it? In all of the stories I mentioned, the people were prepared to give their lives. Worshiping God was more important. Maintaining faith and integrity, keeping the covenants already made, took priority over their mortal lives. Some lives were spared. Some were not. All were blessed of God. And all helped to preserve the faith and the rites associated with it for themselves and for future generations. This battle continues. "Who's on the Lord's side? Who? Now is the time to show!"

Ammon was a missionary serving Lamanites

I have no idea how I have read the story of Ammon so many times and have never caught on to the symbolism and foreshadowing of him working with the king's sheep. (For anyone who doesn't know the story or would like to reread it, see Alma 17.) Take a look at these words from Alma 17:31:

"My brethren, be of good cheer and let us go in search of the flocks, and we will gather them together and bring them back unto the place of water; and thus we will preserve the flocks unto the king and he will not slay us."

Think about it. How many times has the Lord compared His children to sheep in the scriptures? In a way, Ammon did exactly the same thing with king Lamoni's sheep that he had come to do (and did) among king Lamoni's people.

"Let us go in search of the flocks..." Ammon and his brethren and the others who went with him went among the Lamanites to find those who would hear the gospel.

"... and we will gather them together..." The Lamanites who were converted unto Christ and His gospel began to worship in their own homes and lands. However, the day came when they had to gather as a group and make a decision as to where to go.

"... and bring them back unto the place of water..." Christ is the living water. In part, this was about bringing them to Christ. But there was also a sense of physically bringing them back. Those who were not converted took their weapons of war and came against the new converts. For their protection, they were physically brought back and given inheritance among the Nephites.

"... and thus we will preserve the flocks unto the king and he will not slay us." Ammon and his brethren did preserve the flocks. As already stated, they taught the gospel and repentance, and they led them to a physical place of safety. The preservation continued in both spiritual and physical ways. The gospel continued to be preached among them. But also, when the Lamanites came up on the Nephites and upon the people of Ammon (now living among the Nephites), the Nephites protected them and would not allow them to break their covenant by taking their weapons of war. The "flocks" were preserved for the King--for Christ--and, as promised to king Mosiah before his sons left, Ammon and his brethren and the converts ultimately received eternal life.

It seems so obvious. How have I missed it for so many years? It makes the story that much more beautiful. Working with the flocks was not just about serving king Lamoni. It was a parallel to Ammon's real purpose and mission among the Lamanites. It was really exciting to make that connection as I read today!