Discipline, Freedom, and Really Good Jazz.

I have been thinking about freedom.   With all the talk in the last few chapters of Helaman  concerning how following commandments was giving away freedom,  I wanted to share this simple and weak (but the best I've got) analogy.

I like jazz, especially the parts that are  improvised.    To me, it is a great example of how discipline brings freedom.  Some people think improvisation is just music that is made up while it is being played, and they are right.    But in order to "make up" that music on the spot in front of an audience, not to mention the ruthless critics sitting behind you in the trumpet section, you have to know stuff and you have to be stuff.

Here is a piece of classical music:

Here is a chord progression for an improvised  blues solo.  

Now you tell me what sounds easier:  Playing what is placed before you, all thought out ahead of time by somebody else, or understanding, practicing, and memorizing a bunch of scales, arpeggios and riffs in all twelve keys so you can come up with something worthwhile on your own in real time.  

Playing improvisational jazz is an amazing kind of freedom,  but the cost of understanding it  enough to do it well takes huge piles of discipline beforehand.   The more scales you understand and the more riffs in the music files in your head and the more desire in your heart to create something beautiful,  the greater your level of freedom to improvise.

What does this have to do with the gospel?  Jesus talked about how being his disciple and continuing  in his word (I'm guessing that means practicing all the things he taught) would make the people free.  It is all right there in  John 8:31-34.

31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed.  (bold type added because disciple is related to discipline and I really want you to get that part if you hadn't already.  I know nothing of subtlety! Or grammar).   

32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

33 ¶They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?

34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.

Everyday we mortals mess up, give away our freedom, and become, to one degree or another, "the servant of sin."   Everyday we have the atonement of Jesus Christ, who bought our freedom with his love and sacrifice.  All we have to do is practice  the commandments he gave to keep us free in the first place.