In 1 Nephi 13 the Lord speaks about how many of the Gentiles are in captivity. This is brought up in connection with the Great and abominable church which takes away many of the plain and precious truths of the gospel. It's quite interesting to consider what is meant by captivity. The people in Europe were not in chains the entire time, so that isn't what's meant. Here's a few of the verses for you to consider:
8 And the angel spake unto me, saying: Behold the gold, and the silver, and the silks, and the scarlets, and the fine-twined linen, and the precious clothing, and the harlots, are the a of this great and abominable church.
9 And also for the a of the world do they b the saints of God, and bring them down into captivity.
12 And I looked and beheld a man among the Gentiles, who was separated from the seed of my brethren by the many waters; and I beheld the Spirit of God, that it came down and a upon the man; and he went forth upon the many waters, even unto the seed of my brethren, who were in the promised land.
13 And it came to pass that I beheld the Spirit of God, that it wrought upon other Gentiles; and they went forth out of captivity, upon the many waters.
19 And I, Nephi, beheld that the Gentiles that had gone out of captivity were a by the power of God out of the hands of all other nations.
It appears to me that captivity is a state in which you don't control certain things. When you're unable to worship as you'd like, you're in captivity. Also, if you're unable to read, you're held captive by not being able to learn and expand your thinking and learn. It's because there were strict rules regarding what people could believe and also because many were kept from learning the gospel due to a lack of education and a lack of available scripture, there were many kept in captivity. It's critical to God that people can believe what they desire and that they have the ability/opportunity to learn.
Keep learning. It's one way we stay out of captivity.
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