“And take the hemet of salvation” (Ephesians 6:17)
Take
It is easy to “take” something when it is being offered to you. Salvation has been offered to each of us through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. It will not be thrust upon us. We must do the taking. When taking this helmet it isn’t with the intent to cradle it in our arms and think of how nice it might be to wear it. To take the helmet of salvation is to accept the Atonement of Jesus Christ, and to have it become a part of who we are. To access the armor provided by the helmet of salvation we need to remember who we are and who we can become.
Helmet
A helmet protects the head of the wearer. We can take the helmet as we take control of what the helmet protects: our minds. President David O. McKay said,
“What a man continually thinks about determines his actions in times of opportunity and stress” (link to talk).
President Thomas S. Monson has also stated, "Decisions determine destiny" (link to article). Protect your mind. “Let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly” (Doctrine & Covenants 121:45). We can be so tempted by appetites and desires in the world we live in, but we need to remember that we are in control of our minds. President Boyd K. Packer taught, “Your body really is the instrument of your mind and the foundation of your character” (link to talk). As we take control we will be able to become stronger and more in tune with the link between our body and our spirit.
The best way to keep our helmet (and our mind) in an eternally focused position is to keep the Lord in there. President Ezra Taft Benson stated, “We must put God in the forefront of everything else in our lives. He must come first” (link to talk). This isn’t a Sunday-only type of worship, or an ‘after I finish <insert anything>’ mindset. It is a fight to overcome the tendency toward apathy, laziness, and procrastination that seems to appeal to the natural man. President Benson continues, “To love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength is all-consuming and all-encompassing. It is no lukewarm endeavor” (link to talk). We need to be seeking and searching for the Lord. As President Joseph Field Smith taught,
“‘I am seeking after my salvation, and I know that I can find it only in obedience to the laws of the Lord in keeping the commandments, in performing works of righteousness, following in the footsteps of our file leader, Jesus, the exemplar and the head of all” (link to lesson).
By focusing on my eternal goals and working backwards, I can set daily goals to help me reach where I really want to be. For example if I want to build a strong relationship with my Father in Heaven, then today I can choose to really pray, and to feast on the Word of God. If I want to be a good visiting teacher, then today I can pray for the sisters I am assigned to visit. I have found that it is much easier to act when I keep my daily actions aligned with my eternal goals. Elder Carlos A. Godoy spoke of using our patriarchal blessing as a guide for setting our goals when he said,
“Life was good, and everything seemed to be as it should be—until one day an old friend came to visit us.
“At the conclusion of his visit, he made a comment and asked a question that unsettled my convictions. He said, ‘Carlos, everything seems to be going well for you, your family, your career, and your service in the Church, but—’ and then came the question, ‘if you continue to live as you are living, will the blessings promised in your patriarchal blessing be fulfilled?’
“I had never thought about my patriarchal blessing in this way. I read it from time to time but never with the intent of looking toward the blessings promised in the future and evaluating how I was living in the present” (link to talk).
Janie Penfield, in a BYU Devotional, expressed setting goals in this way,
“Planning with purpose is the best way to ensure that each adventure is successful…Before we begin…we must determine the purpose of our trek so we know which trails to take. Then we must [stay] on course or we will not reach our destination” (link to talk).
Keep your helmet on. Keep your mind focused on your ultimate goal. “Do what is right, let the consequence follow” (link to hymn).
Salvation
In the Topical Guide the word “salvation” is listed in several ways. Some of these include the Plan of Salvation, the Work of Salvation for the Dead, and the Salvation that comes through the Atonement of our Redeemer, Jesus Christ.
PLAN OF SALVATION
Before we came to earth we lived with our Father in Heaven. We are the literal spirit children of Deity. In The Family: A Proclamation to the World we read, “ALL HUMAN BEINGS—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny” (link to document). Knowing who we truly are, and that the Lord has a plan for us, can give us a greater perspective of who we can become. Elder Dallin H. Oaks said,
“Consider the power of the idea taught in our beloved song ‘I Am a Child of God’….Here is the answer to one of life’s great questions, ‘Who am I?’ I am a child of God with a spirit lineage to heavenly parents. That parentage defines our eternal potential. That powerful idea is a potent antidepressant. It can strengthen each of us to make righteous choices and to seek the best that is within us. Establish in the mind of a young person the powerful idea that he or she is a child of God and you have given self-respect and motivation to move against the problems of life” (link to talk).
Vaughn J. Featherstone, explained the power of knowing who we are with this example,
“Many years ago I heard the story of the son of King Louis XVI of France. King Louis had been taken from his throne and imprisoned. His young son, the prince, was taken by those who dethroned the king. They thought that inasmuch as the king’s son was heir to the throne, if they could destroy him morally, he would never realize the great and grand destiny that life had bestowed upon him.
“They took him to a community far away, and there they exposed the lad to every filthy and vile thing that life could offer. They exposed him to foods the richness of which would quickly make him a slave to appetite. They used vile language around him constantly. They exposed him to lewd and lusting women. They exposed him to dishonor and distrust. He was surrounded 24 hours a day by everything that could drag the soul of a man as low as one could slip. For over six months he had this treatment—but not once did the young lad buckle under pressure. Finally, after intensive temptation, they questioned him. Why had he not submitted himself to these things—why had he not partaken? These things would provide pleasure, satisfy his lusts, and were desirable; they were all his. The boy said, ‘I cannot do what you ask for I was born to be a king’” (link to talk).
The same is true of us. We are each literal children of our Father in Heaven, destined to become like Him. We can gain strength from knowing that we are here on earth at this specific time, for a specific purpose. Elder Russell M. Nelson taught,
“Strength comes when you remember that you have a divine nature, an inheritance of infinite worth. The Lord has reminded you, your children, and your grandchildren that you are lawful heirs, that you have been reserved in heaven for your specific time and place to be born, to grow and become His standard bearers and covenant people. As you walk in the Lord’s path of righteousness, you will be blessed to continue in His goodness and be a light and a savior unto His people” (link to talk).
Before we came to this earth we learned that we would be proven, “to see if [we would] do all things whatsoever the Lord [our] God shall command [us]” (Abraham 3:25). We will be proved through times of trial and tribulation, as well as through times of peace and prosperity. The Plan of Salvation is sometimes referred to as The Plan of Happiness. Nephi teaches us that “men are, that they might have joy” (2 Nephi 2:25). Elder Richard G. Scott reminds us, “Our Heavenly Father did not put us on earth to fail but to succeed gloriously” (link to talk). As we are obedient to the steps the Lord has outlined we can receive that promised joy. Elder Scott also taught,
“Continually bless your life with the power of righteousness. It builds confidence. It engenders trust. It yields enduring, worthy achievement. To be righteous is to seek intently to be obedient to the commandments of God. It is to be clean in thought and act. It is to be honest and just. Righteousness is shown more in acts than in words. A righteous life requires discipline. Discipline is that characteristic which will give you the strength to avoid giving up what you want most in life for something you think you want now. It is a friend, not a harsh taskmaster that makes life miserable. Discipline is easier to acquire when it is rooted in faith in Jesus Christ, when it is nourished by an understanding of His teachings and plan of happiness….In doing right you enlist the help of God to sustain you to be victorious. You need not fear the future. For you, it will be glorious as you continue to obey the laws of God” (link to talk).
We are His children. He is doing (and has done) everything that He can do to help us in this life. How we choose to use our agency is the deciding factor. We can choose to do things our way, or the Lord’s way, but the decisions we make will determine who we will become now, and in the eternities to come. Elder Neal A. Maxwell said,
“I am going to preach a hard doctrine to you now. The submission of one’s will is really the only uniquely personal thing we have to place on God’s altar. It is a hard doctrine, but it is true. The many other things we give to God, however nice that may be of us, are actually things He has already given us, and He has loaned them to us. But when we begin to submit ourselves by letting our wills be swallowed up in God’s will, then we are really giving something to Him” (link to article).
As we commit ourselves to doing the will of the Lord we can truly become His disciples. As President Thomas S. Monson stated, “I believe that the more we act upon the inspiration and impressions which come to us, the more the Lord will entrust to us His errands” (link to talk). Elder Daniel L. Johnson also taught,
“Discipleship is all about doing and becoming. As we obey His commandments and serve our fellowmen, we become better disciples of Jesus Christ. Obedience and submission to His will bring the companionship of the Holy Ghost, along with those blessings of peace, joy, and security that always accompany this third member of the Godhead. And they can come in no other way. Ultimately, it is total submission to His will that helps us become as our Savior is. Again, becoming like Him and being one with Him is the ultimate goal and objective—and essentially the very definition of true discipleship” (link to talk).
THE WORK OF SALVATION
The work of Salvation for those who have passed from this mortal life began after the Savior’s death. President Joseph F. Smith saw the following in a vision he received while pondering the writings of the apostle Paul.
“As I pondered over these things which are written, the eyes of my understanding were opened, and the Spirit of the Lord rested upon me, and I saw the hosts of the dead, both small and great.
“And there were gathered together in one place an innumerable company of the spirits of the just, who had been faithful in the testimony of Jesus while they lived in mortality;
“And who had offered sacrifice in the similitude of the great sacrifice of the Son of God, and had suffered tribulation in their Redeemer’s name.
“All these had departed the mortal life, firm in the hope of a glorious resurrection, through the grace of God the Father and his Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ.
“I beheld that they were filled with joy and gladness, and were rejoicing together because the day of their deliverance was at hand.
“They were assembled awaiting the advent of the Son of God into the spirit world, to declare their redemption from the bands of death.
“Their sleeping dust was to be restored unto its perfect frame, bone to his bone, and the sinews and the flesh upon them, the spirit and the body to be united never again to be divided, that they might receive a fulness of joy.
“While this vast multitude waited and conversed, rejoicing in the hour of their deliverance from the chains of death, the Son of God appeared, declaring liberty to the captives who had been faithful;
“And there he preached to them the everlasting gospel, the doctrine of the resurrection and the redemption of mankind from the fall, and from individual sins on conditions of repentance” (Doctrine & Covenants 138:11-19).
The Plan of Salvation includes the work of salvation for the dead. Families can be together after this life, but we must be linked somehow. We must help them in their efforts to return to their Father in Heaven, and in return they will help us. Joseph Smith taught,
“And now, my dearly beloved brethren and sisters, let me assure you that these are principles in relation to the dead and the living that cannot be lightly passed over, as pertaining to our salvation. For their salvation is necessary and essential to our salvation, as Paul says concerning the fathers—that they without us cannot be made perfect—neither can we without our dead be made perfect” (Doctrine & Covenants 128:15).
As we seek our ancestors, and perform ordinances for them in the temple, we can help build an eternal link throughout generations past and future. Our deceased family members are anxious for our welfare and are willing to help us as we search for them. Elder Richard G. Scott taught,
“Any work you do in the temple is time well spent, but receiving ordinances vicariously for one of your own ancestors will make the time in the temple more sacred, and even greater blessings will be received…This work is a spiritual work, a monumental effort of cooperation on both sides of the veil, where help is given in both directions” (link to talk).
SALVATION THROUGH JESUS CHRIST
In the 3rd Article of Faith we learn that it is “through the Atonement of Christ, [that] all mankind may be saved, by obedience” (Article of Faith 1:3, emphasis added). It is the little things—those small acts of obedience—that we do each day that help build a solid foundation of faith under our feet, and direct us toward salvation. Alma taught,
“Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise.
“And the Lord God doth work by means to bring about his great and eternal purposes; and by very small means the Lord doth confound the wise and bringeth about the salvation of many souls” (Alma 37:6-7).
Obedience can be a hard thing. The natural man loves to be independent, and loves to chose his own way. One of the challenges that we will face in this life is overcoming the natural man; aligning our will the Lord’s.
In the book “The Story of My Life” by Helen Keller it speaks of the importance of obedience. As a toddler Helen was stricken with a fever which eventually caused the loss of her sight, hearing, and speech. She was a very strong-willed child and took command of her life (and those around her). Her parents loved her, and expressed this through indulging her in her demands and desires. Robert Russell, in the introduction to this book, expresses that if she had been allowed to remain in this state she never could have attained the greatness she later achieved in her life. He said,
“Great intelligence, vigor, and strength of will, however rare and marvelous, produce nothing unless they are harnessed and given direction. Harnessing means restraint, and restraint means obedience, and obedience means respect, perhaps love, for some one or some thing other than one’s self. All this Helen needed to learn before she could find and become herself” (Robert Russell, Introduction to “The Story of My Life” by Helen Keller, p4).
Before we can truly find ourselves we need to learn to be obedient. As we choose to be obedient, as opposed to choosing our own way, our love for our Father in Heaven will grow. Through our obedience we will be able to see the many blessings He is willing to shower upon us. Elder L. Tom Perry explains,
“Those who rely solely on themselves and follow only their own desires and self-inclinations are so limited when compared to those who follow God and tap into His insight, power, and gifts. It has been said that someone who is all wrapped up in himself or herself makes a very small package. Strong, proactive obedience is anything but weak or passive. It is the means by which we declare our faith in God and qualify ourselves to receive the powers of heaven. Obedience is a choice. It is a choice between our own limited knowledge and power and God’s unlimited wisdom and omnipotence” (link to talk).
Through God’s omniscience the Atonement of Jesus Christ was prepared from the foundation of the world. Our Heavenly Father and our Elder Brother, Jesus Christ, desire our eternal salvation. As we come to know Them we can understand how generous They truly are to each of us. King Benjamin expressed his testimony of salvation,
“[I]f ye have come to a knowledge of the goodness of God, and his matchless power, and his wisdom, and his patience, and his long-suffering towards the children of men; and also, the atonement which has been prepared from the foundation of the world, that thereby salvation might come to him that should put his trust in the Lord, and should be diligent in keeping his commandments, and continue in the faith even unto the end of his life, I mean the life of the mortal body—
“I say, that this is the man who receiveth salvation” (Mosiah 4:6-7).
Salvation is a gift that is offered to all men; from the beginning of this earth to the end thereof. We can take this gift as we are obedient to His plan. As we come to understand the love our Heavenly Father has for us—through His Plan of Salvation—we can be better prepared (and protected) against the challenges of this life. We can know who we are, that God has a specific plan for each of us, and that He will help guide us as we seek Him. We can assist in the Work of Salvation for those who have passed on before us, by searching out our ancestors; thus helping them receive the ordinances required for their own salvation. We can arm ourselves with the Helmet of Salvation as we keep our minds focused on the Lord and His eternal work and glory—to help each of us obtain eternal life with Him (see Moses 1:39).
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