The Armor of God (Part 2: Truth)

with truth, 

We live in a world with mixed messages in the media, politics, and differing opinions on anything and everything we can imagine. It may often feel overwhelming to really find and discern where to find the truth. Through studying I have found instruction on where we can find truth and the protection it can provide.

HONESTY:

Truth can be defined as honesty. Straight and simple; be honest. In the 13^th Article of Faith it proclaims, “[w]e believe in being honest” (Article of Faith 1:13). In Exodus we read, “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour” (Exodus 20:16). To bear a false witness is to say something that is not true, or to falsely stand for something that is not right. Our neighbor can be defined as anyone we interact with.

When the resurrected Jesus Christ appears to the Nephites He gave them a new law (see 3 Nephi 12): rather than simply refraining from wrong actions or words, His new law requires a greater commitment from them—to control their thoughts. This law of the Lord also applies in our day.

President Ezra Taft Benson said the following.

“Thoughts lead to acts, acts lead to habits, habits lead to character—and our character will determine our eternal destiny” (link to article).

More than just being honest in the things we do and say, we need to be honest (and in control of) our thoughts. In the Book of Mosiah, King Benjamin also counsels us on the importance of controlling thoughts,

“But this much I can tell you, that if ye do not watch yourselves, and your thoughts, and your words, and your deeds, and observe the commandments of God, and continue in the faith of what ye have heard concerning the coming of our Lord, even unto the end of your lives, ye must perish. And now, O man, remember, and perish not” (Mosiah 4:30, emphasis added).

As we obey this law of the Lord it is not just our outward self that is being refined; it is a purification of our inner self as well. Being honest in our actions, speech, and thoughts helps to build our character. Through our honesty we can be protected from many undesirable consequences that result from dishonest acts. We can also be protected from the guilt and mental anguish that come when we try to hide the truth.

In the scriptures there are many examples of stalwart people. I want to point out a group of exemplary young men; Helaman’s stripling warriors. They are described as follows:

“And they were all young men, and they were exceedingly valiant for courage, and also for strength and activity; but behold, this was not all—they were men who were true at all times in whatsoever thing they were entrusted.

"Yea, they were men of truth and soberness, for they had been taught to keep the commandments of God and to walk uprightly before him” (Alma 53:20-21, emphasis added).

The parents of these boys had once been a bloodthirsty people but once converted to the truth they never went astray. The result of their complete conversion can be seen in their young sons. Their sons were strictly obedient to the commandments of God. Through their obedience, and their faith—for they knew the Lord would deliver them out of whatever difficulty they faced (see Alma 56:47)—this inexperienced group of young men fought against a very experienced Lamanite army and “not one soul of them” (Alma 56:56) fell to the earth.

As we follow their example by being true in all things (in word, action, and thought), being obedient to the truth, and having our faith centered in the Lord, Jesus Christ, we will be protected. And not one soul of us will fall away.

SEEKING FOR TRUTH:

We, as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, have been directed to search for knowledge. Elder Marcos A. Aidukaitis gives three ways that we can learn the truth for ourselves.

“First, we can know the truth by observing its fruits….

"Second, we can find truth by experimenting on the word ourselves….

"However, there is yet a third way to know the truth, and that is by personal revelation” (link to talk).

The Lord does not tell us that we have to believe what the missionaries, the bishop, the Gospel Doctrine teacher, our friends, family, or what any one else tells us about the truth of this gospel. He counsels us to “study it out in [our] mind; then [we] must ask [Him] if it be right, and if it is right [He] will cause that [our bosoms] shall burn within [us]; therefore, [we] shall feel that it is right” (Doctrine & Covenants 9:8). Study it out yourself, and then go straight to the source. Ask God.

The Prophet Joseph Smith followed this counsel and found out for himself that this gospel is true. We can do the same. As we come to know the truth for ourselves we can become stronger and stronger in our conviction of living the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Elder Aidukaitis said, “God will reveal truth to those who seek for it as prescribed in the scriptures” (link to talk). In the Book of James we read the instruction,

“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

“But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering” (James 1:5-6).

In the Book of Mormon we have another witness of finding the Lord’s unfailing guide to know truth.

“And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.

“And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things” (Moroni 10:4-5, emphasis added).

Paul, speaking to the Corinthians, also stated the need for a witness of the Holy Ghost when he said, “no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost” (1 Corintians 12:3).

When one receives a witness by the convincing power of the Holy Ghost it is one that cannot be denied or doubted. President Joseph Fielding Smith explained,

 “When a man has the manifestation from the Holy Ghost, it leaves an indelible impression on his soul, one that is not easily erased. It is Spirit speaking to spirit, and it comes with convincing force. A manifestation of an angel, or even of the Son of God himself, would impress the eye and mind, and eventually become dimmed, but the impressions of the Holy Ghost sink deeper into the soul and are more difficult to erase” (Answers to Gospel Questions, comp. Joseph Fielding Smith Jr., 5 vols. [1957–66], 2:151).

Elder Dallin H. Oaks also quoted Joseph Fielding Smith when he said,

“President Joseph Fielding Smith taught: 'The Spirit of God speaking to the spirit of man has power to impart truth with greater effect and understanding than the truth can be imparted by personal contact even with heavenly beings. Through the Holy Ghost the truth is woven into the very fibre and sinews of the body so that it cannot be forgotten' (link to talk).

To receive our own witness of the Holy Ghost about the truth will take faith and effort. We can “experiment on the word” (Alma 32:27) by reading the scriptures, ask God if it is true, and gain a testimony for themselves. Those who follow this pattern can be armed with the power of truth.

IRON ROD OF TRUTH:

Where do we go to find truth? We look for the words of the Lord. For God, our Father, is “a God of truth, and [can] not lie” (Ether 3:12). The words of God can be found in the scriptures.

In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints we have four books of scripture known as the Standard Works: the Holy Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Pearl of Great Price, and the Doctrine and Covenants. We have been admonished to study all of these words of scripture, but a particular emphasis has been placed on reading the Book of Mormon. As we read the scriptures we can liken the messages to our own lives and circumstances.

In the Book of Mormon we read about the prophet Lehi having an amazing dream—one that is very applicable to our day. In one part of his dream it mentions a rod of iron. Nephi recorded this about his father’s dream, “And I beheld a rod of iron, and it extended along the bank of the river, and led to the tree by which I stood” (1 Nephi 8:19).

Nephi later sees the dream for himself and finds out the interpretation from an angel of the Lord. “And it came to pass that I beheld that the rod of iron, which my father had seen, was the word of God, which led to the fountain of living waters, or to the tree of life” (1 Nephi 11:25, emphasis added).

The iron rod is the word of God. Nephi testified to his brothers about the critical nature of listening to and obeying the word of God when he said,

“and whoso would hearken until the word of God, and would hold fast unto it, they would never perish; neither could the temptations and the fiery darts of the adversary overpower them unto blindness, to lead them away to destruction” (1 Nephi 15:24).

What protection! By hearkening to the word of God we can be shielded from the blinding power of temptation--not just reading the words, but doing what they say.

In the October 2011 Ensign Elder David A. Bednar goes into greater depth, and speaks of differing levels of protection the iron rod provided to several groups of people in Lehi’s dream (determined by their actions). The first group can be found in 1 Nephi 8:21-23. They started on the strait and narrow path but were thrown off by the mists of darkness, which represent the temptations of the adversary. Elder Bednar commented,

“Notice that no mention is made in these verses of the rod of iron. Those who ignore or treat lightly the word of God do not have access to that divine compass which points the way to the Savior. Consider that this group obtained the path and pressed forward, exhibiting a measure of faith in Christ and spiritual conviction, but they were diverted by the temptations of the devil and were lost” (link to article).

If we do not protect ourselves by daily searching from the iron rod of truth, we can be easily led away into temptation. This is where the adversary may try to persuade us that if we miss one day of reading the scriptures we will be okay.

If we liken this to our lives we can compare studying the word of God to eating spiritual food. Would you be okay to miss one day of physical food without noticing it a little? Would you be as physically strong and mentally acute? What about missing two days, or a week, or a month? The compounding effect of lacking spiritual sustenance may be less noticeable but is as incredibly vital as the lack of physical nourishment. I know some people who read their scriptures while they eat, because they know they will always remember to eat!

Elder Bendar continues with a second group (found in 1 Nephi 8:24-28) who are “clinging to the rod of iron”. They arrive at the tree of life, are mocked by those in the great and spacious building (representing the pride of the world), feel ashamed, and fall away. He continues,

“Even with faith, commitment, and the word of God, this [second] group eventually was lost—perhaps because they only periodically read or studied or searched the scriptures. Clinging to the rod of iron suggests to me only occasional ‘bursts’ of study or irregular dipping rather than consistent, ongoing immersion in the word of God.

“In [1 Nephi 8:30] we read about a third group of people who pressed forward ‘continually holding fast to the rod of iron, until they came forth and fell down and partook of the fruit of the tree.’…

“The third group also pressed forward with faith and conviction; however, there is no indication that they wandered off, fell into forbidden paths, or were lost. Perhaps this third group of people consistently read and studied and searched the scriptures…. This is the group you and I should strive to join” (link to article).

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland also spoke of Lehi’s dream.

“In Lehi’s dream an already difficult journey gets more difficult when a mist of darkness arises, obscuring any view of the safe but narrow path his family and others are to follow. It is imperative to note that this mist of darkness descends on all the travelers—the faithful and the determined ones…as well as the weaker and ungrounded ones. The principal point of the story is that the successful travelers resist all distractions, including the lure of forbidden paths and jeering taunts from the vain and proud who have taken those paths. The record says that the protected ‘did press their way forward, continually [and, I might add, tenaciously] holding fast’ to a rod of iron that runs unfailingly along the course of the true path. However dark the night or the day, the rod marks the way of that solitary, redeeming trail” (link to talk).

Holding to the rod of iron may seem difficult at times but we must continually hold fast—especially now. These days in which we are living have been prophesied about and are perilous. It is imperative that we arm ourselves against the power of the adversary. With the power of the adversary and the power of the Lord both on the earth there will be a significant pull from both sides.

We can obtain guidance from Lehi’s dream, as Nephi explained,

“And great was the multitude that did enter into that strange building [representing the pride of the world]. And after they did enter into that building they did point the finger of scorn at me and those that were partaking of the fruit also; but we heeded them not.

“These are the words of my father: For as many as heeded them, had fallen away” (1 Nephi 8:33-34).

If we focus on the Lord we can be guided by Him. If we look to the world for guidance, we will end up somewhere we don't want to be. Elder Holland states,

“The Savior warned that in the last days even those of the covenant, the very elect, could be deceived by the enemy of truth. If we think of this as a form of spiritual destruction, it may cast light on another latter-day prophecy. Think of the heart as the figurative center of our faith, the poetic location of our loyalties and our values; then consider Jesus’s declaration that in the last days ‘men’s hearts [shall fail] them’” (link to talk).

What can we do to protect ourselves against this awful plight? I love Elder Holland's words of instruction.

“Brothers and sisters, God always provides safety for the soul, and with the Book of Mormon, He has again done that in our time. Remember this declaration by Jesus Himself: ‘Whoso treasureth up my word, shall not be deceived’—and in the last days neither your heart nor your faith will fail you” (link to talk).

Don the armor, and protection, of truth by reading from the word of God every single day.

JESUS CHRIST IS TRUTH:

I found one thing that I wasn’t expecting when studying about arming ourselves with truth. I found it in the gospel of John where it says, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). I realized that Jesus is also truth.

As I thought about it I realized that when we take the name of the Lord upon us we arm ourselves with truth. Each week we can renew our baptismal covenants, and take His name upon us, as we worthily partake of the sacrament. The promised blessing is that, “[we] may always have his Spirit to be with [us]” (Doctrine & Covenants 20:77).

As we remain worthy to partake of the sacrament each week, and take His name upon us, we can be blessed with His armor of truth.

TRUTH IS FREEDOM:

I want to start with a quote from Elder Quentin L. Cook about types of bondage.

“God intended that men and women would be free to make choices between good and evil. When evil choices become the dominant characteristic of a culture or nation, there are serious consequences both in this life and the life to come. People can become enslaved or put themselves in bondage not only to harmful, addictive substances but also to harmful, addictive philosophies that detract from righteous living.

“Turning from the worship of the true and living God and worshipping false gods like wealth and fame and engaging in immoral and unrighteous conduct result in bondage in all its insidious manifestations. These include spiritual, physical, and intellectual bondage and sometimes bring destruction” (link to talk).

In the Book of Mormon the prophet, King Benjamin, speaks of the tendencies of man and their innate nature to be in opposition to God. He also shares the way to free ourselves; “[yield] to the enticings of the Holy Spirit” or the whisperings of the truth. He also explains that this freedom can only come “through the atonement of Christ the Lord” (Mosiah 3:19).

How do we overcome the natural man and free ourselves from the bondage of sin? Jesus said to those who believe on Him, “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:31-32). Jesus was free from the chains of Satan because He knew the truth and lived it. We have that same promise.

Elder N. Eldon Tanner said,

“Freedom is based on truth, and no man is completely free as long as any part of his belief is based on error, for the chains of error bind his mind. This is why it is so important for us to learn all the truth we can from all the sources we can. We need particularly to search the scriptures, for in them are the words which, if accepted and lived, will lead us to eternal life” (link to talk).

As we study the scriptures we can know the truth for ourselves. As we act in the truth that we have received our testimonies will grow. President Thomas S. Monson stated,

“We face many serious challenges in the world today, but I assure you that our Heavenly Father is mindful of us. He will guide and bless us as we put our faith and trust in Him and will see us through whatever difficulties come our way….

"May we constantly nourish our testimonies of the gospel, that they will be a protection for us against the buffetings of the adversary” (link to talk).

As we are honest in our efforts to act in our knowledge of the truth we can have confidence that we are on the path that the Lord has prescribed. As we read the scriptures we can build our lives firmly upon the gospel of Jesus Christ. We can gain strength from the Atonement of Jesus Christ as we take His name upon us each week. As we arm ourselves with truth, and have faith in the promises of the Lord, we will find,

“...that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall” (Helaman 5:12).

The Armor of God (Part 1: Standing in Readiness)

There are two powers in this world: the power of God and the power of Satan. Both will continue to grow until the Second Coming of our Savior. Brigham Young said,

“It was revealed to me in the commencement of this Church, that the Church would spread, prosper, grow and extend, and that in proportion to the spread of the Gospel among the nations of the earth, so would the power of Satan rise” (Discourses of Brigham Young, sel. John A. Widtsoe (1954), 72).

  

The war that started in heaven continues on today; the war over the agency of man. Agency is the freedom for us to choose for ourselves. As we keep ourselves free from the bonds of sin we are free to choose our actions. However, if we use our agency to choose addicting behaviors or succumb to weaknesses (which always affect both the body and the spirit) we are relinquishing our freedom to act for ourselves.

President George Albert Smith quoted his grandfather, George A. Smith, when he said,

  

“There is a line of demarkation, well defined, between the Lord’s territory and the devil’s. If you will stay on the Lord’s side of the line you will be under his influence and will have no desire to do wrong; but if you cross to the devil’s side of the line one inch, you are in the tempter’s power, and if he is successful, you will not be able to think or even reason properly, because you will have lost the spirit of the Lord” (link to quote). 

    

The pathway of the Lord can be compared to whiteness, purity, and truth while the path of the adversary is often referred to as darkness, wickedness, and deceit. If the Lord’s way is pure white, than anything varying from that whiteness—in whatever shade of gray you choose—is tainted somewhat with the influence of the adversary. This only shows the great, even infinite, need that we have for the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Through the merciful plan of our Heavenly Father we can escape the grayness of our daily lives. We can also find protection from the blackness that is throughout the world around us.

In Ephesians we read about the wickedness that surrounds us. And, more importantly, we also learn what we can do to protect ourselves.

“[B]e strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

“Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

“Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

"Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

"And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

"Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

"And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

"Praying always" (Ephesians 6:10-18).

Sheri Dew spoke of the significance of the armor of God when she said,

“[Satan] is 'a roaring lion, [who] walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.' And he will devour you--unless you 'put on the whole armour [or power] of God', for the power of God is stronger than the power of Satan" (link to talk).

The armor of God is readily available to us but we must take it unto ourselves; it cannot be forced upon us.

As I have studied about the armor of God I have found layers upon layers of meaning for each item. It has been fascinating to me to discover the many ways the Lord has given us to help arm ourselves against the power, and the many influences, of the adversary.

"Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth" (Ephesians 6:14)

Stand therefore,…

There are numerous ways the Lord asks us to “stand” throughout the scriptures. I want to delve into a few of those.

STAND AS A WITNESS:

In Mosiah we are asked “to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that [we] may be in” (Mosiah 18:9).

Shadrack, Meshack, and Abed-nego, from the Old Testament, are perfect examples of standing as witnesses of God. They were commanded by King Nebuchadnezzar to bow down to the idols that he had created or be thrown into the fiery furnace. Their response?

“If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.

“But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up” (Daniel 3:17-18).

They stood as witnesses of God but were throw into the fire anyway. However, their lives were spared in a miraculous way.

“Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king.

“He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God” (Daniel 3:24-25).

Elder M. Russell Ballard recounts this story about Joseph F. Smith standing as a witness of God. 

“ Joseph F. Smith was 19 when he returned from his mission in Hawaii. As he traveled from California to his home in Utah, he was confronted on emorning by a 'wagonload of profane drunks..., shooting their guns, yelling wildly, and cursing the Mormons.' One of the drunks, 'waving a pistorl,' came toward him. Although Joseph 'was terrified, he felt it would be unwise and useless to run..., and so he advanced toward the gunman as if he found ntohting out of the ordinary in his conduct. "Are you a -- -- -- Mormon?" the stranger demanded. Mustering all the composrue he could, Joseph answered evenly while looking the man straight in the eye, "Yes, siree; dyed in the wool; true blue, through and through." Almost stunned by this wholly unexpected response, the gunman stopped, dropped his hands to his sides, and, after looking incredulously at Joseph for a moment, said in asubdued tone, "Well, you are the -- -- pleasantest man I ever met! Shake. I am glad to see a fellow stand for hisw convictions." So saying, he turned and walked away" (link to talk).

Not all of those who stand as witnesses of God are so miraculously spared. In the Book of Mormon we read about the prophet Abinadi who was taken before King Noah. Here he testified to the king and his priest’s of their wickedness. He taught them about the Law of Moses, as well as the life, mission, and Atonement of Jesus Christ. Because he chose to stand as a witness of God he was then sentenced to a martyr’s death by fire (see Mosiah 12-17).

What does it mean to stand as a witness of God? Sister Sharon G. Larsen said, “It means we will not bow down or give in or be persuaded to do anything contrary to God’s will” (link to talk). As we seek to know God's will we can have the guidance of the Holy Ghost in our lives and can be led to know what the Lord would have us do. And as we read the scriptures we can know “all things what [we] should do” (2 Nephi 32:3). 

How does one stand as a witness? Sister Susan W. Tanner said, “You … can stand as a witness of God by nurturing a spirit of faith, love, peace, and testimony…now” (link to talk).

 STAND IN LIBERTY:

Captain Moroni, in the Book of Mormon, declared, “My soul standeth fast in that liberty in the which God hath made us free” (Alma 61:9). Paul, speaking to the Galations, similarly stated, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage” (Galatians 5:1). We can be freed from spiritual bondage as we stand fast, have faith in, and rely on, the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

We can keep ourselves from being led into bondage by “lay[ing] aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us” (Hebrews 12:1). In the Book of Job we read that Job “was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil” (Job 1:1). To eschew means to habitually avoid (source). Job made it a habit to avoid evil. I am guessing that along those same lines he made it a habit to avoid people, places, or things that might persuade him into temptation.

Stand fast in freedom from spiritual bondage, addiction, or sin by avoiding places where we know our weaknesses lie. Stand fast in spiritual liberty by repenting and forsaking our sins, and by relying on the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the power it has to change our lives.

STAND IN HOLY (AND HIGHER) PLACES:

Along the lines of avoiding evil, we can “seek for the things of a better [world]” (Doctrine & Covenants 25:10). We have also been counseled to “stand…in holy places, and be not moved” (Doctrine & Covenants 87:8).

In the Book of Nehemiah we learn of a people who

“… separated themselves from the people of the lands unto the law of God…every one having knowledge, and having understanding;

"They...entered into a curse, and into an oath, to walk in God’s law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the Lord our Lord, and his judgments and his statutes” (Nehemiah 10:28-29).

Be obedient to the teachings and commandments of God, even if it means separating yourselves from the world; including family, friends, and acquaintances who pressure you to do otherwise. Nephi chose to keep the commandments, and his brothers Laman, and Lemuel, did not. Because of this they sought Nephi’s life. Nephi was warned by the Lord to separate himself from them (see 2 Nephi 5:1-5).

We can also choose to stand on higher ground. Jesus told a parable of a wise man and a foolish man who each chose where he would build his house.

“Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

“And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

“And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:

"And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it" (Matthew 7:24-27).

In this parable, the wise man built his spiritual house upon “the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God” (Helaman 5:12) and his house was not moved when the storm raged. I think that the wise man searched for a solid location; a higher place to build so as to have a refuge from the waves of the sea. I am pretty confident that the rock he built his house on was not a rock he found by digging in the ground. The foolish man, on the other hand, may have arrived when the tide was low, saw that it was a beautiful place, and was content to settle in the sand. So it is in our own lives; it takes a lot more effort to seek out higher ground than it does to just build wherever you want on the open sand. It also takes an effort to stand in holy places, but is an effort well worth the cost.

As we choose to be in the right places the Holy Ghost can be there and we can be protected from the adversary. President Spencer W. Kimball said,

  

“Sin, like a journey, begins with the first step and wisdom and experience teach that it is easier to resist the first temptation than later ones, when a pattern of transgression has begun to develop….It is extremely difficult, if not impossible, for the devil to enter a door that is closed. He seems to have no keys for locked doors. But if a door is slightly ajar, he gets his toe in, and soon this is followed by his foot, then by his leg and his body and his head, and finally he is in all the way” (Spencer W. Kimball, The Miracle of Forgiveness, p. 214-215).

The most holy place that we can stand on this earth is in the Holy Temple of our God.

“The temple is a place of instruction where profound truths pertaining to the Kingdom of God are unfolded. It is a place of peace where minds can be centered upon things of the spirit and the worries of the world can be laid aside. In the temple we take covenants to obey the laws of God, and promises are made to us, conditioned always on our faithfulness, which extend into eternity” (The Priesthood and You, Melchizedek Priesthood Lessons—1966, Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1966, p. 293).

Elder John A. Widtsoe of the Quorum of the Twelve said this about the spiritual blessings we can gain by taking the time to be in the temple:

“Temple work … gives a wonderful opportunity for keeping alive our spiritual knowledge and strength. … The mighty perspective of eternity is unraveled before us in the holy temples; we see time from its infinite beginning to its endless end; and the drama of eternal life is unfolded before us. Then I see more clearly my place amidst the things of the universe, my place among the purposes of God; I am better able to place myself where I belong, and I am better able to value and to weigh, to separate and to organize the common, ordinary duties of my life, so that the little things shall not oppress me or take away my vision of the greater things that God has given us” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1922, p 97–98).

Whether we live close to a temple or far away the Lord is more concerned about our where our hearts are. President Howard W. Hunter said,

“the Lord does desire that his people be a temple-motivated people. I repeat what I have said before: It would please the Lord for every adult member to be worthy of--and to carry--a current temple recommend, even if proximity to a temple does not allow immediate or frequent use of it" (link to talk).

I think that standing in holy places does not just mean the placement of our feet; I feel that it includes our heart, mind, strength and efforts as well.

In Isaiah we read, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9). If we are to be in tune with the Lord we will need to move our thoughts to higher ground.

Presiden Boyd K. Packer talked about controlling our thoughts.

“As you learn to control your thoughts, you can overcome habits, even degrading personal habits. You can gain courage, conquer fear, and have a happy life. I had been told a hundred times or more as I grew up that thoughts must be controlled, but no one told me how. I’ve thought about this over the years and have decided that the mind is like a stage. During every waking moment the curtain is up. There is always some act being performed on that stage. It may be a comedy, a tragedy, interesting or dull, good or bad; but always there is some act playing on the stage of your mind.

“Have you noticed that shady little thoughts may creep in from the wings and attract your attention in the middle of almost any performance and without any real intent on your part? These delinquent thoughts will try to upstage everybody. If you permit them to go on, all thoughts of any virtue will leave the stage.…What do you do at a time like that, when the stage of your mind is commandeered by the imps of unclean thinking…? If you can fill your mind with clean and constructive thoughts, then there will be no room for these persistent imps, and they will leave” (link to talk).

To have our thoughts be higher we need to have our focus in the right direction. I have found that when riding a bicycle it is really difficult to keep moving straight forward unless I am actually looking forward. If I look a little to the left or a little to the right I need to look straight ahead again or my bike will slowly shift to the left or right according to my gaze. If I look for a long time to one direction or the other my bike veers drastically in the direction that I am looking.

So it is with spiritual things.

Peter was one who was able to walk on water while he was focused on the Savior, but “when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and [began] to sink” (Matthew 14:30). When he took his focus off of the Lord, even just a little, doubt and fear attacked and he began to sink. But, the Lord stretched forth His hand, caught hold of him, and walked back with him. He will do the same for us.

In the story of Abraham and Lot we see the difference between where our hearts our centered and where our focus is directed. We read, “[Lot] pitched his tent toward Sodom” (Genesis 13:12) but Abraham “built…an altar unto the Lord” (Genesis 13:18). Eventually Lot moves to Sodom, and Abraham is blessed by his incredible faith in the Lord.

In our efforts to stand in holy places we need to be not moved. As Elder Neal A. Maxwell said, we must not have a home in the promised land and a summer cottage in Babylon (link to talk). We need to decide for ourselves where we will stand no matter our circumstances.

“[R]emember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall” (Helaman 5:12, emphasis added).

If you build upon the rock of the gospel of Jesus Christ you cannot fall.

having your loins girt about...

Girding up your loins is a phrase that we often hear in the scriptures, but may not fully comprehend what it means.

“In Biblical language, to ‘gird up the loins’ is to prepare for a journey, or for work. The Hebrews wore girdles [sashes] when traveling, and when at work. On such occasions they girt their clothes about them [by tucking them under the sash] to ensure free movement of the limbs. The servants of the Lord must be prepared to do His work, and to go when He calls” (Smith and Sjodahl, Commentary, p. 201). see also video link

In the New Era it says,

“Loins means the area between the hips and abdomen. Girt means tied around firmly with a belt. Generally, to “gird your loins” means to prepare for action. We prepare ourselves to take action in the battle against evil by learning the truth through prayer and scripture study” (link to article).

Both of these explanations talk about standing in readiness, or being prepared. We must be vigilant and on guard against the continual attacks of the adversary. Because of the location of our loins, however, I had another thought about girding our loins. I think it can also mean being virtuous and chaste—in our actions as well as our thoughts. Many blessings will follow as we choose to do so. In the Doctrine and Covenants we read,

“Let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God; and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distil upon thy soul as the dews from heaven.

“The Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion, and thy scepter an unchanging scepter of righteousness and truth; and thy dominion shall be an everlasting dominion, and without compulsory means it shall flow unto thee forever and ever” (Doctrine & Covenants 121:45-46).

Two stories from scripture can be used to demonstrate the difference that being virtuous, or not, can bring to our lives.

David, who slew Goliath, became king. He was a very righteous man. But one night, as he tarried in Jerusalem—a place he should not have been, as he should have been in battle (see 2 Samuel 11:1)—he allowed a momentary glance to turn into something more. Rather than turning away quickly, he lingered for what was probably supposed to be a brief moment and allowed his mind to entertain thoughts that were most likely not virtuous. In the end he traded his soul for what started out as a simple glance, when he arranged the murder of Uriah (see 2 Samuel 11).

Joseph was also a good, righteous man who was sold into slavery by his brothers. His virtuous life was blessed and prospered by the Lord, and at one point he became the ruler of Potiphar’s house. Potiphar’s wife tempted Joseph and he initially responded by saying, “how…can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” (Genesis 39:9). She continues to speak to him day after day in an attempt to wear down his defenses (something she may have tried with others before). Joseph recognizes this and “fled, and got him out” (Genesis 39:12). His initial consequence is that he gets thrown into prison. But, the “Lord in his great infinite goodness doth bless and prosper those who put their trust in him” (Helaman 12:1), and Joseph eventually becomes greater than all the people of Egypt, save the Pharoah himself. The Lord then uses this virtuous man to help move His work forward and save his own family from famine.

Elder Bednar said this about the blessings of being virtuous,

“living the law of chastity invites some of the greatest blessings men and women can receive in mortality: appropriate spiritual confidence in the presence of family, friends, Church associates, and, ultimately, the Savior. Our innate longing to belong is fulfilled in righteousness as we walk in the light with hope” (link to talk).

Elder Marion G. Romney stated the following about living a virtuous life,

“I can think of no blessings to be more fervently desired than those promised to the pure and the virtuous. Jesus spoke of specific rewards for different virtues but reserved the greatest, so it seems to me, for the pure in heart, ‘for they,’ said he, ‘shall see God.’ And not only shall they see the Lord, but they shall feel at home in his presence” (link to talk).

Imagine feeling at home in the presence of God. 

The choices we make in this life, whether big or small, will determine where we will end up after this life. Let us arm ourselves with the protection of the Lord by living a virtuous life.