The Armor of God (Part 5: Faith)

“Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked” (Ephesians 6:16)

I remember taking a CPR class in which the teacher said, “before you assist someone else your first priority is to make sure that you are safe.” She then shared a story about a police officer who rushed into a burning building to rescue someone. In his haste he failed to make sure that he was safe, and he died tragically of smoke inhalation. Along those lines I want to delve into how we can avoid such a tragedy ourselves, in our spiritual lives—if we have our spirits left so unprotected.

The shield

A shield is an incredibly valuable piece of armor and is critical to protect one who is in battle. When using a shield the bearer can move to block attacks that come from any direction. In the battlefield a shield was so important that mighty warriors would have someone else carry a shield for them—a shield bearer—so they could focus on fighting while still being protected.

In the story of David and Goliath we know that Goliath was “a champion” fighter (1 Samuel 17:4), “and one bearing a shield went before him” (1 Samuel 17:7). Goliath did not carry his own shield when he went against David (see 1 Samuel 17:41) and relied on someone else for his protection. David did not have a physical shield, but was protected and empowered by his faith in God (see 1 Samuel 17:45-47). We know the outcome of this story.

In another scripture story, the Savior tells the parable of the Ten Virgins. He calls those who were prepared “wise” and those who did not prepare as “foolish” (Matthew 25:2-4).

“And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.

“Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.

“And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.

“But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.

“And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut” (Matthew 25:6-10).

In the Doctrine & Covenants we gain further insight into this parable.

“And at that day, when I shall come in my glory, shall the parable be fulfilled which I spake concerning the ten virgins.

“For they that are wise…have received the truth, and have taken the Holy Spirit for their guide, and have not been deceived” (Doctrine & Covenants 45:56-57).

The five virgins who were wise had taken the Holy Spirit as their guide and brought oil with them. Those who were foolish relied on their own judgment—telling themselves that the bridegroom would come before their oil ran out; thus deceiving themselves.

One day (and we don’t know when that will be for each of us) the door will be shut. Our choices now will determine which side of that door we will be on. It takes time to learn the language of the Spirit of the Lord, but whether we learn it as children or adults the important thing is that we put forth the effort to learn it in this life. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland reminds us, “[God’s] concern is for the faith at which you finally arrive, not the hour of the day in which you got there” (link to talk).

DOING OUR PART

As we work on building our shield of faith let us remember the adage, “you get what you pay for”.

Imagine a soldier approaching a weapon master wanting to purchase a shield. The construction, caliber, and quality of his shield will be in direct proportion to the time he is willing to wait and the price he is willing, and able, to pay for it. Similarly our daily immersing ourselves in the word of God, and humbling ourselves before the Lord to commune in prayer, will help us to pay the price as we build our own spiritual shield of faith. No one can do it for us.

In the Book of Alma there is a man by the name of Korihor. He preached against the coming of Christ, and was so convincing that many were led away from the Church of Christ. Eventually he is bound by the people and brought before Alma (the religious leader), and the chief judge to find a way to put an end to his deceit. At one point in the interchange,

“Korihor said unto Alma: If thou wilt show me a sign, that I may be convinced that there is a God, yea, show unto me that he hath power, and then will I be convinced of the truth of thy words.

“But Alma said unto him: Thou hast had signs enough; will ye tempt your God? Will ye say, Show unto me a sign, when ye have the testimony of all these thy brethren, and also all the holy prophets? The scriptures are laid before thee, yea, and all things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator” (Alma 30:43-44).

Korihor had the testimony of the prophets and the scriptures available to him, he also had all things on the face of the earth witnessing of their Supreme Creator. Yet he chose to listen to the adversary because “[the words] were pleasing unto the carnal mind” (Alma 30:53). He wanted Alma to prove to him (to his own satisfaction) of the truthfulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ without putting forth the effort to learn to listen to the Holy Spirit, and to pay the price to learn for himself. Alma was not able to share the oil from his lamp; the price he had paid for gaining the knowledge himself. It was not something that could be shared. At the end of Korihor’s life (see Alma 30:59-60), he “[received the] wages of whom [he listed] to obey” (Doctrine & Covenants 29:45).

Elder D. Todd Christofferson teaches us,

“How can you become converted? How can you make the gospel of Jesus Christ not just an influence in your life but the controlling influence and, indeed, the very core of what you are?…

“I can tell you how that can happen, but it must be something you want.

“[First], you must lay aside any feeling of pride that is so common in the world today. By this I mean the attitude that rejects the authority of God to rule in our lives….[W]illingly submitting to that authority is the first step in conversion….

“[F]or the gospel to be written in your heart, you need to know what it is and grow to understand it more fully. That means you will study it....[meaning] something more than [just] reading….

“[Pray] as you study to understand the scriptures, but your prayers must not be limited to that. In the Book of Mormon, Amulek tells us we should pray about everything in our lives.…

“In ancient times when people wanted to worship the Lord and seek His blessings, they often brought a gift….The gift or sacrifice He will accept…[is] your broken, or repentant, heart and your contrite, or obedient, spirit….

“With conversion, you will wear a protective armor, ‘the whole armour of God,’ and the words of Christ, which come by the Holy Spirit, ‘will tell you all things’ you should do” (link to talk, emphasis added).

It is critical that we obtain our own shield of faith, which can come through diligence and obedience to the word of God. Relying on someone else’s shield of faith can help us until we can gain our own, but if we want to survive this war we need to put forth the effort and pay the price for our own shield. As Elder Jorg Klebingat counseled, “take responsibility for your own spiritual well-being” (link to talk).

Faith

Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is the first principle of the gospel of Jesus Christ (see Article of Faith 1:1). It is the power by which the heavens are influenced. In Lectures on Faith we read that “[faith] is the assurance we have of the existence of unseen things” (Joseph Smith, Lectures on Faith, p 10). To truly obtain faith, the assurance that will carry us through the struggles of life cannot be taught by our parents, friends, or leaders. It can’t be learned by glancing through books, manuscripts, or even the internet. This assurance can come only as a witness received by the Holy Ghost. Elder D. Todd Christofferson explains,

“Faith will not come from the study of ancient texts as a purely academic pursuit. It will not come from archaeological digs and discoveries. It will not come from scientific experiments. It will not even come from witnessing miracles. These things may serve to confirm faith, or at times to challenge it, but they do not create faith. Faith comes by the witness of the Holy Spirit to our souls, Spirit to spirit, as we hear or read the word of God. And faith matures as we continue to feast upon the word” (link to talk).

Faith is so crucial that in Ephesians it says, “Above all, [take] the shield of faith” (Ephesians 6:16, emphasis added). Above everything else you do, make sure you hold onto your faith; make sure you have the Holy Ghost to be your guide. No other armor will provide you more protection. There will be much to try and dissuade you but President Dieter F. Uchtdorf admonishes, “[My] dear brothers and sisters—my dear friends—please, first doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith” (link to talk).

When I think of faith I think of the confidence we have in the Lord: confidence in His plan, His love for us, or His timing. If we have faith in God, we will not fear what the future holds, for we will know that all is in His hands.

I want to talk about magnets for a minute. If you have two magnets, you can make them stick together. But if you turn one of the magnets around then no matter how hard you try you cannot make them stick. One will repel the other. So it is with faith and fear. As you hold fast to your shield of faith you will essentially force fear to flee.

Not everyone starts out with faith, but “as all have not faith, seek ye diligently” (Doctrine & Covenants 88:118). Seek the scriptures diligently, and “even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words” (Alma 32:27). As we seek the scriptures we can learn truth. As we believe, and act, on these truths we can build our faith—a faith that, if nurtured will sustain us throughout our lives.

WHERE TO START

We can start by studying, and believing, the words found in the scriptures. King Benjamin taught, 

“Believe in God; believe that he is, and that he created all things, both in heaven and in earth; believe that he has all wisdom, and all power, both in heaven and in earth; believe that man doth not comprehend all the things which the Lord can comprehend” (Mosiah 4:9).

Nephi also taught,

“And now behold, I say unto you that the right way is to believe in Christ, and deny him not; and Christ is the Holy One of Israel; wherefore ye must bow down before him, and worship him with all your might, mind, and strength, and your whole soul” (2 Nephi 25:29).

In the Bible we read,

“Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper” (2 Chronicles 20:20).

The Prophet Joseph Smith, and Sidney Rigdon also proclaimed,

“And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives!

“For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father—

“That by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God” (Doctrine & Covenants 76:22-24).

Believe there is a God. Believe that Jesus Christ is His son. Believe that you are a child of God. Believe that you have literal Heavenly Parents who love you more than you can comprehend in this life. Believe that God’s “work and…glory—[is] to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man” (Moses 1:39).  Believe that there is life after this life that is more glorious that we can even imagine; and something we can enjoy, united eternally, as families.

The Savior declared “the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel” (Mark 1:15), and Joseph Smith taught,

“And this is the gospel, the glad tidings, which the voice out of the heavens bore record unto us—

“That he came into the world, even Jesus, to be crucified for the world, and to bear the sins of the world, and to sanctify the world, and to cleanse it from all unrighteousness;

“That through him all might be saved whom the Father had put into his power and made by him” (Doctrine & Covenants 76:40-42).

Believe that Jesus Christ really is who He said He is. Believe that He came to earth and died for you and me that we may be free from the chains of hell and the bonds of sin. Believe that He was resurrected and overcame the bands of death. Believe that it is “by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel” (Articles of Faith 1:3) that the Atonement can become active in our lives.

Believe.

Believe and allow these truths to work in you.

ACTING IN FAITH

Once we start to believe, we can begin to act on our budding belief to help transform it into the faith it can become. We can act as if we are children of God. We can act as if we have a Savior who can provide us with a remission from our sins, and the guilt that weighs us down. We can look to the example of two fishermen who followed the Savior.

“And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.

“And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

“And they straightway left their nets, and followed him” (Matthew 4:18-20, emphasis added).

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin stated,

“As Jesus the Christ stood on the shores of the Sea of Galilee 2,000 years ago, so stands He today, issuing the same call He gave to those faithful fishermen and now to all who will hear His voice: ‘Follow me!’

“We have nets that must be tended and nets that must be mended. But when the Master of ocean, earth, and sky calls to us, ‘Follow me,’ we should leave the entangling, worldly nets behind and follow His footsteps” (link to talk).

God is a God of miracles and works according to our faith. As we act in faith to “lay aside the things of this world, and seek for the things of a better” (Doctrine & Covenants 25:10) we will be blessed, and our faith will continue to grow.

POWER OF FAITH

In the scriptures we read about the immense power that comes from a tiny particle of faith. The Savior taught,

“If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you” (Matthew 17:20).

I remember wondering about my faith in comparison to a mustard seed. I have never moved a mountain (Ether 12:30). I have never parted a sea (Exodus 14:21). I have never made the sun stand still (Joshua 10:13). So do I really have any faith to speak of?

Yes! I have never done any of those things but, then again, the Lord has never asked it of me. That is not what I am here on earth to do.

Bishop Richard C. Edgely put it more into perspective when he said,

“I have never witnessed the removal of an actual mountain. But because of faith I have seen a mountain of doubt and despair removed and replaced with hope and optimism. Because of faith I have personally witnessed a mountain of sin replaced with repentance and forgiveness. And because of faith I have personally witnessed a mountain of pain replaced with peace, hope, and gratitude….

“And when we choose faith and then nurture that faith to a perfect knowledge of the things of the Lord, then we use the words ‘I testify’ or ‘I know’” (link to talk).

May we each choose to nurture our faith in such a way that it can be a strength and fortification to us as we stand against the challenges of this life. May be choose to put for the time and effort required to strengthen our shield of faith—that we may be able to quench all of the fiery darts of temptation, weakness, frustration, or any other trials that may come. May we believe in God, and not fear.

The Armor of God (Part 4: Preparation)

“And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace” (Ephesians 6:15)

And your feet shod

My footwear of choice is, well, none. I am a person who loves to be barefoot. However, if I am going to go somewhere I will put on the appropriate casual, dressy, or athletic shoes depending on the occasion. When I put my shoes on it means that I am ready to move. Having our feet shod, to me, means to be ready to go and to have a specific purpose and direction.

In the book of Daniel we read about King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream that I feel is fitting to this idea of moving. Daniel recounts the king’s dream about a huge statue made of different kinds of material, followed by the interpretation of the dream.

“Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth….

“And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever” (Daniel 2:35, 44).

The gospel of Jesus Christ, as found in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is the mountain that will fill the whole earth. In the Doctrine and Covenants we read about the gospel in the last days.

“The keys of the kingdom of God are committed unto man on the earth, and from thence shall the gospel roll forth unto the ends of the earth, as the stone which is cut out of the mountain without hands shall roll forth, until it has filled the whole earth” (Doctrine & Covenants 65:2).

And again, the words of the Prophet Joseph Smith,

“[N]o unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done” (History of the Church, 4:540).

FORWARD OR BACKWARD?

When climbing a mountain it takes an effort to keep moving uphill. This mountain, of the gospel of Jesus Christ that Daniel spoke of, will continue to grow until it fills the whole earth. If we are spiritually standing still, as the mountain grows bigger, we will continue to move farther away from the summit—essentially moving backward. We need to know which way we want to be going, and put for the effort and move in that direction. President Dieter F. Uchtdorf says it this way,

“Either you are committed or you are not. Either you are moving forward or you are standing still. There’s no halfway….

“There is a difference between intention and action. Those who only intend to commit may find excuses at every turn. Those who truly commit face their challenges squarely and say to themselves, ‘Yes, that would be a very good reason to delay, but I made covenants, and so I will do what I have committed to do.’ They search the scriptures and earnestly seek the guidance of their Father in Heaven. They accept and magnify their Church callings. They attend their meetings. They do their home or visiting teaching.

“A German proverb says, ‘Promises are like the full moon. If they are not kept at once, they diminish day by day.’ As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we have committed to walk in the path of discipleship. We have committed to follow the example of our Savior. Imagine how the world will be blessed and transformed for good when all members of the Lord’s Church live up to their true potential—converted in the depth of their souls and committed to building the kingdom of God” (link to article).

The work of the Lord is moving forward. Do we have our feet shod to go with it, or are we comfortably lounging in our bare feet?

with the preparation

As I have looked through the scriptures I have found repeated themes about preparation: preparations we make for ourselves, preparations we make for the Lord, and preparations the Lord makes for us.

PREPARATIONS WE MAKE FOR OURSELVES

In Alma we read “this life became a probationary state; a time to prepare to meet God” (Alma 12:24). As we do our part to move forward in faith, staying on the straight and narrow path, we can find comfort in this counsel from Elder Bruce R. McConkie.

“Everyone in the Church who is on the straight and narrow path, who is striving and struggling and desiring to do what is right, though is far from perfect in this life; if he passes out of this life while he's on the straight and narrow, he's going to go on to eternal reward in his Father's kingdom” (Bruce R. McConkie, "The Probationary Test of Mortality," Address given at Univ. of Utah, Jan. 1982, p. II).

Our direction in this life is crucial to what happens in the next life. On this ever-growing mountain, that we must climb, as long as we are moving forward we will be progressing. If we turn around and head downhill it will be a steep, quick descent. If we are facing toward the peak but feel that we are not making much progress we can do as the people in Lehi’s dream did and “press [our] way forward, continually holding fast to the rod of iron” (1 Nephi 8:30). The iron rod is the word of God and it marks the way to the summit.

A story about preparation can be found in the New Testament, when the Savior gives the parable of the ten virgins. Elder Dallin H. Oaks comments,

“[T]his parable contrasts the circumstances of the five foolish and the five wise virgins. All ten were invited to the wedding feast, but only half of them were prepared with oil in their lamps when the bridegroom came. The five who were prepared went into the marriage feast, and the door was shut. The five who had delayed their preparations came late. The door had been closed, and the Lord denied them entrance, saying, ‘I know you not.’ ‘Watch therefore,’ the Savior concluded, ‘for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.’

“The arithmetic of this parable is chilling. The ten virgins obviously represent members of Christ’s Church, for all were invited to the wedding feast and all knew what was required to be admitted when the bridegroom came. But only half were ready when he came” (link to talk).

What can we do to prepare ourselves? Elder Oaks continues,

“If we knew that we would meet the Lord tomorrow—through our premature death or through His unexpected coming—what would we do today? What confessions would we make? What practices would we discontinue? What accounts would we settle? What forgivenesses would we extend? What testimonies would we bear?

“If we would do those things then, why not now? Why not seek peace while peace can be obtained? If our lamps of preparation are drawn down, let us start immediately to replenish them.

“We need to make both temporal and spiritual preparation for the events prophesied at the time of the Second Coming. And the preparation most likely to be neglected is the one less visible and more difficult—the spiritual. A 72-hour kit of temporal supplies may prove valuable for earthly challenges, but, as the foolish virgins learned to their sorrow, a 24-hour kit of spiritual preparation is of greater and more enduring value” (link to talk).

As we fill the oil in our lamps day by day, drop by drop, we will be building our spiritual reservoir of faith. Elder Russel M. Nelson asks,

“Why do we need such resilient faith? Because difficult days are ahead. Rarely in the future will it be easy or popular to be a faithful Latter-day Saint. Each of us will be tested. The Apostle Paul warned that in the latter days, those who diligently follow the Lord ‘shall suffer persecution’” (link to talk).

And President Henry B. Eyring warns, “If the foundation of faith is not embedded in our hearts, the power to endure will crumble” (link to talk).

The Lord promises, “if [we] are prepared [we] shall not fear” (Doctrine & Covenants 38:30).  If we are doing our part, with faith in the Lord, then things will work out in the end. But, we need to make sure that we are truly doing our part. Once we have done all that we can then we are in a position to ask the Lord for miracles. Brigham Young explains this idea as follows:

“If we are sick, and ask the Lord to heal us, and to do all for us that is necessary to be done, according to my understanding of the Gospel of salvation, I might as well ask the Lord to cause my wheat and corn to grow, without my plowing the ground and casting in the seed. It appears consistent to me to apply every remedy that comes within the range of my knowledge, and to ask my Father in heaven, in the name of Jesus Christ, to sanctify that application to the healing of my body….

“But supposing we were traveling in the mountains,…and one or two were taken sick, without anything in the world in the shape of healing medicine within our reach, what should we do? According to my faith, ask the Lord Almighty to…heal the sick. This is our privilege, when so situated that we cannot get anything to help ourselves. Then the Lord and his servants can do all” [Journal of Discourses, 4:24–25].

We can find much instruction in the scriptures on what we need to prepare: “prepare [our]selves by doing the things which I [the Lord] have commanded you” (Doctrine & Covenants 78:7); “prepare [our] minds” (Alma 34:3 and 3 Nephi 17:3); “prepare [our] heart to receive and obey the instructions [from the Lord]” (Doctrine & Covenants 132:3); and “prepare every needful thing” (Doctrine & Covenants 88:119).

As we prepare ourselves and move forward in faith we can trust the Lord and the promises, and we will have no need to fear the attacks of the adversary. President James E. Faust offers this counsel,

“Satan is our greatest enemy and works night and day to destroy us. But we need not become paralyzed with fear of Satan’s power. He can have no power over us unless we permit it. He is really a coward, and if we stand firm he will retreat” (link to article).

As we prepare our heart, mind, and our all we can have the Lord’s help. We will then be able to stand strong against the temptations, challenges, and whirlwinds of life.

PREPARATIONS WE MAKE FOR THE LORD

As we prepare ourselves physically and, more importantly, spiritually we can be in a position to move forward the work of the Lord.

We have been counseled to “let [our] light so shine” (Matthew 5:16) and to be “the salt of the earth” (Matthew 5:13). We can prepare this world for the Second Coming of our Savior as we also follow the counsel to “be ye clean that bear the vessels of the Lord” (Doctrine & Covenants 38:42). Elaine S. Dalton stated,

“The call to ‘arise and shine forth’ is a call to each of you to lead the world in a mighty cause—to raise the standard—and lead this generation in virtue, purity, and temple worthiness. If you desire to make a difference in the world, you must be different from the world” (link to talk).

In preparing ourselves to serve the Lord we also need to be humble. As we are trying to overcome the natural man we will face challenges. Through our humility, and through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, our hearts can be changed. Elder Hugh B. Brown explains it this way,

“You sometimes wonder whether the Lord really knows what he ought to do with you. You sometimes wonder if you know better than he does about what you ought to do and ought to become. I am wondering if I may tell you a story that I have told quite often in the Church. It is a story that is older than you are. It’s a piece out of my own life…. It has to do with an incident in my life when God showed me that he knew best.

“I was living up in Canada. I had purchased a farm. It was run-down. I went out one morning and saw a currant bush. It had grown up over six feet high. It was going all to wood. There were no blossoms and no currants. I was raised on a fruit farm in Salt Lake before we went to Canada, and I knew what ought to happen to that currant bush. So I got some pruning shears and went after it, and I cut it down, and pruned it, and clipped it back until there was nothing left but a little clump of stumps. It was just coming daylight, and I thought I saw on top of each of these little stumps what appeared to be a tear, and I thought the currant bush was crying. I was kind of simpleminded (and I haven’t entirely gotten over it), and I looked at it, and smiled, and said, ‘What are you crying about?’ You know, I thought I heard that currant bush talk. And I thought I heard it say this: ‘How could you do this to me? I was making such wonderful growth. I was almost as big as the shade tree and the fruit tree that are inside the fence, and now you have cut me down. Every plant in the garden will look down on me, because I didn’t make what I should have made. How could you do this to me? I thought you were the gardener here.’ That’s what I thought I heard the currant bush say, and I thought it so much that I answered. I said, ‘Look, little currant bush, I am the gardener here, and I know what I want you to be. I didn’t intend you to be a fruit tree or a shade tree. I want you to be a currant bush, and some day, little currant bush, when you are laden with fruit, you are going to say, “Thank you, Mr. Gardener, for loving me enough to cut me down, for caring enough about me to hurt me. Thank you, Mr. Gardener.”'

“Time passed. Years passed, and I found myself in England. I was in command of a cavalry unit in the Canadian Army. I had made rather rapid progress as far as promotions are concerned, and I held the rank of field officer in the British Canadian Army. And I was proud of my position. And there was an opportunity for me to become a general. I had taken all the examinations. I had the seniority. There was just one man between me and that which for ten years I had hoped to get, the office of general in the British Army. I swelled up with pride. And this one man became a casualty, and I received a telegram from London. It said: 'Be in my office tomorrow morning at 10:00,' signed by General Turner in charge of all Canadian forces. I called in my valet, my personal servant. I told him to polish my buttons, to brush my hat and my boots, and to make me look like a general because that is what I was going to be. He did the best he could with what he had to work on, and I went up to London. I walked smartly into the office of the General, and I saluted him smartly, and he gave me the same kind of a salute a senior officer usually gives—a sort of ‘Get out of the way, worm!’ He said, ‘Sit down, Brown.’ Then he said, ‘I’m sorry I cannot make the appointment. You are entitled to it. You have passed all the examinations. You have the seniority. You’ve been a good officer, but I can’t make the appointment. You are to return to Canada and become a training officer and a transport officer. Someone else will be made a general.’ That for which I had been hoping and praying for ten years suddenly slipped out of my fingers.

“Then he went into the other room to answer the telephone, and I took a soldier’s privilege of looking on his desk. I saw my personal history sheet. Right across the bottom of it in bold, block-type letters was written, 'THIS MAN IS A MORMON.' We were not very well liked in those days. When I saw that, I knew why I had not been appointed. I already held the highest rank of any Mormon in the British Army. He came back and said, 'That’s all, Brown.' I saluted him again, but not quite as smartly. I saluted out of duty and went out. I got on the train and started back to my town, 120 miles away, with a broken heart, with bitterness in my soul. And every click of the wheels on the rails seemed to say, ‘You are a failure. You will be called a coward when you get home. You raised all those Mormon boys to join the army, then you sneak off home.’ I knew what I was going to get, and when I got to my tent, I was so bitter that I threw my cap and my saddle brown belt on the cot. I clinched my fists and I shook them at heaven. I said, ‘How could you do this to me, God? I have done everything I could do to measure up. There is nothing that I could have done—that I should have done—that I haven’t done. How could you do this to me?’ I was as bitter as gall.

“And then I heard a voice, and I recognized the tone of this voice. It was my own voice, and the voice said, ‘I am the gardener here. I know what I want you to do.’ The bitterness went out of my soul, and I fell on my knees by the cot to ask forgiveness for my ungratefulness and my bitterness” (link to article).

Many times life doesn’t turn out as we had hoped but as we listen to the Lord, and humble ourselves, we will become what the Lord knows we can be. President Dieter F. Uchtdorf said,

“Your Heavenly Father has high aspirations for you. But your divine origin alone does not guarantee you a divine inheritance. God sent you here to prepare for a future greater than anything you can imagine. The promised blessings of God to the faithful are glorious and inspiring” (link to talk).

As we prepare ourselves for the Lord’s service we will be guided by the impressions of “the Holy Ghost, which is the gift of God unto all those who diligently seek him” (1 Nephi 10:17). Elder Holland reminds us,

“In His light we live spiritually and become more able day by day to discern that light and receive more of it. Furthermore, we receive the gift of the Holy Ghost at the time of our confirmation, the first of many gifts reserved for members of the true Church. The promptings of the Holy Ghost will always be sufficient for our needs if we keep to the covenant path. Our path is uphill most days, but the help we receive for the climb is literally divine. We have three members of the Godhead—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost—helping us because of the covenants we have made” (link to article).

May we prepare ourselves to live in such a way that we will be ready to move the work of the Lord forward—in our own lives, and in the lives of those around us.

PREPARATIONS THE LORD HAS MADE FOR US

Nephi speaks of the nature of the Lord when he said, “And the Lord will surely prepare a way for his people” (1 Nephi 22:20). Oh the great love of the Lord, “He doeth not anything save it be for the benefit of the world” (2 Nephi 26:24).

Before the world began the Lord unfolded the Plan of Salvation to us. In the premortal realm we had reached a point where we could not progress further as spirits. The plan was presented, and we were able to accept or reject it. Lucifer, and others who rejected the plan, were cast out. Those who accepted it were prepared for the earth life that we would experience. As Elder Richard G. Scott reassures us,

“So that the period of mortal testing and growth would yield its greatest benefit, you were taught and prepared for the circumstances you would personally encounter in mortality” (link to talk).

King Benjamin reminds us of

“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” (Mosiah 4:6).

In the Lord’s preparations for the children of men we can be comforted by the words of Brigham Young,

“There is not one thing that the Lord could do for the salvation of the human family that He has neglected to do;…all that can be accomplished for their salvation, independent of them, has been accomplished in and by the Savior” (Journal of Discourses, 13:59).

Another thing the Lord has prepared for us is the direction and guidance that He gives through His chosen servants. We can receive counsel and guidance from His living prophets and apostles (this weekend in General Conference!). We can also read words of the ancient prophets in the scriptures. All of this counsel has been prepared by the Lord to guide us through the challenges that we individually face in this life. I don’t understand how the Lord is able to comfort, counsel, and provide instruction to the many children he has on this earth, each having so many different trials, but He does.

Through the prophets we have been counseled to prepare for our physical needs: to store food, clothing, money, and other necessities for times of hardship. This counsel has been taught for many years and is still valid. It seems, however, that the prophetic focus has shifted lately to fortifying our spiritual foundation.

We have also been counseled to prepare and protect our families from the onslaught of the adversary. In the early 1900s the Church established the Family Home Evening program to provide families one night a week to focus on building a stronger family through teaching the gospel. In 1995 The Family: A Proclamation to the World was revealed further preparing the world for the challenges the family unit would face—that are now unfolding but were long before known by the Lord.

Sometimes in our lives the Lord has prepared us for things that we are not aware of. When such a situation arises we need to act in faith in order for blessings to be unfolded, and miracles to take place. Such was the story of Elijah and the widow.

Elijah had caused a drought, in order to call the wicked King Ahab to repentance. During the drought the Lord prepared a way for him to survive:

“[Elijah acting in faith] went and dwelt by the brook Cherith [as the Lord had instructed him]…

“And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook” (1 Kings 17:5-6).

After a time the brook dried up. Now the Lord told Elijah to go to Zarephath, for “behold, I [the Lord] have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee” (1 Kings 17:9).

As we read this story we learn that the widow is probably going through one of (if not the) hardest times of her life. She probably doesn't realize that the hardships she is enduring are to prepare her for what is ahead. She seems to have reached the end of her rope, with little hope left. When Elijah meets her she is gathering sticks “that I may go in and dress [a meal] for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die” (1 Kings 17:12).

It is at times like this that we must learn to trust in the living prophet of God. He may ask us things that we do not comprehend, or see any possible way that they can happen. Such was the case with the widow.

“And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son” (1 Kings 17:13).

His request seemed lofty. She had explained her situation and this petition could have been seen as him not understanding her life or situation at all. But, the prophet of God followed his instruction with a promise.

“For thus saith the Lord God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the Lord sendeth rain upon the earth” (1 Kings 17:14).

She could have discounted his request because of her circumstances, but to her eternal credit she acted in faith. “And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah” (1 Kings 17:15). After she did the seemingly impossible then was the arm of the Lord revealed and the miracle provided, for “she, and he, and her house, did eat many days” (1 Kings 17:15).

Look for the promises and blessings that the Lord provides along with his commandments. Each of our lives will have different circumstances, but “the...promises which are in [the commandments] shall all be fulfilled” (Doctrine & Covenants 1:37).

The Lord has provided a way for each of us individually to reach our eternal potential. As we humble ourselves and pray for guidance and direction we can come to know those specific preparations. As we gain faith and trust in the Lord’s promises we can be prepared and will not fear “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” (Helaman 5:12); or “if the billowing surge conspire against thee; if fierce winds become thine enemy; if the heavens gather blackness, and all the elements combine to hedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee” (Doctrine & Covenants 122:7).

We can remember these comforting words of our Savior, “Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not” (Doctrine & Covenants 6:36). The way is prepared for us to follow.

of the gospel of peace

The Gospel of Peace is upon the earth, and is fully contained within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It was prepared from the foundation of the world for the salvation of all God’s children. The Lord has prepared a prophet—such as Adam, Noah, Moses, and Enoch—in every dispensation to move His work forth. Jesus Christ, the prophet of His dispensation, established His church while He was on the earth.

When Jesus Christ was crucified the gospel was taken from the earth. In the spring of 1820 the heavens were opened again to one who had been prepared by the Lord; Joseph Smith, who knelt in a sacred grove in humble prayer. God, our Heavenly Father, and His Son, Jesus Christ, appeared to Joseph Smith, and thus opened a new dispensation and began the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ in our day.

This coming weekend we are blessed to be able to listen to our living Prophet, President Thomas S. Monson, and other servants of the Lord during General Conference. What a privilege to be able to have their words so accessible to us.

As we shod our feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace we shall not fear. As we listen to the words of the prophets and apostles that the Lord has prepared for us we will be ready, and able, to move the work of the Lord forward. As we move forward in faith we will be prepared for the Second Coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

...to be continued

Suggestion for General Conference: 

In preparation for General Conference, write down any questions that you have, that you would like to receive an answer about. As you prayerfully listen to the speakers, the music, and the prayers your answers will come. They may come as impressions in your mind, or specific words that are spoken or sung, but they will come.

The Armor of God (Part 3: Righteousness)

…and having on the breastplate of righteousness; (Ephesians 6:14)

When thinking about the armor of righteousness, I am reminded of Nephi’s vision.

“And it came to pass that I beheld the church of the Lamb of God, and its numbers were few… and their dominions upon the face of the earth were small...

“And it came to pass that I beheld that the great mother of abominations did gather together multitudes upon the face of all the earth, among all the nations of the Gentiles, to fight against the Lamb of God.

“And it came to pass that I, Nephi, beheld the power of the Lamb of God, that it descended upon the saints of the church of the Lamb, and upon the covenant people of the Lord, who were scattered upon all the face of the earth; and they were armed with righteousness and with the power of God in great glory” (1 Nephi 14:12-14, emphasis added).

Nephi saw the covenant people of the Lord in the last days being few in number, but they were armed with 1) righteousness and 2) the power of God in glory.

To be armed means to be “furnished with weapons, or with something that provides security, strength and [the power to produce the desired result]” (Merriam Webster Collegiate Dictionary, 10 ed). Righteousness, through our obedience, can provide security and strength during our lives; but it often requires faith to be obedient.

To help explain what I learned about the power of God in glory I want to turn to the story of Lazarus in the Gospel of John. Lazarus had died and Jesus had been notified. After four days He came.

“Jesus…cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it.

“Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.

“Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?

“Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid….

“And…he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.

“And he that was dead came forth (John 11:38-44, emphasis added).

The glory of God that the Savior demonstrated was the righteous use of Priesthood power. Such power is available to us today through our faith, obedience, and righteousness.

TEMPLE COVENANTS

When my children were younger they loved to dress up and pretend to be super heroes. My oldest came up with the super power of choice: anything power. This incredibly versatile power could meet whatever challenges the opposition could imagine. Bad guys coming? Anything power became the desired weapon of choice. Volcano erupting? Couch-cushion tower crumbling? Aliens invading? Anything power was there—and always defeated the enemy.

I have referred back to this often when talking to my children about the power of God—for He truly is all-powerful “to the fulfilling of all his words” (Alma 50:19).

One way to access this power, and spiritual protection, is through making and keeping covenants. A covenant is a two-way promise that we make with the Lord. Covenants aren’t something trivial where we can decide that we will do whatever we feel we want to do and expect the Lord’s blessings in return. As Linda K. Burton states, “the Lord sets the terms and we agree to keep them” (link to talk). In order to gain access to the Lord’s power and protection we need to abide by the Lord’s rules. Elder Russell M. Nelson teaches us that, “[We] keep [our] covenant by obedience to His commandments” (link to talk). As we keep our covenants, through our obedience, they can be a shield and a protection to us throughout our lives.

Nephi saw in the last days—our day—that the covenant people of the Lord would be provided with strength, security, and power through their righteousness. Elder M. Russell Ballard declared,

“When men and women go to the temple, they are both endowed with the same power, which is priesthood power….

“Our Father in Heaven is generous with His power. All men and all women have access to this power for help in their lives. All who have made sacred covenants with the Lord and who honor those covenants are eligible to receive personal revelation, to be blessed by the ministering of angels, to commune with God, to receive the fulness of the gospel, and, ultimately, to become heirs alongside Jesus Christ of all our Father has” (link to talk).

[For more of my thoughts on the Priesthood, click here]

The blessings and power of God can come to those who worthily attend the temple and make and keep the covenants therein. President Boyd K. Packer said, “Our labors in the temple cover us with a shield and a protection, both individually and as a people” (Boyd K. Packer, The Holy Temple, 1980, p 265). 

We can be sure of the blessings that come from making and keeping our covenants. The Lord has reassured us, “I will fulfil my promises which I have made unto the children of men” (2 Nephi 10:17), and “Who am I…that have promised and have not fulfilled?” (Doctrine & Covenants 58:31). We are also reminded that, “I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise” (Doctrine & Covenants 82:10). The Lord will always do His part. Our commitment to our covenants is the catalyst for the blessings we are to receive.

DELIBERATE RIGHTEOUSNESS

In the New Testament we read about a visit the Savior made to two sisters: Mary and Martha.

“Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.

“And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word.

“But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.

“And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:

“But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:38-42).

Mary and Martha were both faithful, obedient women in the gospel. The Savior came to teach them. Martha was overwhelmed and focused on the physical logistics while Mary chose to “lay aside the things of this world, and [sought] for the things of a better” (Doctrine & Covenants 25:10). Many times in our life we are faced with choices. The question to each of us is whether we will choose to fill our daily lives being cumbered about by our own doing, or by spiritually sitting at the feet of our Savior.

Our daily, individual, righteousness will probably not be something that is touted in the news, or broadcast for the world to see. But, “the Lord seeth not as man seeth; [He] looketh on the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). We will be blessed by those day-to-day, seemingly unremarkable, acts of obedience. Howard W. Hunter quoted President Joseph F. Smith when he said,

“Those things which we call extraordinary, remarkable, or unusual may 
make history, but they do not make real life.

“After all, to do well those things which God ordained to be the common lot of all mankind, 
is the truest greatness. To be a successful father or a successful mother is greater than to be a successful general or a successful statesman”
(link to talk).

As we are deliberate in our righteousness and obedience to God we can be blessed more powerfully than ever before. 

At time we will be faced with challenges and temptations. These may be the adversary's attempts to thwart our efforts, or may be what happens to us due to the trials of life. No matter what the reason we can look to the example of our Savior when we need the faith to keep moving forward. As stated by Elder Tad R. Callister, "All that He had intellectually was an unanswered why, but what he had spiritually was faith, and with that faith he pressed forward" (Tad R. Callister, The Infinite Atonement, p 153).

The Savior also “went about doing good” (Acts 10:38). He didn’t do good because He wanted others to see how good He was. He did good because that is who He was. To be righteous is a personal matter of the heart. As we choose to follow the example of Jesus Christ we will be blessed. And the choice is always ours. President Henry B. Eyring reminds us, “Heavenly Father and the Savior are our perfect examples of what we can and must do. They never force righteousness because righteousness must be chosen” (link to talk, emphasis added).

BLESSINGS OF GUIDANCE

One of the blessings of living a righteous life, for those who have entered into the covenant of baptism, is the ability to receive the Holy Ghost. Elder Parley P. Pratt explains about the powerful refining nature the Holy Ghost can have in our lives.

“The gift of the Holy Ghost adapts itself to all these organs or attributes. It quickens all the intellectual faculties, increases, enlarges, expands, and purifies all the natural passions and affections, and adapts them, by the gift of wisdom, to their lawful use. It inspires, develops, cultivates, and matures all the fine-toned sympathies, joys, tastes, kindred feelings, and affections of our nature. It inspires virtue, kindness, goodness, tenderness, gentleness, and charity.…

“Such is the gift of the Holy Ghost, and such are its operations when received through the lawful channel—the divine, eternal priesthood” (Parley P. Pratt, Key to the Science of Theology, 61–62).

As we choose to live righteously we can have the Holy Ghost in our lives, and we can know that it is by the hand of the Lord that we are led. We may not understand why things happen the way they do, but it will be for our ultimate good. Our lives are tailored individually to our own specific needs for growth and development. It may not be until the next life when we see the reason for different trials or challenges, but one day we will know. Sharon G. Samuelson, wife of Elder Cecil O. Samuelson, expresses it this way:

“[I]n retrospect, what transpired [in our lives] clearly was not just by chance or coincidence. Likewise, we want to emphasize that customized, special blessings that have come to us are not predictive of what might or will happen with you. Similarly, you will have individualized blessings and interventions that have not been afforded to us or to other people. While Jesus Christ has promised that those who are faithful, keep the commandments, and make and observe their sacred covenants will receive all that the ‘Father hath’, the timing is unique for each person and does not always happen in this life” (link to talk).

We may not understand everything that happens to us in this life, but as we don the armor of God with obedience, faith, and righteousness we can be guided and protected by the hand of the Lord.