When Mother's Day [Father's Day] is Hard

This was written for Mother's Day, but is very applicable for those who struggle with Father's Day as well.

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Mother’s Day is an interesting day. There are those who could stand and speak of their amazing angel mothers and the wonderful support that they’ve had from them throughout their lives. 

I am not one of those.

There are others who can speak of motherhood and the blessing it has been in their life and the tremendous love that they have felt for their children. Because of my upbringing I have struggled a lot with motherhood. It has opened my eyes to how inadequate, weak, and human I really am.

Today I felt that I should speak to those who need the hope and healing that can only come through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, especially today for some.

When we are young we have hopes, ideas, and dreams for the future. Many of those include having a family. But not everyone is blessed with a spouse or children in this life. There are many who’s hearts weep with sorrow at shattered or unfulfilled dreams.

There are others who may lose a spouse to death or through divorce, or lose their children to poor choices or unforeseen tragedies.

Life is not easy and it can hurt a lot.

I grew up with a mother who was very angry and I was terrified of her. I never wanted to be that kind of a mother. But when my children were young I saw that anger show up in myself, and it scared me.

Many times in life it is our trials that draw us closer to the Lord — if we will allow them to. Other times we may allow our trials to push us away from the Lord as we try to find answers on our own. Throughout my life I have seen examples of both. 

I have had times where the heavens have felt silent, where I’ve cried because I had no idea what to do, and where I have asked others for help, and for some reason or another couldn’t be there for me. Even in those times where I could have felt completely abandoned I have never doubted that the Lord was there. I have seen too many examples of His hand in my life.

One of my favorite scriptures is Mosiah 4:9, “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”

God our Father is real. He knows of our suffering and He hears our prayers.

I remember one day in particular, when my children were small. I had had a rough night. I think all 3 kids rotated getting up during the night; I would get one down and the other would be up — I guess I should have been grateful that they weren’t all up at the same time — but I didn’t get much sleep. In the morning I was getting breakfast ready and was really grouchy. I felt angry at everything and didn’t want my children to have to suffer from my lack of sleep. I remember standing by the kitchen sink and words from the previous general conference came to my mind. Sister Linda K. Burton had said, “all that is unfair about life can be made right through the atonement of Jesus Christ" (Linda K. Burton, "Is Faith in the Atonement of Jesus Christ Written in Our Hearts?", General Conference, October 2012).

Right then I felt that life was very unfair and that a horrendous weight was on my shoulders. I really wasn’t sure what to do, but I chose to test her words. I told the kids that I needed a minute and dropped to my knees right there on the kitchen floor. I prayed to my Father in Heaven for help. I told Him that I didn’t know how accessing the power of the atonement of Christ worked, but I asked that if it were possible, that through the atonement of Jesus Christ the negative feelings that I felt could be taken away so that my children wouldn’t have to suffer.

And, do you know what?

They vanished. 

Completely. 

I stood up, ready to take on the day.

That experience was a testimony to me of the healing and enabling power that can come through the atonement of Jesus Christ. It is something that I have used many times, and that power has never failed to bring the comfort that I need when I have asked for it.

One of my favorite scripture stories is found in the New Testament. The disciples are on the Sea of Galilee and the Savior is asleep in the boat. A big storm comes. Okay, so these are fishermen who live on the water so they wouldn’t be afraid of just any storm. This was much bigger than they felt they could handle.

In life we will encounter storms. Really big storms. We may feel that Jesus has forgotten about us and is sleeping in the back of the boat. We may feel afraid and unsure of how to move forward.

The disciples chose to wake Jesus,

“And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm” (Mark 4:39).

I remember lying in bed one night listening to a thunderstorm. It was loud. The lightning was flashing and the thunder was booming and I could hear the rain pouring down. I then imagined the Savior on the waters with His disciples and realized that He is someone who had the power to say “peace” and have that storm cease.

That is the power that Jesus Christ has. 

That is the power that is available to us through His atoning sacrifice. That power can heal our hearts. That power can calm our souls. And that power is real.

President Uchtdorf, testified, “There may be some among you who feel darkness encroaching upon you. You may feel burdened by worry, fear, or doubt. To you and to all of us, I repeat a wonderful and certain truth: God’s light is real. It is available to all! It gives life to all things. It has the power to soften the sting of the deepest wound. It can be a healing balm for the loneliness and sickness of our souls. In the furrows of despair, it can plant the seeds of a brighter hope. It can enlighten the deepest valleys of sorrow. It can illuminate the path before us and lead us through the darkest night into the promise of a new dawn” (Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "The Hope of God’s Light", General Conference, April 2013).

That is the healing power that is available to each of us through the atonement of Jesus Christ. 

In the New Testament we find the story of Jairus. His daughter is sick and dying and he comes to Jesus asking Him to heal her. On the way to Jairus’ house a woman with an issue of blood reaches out, touches the hem of Jesus’ robe, and is healed. In the midst of this miraculous healing Jairus is informed that his daughter has passed away.

Can you imagine the agony of Jairus, watching someone else enjoy what he had been hoping for, and seeing others celebrating while his hopes are dashed to pieces?

I have a nephew who was struggling with a lot of things and ended up committing suicide in 2021. I know where he is now, and I am comforted by that thought, but sometimes I just miss him. 

When dreams are unfulfilled and hearts are broken we can turn to the Savior. It doesn’t make the bad things go away, but we can find peace in Him.

The Savior, true to form, had not forgotten Jairus. He turned to him and said, “Be not afraid, only believe” (Mark 5:36). Sometimes the miracles we pray for won’t come right away. Sometimes they won’t come in this life. But, if we can trust in the Savior we can find the peace we seek.

The trend of the world today is that anything hard, unfair, or even uncomfortable can be seen as an unnatural tragedy. We know, however, that life is a test, and if we did not have the trials how could we grow?

Elder Richard G. Scott enlightened us with this knowledge: “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” (Richard G. Scott, "Truth Restored", General Conference, October 2005).

There is a girl who now lives in Utah named Meg Johnson. When she was younger she was a dancer. In her late teens or early 20s she came out to Utah to visit Saint George with some friends. She was fascinated by all the red rock and leaped from one rock to another until, as she tells the story, “I accidentally jumped off a cliff.” She fell and landed on the ground below — paralyzed from the neck down.

She is one who is blessed with the gift of dreams. In her book, “When Life Gets Hard, Just Keep Rollin’” she relates one dream in particular that has really impressed me. In her dream she knew that she was in the pre-earth life with a man who was wearing all white. He had a white binder and sat down beside her. He explained that during her life she would be paralyzed. She exclaimed, “I am so excited!” She then explained that she didn’t have any idea what being paralyzed would mean, “but” she said, “if that is what it would take for me to become like my Father in Heaven, I would do anything.”

I have not personally dealt with such a tragedy as she has, but others have. However, I have my own personally curated trials and challenges that will help me in my efforts to become more like my Savior and my Heavenly Parents.

But what about those times when we have worked so hard and tried again and again and have been so diligent and kept being obedient despite the obstacles? What happens when we become so worn out and tired and don’t have the strength to keep going on? Sometimes after expending all of our efforts with nothing seeming to work out, we are ready to be done trying.

I’ve been there multiple times.

In the New Testament we read about Jesus teaching a multitude when a man came to him with his son who had been afflicted since he was young. The father explained of the challenges that the family had dealt with:

“[O]fttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but,” he said, “if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us” (Mark 9:22).

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland shared, “With no other hope remaining, this father asserts what faith he has and pleads with the Savior of the world, ‘If thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us.' I can hardly read those words without weeping. The plural pronoun us is obviously used intentionally. This man is saying, in effect, ‘Our whole family is pleading. Our struggle never ceases. We are exhausted. Our son falls into the water. He falls into the fire. He is continually in danger, and we are continually afraid. We don’t know where else to turn. Can you help us? We will be grateful for anything—a partial blessing, a glimmer of hope, some small lifting of the burden carried by this boy’s mother every day of her life.’” (Jeffrey R. Holland, "Lord, I Believe", General Conference, April 2013).

Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.” (Mark 9:24).

Sometimes when the challenges have gone on for so long and we have lost hope, we have a hard time believing that there might be a light in some distant future where things will work out. In those times we may need to ask for the help to believe.

Joseph Smith taught that, our Father in Heaven is more “boundless in his mercies and blessings, than we are ready to believe or receive” (Joseph Smith, History, 1838–1856, volume D-1 [1 August 1842–1 July 1843]). 

Test out these words and promises and come to know for yourself.

In closing, I want to wish all of you a happy Mother’s Day. For those who have been fortunate enough to have wonderful amazing mothers, be grateful. For those who have the chance in this life to be mothers, be grateful. For those who don’t have either, remember that you have a Father and a Mother in Heaven who both love you dearly and long to have you back home with them again. 

I testify that it is through the prophet Joseph Smith that the plan of our Heavenly Father has been restored to the earth. This plan provided a way through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ to give us the comfort and help that we will need as we struggle throughout our lives. As we turn to our Savior we can find the strength and capacity to continue on through the difficulties we will face.

I know God lives. I know He loves all of us. He really is there.

Agency & Obedience

Recently I was reading headline after headline about schools declining, the economy declining, the government declining, the food supply declining, and on and on and on. It was a bit depressing, so I decided to turn to the Church News to find something more up-lifting. Sister Bonnie Cordon shared an experience about how she “Hears Him”, and it reminded me that I need to remember that God is in charge. Not the government. Not the media. God, Himself is in charge, and in the Doctrine and Covenants, we read: 

“The works, and the designs, and the purposes of God cannot be frustrated, neither can they come to naught” (Doctrine & Covenants 3:1).

ETERNAL TRUTHS

Elder Dale G. Renlund in this past general conference talked about some of the truths that are found in the new Young Women’s theme (see Dale G. Renlund, “Your Divine Nature and Eternal Destiny”, General Conference, April 2022).

1. You are a beloved daughter. Nothing you do—or do not do—can change that. God loves you because you are His spirit daughter.

2. We have heavenly parents, a father and a mother.

3. We have "a divine nature." This is intrinsic to who we are. It is spiritually "genetic," inherited from our heavenly parents, and requires no effort on our part.

4. We have an "eternal destiny."

Out of all of those truths, there is only one that we can control. Our eternal destiny. 

One of the blessings of this life is that we have been given the gift of moral agency — the right to make our own choices. Moral agency doesn’t simply mean that we can make whatever choice we want and have things go how we want them to. It doesn’t work that way. Moral agency is based on eternal law. For example, someone jumping out of a plane and “choosing” to ignore gravity is the same as breaking an eternal law and trying to avoid the punishment.

MORAL AGENCY

Before we came to this world we were given moral agency. This gift of agency is central to our purpose here on earth. It is so important that there was a war in heaven fought to protect and preserve it. It is so important to our Father in Heaven that He allowed one third part of His spirit children to walk away from eternal progress because they chose to.

In the scriptures we read:

“Wherefore, because that Satan rebelled against me, and sought to destroy the agency of man, which I, the Lord God, had given him, and also, that I should give unto him mine own power; by the power of mine Only Begotten, I caused that he should be cast down;

“And he became Satan, yea, even the devil, the father of all lies, to deceive and to blind men, and to lead them captive at his will, even as many as would not hearken unto my voice” (Moses 4:3-4).

In his BYU Devotional address, Elder D. Todd Christofferson taught, “When we use the term moral agency…we are appropriately emphasizing the accountability that is an essential part of the divine gift of agency. We are moral beings and agents unto ourselves, free to choose but also responsible for our choices” (D. Todd Christofferson, “Moral Agency”, BYU Devotional, 31 Jan 2006).

OUR FALLEN WORLD

We live in a fallen world, and the natural state of man seems to be chaos, rather than order, and a steady decline rather than spontaneous growth. For example, if you don’t clean your house it doesn’t stay beautiful, tidy, and dust-free. If you don’t prepare your soil or plant any seeds you won’t get the desired produce. If you don’t exercise regularly, or sleep well, or eat healthy, it affects how your body and your spirit feel.

Decline is the natural way of things, and a challenge that we will all have to face throughout our lives. I was talking to my aging mother the other day and she said, “you know, life doesn’t get easier when you get older. Having your body age is hard, and how you age depends on the choices you made long ago to take care of it.”

In his book “Jesus the Christ”, James E. Talmage wrote, 

“The Eternal Father well understood the diverse natures and varied capacities of His spirit-offspring; and His infinite foreknowledge made plain to Him, even in the beginning, that in the school of life some of His children would succeed and others would fail; some would be faithful, others false; some would choose the good, others the evil; some would seek the way of life while others would elect to follow the road to destruction. He further foresaw that death would enter the world, and that the possession of bodies by His children would be of but brief individual duration. He saw that His commandments would be disobeyed and His law violated; and that men, shut out from His presence and left to themselves, would sink rather than rise, would retrogress rather than advance, and would be lost to the heavens” (James E. Talmage, “Jesus the Christ”, p16).

Thus the need for a Redeemer, for which I am truly grateful.

LAWS AND COMMANDMENTS

How does that tie to moral agency? Because we, as mortals, are inclined to decline, the Lord gave us commandments and laws to guide us, so that we could pull ourselves as far away from this world as we could.

“There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated—

“And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated” (Doctrine & Covenants 130:20-21).

Irrevocably means unchangeably or irreversibly; in a way that can’t be taken back. And decreed means it is officially ordered by a recognized authority (Merriam-Webster Dictionary app).

There are eternal laws that cannot be changed, and if we want to be blessed we need to follow them. But, to truly have agency there must be consequences attached to those laws, otherwise it wouldn’t matter what we chose. Here are a few quotes about eternal laws and how they work:

“All blessings that were ordained for man by the Council of Heaven were on conditions of obedience to the law thereof” (Joseph Smith, “Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith” (2007), 164).

“[The] covenant path is the way we come unto Christ and is based on absolute truth and eternal, unchanging law. We cannot create our own path and expect God’s promised outcomes. To expect His blessings while not following the eternal laws upon which they are predicated is misguided, like thinking we can touch a hot stove and ‘decide’ not to be burned” (Dale G. Renlund, “Your Divine Nature and Eternal Destiny”, General Conference, April 2022).

“Commandments are no more restrictive to the spiritual man than street signs are to the motorists. Neither prohibits our progress; to the contrary, they enhance it by serving as guideposts or directional signs to help us find and reach our destination” (Tad R. Callister, “The Infinite Atonement”, p258).

“If you really want a certain blessing, you’d better find out what the laws are that govern that blessing and then work on becoming obedient to those laws.” (Russell M. Nelson, “The Mission and Ministry of the Savior: A Discussion with Elder Russell M. Nelson,” Ensign, June 2005).

SATAN’S PLAN

Timothy Ballard, in his book, “The American Covenant”, asks an interesting question.

“During the pre-mortal existence, Satan proposed a ‘plan of salvation’ for God’s children that would take away agency and replace it with forced obedience. Satan was so adamantly against any opposing plan that included agency, that when his own plan was rejected, he responded by waging a war in heaven, which he would ultimately lose. The relevant question in all this is Why would Satan work so hard just to deny us our agency?” (Timothy Ballard, The American Covenant: One Nation Under God, vol 1, p5).

It has only been recently that I have started to understood more about Satan’s plan. It wasn’t that Satan was just proposing a plan, he was trying to unravel the entire fabric of the Plan that our Heavenly Father had set up. I found a talk by Elder Christofferson that gave me a much greater understanding, and greater insight, into the adversary's motives and purposes. 

“[Referring to the Council in Heaven] This was not simply a case of Jesus supporting the Father’s plan and Lucifer proposing a slight modification. Lucifer’s proposal would have destroyed the plan by eliminating our opportunity to act independently. Lucifer’s plan was founded on coercion, making all the other sons and daughters of God—all of us—essentially his puppets. … 

“By contrast, doing things the Father’s way offers us an essential mortal experience. By ‘mortal experience’ I mean choosing our course, ‘[tasting] the bitter, that [we might] know to prize the good’; learning, repenting, and growing; becoming beings capable of acting for ourselves rather than simply being ‘acted upon’; and ultimately overcoming evil and demonstrating our desire and ability to live a celestial law. This requires a knowledge of good and evil on our part, with the capacity and opportunity to choose between the two. And it requires accountability for choices made—otherwise they are not really choices. Choice, in turn, requires law, or predictable outcomes. We must be able by a particular action or choice to cause a particular outcome or result—and by the opposite choice create the opposite outcome. If actions don’t have fixed consequences, then one has no control over outcomes and choice is meaningless. … 

“And let us remember, Satan was not volunteering to be our savior. He was not interested in suffering or dying for anyone. He wasn’t going to shed any of his blood. He wanted the glory, honor, and power of God without paying any price. What he failed to understand or to believe is that one cannot possess the power of God without being the embodiment of justice. Lucifer was seeking for power without goodness. He supposed that he could be a law unto himself, meaning that the law would be whatever he said it was at any given moment and that he could change his mind at any time. In that way, no one could count on anything, and no one would have the ability to be an independent actor. He would be supreme, and no one else could advance” (D. Todd Christofferson, “A Message at Christmas”, BYU Devotional, 12 Dec 2017).

As we become more and more obedient to the eternal laws, we can gain more and more power over those laws.

OBEDIENCE

In his book “The Infinite Atonement”, Tad R. Callister says, “Contrary to the belief of many, obedience is not the antithesis of freedom, but the foundation of it” (Tad R. Callister, "The Infinite Atonement", p258). He discusses how obedience to eternal laws can unlock the doors of knowledge, broaden our list of choices, and help us gain more power in this life.

For the past several years President Nelson has been giving us counsel about how to remember our Savior, so that we can keep the Spirit more readily in our lives. As we are obedient to his counsel we can receive the blessings he has promised us.

• Hear Him ("Hear Him", General Conference, April 2020).

• "As President of His Church, I plead with you who have distanced yourselves from the Church and with you who have not yet really sought to know that the Savior’s Church has been restored. Do the spiritual work to find out for yourselves, and please do it now. Time is running out" ("Come, Follow Me", General Conference, April 2019).

• "We hope and pray that each member’s home will become a true sanctuary of faith, where the Spirit of the Lord may dwell. Despite contention all around us, one’s home can become a heavenly place, where study, prayer, and faith can be merged with love. We can truly become disciples of the Lord, standing up and speaking up for Him wherever we are" ("Closing Remarks", General Conference, April 2019).

• "We have never needed positive spiritual momentum more than we do now, to counteract the speed with which evil and the darker signs of the times are intensifying. Positive spiritual momentum will keep us moving forward amid the fear and uncertainty created by pandemics, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, and armed hostilities. Spiritual momentum can help us withstand the relentless, wicked attacks of the adversary and thwart his efforts to erode our personal spiritual foundation" ("The Power of Spiritual Momentum", General Conference, April 2022).

• "Keep on the covenant path and stay there"; "Discover the joy of daily repentance"; "Learn about God and how He works"; "Seek and expect miracles"; "End conflict in your personal life" ("The Power of Spiritual Momentum", General Conference, April 2022).

• "I invite you to pray to identify the debris you should remove from your life so you can become more worthy [to help prepare the world for the Second Coming of the Lord]" ("Welcome Message", General Conference, April 2021).

• "I entreat you to study prayerfully all the truths you can find about priesthood power"("Spiritual Treasures", General Conference, October 2019).

• "One of the things the Spirit has repeatedly impressed upon my mind since my new calling as President of the Church is how willing the Lord is to reveal His mind and will. The privilege of receiving revelation is one of the greatest gifts of God to His children" (Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives", General Conference, April 2018).

• "I urge you to stretch beyond your current spiritual ability to receive personal revelation, for the Lord has promised that 'if thou shalt [seek], thou shalt receive revelation upon revelation, knowledge upon knowledge, that thou mayest know the mysteries and peaceable things—that which bringeth joy, that which bringeth life eternal'" (Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives", General Conference, April 2018).

Our Heavenly Father loves us and wants to guide us back to Him, but can only do so as we are obedient to Him. There are eternal laws that He is bound by, and our obedience allows Him the freedom to bless us.

Jesus will come again, and as we are obedient to His laws and commandments we can better have His spirit to be with us, to help us overcome this mortal world we live in.

I want to conclude with words from Elder Renlund’s talk:

“I invite you to center your life on Jesus Christ and remember the foundational truths in the Young Women theme. If you are willing, the Holy Ghost will guide you. Our Heavenly Father wants you to become His heir and receive all that He has. He cannot offer you more. He cannot promise you more. He loves you more than you know and wants you to be happy in this life and in the life to come” (Dale G. Renlund, “Your Divine Nature and Eternal Destiny”, General Conference, April 2022).

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.

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).