The Armor of God (Part 7: the Word of God)

“and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:17)

I find it interesting that all of the previous armor listed seems to be protective in nature. The sword is the only offensive weapon. To me this means that using the word of God should be central to our plan of attack in the fight against sin. A soldier in combat holds his sword tightly; sometimes with both hands. A solder at the ready must also have a tight grip. Likewise, we must hold fast to the word of God throughout all the ups and downs this life has to offer us.

Sword

A sword is a weapon that one uses when face-to-face with the enemy. Projectile weapons, such as arrows or darts, are used from a distance to weaken the defenses. The adversary knows that if he can continually weaken us with his “fiery darts” (1 Nephi 15:24) it can keep us from being as effective in the battle against sin. President James E. Faust taught,

“Who has not heard and felt the enticings of the devil? His voice often sounds so reasonable and his message so easy to justify. It is an enticing, intriguing voice with dulcet tones. It is neither hard nor discordant. No one would listen to Satan’s voice if it sounded harsh or mean. If the devil’s voice were unpleasant, it would not entice people to listen to it….

“However, 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. The Apostle James counseled: ‘Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you’. He cannot know our thoughts unless we speak them. And Nephi states that ‘he hath no power over the hearts’ of people who are righteous” (link to talk).

To be righteous means fighting whole-heartedly on the Lord’s side. The Lord, Himself, has said over and over again that He “shall fight for [us]” (Exodus 14:14). In Deuteronomy we read, “The Lord your God which goeth before you, he shall fight for you” (Deuteronomy 1:30), and again in Nehemiah, “our God shall fight for us” (Nehemiah 4:20). In modern times He has again reiterated,

“For behold, I do not require at their hands to fight the battles of Zion; for, as I said in a former commandment, even so will I fulfil—I will fight your battles” (Doctrine & Covenants 105:14).

The Lord will be our arm as we fight for Him. Elder Robert D. Hales gave further insight into the protecting arm of the Lord when he stated, “In our day, the steadying arm of the Lord reaches us through the ordinances of His holy temples” (link to talk).

When wielding a sword we can only be effective in our own sphere of influence. Our sword will not help someone in a far away land. Our sword, or our influence, can greatly impact the lives of those around us—whether we choose to use it for good or ill.

Spirit

From my limited experience with video games I have learned that haphazardly shooting in any (and all) directions, or flailing a weapon wildly about is not very effective. In fact, I am always one of the first to be killed. Similarly, if we are not familiar, or comfortable, with the word of God we may feel as completely ineffective in our battle against the adversary.

As we put ourselves in situations where we can feel the Spirit we can be tutored by the promptings of the Holy Ghost and thus fine-tune our swords. As we study the word of God it will be “written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart” (2 Corinthians 3:3).

Looking to the example of our Savior we can see how He used His in-depth internalization of the scriptures to counteract temptation. 

In the Gospel of Matthew we read that Jesus went into the wilderness to be with God. There He fasted, prayed, and communed with Him—thus arming Himself with the Spirit of God. Satan came to Him to tempt Him; and did so three times.

“If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread….

“If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone….

“All these things [all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them] will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me” (Matthew 4:3, 6, 8-9).

David O. McKay explains that the three kinds of temptations the Jesus experienced are the same kind that we are faced with in our day: 1) tempted with those things our bodies hunger for; 2) tempted by pride—to prove how great we are; and 3) tempted to do wrong to gain the riches and powers of the world (see Gospel Ideas, p 154-55).

In the first two temptations I find it very telling that the adversary starts with “if thou be the Son of God”. Satan knows full well that Jesus is the Son of God. Jesus knows this too. If we compare this to the story of Moses, we see that Moses “saw God face to face, and he talked with him” (Moses 1:2). During this interchange God says, “thou art my son” (Moses 1:4), and “Moses, my son” (Moses 1:6). When Satan comes afterwards his tactics seem to be the same “Moses, son of man” (Moses 1:12). 

The adversary will try in any way shape or form to make us believe that we are not the literal, spirit children of God. If he can convince us of this he can place a wedge between us and God. Never doubt that you are a child of God. Stand firm in that conviction. 

President Uchtdorf taught of God’s love for us when he said,

“[T]he vast expanse of eternity, the glories and mysteries of infinite space and time are all built for the benefit of ordinary mortals like you and me. Our Heavenly Father created the universe that we might reach our potential as His sons and daughters….

“[W]e are everything to God. While against the backdrop of infinite creation we may appear to be nothing, we have a spark of eternal fire burning within our breast. We have the incomprehensible promise of exaltation—worlds without end—within our grasp. And it is God’s great desire to help us reach it” (link to talk).

We are the reason that God created everything. His love for us surpasses anything that we can imagine. We are imperfect beings interacting with imperfect beings. God is perfect—something that is hard to comprehend, but nonetheless true.

When confronted by the adversary the Savior did not, even for a moment, think to justify Himself to the temptation. He simply responded with, 

“It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God….

“It is written…Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God….

“Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve” (Matthew 4:4, 7, 10, emphasis added).

Why, when the Savior had all of His miraculous power at His disposal, did He use words of scriptures against the adversary? Because He knew that,

“the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of body and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12, JST-12e).

The Greek translation of the word “quick” is “living” (see footnote b). Jesus knew the power that flows from the living word of God. The truth that IS the word of God will pierce the hearts of the guilty, and those trying to deceive. I can think of several times when we have been counseled to fill our arsenal with scripture, through memorizing them. Elder Richard G. Scott counseled, 

“I suggest that you memorize scriptures that touch your heart and fill your soul with understanding. When scriptures are used as the Lord has caused them to be recorded, they have intrinsic power that is not communicated when paraphrased. Sometimes when there is a significant need in my life, I review mentally scriptures that have given me strength. There is great solace, direction, and power that flow from the scriptures, especially the words of the Lord” (link to talk). 

He later taught,

“The scriptures provide the strength of authority to our declarations when they are cited correctly. They can become stalwart friends that are not limited by geography or calendar. They are always available when needed. Their use provides a foundation of truth that can be awakened by the Holy Ghost. Learning, pondering, searching, and memorizing scriptures is like filling a filing cabinet with friends, values, and truths that can be called upon anytime, anywhere in the world.

“Great power can come from memorizing scriptures. To memorize a scripture is to forge a new friendship. It is like discovering a new individual who can help in time of need, give inspiration and comfort, and be a source of motivation for needed change” (link to talk). 

Elder Gene R. Cook of the Seventy said: 

“I have discovered that many times you don’t fully understand a scripture until you memorize it. And sometimes I have memorized a passage because it seemed important and valuable to me—then afterwards I discovered deeper meanings that I hadn’t even known were there” (Searching the Scriptures: Bringing Power to Your Personal and Family Study, p114).

I am quite positive that this counsel to memorize is to help our minds and hearts be ready to respond with truth when the temptations or challenges come.

In Lehi’s dream about the Tree of Life we are taught that the word of God can be likened to an iron rod (1 Nephi 15:23-24). And, in the Book of Helaman we read, 

“that whosoever will may lay hold upon the word of God, which is quick and powerful, which shall divide asunder all the cunning and the snares and the wiles of the devil, and lead the man of Christ in a strait and narrow course across that everlasting gulf of misery which is prepared to engulf the wicked” (Helaman 3:29).

Whosover will. The choice is ours. If we will choose to hold steadfastly to the iron rod, the word of God, we will be able to “divide asunder all the cunning and snares and wiles of the devil”. It is our diligence that makes this happen. Alma teaches,

“[I]t is as easy to give heed to the word of Christ, which will point to you a straight course to eternal bliss, as it was for our fathers to give heed to [the Liahona], which would point unto them a straight course to the promised land.

“And now I say, is there not a type in this thing? For just as surely as this director did bring our fathers, by following its course, to the promised land, shall the words of Christ, if we follow their course, carry us beyond this vale of sorrow into a far better land of promise.

“O my son, do not let us be slothful because of the easiness of the way; for so was it with our fathers; for so was it prepared for them, that if they would look they might live; even so it is with us. The way is prepared, and if we will look we may live forever.

“And now…see that ye look to God and live” (Alma 37:44-47).

The word of God is readily available to us. It is an easy course to follow, but sometimes may seem too easy. We have great access to the scriptures—more than any time before—and we need to be careful not to take them for granted. President Ezra Taft Benson counseled,

“[L]et us not treat lightly the great things we have received from the hand of the Lord! His word is one of the most valuable gifts He has given us. I urge you to recommit yourselves to a study of the scriptures. Immerse yourselves in them daily so you will have the power of the Spirit to attend you” (link to talk).

The Word of God

When I think of the word of God there are generally three things that come to mind: the scriptures, the words of the prophets, and personal revelation.

SCRIPTURES

In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints we embrace the Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine & Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price, as canonized scripture. In the Doctrine and Covenants we are taught that “the Book of Mormon…contains the truth and the word of God” (Doctrine & Covenants 19:26). Our Articles of Faith states, “We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God” (Article of Faith 1:8).

PROPHET

In the first section of the Doctrine and Covenants, the Lord is speaking—delivering His preface to “the doctrines, covenants, and commandments given in this dispensation” (heading to Section 1). He declares, 

“What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same” (Doctrine & Covenants 1:38).

Elder Bruce R. McConkie taught, 

“The Lord and His prophets are one. They are united in the same mind and in the same judgement. Light and truth and righteousness come from God and are revealed and bestowed by Him upon chosen servants, who wear the prophetic mantle” (A New Witness for the Articles of Faith, p1).

PERSONAL REVELATION

“Revelation is communication from God to His children. Prophets…are not the only people who can receive revelation. According to our faithfulness, we can receive revelation to help us with our specific personal needs, responsibilities, and questions and to help us strengthen our testimony….[M]ost revelations to leaders and members of the Church come through the whisperings of the Holy Ghost.

“Quiet spiritual promptings may not seem as spectacular as visions or angelic visitations, but they are just as powerful and lasting and life changing. The witness of the Holy Ghost makes an impression on the soul that is more significant than anything we can see or hear. Through such revelations, we will receive lasting strength to stay true to the gospel and help others do the same” (link to topic).

We can increase in understanding the revelation we receive and can know the will of the Lord in our own life and our unique circumstances. The Prophet Joseph Smith taught,

“A person may profit by noticing the first intimation of the spirit of revelation; for instance, when you feel pure intelligence flowing into you, it may give you sudden strokes of ideas, so that by noticing it, you may find it fulfilled the same day or soon; … those things that were presented unto your minds by the Spirit of God, will come to pass; and thus by learning the Spirit of God and understanding it, you may grow into the principle of revelation” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p151). 

President Boyd K. Packer also taught this about receiving revelation.

“There are two parts to your nature—your temporal body born of mortal parents, and your immortal spirit within. You are a son or daughter of God.

“Physically you can see with eyes and hear with ears and touch and feel and learn. Through your intellect, you learn most of what you know about the world in which we live.

“But if you learn by reason only, you will never understand the Spirit and how it works—regardless of how much you learn about other things….

“Your spirit learns in a different way than does your intellect….

“You have your agency, and inspiration does not—perhaps cannot—flow unless you ask for it, or someone asks for you.

“No message in scripture is repeated more often than the invitation, even the command, to pray—to ask.

“Prayer is so essential a part of revelation that without it the veil may remain closed to you. Learn to pray. Pray often. Pray in your mind, in your heart. Pray on your knees….

“The flow of revelation depends on your faith. You exercise faith by causing, or by making, your mind accept or believe as truth that which you cannot, by reason alone, prove for certainty” (link to talk).

One thing we can receive by revelation is a testimony, or a spiritual witness of truth. It is given to us by the Holy Ghost, and can only be received through this channel. It comes as we have the faith to put forth the effort to prepare. 

As we arm ourselves with the word of God by searching the scriptures, listening to the words of the prophet, and responding to the personal revelation we receive—in times of peace and in times of trial—we can fortify ourselves against the attacks of the enemy. With this conviction in our hearts the sword of the Spirit will be strong and immoveable in our hand.

The Armor of God (Part 6: Salvation)

“And take the hemet of salvation” (Ephesians 6:17)

Take

It is easy to “take” something when it is being offered to you. Salvation has been offered to each of us through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. It will not be thrust upon us. We must do the taking. When taking this helmet it isn’t with the intent to cradle it in our arms and think of how nice it might be to wear it. To take the helmet of salvation is to accept the Atonement of Jesus Christ, and to have it become a part of who we are. To access the armor provided by the helmet of salvation we need to remember who we are and who we can become.

Helmet

A helmet protects the head of the wearer. We can take the helmet as we take control of what the helmet protects: our minds. President David O. McKay said,

“What a man continually thinks about determines his actions in times of opportunity and stress” (link to talk).

President Thomas S. Monson has also stated, "Decisions determine destiny" (link to article). Protect your mind. “Let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly” (Doctrine & Covenants 121:45). We can be so tempted by appetites and desires in the world we live in, but we need to remember that we are in control of our minds. President Boyd K. Packer taught, “Your body really is the instrument of your mind and the foundation of your character” (link to talk). As we take control we will be able to become stronger and more in tune with the link between our body and our spirit.

The best way to keep our helmet (and our mind) in an eternally focused position is to keep the Lord in there. President Ezra Taft Benson stated, “We must put God in the forefront of everything else in our lives. He must come first” (link to talk). This isn’t a Sunday-only type of worship, or an ‘after I finish <insert anything>’ mindset. It is a fight to overcome the tendency toward apathy, laziness, and procrastination that seems to appeal to the natural man. President Benson continues, “To love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength is all-consuming and all-encompassing. It is no lukewarm endeavor” (link to talk). We need to be seeking and searching for the Lord. As President Joseph Field Smith taught, 

“‘I am seeking after my salvation, and I know that I can find it only in obedience to the laws of the Lord in keeping the commandments, in performing works of righteousness, following in the footsteps of our file leader, Jesus, the exemplar and the head of all” (link to lesson).

By focusing on my eternal goals and working backwards, I can set daily goals to help me reach where I really want to be. For example if I want to build a strong relationship with my Father in Heaven, then today I can choose to really pray, and to feast on the Word of God. If I want to be a good visiting teacher, then today I can pray for the sisters I am assigned to visit. I have found that it is much easier to act when I keep my daily actions aligned with my eternal goals. Elder Carlos A. Godoy spoke of using our patriarchal blessing as a guide for  setting our goals when he said,

“Life was good, and everything seemed to be as it should be—until one day an old friend came to visit us.

“At the conclusion of his visit, he made a comment and asked a question that unsettled my convictions. He said, ‘Carlos, everything seems to be going well for you, your family, your career, and your service in the Church, but—’ and then came the question, ‘if you continue to live as you are living, will the blessings promised in your patriarchal blessing be fulfilled?’

“I had never thought about my patriarchal blessing in this way. I read it from time to time but never with the intent of looking toward the blessings promised in the future and evaluating how I was living in the present” (link to talk).

Janie Penfield, in a BYU Devotional, expressed setting goals in this way,

“Planning with purpose is the best way to ensure that each adventure is successful…Before we begin…we must determine the purpose of our trek so we know which trails to take. Then we must [stay] on course or we will not reach our destination” (link to talk).

Keep your helmet on. Keep your mind focused on your ultimate goal. “Do what is right, let the consequence follow” (link to hymn).

Salvation

In the Topical Guide the word “salvation” is listed in several ways. Some of these include   the Plan of Salvation, the Work of Salvation for the Dead, and the Salvation that comes through the Atonement of our Redeemer, Jesus Christ.

PLAN OF SALVATION

Before we came to earth we lived with our Father in Heaven. We are the literal spirit children of Deity. In The Family: A Proclamation to the World we read, “ALL HUMAN BEINGS—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny” (link to document). Knowing who we truly are, and that the Lord has a plan for us, can give us a greater perspective of who we can become. Elder Dallin H. Oaks said, 

“Consider the power of the idea taught in our beloved song ‘I Am a Child of God’….Here is the answer to one of life’s great questions, ‘Who am I?’ I am a child of God with a spirit lineage to heavenly parents. That parentage defines our eternal potential. That powerful idea is a potent antidepressant. It can strengthen each of us to make righteous choices and to seek the best that is within us. Establish in the mind of a young person the powerful idea that he or she is a child of God and you have given self-respect and motivation to move against the problems of life” (link to talk).

Vaughn J. Featherstone, explained the power of knowing who we are with this example,

“Many years ago I heard the story of the son of King Louis XVI of France. King Louis had been taken from his throne and imprisoned. His young son, the prince, was taken by those who dethroned the king. They thought that inasmuch as the king’s son was heir to the throne, if they could destroy him morally, he would never realize the great and grand destiny that life had bestowed upon him.

“They took him to a community far away, and there they exposed the lad to every filthy and vile thing that life could offer. They exposed him to foods the richness of which would quickly make him a slave to appetite. They used vile language around him constantly. They exposed him to lewd and lusting women. They exposed him to dishonor and distrust. He was surrounded 24 hours a day by everything that could drag the soul of a man as low as one could slip. For over six months he had this treatment—but not once did the young lad buckle under pressure. Finally, after intensive temptation, they questioned him. Why had he not submitted himself to these things—why had he not partaken? These things would provide pleasure, satisfy his lusts, and were desirable; they were all his. The boy said, ‘I cannot do what you ask for I was born to be a king’” (link to talk).

The same is true of us. We are each literal children of our Father in Heaven, destined to become like Him. We can gain strength from knowing that we are here on earth at this specific time, for a specific purpose. Elder Russell M. Nelson taught,

“Strength comes when you remember that you have a divine nature, an inheritance of infinite worth. The Lord has reminded you, your children, and your grandchildren that you are lawful heirs, that you have been reserved in heaven for your specific time and place to be born, to grow and become His standard bearers and covenant people. As you walk in the Lord’s path of righteousness, you will be blessed to continue in His goodness and be a light and a savior unto His people” (link to talk).

Before we came to this earth we learned that we would be proven, “to see if [we would] do all things whatsoever the Lord [our] God shall command [us]” (Abraham 3:25). We will be proved through times of trial and tribulation, as well as through times of peace and prosperity. The Plan of Salvation is sometimes referred to as The Plan of Happiness. Nephi teaches us that “men are, that they might have joy” (2 Nephi 2:25). Elder Richard G. Scott reminds us, “Our Heavenly Father did not put us on earth to fail but to succeed gloriously” (link to talk). As we are obedient to the steps the Lord has outlined we can receive that promised joy. Elder Scott also taught,

“Continually bless your life with the power of righteousness. It builds confidence. It engenders trust. It yields enduring, worthy achievement. To be righteous is to seek intently to be obedient to the commandments of God. It is to be clean in thought and act. It is to be honest and just. Righteousness is shown more in acts than in words. A righteous life requires discipline. Discipline is that characteristic which will give you the strength to avoid giving up what you want most in life for something you think you want now. It is a friend, not a harsh taskmaster that makes life miserable. Discipline is easier to acquire when it is rooted in faith in Jesus Christ, when it is nourished by an understanding of His teachings and plan of happiness….In doing right you enlist the help of God to sustain you to be victorious. You need not fear the future. For you, it will be glorious as you continue to obey the laws of God” (link to talk).

We are His children. He is doing (and has done) everything that He can do to help us in this life. How we choose to use our agency is the deciding factor. We can choose to do things our way, or the Lord’s way, but the decisions we make will determine who we will become now, and in the eternities to come. Elder Neal A. Maxwell said,

“I am going to preach a hard doctrine to you now. The submission of one’s will is really the only uniquely personal thing we have to place on God’s altar. It is a hard doctrine, but it is true. The many other things we give to God, however nice that may be of us, are actually things He has already given us, and He has loaned them to us. But when we begin to submit ourselves by letting our wills be swallowed up in God’s will, then we are really giving something to Him” (link to article).

As we commit ourselves to doing the will of the Lord we can truly become His disciples. As President Thomas S. Monson stated, “I believe that the more we act upon the inspiration and impressions which come to us, the more the Lord will entrust to us His errands” (link to talk). Elder Daniel L. Johnson also taught,

“Discipleship is all about doing and becoming. As we obey His commandments and serve our fellowmen, we become better disciples of Jesus Christ. Obedience and submission to His will bring the companionship of the Holy Ghost, along with those blessings of peace, joy, and security that always accompany this third member of the Godhead. And they can come in no other way. Ultimately, it is total submission to His will that helps us become as our Savior is. Again, becoming like Him and being one with Him is the ultimate goal and objective—and essentially the very definition of true discipleship” (link to talk).

THE WORK OF SALVATION

The work of Salvation for those who have passed from this mortal life began after the Savior’s death. President Joseph F. Smith saw the following in a vision he received while pondering the writings of the apostle Paul.

“As I pondered over these things which are written, the eyes of my understanding were opened, and the Spirit of the Lord rested upon me, and I saw the hosts of the dead, both small and great.

“And there were gathered together in one place an innumerable company of the spirits of the just, who had been faithful in the testimony of Jesus while they lived in mortality;

“And who had offered sacrifice in the similitude of the great sacrifice of the Son of God, and had suffered tribulation in their Redeemer’s name.

“All these had departed the mortal life, firm in the hope of a glorious resurrection, through the grace of God the Father and his Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ.

“I beheld that they were filled with joy and gladness, and were rejoicing together because the day of their deliverance was at hand.

“They were assembled awaiting the advent of the Son of God into the spirit world, to declare their redemption from the bands of death.

“Their sleeping dust was to be restored unto its perfect frame, bone to his bone, and the sinews and the flesh upon them, the spirit and the body to be united never again to be divided, that they might receive a fulness of joy.

“While this vast multitude waited and conversed, rejoicing in the hour of their deliverance from the chains of death, the Son of God appeared, declaring liberty to the captives who had been faithful;

“And there he preached to them the everlasting gospel, the doctrine of the resurrection and the redemption of mankind from the fall, and from individual sins on conditions of repentance” (Doctrine & Covenants 138:11-19).

The Plan of Salvation includes the work of salvation for the dead. Families can be together after this life, but we must be linked somehow. We must help them in their efforts to return to their Father in Heaven, and in return they will help us. Joseph Smith taught,

“And now, my dearly beloved brethren and sisters, let me assure you that these are principles in relation to the dead and the living that cannot be lightly passed over, as pertaining to our salvation. For their salvation is necessary and essential to our salvation, as Paul says concerning the fathers—that they without us cannot be made perfect—neither can we without our dead be made perfect” (Doctrine & Covenants 128:15).

As we seek our ancestors, and perform ordinances for them in the temple, we can help build an eternal link throughout generations past and future. Our deceased family members are anxious for our welfare and are willing to help us as we search for them. Elder Richard G. Scott taught,

“Any work you do in the temple is time well spent, but receiving ordinances vicariously for one of your own ancestors will make the time in the temple more sacred, and even greater blessings will be received…This work is a spiritual work, a monumental effort of cooperation on both sides of the veil, where help is given in both directions” (link to talk).

SALVATION THROUGH JESUS CHRIST

In the 3rd Article of Faith we learn that it is “through the Atonement of Christ, [that] all mankind may be saved, by obedience” (Article of Faith 1:3, emphasis added). It is the little things—those small acts of obedience—that we do each day that help build a solid foundation of faith under our feet, and direct us toward salvation. Alma taught,

“Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise.

“And the Lord God doth work by means to bring about his great and eternal purposes; and by very small means the Lord doth confound the wise and bringeth about the salvation of many souls” (Alma 37:6-7).

Obedience can be a hard thing. The natural man loves to be independent, and loves to chose his own way. One of the challenges that we will face in this life is overcoming the natural man; aligning our will the Lord’s.

In the book “The Story of My Life” by Helen Keller it speaks of the importance of obedience. As a toddler Helen was stricken with a fever which eventually caused the loss of her sight, hearing, and speech. She was a very strong-willed child and took command of her life (and those around her). Her parents loved her, and expressed this through indulging her in her demands and desires. Robert Russell, in the introduction to this book, expresses that if she had been allowed to remain in this state she never could have attained the greatness she later achieved in her life. He said,

“Great intelligence, vigor, and strength of will, however rare and marvelous, produce nothing unless they are harnessed and given direction. Harnessing means restraint, and restraint means obedience, and obedience means respect, perhaps love, for some one or some thing other than one’s self. All this Helen needed to learn before she could find and become herself” (Robert Russell, Introduction to “The Story of My Life” by Helen Keller, p4).

Before we can truly find ourselves we need to learn to be obedient. As we choose to be obedient, as opposed to choosing our own way, our love for our Father in Heaven will grow. Through our obedience we will be able to see the many blessings He is willing to shower upon us. Elder L. Tom Perry explains,

“Those who rely solely on themselves and follow only their own desires and self-inclinations are so limited when compared to those who follow God and tap into His insight, power, and gifts. It has been said that someone who is all wrapped up in himself or herself makes a very small package. Strong, proactive obedience is anything but weak or passive. It is the means by which we declare our faith in God and qualify ourselves to receive the powers of heaven. Obedience is a choice. It is a choice between our own limited knowledge and power and God’s unlimited wisdom and omnipotence” (link to talk).

Through God’s omniscience the Atonement of Jesus Christ was prepared from the foundation of the world. Our Heavenly Father and our Elder Brother, Jesus Christ, desire our eternal salvation. As we come to know Them we can understand how generous They truly are to each of us. King Benjamin expressed his testimony of salvation,

“[I]f ye have come to a knowledge of the goodness of God, and his matchless power, and his wisdom, and his patience, and his long-suffering towards the children of men; and also, the atonement which has been prepared from the foundation of the world, that thereby salvation might come to him that should put his trust in the Lord, and should be diligent in keeping his commandments, and continue in the faith even unto the end of his life, I mean the life of the mortal body—

“I say, that this is the man who receiveth salvation” (Mosiah 4:6-7).

Salvation is a gift that is offered to all men; from the beginning of this earth to the end thereof. We can take this gift as we are obedient to His plan. As we come to understand the love our Heavenly Father has for us—through His Plan of Salvation—we can be better prepared (and protected) against the challenges of this life. We can know who we are, that God has a specific plan for each of us, and that He will help guide us as we seek Him. We can assist in the Work of Salvation for those who have passed on before us, by searching out our ancestors; thus helping them receive the ordinances required for their own salvation. We can arm ourselves with the Helmet of Salvation as we keep our minds focused on the Lord and His eternal work and glory—to help each of us obtain eternal life with Him (see Moses 1:39).

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.