Sick Day

Today Anthony and I both were feeling under the weather so all 4 of us stayed home and relaxed. Be grateful for your good health when you have it!

LDS video: The Whole Armor of God

                                                This Goes with My Scripture Power Post!

Scripture Power

All around me there are temptations and opportunities to fall.... Elder Hales of the Quorum of the twelve Apostles in this past April General Conference said

"Young men (and women), your fathers and grandfathers never faced the temptations that you face on a regular basis. You are living in the last days. If your father wanted to get in trouble, he had to go searching for it. Not anymore! Today temptation finds you! Please remember that! Satan desires to have you and sin lieth at the door. How will you resist his aggressive tactics? Put on the whole armor of God."

Scripture Power by Clive Romney
Because I want to be like the Savior, and I can,
I'm reading His instructions, I'm following His plan.
Because I want the power His word will give to me,
I'm changing How I live, I'm changing what I'll be.

Chorus
Scripture Power, keeps me safe from Sin.
Scripture Power is the Power to win.
Scripture Power! Ev'ryday I need
The power that I get each time I read

I'll find the sword of truth in each scripture that I learn.
I take the shield of faith from these pages that I turn
I'll wear each vital part of the armor of the Lord,
And fight my daily battles and win a great reward.

Chorus

I am not sure who did this picture but I love it! It is time to be well versed in the words of the Lord. It is time to know the hymns. It is time to be praying always. We are in the heat of the battle and this is the way to win over sin. Never let your guard down.

Ether 12:27.... Let's celebrate our Savior Jesus Christ's gift of the atonement and the spectacular gift of life!

"And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them."

Life can be very humbling... Relying on people when we desire to be independent is hard... But are we all not beggars? "For behold, are we not all beggars? Do we not all depend upon the same Being, even God, for all the substance which we have, for both food and raiment, and for gold, and for silver, and for all the riches which we have of every kind?" When we come to realize we need help, that we cannot make it through life on our own, we have the opportunity to draw closer to the Lord Jesus Christ. We have the chance to gain strength through His mighty grace and enabling power. We have been told that it is by grace that we are saved after all we can do.... But "after all we can do" doesn't me that we are to trudge through this life alone, unhappily and get to the point of death and then ask for the Lord's help. No. We are so blessed! Christ who suffered all things, did so that He might be there for us through it all. Do you remember the poem footprints in the sand? He is there for us, but we have to allow Him to help us. We must open the door to let Him in (opening the door, in my opinion  is having a broken heart and a contrite spirit...) What do you notice about the painting? Is something missing? Why is it missing?

We have to let Christ in our hearts and in our lives. He will not force us to be with Him. But why would we not choose to let Him in? Why would we not choose Him? We don't remember but we must pray to remember that before this life we knew Him! We trusted in the Fathers plan. We had faith in Christ, that He would die for us and we came to this earth because of that trust in Him. I believe that His word was so binding, that when He said He would do it, suffer for our sins and bring about the redemption of our souls and bodies, for us it was as though it was already done.... that is the faith we had in Him because of who He was and who He had become. The scriptures are full of accounts that show that kind of faith by those who were before His time on the earth. Now that it is done can we be so naive as to disbelieve and throw away the gift He has given us? No. We mustn't. We Must choose to believe. There is a life after this so decide now how you want to be living it, with God or not? Are we going to choose the great and spacious building, the things of the modern world that are bright, shiny and exciting? Or choose the mansions prepared for us after this life. Choose God. Before Ye seek for riches, seek first to build the kingdom of God.... Remember what really matters and that is God and His children. (Below is a talk by Jeffery R. Holland "None were with Him" amazing talk! It is From April 2009 General Conference)

 I have a silly thing to share to end my thoughts for the night that shows that our Heavenly Father loves us so much he even helps us with the little things in life... So I struggle going outside by myself at anytime. I just get really nervous being alone walking outside and seeing a bunch of people I don't know, and seeming all alone without friends. Anyways, so this was really bothering me that this is such an issue, it has effected me in going running outside, walking or even getting to my classes... So the Lord helped me come up with an image that made me feel quite fantastic and it really helped! So I went outside today (walking for 30 min, by myself) and just imagined that every car passing was in a parade and when they passed me they were waving to me because they knew me and were throwing balloons into the sky! I love the sun (and it was a sunny day today) and I love the feeling of parades because everyone is friendly and cheers each other on, so that is my new outside experience... A Parade/ a celebration every time I am outside! As silly as it sounds it made me feel so good. The power of our minds is incredible and if something that simple got me out of the house just think of the great many more things we can do with our minds. So let's cheer one another on and get out there and enjoy the world! We are all on the same team. We are all here together to fight off Satan and have a glorious divine life because of whose we are and who we are going to become like. So let's get out there and celebrate life!

Thank you, Sister Thompson, and thanks to the remarkable women of this Church. Brothers and sisters, my Easter-season message today is intended for everyone, but it is directed in a special way to those who are alone or feel alone or, worse yet, feel abandoned. These might include those longing to be married, those who have lost a spouse, and those who have lost—or have never been blessed with—children. Our empathy embraces wives forsaken by their husbands, husbands whose wives have walked away, and children bereft of one or the other of their parents—or both. This group can find within its broad circumference a soldier far from home, a missionary in those first weeks of homesickness, or a father out of work, afraid the fear in his eyes will be visible to his family. In short it can include all of us at various times in our lives.

To all such, I speak of the loneliest journey ever made and the unending blessings it brought to all in the human family. I speak of the Savior’s solitary task of shouldering alone the burden of our salvation. Rightly He would say: “I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me. … I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold [me].” ¹

As President Uchtdorf so beautifully noted earlier, we know from scripture that Jesus’s messianic arrival in Jerusalem on the Sunday preceding Passover, a day directly analogous to this very morning, was a great public moment. But eagerness to continue walking with Him would quickly begin to wane.

Soon enough He was arraigned before the Israelite leaders of the day—first Annas, the former high priest, then Caiaphas, the current high priest. In their rush to judgment these men and their councils declared their verdict quickly and angrily. “What further need have we of witnesses?” they cried. “He is [worthy] of death.” ²

With that He was brought before the gentile rulers in the land. Herod Antipas, the tetrarch of Galilee, interrogated Him once, and Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor in Judea, did so twice, the second time declaring to the crowd, “I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man.” ³ Then, in an act as unconscionable as it was illogical, Pilate “scourged Jesus, [and] delivered him to be crucified.” ⁴ Pilate’s freshly washed hands could not have been more stained or more unclean.

Such ecclesiastical and political rejection became more personal when the citizenry in the street turned against Jesus as well. It is one of the ironies of history that sitting with Jesus in prison was a real blasphemer, a murderer and revolutionary known as Barabbas, a name or title in Aramaic meaning “son of the father.” ⁵ Free to release one prisoner in the spirit of the Passover tradition, Pilate asked the people, “Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you?” They said, “Barabbas.” ⁶ So one godless “son of the father” was set free while a truly divine Son of His Heavenly Father moved on to crucifixion.

This was also a telling time among those who knew Jesus more personally. The most difficult to understand in this group is Judas Iscariot. We know the divine plan required Jesus to be crucified, but it is wrenching to think that one of His special witnesses who sat at His feet, heard Him pray, watched Him heal, and felt His touch could betray Him and all that He was for 30 pieces of silver. Never in the history of this world has so little money purchased so much infamy. We are not the ones to judge Judas’s fate, but Jesus said of His betrayer, “Good [were it] for that man if he had not been born.” ⁷

Of course others among the believers had their difficult moments as well. Following the Last Supper, Jesus left Peter, James, and John to wait while He ventured into the Garden of Gethsemane alone. Falling on His face in prayer, “sorrowful … unto death,” ⁸ the record says, His sweat came as great drops of blood ⁹ as He pled with the Father to let this crushing, brutal cup pass from Him. But, of course, it could not pass. Returning from such anguished prayer, He found His three chief disciples asleep, prompting Him to ask, “Could ye not watch with me one hour?” ¹⁰ So it happens two more times until on His third return He says compassionately, “Sleep on now, and take your rest,” ¹¹ though there would be no rest for Him.

Later, after Jesus’s arrest and appearance at trial, Peter, accused of knowing Jesus and being one of His confidants, denies that accusation not once but three times. We don’t know all that was going on here, nor do we know of protective counsel which the Savior may have given to His Apostles privately, ¹² but we do know Jesus was aware that even these precious ones would not stand with Him in the end, and He had warned Peter accordingly. ¹³ Then, with the crowing of the cock, “the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord. … And [he] went out, and wept bitterly.” ¹⁴

Thus, of divine necessity, the supporting circle around Jesus gets smaller and smaller and smaller, giving significance to Matthew’s words: “All the disciples [left] him, and fled.” ¹⁵ Peter stayed near enough to be recognized and confronted. John stood at the foot of the cross with Jesus’s mother. Especially and always the blessed women in the Savior’s life stayed as close to Him as they could. But essentially His lonely journey back to His Father continued without comfort or companionship.

Now I speak very carefully, even reverently, of what may have been the most difficult moment in all of this solitary journey to Atonement. I speak of those final moments for which Jesus must have been prepared intellectually and physically but which He may not have fully anticipated emotionally and spiritually—that concluding descent into the paralyzing despair of divine withdrawal when He cries in ultimate loneliness, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” ¹⁶

The loss of mortal support He had anticipated, but apparently He had not comprehended this. Had He not said to His disciples, “Behold, the hour … is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me” and “The Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him”? ¹⁷

With all the conviction of my soul I testify that He did please His Father perfectly and that a perfect Father did not forsake His Son in that hour. Indeed, it is my personal belief that in all of Christ’s mortal ministry the Father may never have been closer to His Son than in these agonizing final moments of suffering. Nevertheless, that the supreme sacrifice of His Son might be as complete as it was voluntary and solitary, the Father briefly withdrew from Jesus the comfort of His Spirit, the support of His personal presence. It was required, indeed it was central to the significance of the Atonement, that this perfect Son who had never spoken ill nor done wrong nor touched an unclean thing had to know how the rest of humankind—us, all of us—would feel when we did commit such sins. For His Atonement to be infinite and eternal, He had to feel what it was like to die not only physically but spiritually, to sense what it was like to have the divine Spirit withdraw, leaving one feeling totally, abjectly, hopelessly alone.

But Jesus held on. He pressed on. The goodness in Him allowed faith to triumph even in a state of complete anguish. The trust He lived by told Him in spite of His feelings that divine compassion is never absent, that God is always faithful, that He never flees nor fails us. When the uttermost farthing had then been paid, when Christ’s determination to be faithful was as obvious as it was utterly invincible, finally and mercifully, it was “finished.” ¹⁸ Against all odds and with none to help or uphold Him, Jesus of Nazareth, the living Son of the living God, restored physical life where death had held sway and brought joyful, spiritual redemption out of sin, hellish darkness, and despair. With faith in the God He knew was there, He could say in triumph, “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.” ¹⁹

Brothers and sisters, one of the great consolations of this Easter season is that because Jesus walked such a long, lonely path utterly alone, we do not have to do so. His solitary journey brought great company for our little version of that path—the merciful care of our Father in Heaven, the unfailing companionship of this Beloved Son, the consummate gift of theHoly Ghost, angels in heaven, family members on both sides of the veil, prophets and apostles, teachers, leaders, friends. All of these and more have been given as companions for our mortal journey because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the Restoration of His gospel. Trumpeted from the summit of Calvary is the truth that we will never be left alone nor unaided, even if sometimes we may feel that we are. Truly the Redeemer of us all said: “I will not leave you comfortless: [My Father and] I will come to you [and abide with you].” ²⁰

My other plea at Easter time is that these scenes of Christ’s lonely sacrifice, laced with moments of denial and abandonment and, at least once, outright betrayal, must never be reenacted by us. He has walked alone once. Now, may I ask that never again will He have to confront sin without our aid and assistance, that never again will He find only unresponsive onlookers when He sees you and me along His Via Dolorosain our present day. As we approach this holy week—Passover Thursday with its Paschal Lamb, atoning Friday with its cross, Resurrection Sunday with its empty tomb—may we declare ourselves to be more fully disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, not in word only and not only in the flush of comfortable times but in deed and in courage and in faith, including when the path is lonely and when our cross is difficult to bear. This Easter week and always, may we stand by Jesus Christ “at all times and in all things, and in all places that [we] may be in, even until death,” ²¹ for surely that is how He stood by us when it was unto death and when He had to stand entirely and utterly alone. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

God's Love

"For Behold, this is my work and my glory-to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man."

"Beloved, let us Love one another: for love is of God; and everyone that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God." 1 John 4:7
I felt the Spirit as I read the scriptures tonight even though I pushed it off all day. God was still merciful to let me feel of His spirit. He knew I was struggling today and was pushing it off, but any effort we give matters to God!... I prayed to feel of God's love and felt it over and over again. Allie came home from a doctor appointment and asked if I wanted to go for a ride with her to get out of the house... I can't tell you how much I needed that! It felt so good to get out and just talk to one another about life and where we were at and to be there for one another. Following our adventure I ran into the store to get a few things we needed while Allie waited in the car with Jadeilyn cause she has been sick and it felt so good to just shop for a few minutes. I was looking for lunch meat and one of the workers asked if I needed help and just started chattin it up with me even though I am sure I looked like a wreck after totally losing it for over an hour, crying my own Niagara for the day. It totally made my day, I just love people and am so grateful that we all have one another. Sometimes just being noticed, listened to or just being smiled at can change your day! Anthony's sister then invited me to go to a Mary Kay spa party and I went for another drive with Arminda.... All I can say is amen to what I have already said... I love people and am grateful for the people in my life and all they do for me. When the day was finally over I lay in my bed and remembered I still hadn't read my scriptures... I finally pushed past the natural man and gave into my spirit that had been craving the word of the Lord all day and It was beautiful. I read 1 Nephi 8 about Lehi's dream.... Satan's mists of darkness can come in many forms, one of which is distraction. (See "Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ" by Elder Kevin W. Pearson at the bottom of today's entry) We mustn't put our trust in faith in Satan, it only leads to misery. We are living in the great and spacious building in this day in age.... But it is not hopeless! We have the Lord and more resources to come closer to Him than EVER before. Technology can be a great gift, as can moments of silence giving us time to think. Christ is the ONLY one we can truly have faith in or it not faith at all. We must trust God. When we brake a bone in our body we don't go to a florist to set the bone, we don't go to a child, we go to a doctor. Christ is the healer of our souls. When we are struggling we must go to Him or we are just putting bandAids or dirt on our wounded body and will not heal correctly. God is light and Truth and Peach and Joy. Is life hard, yes! But through Jesus Christ and His gospel we can make it through anything. I know God lives and am so grateful He is patient with me and that he shows His love for me daily. I challenge you to pray daily to feel and recognize God's love for you.... You will see it if you are open to it and it can change your life.

Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ -Kevin W. Pearson

I humbly invite the companionship of the Holy Ghost as we discuss a vital principle of the gospel: faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. I acknowledge with deep appreciation and love great examples of true faith and faithfulness in my own life. To goodly parents, family, priesthood leaders, beloved missionaries, wonderful children, and a precious eternal companion, I express my deepest love and gratitude. I acknowledge my own need and desire for greater faith as a disciple and witness of Christ. There has never been a greater need for faith in my own life than now.

As parents, we have been commanded to teach our children “to understand the doctrine of … faith in Christ the Son of the living God” (D&C 68:25). This requires more than merely recognizing faith as a gospel principle. “To have faith is to have confidence in something or someone” (Bible Dictionary, “Faith,” 669). True faith must be centered in Jesus Christ. “Faith is a principle of action and of power” (Bible Dictionary, 670). It requires us to do, not merely to believe. Faith is a spiritual gift from God that comes through the Holy Ghost. It requires a correct understanding and knowledge of Jesus Christ, His divine attributes and perfect character, His teachings, Atonement, Resurrection, and priesthood power. Obedience to these principles develops complete trust in Him and His ordainedservants and assurance of His promised blessings.

There is no other thing in which we can have absolute assurance. There is no other foundation in life that can bring the same peace, joy, and hope. In uncertain and difficult times, faith is truly a spiritual gift worthy of our utmost efforts. We can give our children education, lessons, athletics, the arts, and material possessions, but if we do not give them faith in Christ, we have given little.

“Faith is kindled by hearing the testimony of those who have faith” (Bible Dictionary, 669; see also Romans 10:14–17). Do your children know that you know? Do they see and feel your conviction? “Strong faith is developed by obedience to the gospel of Jesus Christ” (Bible Dictionary, 669).

Elder Bruce R. McConkie taught: “Faith is a gift of God bestowed as areward for personal righteousness. It is always given when righteousness is present, and the greater the measure of obedience to God’s laws the greater will be the endowment of faith” (Mormon Doctrine, 2nd ed. [1966], 264). If we desire more faith, we must be more obedient. When we teach our children by example or precept to be casual or situational in obeying God’s commandments, we prevent them from receiving this vital spiritual gift. Faith requires an attitude of exact obedience, even in the small, simple things.

Desire is a particle of faith that develops within us as we experience divine truth. It is like spiritual photosynthesis. The influence of the Holy Ghost, acting on the Light of Christ within every human being, produces the spiritual equivalent of a chemical reaction—a stirring, a change of heart, or a desire to know. Hope develops as particles of faith become molecules and as simple efforts to live true principles occur.

As patterns of obedience develop, the specific blessings associated with obedience are realized and belief emerges. Desire, hope, and belief are forms of faith, but faith as a principle of power comes from a consistent pattern of obedient behavior and attitudes. Personal righteousness is a choice. Faith is a gift from God, and one possessed of it can receive enormous spiritual power.

There is a quality of faith which develops as we focus all of our heart, might, mind, and strength. It is seen and felt in the eyes of a great missionary, a valiant and virtuous young woman, and righteous mothers, fathers, and grandparents. It can be seen in the lives of individuals young and old, in every land and culture, speaking every language, in every circumstance and station in life. It is the “eye of faith” spoken of by the prophet Alma (see Alma 5:15–26)—the ability to focus and be steadfast, continually holding fast to true principles, nothing wavering, even when the mist of darkness confronting us is exceedingly great. This quality of faith is exceedingly powerful.

However, “it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. … The Lord God gave unto man that he should act for himself. Wherefore, man could not act for himself save it should be that he was enticed by the one or the other” (2 Nephi 2:11, 16). And so it is with faith. It can be enticing to choose doubt and disbelief over faith.

As Jesus returned from the transcendent spiritual experience on the Mount of Transfiguration, He was approached by a desperate father whose son needed help. The father pleaded, “If thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us.”

Jesus replied, “If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

“And straightway the father … cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief” (Mark 9:22–24).

Faith and fear cannot coexist. One gives way to the other. The simple fact is we all need to constantly build faith and overcome sources of destructive disbelief. The Savior’s teaching comparing faith to a grain of mustard seed recognizes this reality (see Matthew 13:31–32). Consider it this way: our net usable faith is what we have left to exercise after we subtract our sources of doubt and disbelief. You might ask yourself this question: “Is my own net faith positive or negative?” If your faith exceeds your doubt and disbelief, the answer is likely positive. If you allow doubt and disbelief to control you, the answer might be negative.

We do have a choice. We get what we focus on consistently. Because there is an opposition in all things, there are forces that erode our faith. Some are the result of Satan’s direct influence. But for others, we have no one but ourselves to blame. These stem from personal tendencies, attitudes, and habits we can learn to change. I will refer to these influences as the “Six Destructive Ds.” As I do, consider their influence on you or your children.

First is doubt. Doubt is not a principle of the gospel. It does not come from the Light of Christ or the influence of the Holy Ghost. Doubt is a negative emotion related to fear. It comes from a lack of confidence in one’s self or abilities. It is inconsistent with our divine identity as children of God.

Doubt leads to discouragement. Discouragement comes from missed expectations. Chronic discouragement leads to lower expectations, decreased effort, weakened desire, and greater difficulty feeling and following the Spirit (see Preach My Gospel [2004], 10). Discouragement and despair are the very antithesis of faith.

Discouragement leads to distraction, a lack of focus. Distraction eliminates the very focus the eye of faith requires. Discouragement and distraction are two of Satan’s most effective tools, but they are also bad habits.

Distraction leads to a lack of diligence, a reduced commitment to remain true and faithful and to carry on through despite hardship and disappointment. Disappointment is an inevitable part of life, but it need not lead to doubt, discouragement, distraction, or lack of diligence.

If not reversed, this path ultimately leads to disobedience, which undermines the very basis of faith. So often the result is disbelief, the conscious or unconscious refusal to believe.

The scriptures describe disbelief as the state of having chosen to harden one’s heart. It is to be past feeling.

These Six Destructive Ds—doubt, discouragement, distraction, lack of diligence, disobedience, and disbelief—all erode and destroy our faith. We can choose to avoid and overcome them.

Challenging times require greater spiritual power. Consider carefully the Savior’s promise: “If ye will have faith in me ye shall have power to do whatsoever thing is expedient in me” (Moroni 7:33).

I humbly declare that God, our Heavenly Father, lives and loves each of us, His children. Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer. He lives and personally leads His Church through President Monson, His anointed prophet. Because He lives, there is always hope smiling brightly before us. In a household of faith, there is no need to fear or doubt. Choose to live by faith and not fear. In the sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Wake up Call

So It has been a few days since I have posted... I kinda got in a rut, not knowing what to do with myself when i wasn't helping my sister with the baby or throwing laundry in... I started watching movies like crazy and for some reason, it ended up being the twilight series(edited), which I covered in two days ... not a good thing. But something good did come from it, I just finished the last one and was tired of watching exciting things happen to other people and it gave me a stronger resolve inside to live my own life. This is the perspective I gained: it's time to make the most out of my life! If I am not sure how then I must pray and just try. I can't expect perfection, but I can expect effort and progress as long as I get up every time I fall and try again. Remember, it may turn out to be FANTASTIC!

As I sat lying in bed after the final movie contemplating the gift of life I could hear the clocks ticking in the house. It is one of my favorite sounds because whenever I go to my grandmas (My Dad's Mom's) house she has always had a grandfather clock and that sound of the clock ticking in the silent hours of the night is calming to me. Time is always going and we never know when our time on this earth will be over. We only get one earth life and then remember it for eternity, let's stand for something great on this earth, let's stand by and for our Savoir Jesus Christ. Let's be strong in the faith and not be afraid to be His valiant soldiers fighting evil. We don't have time to waste watching movies and listening to music that are inappropriate. Let's decide now, as His children to be more, to be better than we currently are because we are divine and only want to be a part of those things which keep us clean and pure, continually assisting us to become more like Him, that we might have the fullness of joy that He has. We must live life with belief and purpose, for that is the only way to live. I got a wake up call tonight, a call to rise up and I couldn't be happier.

This was the talk that I listened today, it is amazing, and I think it is overall why my thoughts were so uplifting and telling me it is time to stand a little taller and be a little better... Enjoy! (It is from the Priesthood session of April 2013 General Conference by Robert D. Hales)

Brethren, it is an honor to be with the holders of the royal priesthood of God. We are living in the last days, in “perilous times.”¹ As bearers of the priesthood, we have the responsibility to stand strong with a shield of faith against the fiery darts of the adversary. We are role models to the world, protecting God-given, inalienable rights and freedoms. We stand in defense of our homes and our families.

When I was in the ninth grade, I returned from my first out-of-town game with the varsity baseball team. My father discerned that on the long bus ride home I had witnessed language and behavior that was not in harmony with the standards of the gospel. Being a professional artist, he sat down and drew a picture of a knight—a warrior capable of defending castles and kingdoms.

As he drew and read from the scriptures, I learned how to be a faithful priesthood holder—to protect and defend the kingdom of God. The words of the Apostle Paul were my guide:

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

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

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

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

“And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”²

Brethren, if we are faithful in the priesthood, this armor will be given to us as a gift from God. We need this armor!

Young men, your fathers and grandfathers never faced the temptations that you face on a regular basis. You are living in the last days. If your father wanted to get in trouble, he had to go searching for it. Not anymore! Today temptation finds you! Please remember that! Satan desires to have you, and “sin lieth at the door.”³ How will you resist his aggressive tactics? Put on the whole armor of God.

Let me teach you from another experience of my life:

In January of 1982, I spoke in a devotional on the BYU campus in Provo, Utah. I invited the students to imagine that the Church was on one side of the podium, right here, and the world was just a foot or two away on the other side. This represented the “very short distance between where the world was and where the Church standards were” when I was in college. Then, standing before the students 30 years later, I held up my hands in the same manner and explained, “The world has gone far afield; [it has traveled; it is nowhere to be seen;] it has proceeded way, way out, all the way out of this [building and around the world]. … What we and our children and our grandchildren have to remember is that the Church will remain constant, [it’s still right here; yet] the world will keep moving—that gap is [becoming] wider and wider. … Therefore, be very careful. If you judge your actions and the standards of the Church on the basis of where the world is and where it’s going, you will find that you are not where you should be.”⁴

Back then I could not have imagined how far and how fast the world would move away from God; it was impossible to understand that, given doctrine, principles, and commandments. And yet the standards of Christ and His Church have not moved. As He said, “The truth abideth forever and ever.”⁵ When we understand and accept this, we are prepared to face the social pressure, ridicule, and even discrimination that will come from the world and some who call themselves friends.

Most of us know someone who would say, “If you want to be my friend, you’ll have to accept my values.” A true friend doesn’t ask us to choose between the gospel and his or her friendship. To borrow the words of Paul, “From such turn away.”⁶ A true friend strengthens us to stay on the strait and narrow path.

Staying on the gospel path of covenants, commandments, and ordinances protects us and prepares us to do God’s work in this world. When we obey the Word of Wisdom, our agency is protected from addictions to substances like alcohol, drugs, and tobacco. As we pay our tithing, study the scriptures, receive baptism and confirmation, live for the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost, partake of the sacrament worthily, obey the law of chastity, prepare for and receive the Melchizedek Priesthood, and make sacred covenants in the temple, then we are prepared to serve.

In the temple we are prepared to and promise to live the law of consecration. Able young men begin to live this law by seeking a mission call—giving a tithing of the first years of their lives in the full-time service of the Lord. That sacrifice strengthens them to go forward to the highest covenant in life—for many, it will be to be sealed in the temple and begin an eternal family.

As we press forward along the strait and narrow path, we build progressive spiritual strength—strength in using our agency to act for ourselves. For both young men and young women, this growth is aided as they learn doctrine and share their testimonies through the new online curriculum, Come, Follow Me.

In addition, use your agency to develop yourself personally. As you discover your gifts and talents, remember that parents and mentors may assist you, but you must let the Spirit guide you. Choose and act for yourself. Be motivated from within. Make a plan for your life, including education or vocational training. Explore interests and skills. Work and become self-reliant. Set goals, overcome mistakes, gain experience, and finish what you begin.

Along the way, be sure to participate in family, quorum, class, and combined Mutual activities. Enjoy wholesome fun together. Through these experiences you will come to respect and appreciate one another’s spiritual gifts and the eternal, complementary natures of the sons and daughters of God.

Above all, have faith in the Savior! Fear not! As we diligently live the gospel, we become strong in the Lord. With His strength we are able to reject the anti-Christ who says, “Eat, drink, and be merry,” for God “will justify [you] in committing a little sin; … there is no harm in this … , for tomorrow we die.”⁷ In the strength of the Lord we are able to stand against any philosophy or creed that denies the Savior and contradicts the great, eternal plan of happiness for all of God’s children.

We are not authorized to negotiate the conditions of that eternal plan. Remember Nehemiah, who was charged with building a wall to protect Jerusalem. Some wanted him to come down and compromise his position, but Nehemiah refused. He was not intolerant of others; he simply explained, “I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease … ?”⁸

Sometimes we become the lightning rod, and we must “take the heat” for holding fast to God’s standards and doing His work. I testify that we need not be afraid if we are grounded in His doctrine. We may experience misunderstanding, criticism, and even false accusation, but we are never alone. Our Savior was “despised and rejected of men.”⁹ It is our sacred privilege to stand with Him!

Ironically, standing strong sometimes means avoiding and even fleeing from the world. The Savior declared, “Get thee behind me, Satan.”¹⁰ Joseph of Egypt ran from the temptations of Potiphar’s wife,¹¹ and Lehi left behind Jerusalem and took his family into the wilderness.¹²

Be assured that all of the prophets before us stood strong in their day:

Nephi performed the curious work of the Lord despite the buffetings of Satan and the persecutions of Laman and Lemuel, his brothers.¹³

Abinadi testified of Christ in the face of suspicion, scorn, and certain death.¹⁴

The 2,000 stripling warriors defended their families against those who despised gospel values.¹⁵

Moroni raised the title of liberty to preserve his people’s families and religious freedom.¹⁶

Samuel stood on a wall and prophesied of Christ’s coming while rocks and arrows were assailing him.¹⁷

The Prophet Joseph Smith restored the Savior’s gospel, sealing his testimony with his blood.¹⁸

And Mormon pioneers stood strong in the face of withering opposition and hardship, following a prophet in their great trek and settlement of the West.

These great servants and Saints of God were able to stand strong because they stood with the Savior. Consider how the Savior stood strong:
As a young man, Jesus faithfully went about His Father’s business, preaching the gospel to the learned men in the temple.¹⁹ Throughout His ministry, He accomplished the work of the priesthood—teaching, healing, serving, and blessing and lifting others. When appropriate, He boldly stood against evil, even cleansing the temple.²⁰ He also stood for truth—whether with words or with dignified silence. When the chief priests accused Him before Caiaphas, Jesus wisely and courageously refused to respond to untruth and held His peace.²¹
In the Garden of Gethsemane, our Savior and Redeemer did not shrink from drinking the bitter cup of the Atonement.²² And on the cross He suffered again to do His Father’s will, until at last He could say, “It is finished.”²³ He had endured to the end. In response to the Savior’s perfect obedience in standing strong, our Heavenly Father declared, “Behold my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified my name.”²⁴ 

My beloved priesthood brethren young and old, let us glorify God’s name by standing strong with our Savior, Jesus Christ. I bear my special witness that He lives and that we “are called with a holy calling”²⁵ to participate in His work. “Wherefore, stand ye in holy places, and be not moved.”²⁶Standing obedient and strong on the doctrine of our God, we stand in holy places, for His doctrine is sacred and will not change in the social and political winds of our day. I declare, as did the Apostle Paul, “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, [behave] like men, [and] be strong.”²⁷ This is my fervent prayer for you in the holy name of Jesus Christ, amen.