The battle between good and evil is a common plot line in some of my family’s favorite movies—the Star Wars Trilogy, Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit, to name a few. Perhaps it’s such a common theme because it is the test of mortality, the reason that we are here on earth. Will we choose good or evil? God or Satan? In the world today, it can be difficult to distinguish between the two—especially for those who believe in God, such as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Elder Quentin L. Cook said,

We live in difficult times. There is an increased tendency to “call evil good, and good evil.” A world that emphasizes self-aggrandizement and secularism is cause for great concern. One prominent writer, not of our faith, has put it this way: “Unfortunately I see little evidence that people are actually happier in the emerging dispensation, or that their children are better off, or that the cause of social justice is well-served, or that declining marriage rates and thinning family trees … promise anything save greater loneliness for the majority, and stagnation overall.”

But God has not left us defenseless. Elder Cook said,

As disciples of the Savior, we are expected to plan and prepare. In the plan of happiness, moral agency is a central organizing principle and our choices matter. The Savior emphasized this throughout His ministry…. In each of these, the Lord commended preparation and action and condemned procrastination and idleness.

One way that we can plan and prepare is to put on what the Apostle Paul called the “armor of God,” which includes the helmet of salvation, shield of faith and the sword of the Spirit. (See Ephesians Ephesians 6:11.) The Lord has given us these tools to protect us spiritually and help us discern between right and wrong. So what is the armor of God?

The Whole Armor of God

Baptism is one of the steps in putting on the armor of God.

In Medieval times, knights donned metal suits to protect them from the weapons of their opponents. The armor of God functions the same way for our spirits. Each piece of armor helps to protect us from the wiles and temptations of the devil. Elder Robert D. Hales taught,

The “helmet of salvation” guards our reasoning, intellect, and thoughts.

 

The “breastplate of righteousness” helps us to have the Spirit with us always, guarding our heart and soul.

 

Having our “loins girt about with truth” gives us the foundation to build faith and develop our testimony. …

 

Having our “feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace” by reading and studying the scriptures helps us be obedient to the laws, ordinances, commandments, and covenants of God.

We build our armor piece by piece, day by day, through the little things that we do. Elder Hales taught,

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 [for worthy male members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints], and make sacred covenants in the temple, then we are prepared to serve.

The helmet of salvation, breastplate of righteousness, loins girt with truth and feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace are just the beginnings of our armor. There are two other powerful forms of spiritual protections—the shield of faith and the sword of the Spirit. What are these? And how do they protect us?

Shield of Faith

Faith is a power that can shield us from the temptations and wiles of the Adversary. President Russell M. Nelson taught,

When we speak of faith—the faith that can move mountains—we are not speaking of faith in general but of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ can be bolstered as we learn about Him and live our religion. The doctrine of Jesus Christ was designed by the Lord to help us increase our faith.

President James E. Faust said,

Faith will be our strong shield to protect us from the fiery arrows of Satan. … Never before in the history of the world has the need for faith in God been greater. Although science and technology open up boundless opportunities, they also present great perils because Satan employs these marvelous discoveries to his great advantage.

The Internet is a prime example. While it is a useful tool in accomplishing many good things, it is also filled with half-truths and outright lies that are often difficult to distinguish. This is where the shield of faith comes in. Faith is a choice—one that is strengthened and nourished by our righteous choices. President Faust said,

Simple faith in God the Father; His Son, Jesus Christ; and the Holy Ghost is like a supercharger operating in our lives. As Elder Charles W. Penrose said: “Some people will not believe anything they cannot grasp with their human reason or cannot see with their natural eyes. But blessed is the man of faith, blessed is the woman of faith! For by faith they can see into things that cannot be discerned by the natural eyes. They can reach out to the regions of immortality, grasp eternal realities and lay hold upon the things of God!” This is so because through faith, our natural gifts and powers of achievement are increasingly enhanced.

 

Faith intensifies and magnifies our gifts and abilities. There is no greater source of knowledge than the inspiration that comes from the Godhead, who have all understanding and knowledge of that which has been, is now, and will be in the future.

The Power of Prayer

Faith is nourished and sustained by the power of prayer. The Doctrine & Covenants teaches,

Pray always, that you may come off conqueror; yea, that you may conquer Satan, and that you may escape the hands of the servants of Satan that do uphold his work (Doctrine & Covenants 10:5).

Of this scripture, Elder M. Russell Ballard said,

What a wonderful promise! In this spiritual warfare that rages over individual souls, that is what we want more than anything else—to conquer Satan and to escape the hands of evil men and women who carry out his work. I cannot stress too highly the protective power that comes into our lives through earnest, humble, consistent, yearning prayer. …

 

You need to find a time and place where you can be alone with Heavenly Father and pour out your heart to Him, that you might add strength and power to your spiritual lives. Every honest and sincere prayer adds another piece to chain-mail armor.

 

… One of the most important ways to clothe yourselves in the armor of God is to make sure that prayer—earnest, sincere, consistent prayer—is part of your daily lives.

Prayer helps us to reinforce our armor by invoking the power of heaven to help, guide and protect us. President Faust taught,

To sustain faith, each of us must be humble and compassionate, kind and generous to the poor and the needy. Faith is further sustained by daily doses of spirituality that come to us as we kneel in prayer. It begins with us as individuals and extends to our families, who need to be solidified in righteousness. Honesty, decency, integrity, and morality are all necessary ingredients of our faith and will provide sanctuary for our souls.

Sword of the Spirit

The last piece of our protective gear is the sword of the spirit—which is the word of God. Elder Hales explained,

The “sword of the Spirit” is the word of God to pierce the darkness so that we may have light and truth to guide our way in life.

But there are two parts of this protection: the word of God and the Holy Spirit, or the Holy Ghost. Both work in harmony. President Henry B. Eyring taught,

The word of God is the doctrine taught by Jesus Christ and by His prophets. … Words of doctrine [have] great power. They can open the minds of people to see spiritual things not visible to the natural eye. And they can open the heart to feelings of the love of God and a love for truth.

Teaching pure doctrine brings the companionship of the Holy Spirit, or Holy Ghost. LaVell Edwards, at the time retired head coach of the Brigham Young University football team, said,

The most powerful part of our protective armor, the most powerful weapon we have against evil, is the Spirit of the Lord. He has promised us that we will have His Spirit with us if we are trying to do as He has asked. With the Spirit we know better how to use the rest of our armor to full advantage. As we do that, we can then feel the Spirit even stronger and exercise its power on a daily basis (Take Upon Yourselves the Whole Armor of God, BYU Speeches, April 10, 2001).

Thus, the doctrine brings the power of the Spirit and the Spirit testifies of the power of the doctrine. President Eyring said,

Doctrine gains its power as the Holy Ghost confirms that it is true.

But why is it called the word of God called the sword of the Spirit? Here are three ways.

Penetrate our Souls

The first way that the word of God is likened unto a sword is in that it can penetrate to us to our very souls. Elder Neal A. Maxwell said,

In a hardening world, the Lord can pierce our consciousness by using “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:17; see also Jarom 1:12). However, hearing must be “mixed with faith” (Hebrews 4:2) and with Christian service.

To the Hebrews, the Apostle Paul wrote,

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart (Hebrews 4:12).

The word of God penetrates us to the very core and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of our heart through the Holy Ghost. President Faust taught,

The inner voice of the Spirit has the capacity to whisper through and pierce all things (see Doctrine & Covenants 85:6). The scriptures teach, “It was not a voice of thunder, neither was it a voice of a great tumultuous noise, but behold, it was a still voice of perfect mildness, as if it had been a whisper, and it did pierce even to the very soul” (Helaman 5:30).

The word of God is so powerful, that the scriptures teach it is more powerful than the sword. The Book of Mormon prophet Alma wrote,

And now, as the preaching of the word had a great tendency to lead the people to do that which was just—yea, it had had more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the sword, or anything else, which had happened unto them—therefore Alma thought it was expedient that they should try the virtue of the word of God (Alma 31:5).

When people hear the doctrine of Jesus Christ taught with power, they are “pricked in their hearts” (Acts 2:37) and desire to repent and change.

Separate Truth from Error

The sword of the Spirit can also help us to separate truth from error. This is so important in our world today where there are half-truths and lies that can (and do sometimes) deceive the very elect. But we can know through the power of the Spirit to discern between the two by setting them up against God’s plain and precious truths. The scriptures teach,

Yea, we see 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… (Helaman 3:29).

President Henry B. Eyring taught,

Just as the Holy Ghost strengthens us against evil, He also gives us the power to discern truth from falsehood. The truth that matters most is verified only by revelation from God. Our human reason and the use of our physical senses will not be enough. We live in a time when even the wisest will be hard-pressed to distinguish truth from clever deception.

Elder Hales explained,

Sometimes the adversary tempts us with false ideas that we may confuse with the Holy Ghost. I testify that faithfulness in obeying the commandments and keeping our covenants will protect us from being deceived. Through the Holy Ghost, we will be able to discern those false prophets who teach for doctrine the commandments of men.

Standards of God

Although the standards of the world have fluctuated throughout the ages, the word of God has not. Because of this, we can gauge the strength of our spiritual armor by where we are compared with the teachings of the Savior. Elder Hales said,

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.”

 

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.” 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.

This is another blessing of the sword of the Spirit.

Cut Any Direction

The sword of the Spirit can also cut any direction. An article in the February 2017 Ensign titled “A Two-Edged Sword” stated,

The word of God as revealed in the scriptures and teachings of living prophets is versatile and applicable in many situations for our blessing or condemnation, our edification, inspiration, instruction, or chastisement. And as we “treasure up in [our] minds continually the words of life” (Doctrine & Covenants 84:85), the word of God is then “quick and powerful,” “lively and active” as we share it with others and apply it in our own lives.

To be armed with the sword of the Spirit we must study, learn and live according to the words of Christ. Elder Hales taught,

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.” 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 … ?”

Standing Strong

We arm ourselves with the power of the armor of God as we study our scriptures, say our prayers, keep the commandments and heed the promptings and teachings of the Holy Ghost. Elder Ballard said,

The Lord has given us specific doctrines and principles that show us how to clothe ourselves in the armor of God so that we can stand against the powers of evil. I have suggested a few ways to incorporate gospel principles into your lives. In most cases, we are not talking about massive changes of behavior. As with chain mail, you need simply to add small, individual pieces of armor each day through prayer, scripture study, focusing on things that matter, and acting in a reverent manner.

It takes work, but a little work can go a long way toward strengthening our armor. President Boyd K. Packer taught,

Things of the Spirit need not—indeed, should not—require our uninterrupted time and attention. Ordinary work-a-day things occupy most of our attention. And that is as it should be. We are mortal beings living in this physical world.

 

Spiritual things are like leavening. By measure they may be very small, but by influence they affect all that we do.

As we add each piece of armor to our everyday lives, it becomes part of who we are and what we do. And this is how it protects us against the fiery darts of the adversary.

It doesn’t take much to realize how fragile life is—and how a little bit of plastic and foam in a helmet can go a long way toward protecting your head. All it takes is a phone call asking if the EMTs can work on your son, a trip to the ER to meet the ambulance transporting him and a look at his ski helmet that’s only being held together by the plethora of stickers adorning it. As I was examining his helmet, I was struck by how something so seemingly small and insignificant—like putting on a helmet when skiing—had probably just saved my son’s life.

We have taught our kids from the very first ski lesson that they needed to wear a helmet. It has become just part of the ski gear that we put on to hit the slopes. And we don’t think twice about it. Until something happens and we remember why it’s important. And I wondered how often we overlook or take for granted other life-saving—or spiritually saving—tools that we have.

In Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesians, he tells them,

Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil (Ephesians 6:11).

But what is the armor of God? Paul explains,

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 (Ephesians 6:14-17).

Just as medieval armor protected knights against their opponents’ weapons, so too does spiritual armor protect us against the temptations of the devil. And our spiritual armor begins with remembering to wear our spiritual helmets.

Building Our Armor

One reason that we may begin to take our spiritual armor for granted is that it is built so subtly, line upon line, that we may not even realize how strong—or weak—it is becoming. Elder M. Russell Ballard taught,

I like to think of this spiritual armor not as a solid piece of metal molded to fit the body but more like chain mail. Chain mail consists of dozens of tiny pieces of steel fastened together to allow the user greater flexibility without losing protection. I say that because it has been my experience that there is not one great and grand thing we can do to arm ourselves spiritually. True spiritual power lies in numerous smaller acts woven together in a fabric of spiritual fortification that protects and shields from all evil.

 

It is a common expression to talk about the “chinks” in a person’s armor. The definition of the word chink is “a small cleft, slit, or fissure.” Should an arrow strike exactly one of the chinks in one’s armor, a fatal wound can result.

True spiritual power accumulates as we pray daily, read our scriptures, attend our church meetings and all of the other small steps that strengthen the links in our spiritual chainmail. Conversely, when we get lax in these areas, we can unknowingly create weak spots, or chinks, that may expose us to temptation. So just what are these spiritual pieces of armor? And how do they protect us?

Our Spiritual Helmets of Salvation

Although the helmet of salvation is one of the last pieces of body armor that Paul mentioned, I think it is perhaps the most important. The brain is the control center of the body. It is where our thoughts begin. And if our thoughts begin to wander off, then it won’t be long before our feet (and the rest of our body) will follow. President Harold B. Lee said,

Now to the last piece of the prophet-teacher’s armored dress. We will put “the helmet of salvation” upon our head. Our head or intellect is the controlling member of the body. It must be well protected against the enemy, for “as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.” Salvation means the attainment of the eternal light to live in the presence of God the Father and the Son as a reward for a good life in mortality.

The helmet of salvation helps us to understand where we came from, where we want to go and what we need to do to get there. LaVell Edwards, at the time retired head coach of the Brigham Young University football team, said,

Can you imagine how it would be to play a game of football without a helmet? It is the same as trying to live in this world of turmoil without the plan of salvation. Our understanding of this plan gives meaning to our lives, a knowledge of why we are here, and hope for where we can be in the next life. The promise of exaltation and eternal families gives us a constant goal to strive for—thus protecting us from and helping us to avoid much of the evil that is out there in the world (Take Upon Yourselves the Whole Armor of God, BYU Speeches, April 10, 2001).

The ability to think clearly, study and discern right from wrong is a vital aspect of spiritual protection.

Breastplate of Righteousness

The next piece of protective armor is the breastplate of righteousness. Elder Robert D. Hales taught,

The “breastplate of righteousness” helps us to have the Spirit with us always, guarding our heart and soul.

Coach Edwards said,

Being righteous means being upright, moral, and virtuous. It is something we have to work on every day. We have to keep progressing or we will regress. We have to continue studying, praying, and trying to live the Lord’s teachings and commandments to gain and maintain a life of righteousness. I believe righteousness also includes service to others. A righteous person is aware of others’ needs and acts on that awareness through service.

The breastplate covers the heart, which works with the brain in helping us to make our choices. Elder D. Todd Christofferson said,

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? The ancient prophet Jeremiah spoke of the law of God, the gospel, being written in our hearts. He quotes the Lord speaking about us, His people in the latter days: “I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.”

 

Do you want this for yourself? I can tell you how that can happen, but it must be something you want. The gospel cannot be written in your heart unless your heart is open.

We keep our heart open and sensitive to the things of the Spirit by obedience to the commandments of God.

The Power of Righteousness

There is power in righteous choices. Elder Richard G. Scott 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.

As we  continually choose to obey the commandments of God, it helps us to develop and strengthen our breastplate of righteousness. Elder Scott said,

By making choices consistent with eternal truth, you will develop righteous character and increasing strength to resist temptation. You are assured of the help of God in fulfilling your worthy decisions. You qualify to be led by the Spirit, to choose the correct path. It will warn you of temptations you might not otherwise recognize.

Loins Girt with Truth

Having our loins gird about with truth means to be clothed, covered, wrapped, protected in truth, chastity and virtue—which is becoming harder to do in our modern world. Elder Scott said,

Increasingly more people are finding that making wise decisions is becoming more and more difficult because of the ultra-interconnected world in which we live. Constantly forced into our consciousness is an incessant barrage of counsel, advice, and promotions. It is done by a bewildering array of media, Internet, and other means. On a given subject we can receive multiple strongly delivered, carefully crafted messages with solutions. But often two of the solutions can be diametrically opposed. No wonder some are confused and are not sure how to make the right decisions.

 

To further complicate matters, others try to persuade us that our decisions must be socially acceptable and politically correct. Some pondering of that approach will reveal how wrong it is. Since social and political structures differ widely over the world and can dramatically change with time, the folly of using that method to make choices is apparent.

So how do go about finding truth? Elder Scott continued,

The best way of finding truth is simply to go to the origin of all truth and ask or respond to inspiration. For success, two ingredients are essential: first, unwavering faith in the source of all truth; second, a willingness to keep God’s commandments to keep open spiritual communication with Him.

Armor of Virtue and Chastity

Girding our loins also implies virtue and chastity, which must accompany our quest for truth. Bishop H. David Burton taught,

Virtuous traits form the foundation of a Christian life and are the outward manifestation of the inner man. The spelling in English of many individual virtues concludes with the letters ity: integrity, humility, charity, spirituality, accountability, civility, fidelity, and the list goes on and on. Relying on literary license, I refer to the virtues ending in ity as the “ity” virtues. “Ity” is a suffix that means quality, state, or degree of being. …

 

We need to stand tall and be firmly fixed in perpetuating Christlike virtues, even the “ity” virtues, in our everyday lives.

Abiding by the law of chastity is another vital element to our spiritual protection. Elder David A. Bednar said,

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has a single, undeviating standard of sexual morality: intimate relations are proper only between a man and a woman in the marriage relationship prescribed in God’s plan. Such relations are not merely a curiosity to be explored, an appetite to be satisfied, or a type of recreation or entertainment to be pursued selfishly. They are not a conquest to be achieved or simply an act to be performed. Rather, they are in mortality one of the ultimate expressions of our divine nature and potential and a way of strengthening emotional and spiritual bonds between husband and wife. We are agents blessed with moral agency and are defined by our divine heritage as children of God—and not by sexual behaviors, contemporary attitudes, or secular philosophies.

 

While the world’s views on sexual purity have evolved from strict to laissez-faire (or anything goes), the Lord’s standard has remained unchanged. It is important to not only know the law of chastity but also to abide by it. Only then is our armor strengthened.

Feet Shod with Preparation of the Gospel

As we arm ourselves with the protections of righteousness, virtue, truth and salvation, we are laying the foundation of preparation that will guide our feet. President Lee said,

Your feet, which represent your goals or objectives in life, are to be shod with “the preparation of the gospel of peace.” Preparedness is the way to victory, and “eternal vigilance is the price of safety.” Whether in speech or in song, in physical or moral combat, the tide of victory rests with him who is prepared.

Coach Edwards said,

Preparation brings peace as it frees us to pursue our goals. … To me, preparation is the key to success in any endeavor. … The greatest athletes are not always the fastest, strongest, or most gifted athletically. The greatest players are those who have the ability to recognize their potential and prepare themselves to meet that potential.

 

…  We can have the desire to do something well, even to gain a strong testimony of the gospel, but it will be for naught if we are not willing to work, study, and prepare. Every one of us has the potential to successfully achieve our goals in life, but most goals won’t be realized without effort on our part.

How do we gain this preparation? President Lee explained,

How fortunate are you if in your childhood in the home of your father and mother you were taught the doctrine of repentance, faith in Christ, the son of the living God, the meaning of baptism and what you gain by the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost. Fortunate is the child who has been taught to pray and who has been given those steps to take on through life. Feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace!

Elder Hales taught,

Having our “feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace” by reading and studying the scriptures helps us be obedient to the laws, ordinances, commandments, and covenants of God.

Avoiding the Chinks

But the fiery darts of the adversary are wily, and it can be difficult to maintain our armor. President Thomas S. Monson said,

The philosophies of men surround us. The face of sin today often wears the mask of tolerance. Do not be deceived; behind that facade is heartache, unhappiness, and pain. You know what is right and what is wrong, and no disguise, however appealing, can change that. The character of transgression remains the same. If your so-called friends urge you to do anything you know to be wrong, you be the one to make a stand for right, even if you stand alone. Have the moral courage to be a light for others to follow. There is no friendship more valuable than your own clear conscience, your own moral cleanliness—and what a glorious feeling it is to know that you stand in your appointed place clean and with the confidence that you are worthy to do so.

President James E. Faust said,

Spiritual armor not only protects against the many things that can knock us spiritually senseless, but also protects us physically and in many other ways. For instance, it can help us to have wise discernment in making all of the important decisions we have to make. We can also have special insights in choosing friends and associates. Through this protection we can have and enjoy an inner strength, peace, and calmness that will be constant and unfailing resources.
We build our spiritual armor link by link, day by day, with our actions. Each time we pray, it strengthens us spiritually. So too with reading our scriptures and obeying the commandments of God. And each day this armor becomes a larger part of who we are, so much so that it becomes second nature to have it with us. We may not even notice it most of the time—but we will be grateful for it during the times that we need it most. Just like my son and his ski helmet.

This phrase brings to mind the scripture Matthew 5:45, which says that God “maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.” On its face, this scriptural phrase seems fairly simple: that God blesses everyone. And it is. But it also has layers of meaning. If we look at the whole scriptural passage, Matthew 5:43-46, it reads,

Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.

But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?

From this scripture we can gain insight into the nature of God, the power of His plan for us and the importance of agency in that plan. And this knowledge helps us be better disciples of Christ.

The Nature and Love of God

The first insight that we gain from this scripture is about the nature of God and how much God, our Heavenly Father, loves us, His children. This scriptural passage is from a sermon given by Jesus Christ, the literal Son of God, who came to earth to show us the path to eternal life. But He also came to teach us about our Father in Heaven. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland explained,

Of the many magnificent purposes served in the life and ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ, one great aspect of that mission often goes uncelebrated. His followers did not understand it fully at the time, and many in modern Christianity do not grasp it now, but the Savior Himself spoke of it repeatedly and emphatically. It is the grand truth that in all that Jesus came to say and do, including and especially in His atoning suffering and sacrifice, He was showing us who and what God our Eternal Father is like, how completely devoted He is to His children in every age and nation. In word and in deed Jesus was trying to reveal and make personal to us the true nature of His Father, our Father in Heaven.

 

He did this at least in part because then and now all of us need to know God more fully in order to love Him more deeply and obey Him more completely.

The love that God has for us is almost unimaginable. President Dieter F. Uchtdorf said,

God does not look on the outward appearance. I believe that He doesn’t care one bit if we live in a castle or a cottage, if we are handsome or homely, if we are famous or forgotten. Though we are incomplete, God loves us completely. Though we are imperfect, He loves us perfectly. Though we may feel lost and without compass, God’s love encompasses us completely.

 

He loves us because He is filled with an infinite measure of holy, pure, and indescribable love. We are important to God not because of our résumé but because we are His children. He loves every one of us, even those who are flawed, rejected, awkward, sorrowful, or broken. God’s love is so great that He loves even the proud, the selfish, the arrogant, and the wicked.

Thus, to love as God loves, we must love everyone, even—and perhaps especially—those who for whatever reason don’t like us.

Being Born Again and Following the Savior

Next we learn what we need to do to follow the Savior. We must not only learn of Him but must also learn to follow Him in word and in deed. Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin taught,

… By definition a Christian not only professes belief in the Savior, but a Christian lives and acts according to the teachings and commandments of Jesus Christ. He taught, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father.” Jesus also said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” He commanded us to pattern our lives after His. True disciples of the Lord must be “doers of the word, and not hearers only.”

This is where being born again comes in. Professor Andrew C. Skinner, at the time the executive director of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship and professor of ancient Scripture at Brigham Young University, taught,

… Jesus commanded His disciples to love their enemies, to bless those who hurled curses at them, and to pray for those who despitefully used them. The reason is given in Matthew 5:45: “That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven.”

 

The original Greek wording of Matthew 5:45 connotes a rebirth, “so that ye may be born (genē) the sons [children] of your Father in heaven.” This idea parallels the doctrine of being spiritually born of God and receiving His image in our countenances, as taught in Alma 5:14. Disciples must reflect in their lives—in their behaviors and in their countenances—the distinguishing traits of the Great Parent of the universe in order to truly become His children and His heirs in every way (“The Nature and Character of God,” BYU Speeches, April 11, 2006).

Being born again begins with choosing to follow the Savior and continues with the decision to be baptized. Elder David A. Bednar said,

We are instructed to “come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny [ourselves] of all ungodliness” (Moroni 10:32), to become “new creature[s]” in Christ (see 2 Corinthians 5:17), to put off “the natural man” (Mosiah 3:19), and to experience “a mighty change in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually” (Mosiah 5:2). Please note that the conversion described in these verses is mighty, not minor—a spiritual rebirth and fundamental change of what we feel and desire, what we think and do, and what we are. Indeed, the essence of the gospel of Jesus Christ entails a fundamental and permanent change in our very nature made possible through our reliance upon “the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah” (2 Nephi 2:8). As we choose to follow the Master, we choose to be changed—to be spiritually reborn. …

 

We begin the process of being born again through exercising faith in Christ, repenting of our sins, and being baptized by immersion for the remission of sins by one having priesthood authority.

Respecting Agency

This brings us to the part where we must respect the agency that God has given to mankind. Professor Skinner said,

As Jesus taught, patient love and tolerant restraint are great hallmarks of our Heavenly Father’s character and personality. “He maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good” (Matthew 5:45), meaning that righteousness and wickedness are not—cannot be—immediately and constantly rewarded or punished. Such constant interference in the lives of men and women would thwart the plan of salvation and the purposes for which earth life was designed: to allow individuals to exercise patience, walk by faith, and be tested.

This can be the most challenging part of being disciples of Jesus Christ. Elder Dallin H. Oaks taught,

God’s choicest blessings are clearly contingent upon obedience to God’s laws and commandments. The key teaching is from modern revelation:

 

“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).

 

This great principle helps us understand the why of many things, like justice and mercy balanced by the Atonement. It also explains why God will not forestall the exercise of agency by His children. Agency—our power to choose—is fundamental to the gospel plan that brings us to earth. God does not intervene to forestall the consequences of some persons’ choices in order to protect the well-being of other persons—even when they kill, injure, or oppress one another—for this would destroy His plan for our eternal progress. He will bless us to endure the consequences of others’ choices, but He will not prevent those choices.

The goal is for us to become the person God wants us to become because we want to be like Him. Elder Oaks said,

… The Final Judgment is not just an evaluation of a sum total of good and evil acts—what we have done. It is an acknowledgment of the final effect of our acts and thoughts—what we have become. It is not enough for anyone just to go through the motions. The commandments, ordinances, and covenants of the gospel are not a list of deposits required to be made in some heavenly account. The gospel of Jesus Christ is a plan that shows us how to become what our Heavenly Father desires us to become.

The Key to Making Decisions

The key, then, is to learn to make decisions based on the commandments of God, not on what is popular or on what our friends think. If every time we did something right we got a spiritual gold star and every time we did something wrong we got a spiritual slap on the wrist, we would not learn to make decisions for the right reasons. It would be purely based on outward stimuli rather than inward desire. Eventually, our actions will have consequences. Elder Richard G. Scott said,

There are two patterns for making decisions: the first I will call decisions based upon circumstance; the second, decisions based upon eternal truth.

Each pattern is based on where our heart lies, or where our focus is. Elder Scott continued,

The guiding principle in the pattern of decisions based upon circumstance is to make choices according to the outcome desired rather than upon what is right or wrong. There is no use of an underlying set of standards to consistently guide those decisions. Each choice is made upon what appears to give the most desired result now. One who follows this path is left to his own strength and capacity and the support of others who can be influenced to act in his favor. Satan encourages choices to be made in this manner. It gives him the greatest opportunity to tempt an individual to make decisions that will be harmful even though they appear most appealing when made.

 

In time, one who makes decisions based upon circumstance is virtually assured to commit serious transgressions. There is no iron rod of truth to keep that person in the right way. He will continually be faced with many subtle temptations to make deviations from the commandments. Those choices are justified by arguing that they are not that bad, that they are more socially acceptable and provide a broader base of friends. A clever individual without foundation principles can at times acquire, temporarily, impressive accomplishments. Yet that attainment is like a sand castle. When the test of character comes, it crumbles, often taking others with it.

This is for those who love their friends and hate their enemies. Anyone can do that. That is easy. It’s more difficult to make decisions based on a higher law. Elder Scott said,

The second pattern, making decisions based upon eternal truth, is the pattern of the Lord. It will always lead you to make decisions guided by His plan of happiness. Such decisions are centered in doing what is right, not in first deciding the result desired. Choosing to do what the Lord has defined as right will, in the long run, always lead to the best outcomes. However, that pattern may require you to set aside something you very much desire now for a greater future good.

Our Eternal Reward

This brings us to the last sentence in our scripture, “for if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye?” What reward (or rewards) are we seeking? The power of God’s plan for us is that we have been given the tools to choose for ourselves whether we will seek eternal life through Jesus Christ or, well, not.  This includes loving everyone—in word and in deed. While this can be the more challenging course of action, it will also be the most rewarding. President Dieter F. Uchtdorf said,

When I think of the Savior, I often picture Him with hands outstretched, reaching out to comfort, heal, bless, and love. And He always talked with, never down to, people. He loved the humble and the meek and walked among them, ministering to them and offering hope and salvation.

 

That is what He did during His mortal life; it is what He would be doing if He were living among us today; and it is what we should be doing as His disciples and members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The power of God’s plan for us is that we can become like Him by following the example of His Son, Jesus Christ. Obedience to those commandments, including and especially the doctrine of loving all of His children, we are on the path to becoming like the Savior—and to seeing others as He sees them.

So, here’s the deal: a reality of being a Latter-day Saint in the 21^st century is that each of us has either personally struggled with a crisis of faith or we have painfully watched people close to us struggle.

Many people want us to believe that this is a Mormon phenomenon. But it isn’t. Far from it.

A wave of secularism is indiscriminately mounting an offensive against all religion, doing everything it can to undermine faith in the authority of scripture, the calling of prophets, and the existence of God. Religions everywhere are buckling under the pressure and actually, according to the data, the LDS Church is doing a better job retaining members than other religions.

But even if that is the case, we still can’t help but ache for close friends and family members (or ourselves) who face a barrage of doubts.

This article is a humble attempt to turn the tables on the doubt that so many members struggle to overcome. We seek to reach the members who desperately want to believe but no longer know how they can.

In this article we use a logical approach to overcoming doubt. And you may wonder why. The reason is simple. People who seriously struggle with doubt have come across information that they find to be both disturbing and convincing. They often feel so compelled by the logic of it all that exercising faith in the restored Gospel seems about as foolish as exercising faith in a unicorn.

In a manner that may be difficult to understand, they have lost the ability to exercise that particle of faith. You see, while faith precedes testimony, you still need a reason to exercise your faith. That’s why you’ve never tried an experiment of faith on the Greek gods or the Hindu ones. You couldn’t sincerely do so even if you wanted to. And that’s because your reason tells you that it would be silly to even think about it. And it is perhaps because we need a reason to exercise our faith that Peter admonished us to “be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you.”

So, for those who may need a couple of reasons to exercise faith: We’ve got some.

And just to be clear, the evidence included in this article is not the type of ‘archaeological’ or ‘DNA’ evidence that is never really conclusive. We should avoid that type of evidence because it can quickly be invalidated by new evidence.

Instead, we focus on textual evidence because it isn’t refutable and you don’t have to be an expert to inspect it for yourself.

(Note: there are many links throughout this article. It would be best to read the entire article and then go back to the links you were interested in later.)

1. The Money System Described in the Book of Mormon Is Distinctly Ancient

Lehi’s Sons Offering Riches to Laban, painting by Jerry Thompson

We’ve all probably wondered about the seemingly random description of the Nephite monetary system that assigns value to various weights of gold and silver.

One of the interesting things about this money system is that if Joseph were a fraud, he’d have to have an uncanny understanding of money systems in the ancient world.

You see, before the development of minted coins, monetary systems operated on a very different logic. What works for modern money systems today simply doesn’t work well for systems that rely on weights of precious metals.

For this reason, the most advanced ancient civilizations, such as the Egyptian nation, developed a system of standardized weights based on what you call a binary methodology. (Binary systems rely on values that double at each increment.)  It’s a system that isn’t exactly intuitive to the modern mind, but it was very innovative for ancient societies.

Another interesting thing about these ancient systems is that their arithmetic was not developed far enough to understand many of the fractions we use today. They could only think in terms of halves (i.e. 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, etc.). And this was reflected in the fractional weights that these civilizations implemented.

Stunningly, the monetary system described in the Book of Mormon uses the same logic as these ancient money systems. The Nephite monetary system is binary, uses the same fractions, and reflects the same overall organization. Click here for more details.

So, how did Joseph Smith know how to construct an ancient money system, especially one so different from his own? Are we to believe that of the few books available to him, one happened to be on the intricate dynamics of ancient money systems? Or that he happened to guess his way to a system that looks an awful lot like the Egyptian system but with careful improvements?

Seems like it would take quite a bit of faith to believe that.

2. The Book of Mormon Is Written from Cover to Cover Using Ancient Hebraic Literary Forms

Mormon Abridging the Plates, by Tom Lovell

By now, many LDS members are aware that the Book of Mormon contains something called parallelisms. However, few realize the full extent to which the Book of Mormon uses these poetic forms nor the shocking implications that they have.

First, for those who are unfamiliar: parallelisms are a poetic style that is a defining attribute of Hebrew writing, and the Old Testament is replete with them. The Book of Mormon reflects these same poetic structures from beginning to end and uses them in a distinctly Hebrew manner.

Critics often select a simple parallelism in the Book of Mormon and say, “Well, that could have been an accident.” And they are absolutely right. Even when I look back at my own study journal I see various forms of simplistic parallelisms in my writing.

But there is a difference between the simplistic and haphazard parallelisms that show up in all literature and writing, and the type of systematic and intricate parallelisms used by the Hebrews in both the Bible AND the Book of Mormon.

For example, we wouldn’t be surprised to see occasional parallelistic patterns such as:

OR even a chiasmus (a type of parallelism) such as:

But we find much more than that in the Book of Mormon. For example, all of Alma 36 is one long chiasmus—we’re talking about a 34 part chiasmus. The letters below represent the chiasmatic pattern found in Alma 36:

…that was no accident. And you would not believe the skill with which many of these parallelisms are crafted and the additional meaning that they convey. Alma 36 is one of my favorites. The way Alma uses chiasmus to convey his story of conversion is simply beautiful. To learn more about that, click here.

And not only are many of the Book of Mormon’s parallelisms quite complex, but they draw from over 20 distinct styles, and they form a network of thousands of parallelisms. To read more about how the various types of parallelisms operate, and to see a partial list of the Book of Mormon’s parallelisms, click here.

Now, to be sure, critics try their best to undermine the strength of this evidence. To see the arguments they make and why they are extremely flawed, click here.

Critics don’t realize two main things: 1. The complexity and the sheer extensiveness of the parallelisms in the Book of Mormon prove that they are not mere accidents. And 2. If Joseph knew what he was doing (and the evidence shows he couldn’t have known what parallelisms are), then this would only complicate the theory of fraud.

Why? Because if the Book of Mormon was a fraud, then Joseph had to memorize his invention and recite it to his scribes. Reciting an extensive network of parallelisms would make that task all the more difficult.

Also, if Joseph went to all the trouble to come up with thousands of parallelisms, why not say something to someone? Why not plant this piece of potentially exonerating evidence with Martin Harris or Oliver Cowdery? Why would a conman not present the evidence that may have stopped his persecutors in their tracks?

It sure seems like it would take a lot of faith to believe the Book of Mormon is just a fraud.

3. An Archaic Rhetorical Device in the Book of Mormon Reveals Something Extraordinary

King Benjamin Addresses His People (King Benjamin Preaches to the Nephites), by Gary L. Kapp

Have you ever heard of something called enallage?

Enallage is a rhetorical device that uses grammatical inconsistencies to make a point.  A distinct and rare form of enallage called “distance-to-proximity” was an important part of the rhetorical repertoire of Hebrew prophets and Book of Mormon leaders.

“Distance-to-proximity” works by switching between pronouns in order to transition between a sense of distance and directness.

This tool has come in handy for Biblical and Book of Mormon prophets and leaders who want to really drive a point home. You see, when a prophet uses the second person (the direct approach), people get angry and defensive. That’s why people had a tendency to stone prophets who went about saying, “You need to repent.”

But if a prophet uses the 3rd person and later transitions to the second person, it creates an initial distance wherein the audience doesn’t feel personally attacked, and they can more rationally evaluate the message being taught.

A great Biblical example of this can be found, here.

In the Book of Mormon, Limhi uses the technique in a very subtle manner. He wanted his people to understand that they were in bondage because of their sins. Now, he could have just told the people how evil and abominable their mistakes were, but they may have resisted that message because of pride.

So instead, Limhi creates temporary distance by using the pronouns “they” and “them,” instead of “ye” or “we”, while still referring to the people he is addressing. By doing this, the people are able to evaluate their wickedness and the consequences of their sins at a safe distance. And then Limhi transitions back to “ye” in order to help the people take responsibility for those sins. Check out the details on how he does that, here.

This “distance-to-proximity” device is so subtle that if the message isn’t intended precisely for you, you don’t even notice it much less appreciate it. As the outside observer, everything you read is distant.

Enallage only affects the people who are being entreated.

And that’s where things get interesting. Enallage is a rhetorical device that reveals who an author’s audience really is. You employ enallage when you feel acutely aware of the ego or sensitive feelings you have to work around. So, enallage demonstrates that Limhi’s speech was not written by someone thinking of a modern audience. Instead, the person who crafted that speech was acutely aware of the needs of Limhi’s people and particularly concerned about them understanding the message.

For the Book of Mormon to be a fraud, we would have to believe that Joseph was far more careful about the minutest of details than critics have ever considered. And if the Book of Mormon were just a fraud, why care about minute details that 19^th century Americans never would have picked up on? (Even modern readers don’t pick up on it.)

And again, if Joseph was aware of the skillful way he crafted these little details…why not plant this evidence somewhere?

4. Hebraisms Fill the Book of Mormon

Lehi Prophesying to the People of Jerusalem (Lehi Preaching in Jerusalem), by Del Parson

We won’t belabor this point since this article is already getting a little long, but we want to introduce you to Book of Mormon Hebraisms and point you in a few directions to learn a bit more about them.

But first off, when we say that the Book of Mormon is filled with Hebraisms, we mean that it is written in a distinctly Hebrew manner. We would expect this because while the Book of Mormon was written in a “reformed Egyptian,” we also learn from Mormon that the native tongue for Nephi and other Book of Mormon prophets was Hebrew (or a derivative of it). So, even though the gold plates were not inscribed with Hebrew, the thoughts, teachings, ideas, and history were originally conceived in Hebrew. Thus, we would expect for uniquely Hebrew indicators to be found in the Book of Mormon (just as they are found in the Bible).

Look here, here, and here for information that dives deep into the countless Hebraisms that scholars have discovered in the Book of Mormon.

Now, critics argue that Joseph could simply be mimicking the Biblical style since many of these Hebraisms also show up in the Bible. What they do not acknowledge is that many of the Hebraisms in the Book of Mormon don’t show up in the Bible or were so heavily weeded out by the translators, that they would be difficult to extract from only the English version. And yet these Hebraisms still show up in the Book of Mormon. EXAMPLE= names

But even without this, the extensiveness to which the original Book of Mormon manuscripts reflect a Hebrew culture and mode of expression is simply stunning. For critics to argue that Joseph merely mimicked the Bible, they will have to explain where a 24 year old, impoverished farm boy obtained the sufficient time to have studied and understood the linguistics of the Bible so well that he was capable of the Hebraistic consistency we find in the Book of Mormon. DREAMED A DREAM

5. The Context Makes a Book of Mormon Fraud Very Unlikely

Joseph Smith Translating (Joseph Smith Translating the Gold Plates), by Del Parson

Critics will often say that it isn’t so surprising that Joseph Smith could have invented the Book of Mormon. “Just look at Lord of the Rings or any number of other complex fictional works,” they say. But these claims ignore the circumstances surrounding the Book of Mormon (among many other things).

Consider the following:

#1: When the manuscript was completed, Joseph Smith was only 24 years old and most of his life was spent working on the family farm or engaged in hired manual labor.

We’re not saying that these circumstances make it impossible for Joseph to have invented the Book of Mormon, but they do make it much less plausible. After all, because of his young age and his family’s poverty, Joseph hadn’t had much time to devote to academia. He may have read what few books were available to him, and his father may have home schooled him; but as a poor youth, most of his life was spent under the constraints of manual labors.

When would he have had the time or energy to come up with the plot, the religious teachings, and all the little literary treasures found in the Book of Mormon? And how would he have known enough to even be capable of creating those things?

#2: Even if he found time to come up with the Book of Mormon, it would have been extraordinarily difficult for Joseph to properly create notes on his ideas or the organization of the book.

Not only are authors of fiction generally much more educated and older than Joseph Smith, but they also have the luxury of a private space where they can write out ideas and begin to organize the plot and details of their books. They also have access to paper and something to write with.

Not exactly so for Joseph. Until near the beginning of the translation process, his access to a private space or parchment would have been pretty limited. Even if he was able to purchase paper before the translation process, he would have needed to go into the woods to write in privacy—and not with a ball point pen but ink and a quill. Picture what that would have looked like.

#3: Unlike other great authors, Joseph would have needed to not only write his book but also memorize it and then recite it to his scribes.

If Joseph were a conman, he really complicated things for himself by not just putting the manuscript together alone. Instead, he dictated this huge and complex book to scribes under circumstances that gave him no access to no notes (i.e. he needed to at least appear to be translating). And this would entail memorizing and reciting the Book of Mormon to his scribes. Tolkien didn’t have to do that.

Things get even more complicated when you realize that all of those parallelisms could get messed up if he wasn’t reciting his invention nearly word for word. The money system would have been nonsensical if he had remembered something incorrectly. Keeping all the little literary treasures of the Book of Mormon straight in addition to memorizing 531 pages of text surely borders on the impossible (given all the other circumstances).

Bottom line: We should never say that critics don’t know how to exercise faith because it takes a tremendous amount of faith to believe that Joseph Smith was just a conman.

Conclusion:

When it comes down to it, these evidences are compelling, but they still don’t prove anything. The same is true of the reasons that people doubt; they may be compelling, but they still don’t prove anything.

A strong case could be made to believe or disbelieve if you only use one-sided evidence. However, when you consider the evidence on both sides, in a holistic manner, you quickly see that believing and not believing are BOTH decisions of faith.

So, for those who struggle with doubt, the question becomes: in what will you choose to exercise your faith? Because both of the paths before you will require faith.

Which is perhaps why Alma says that “even if you can no more than desire to believe…let that desire work within you.” To some degree, what we exercise faith in comes down to what our soul desires…whether or not we desire life, light..etc. Which is also why so many who struggle with doubt hang in there and fight for their faith.

It is also for this reason that some who doubt and leave the Church are unreachable: they don’t want the Restoration to be true, they don’t want God to exist. Deep down in their souls, they are repulsed by Eternal Life (or at least by what Eternal Life requires).

But President Uchtdorf made clear that many fall into the former category, instead of the latter. It is those people we hope our article will reach and help.

So, know this: the 21st century presents new challenges. Many members have been confronted with only one side of the evidence. We understand that this could make it very difficult to truly and sincerely continue a journey of faith in the restored Gospel—regardless of where your heart is at. So, we hope that this article gives you tools that will help you to make the choice that is truly in tune with the desires of your heart.

And we bear our own testimonies of the Book of Mormon, the restored gospel, and Jesus Christ. We are both very familiar with Church history and the reasons that individuals come to doubt, and yet we still believe—in Christ and His Church.

The Book of Mormon is a keystone because it establishes and ties together eternal principles and precepts, rounding out basic doctrines of salvation. It is the crowning gem in the diadem of our holy scriptures.

It is also a book of scripture written specifically for our day. Sister Cheryl Esplin said,

Book of Mormon prophets saw our day and the dangers that our families face. Book of Mormon prophets teach us what to do to protect and strengthen our families.

The Book of Mormon teaches us the importance of modern prophets. Clyde J. Williams, a professor of religious education at Brigham Young University, taught,

From beginning to end the Book of Mormon can be viewed as a handbook on following the prophets. Clear examples are given of the blessings that come from heeding the words of the prophets, and clear examples are given of the dangers inherent in rejecting prophetic direction. Thus, its messages are just as relevant today as when they were written. Indeed, the book itself exists because prophets’ words were heeded.

Most importantly, however, the Book of Mormon teaches us about our Savior, Jesus Christ. There are more than 6,000 verses in the Book of Mormon, and those verses refer to Jesus Christ nearly 4,000 times and by 100 different names, including “Jehovah,” “Immanuel,” “Holy Messiah,” “Lamb of God” and “Redeemer of Israel.” This is one of the reasons that President Boyd K. Packer taught,

The Book of Mormon is an endless treasure of wisdom and inspiration, of counsel and correction.

Want to find out a little more about the Book of Mormon? Check out this video. You can also request a free copy from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Truth was being sacrificed to personal expediency. Evidence would be denied if the consequences were inconvenient. Self-centred individualism and self-justification ruled, regardless of the damage done to others.

This is the creed by which much of the world today lives. But while all people are free to choose their actions, no one is free from the consequences of those actions—even if they don’t know how damaging the results can be. Let me illustrate this. I was recently diagnosed with an autoimmune disease where my immune system attacks my thyroid gland. It’s an answer that has been a long time coming—I knew there was something off in my body, I just didn’t know what. It didn’t matter that I didn’t know that the food I was eating was creating damaging assaults on my thyroid, it was happening anyway. The good news is that once we know, we can change. I can learn from doctors and research online. The truths of God are found in the scriptures and in the words of His modern prophets and Apostles in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The way we feel is directly connected to how strictly we adhere to the guidelines we’ve been given.

The Scriptures are Tools

There is much we can learn from the Bible and the Book of Mormon—especially from the parallels between our time and ancient days. The scriptures are tools written for our day so that we could learn from the peoples of the past. Elder D. Todd Christofferson said:

The scriptures … enlarge our memory by helping us not forget what we and earlier generations have learned. Those who either don’t have or ignore the recorded word of God eventually cease to believe in Him and forget the purpose of their existence.

Ignoring or not having the word of God leads to the chaos of today, where the popular beliefs are so far removed from the teachings of God that without a map and a compass, it can be difficult to tell which way is right. But just like in the days of old, our loving Heavenly Father has not left us without a compass and a map. The compass is the prophet and Apostles of Jesus Christ, and the map is the scriptures—together, they point the way back to our Father in Heaven. Ancient prophets saw our day—the trials, tribulations and the triumphs. The Apostle Paul prophesied:

In the last days, perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof; … ever learning and never able to come to a knowledge of the truth (2 Timothy 3:1-5, 7).

He also said, “Evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived” (2 Timothy 3:13). Just like the times in which we live. Of Paul’s teachings, President Boyd K. Packer said:

These verses serve as a warning, showing which patterns to avoid. We must be ever watchful and diligent. We can review each of these prophecies and put a checkmark by them as being present and of concern in the world today:

Perilous times—present. We live in very precarious times.

Covetous, boasters, proud—all are present and among us.

Blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection—all of these are well accounted for.

Trucebreakers, false accusers, and so on—all can be checked off against the prevailing evidence that exists all around us. …

Paul and others warned about the trials of our time and the days yet to come. But peace can be settled in the heart of each who turns to the scriptures and unlocks the promises of protection and redemption that are taught therein.

When we study the words of the ancient prophets in the scriptures as well as the words of the modern prophets, we arm ourselves with a light and a power to fight the dark forces around us.

Noah Obeyed God’s Early Warning & Built the Ark

If, as the Apostle Paul prophesied, we live in perilous times, how are we to know what the dangers are and how to avoid them? The story of Noah and the Ark teaches us. Elder David A. Bednar taught:

Early warning signals are evident in many aspects of our lives. For example, a fever can be a first symptom of sickness or disease. … We also are blessed by spiritual early warning signals as a source of protection and direction in our lives. Recall how Noah was alerted by God of things not yet seen, and he “prepared [the] ark to the saving of his house” (Hebrews 11:7).

President Thomas S. Monson said:

Noah heeded God’s command to build an ark, that he and his family might be spared destruction. He followed God’s instructions to gather into the ark two of every living creature, that they also might be saved from the floodwaters.

Said President Spencer W. Kimball: “As yet there was no evidence of rain and flood. … [Noah’s] warnings were considered irrational. … How foolish to build an ark on dry ground with the sun shining and life moving forward as usual! But time ran out. … The floods came. The disobedient … were drowned. The miracle of the ark followed the faith manifested in its building.”

Spiritual warnings are all around us. Nearly 20 years ago, the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles issued The Family: A Proclamation to the World, which outlined Heavenly Father’s plan for His children concerning marriage, family and children. It was a warning to the world that the family is sacred and that traditional marriage is ordained of God—and that all people must stand in defense of it. Elder Bednar said:

Spiritual warnings should lead to increasingly vigilant watching. You and I live in “a day of warning” (Doctrine & Covenants 63:58). And because we have been and will be warned, we need to be, as the Apostle Paul admonished, “watching … with all perseverance” (Ephesians 6:18).

Watching with all perseverance also requires action on our part. President Monson said:

Noah had the unwavering faith to follow God’s commandments. May we ever do likewise. May we remember that the wisdom of God ofttimes appears as foolishness to men; but the greatest lesson we can learn in mortality is that when God speaks and we obey, we will always be right. [5]

It wasn’t raining when Noah built the ark. Even when it started raining, people were still mocking Noah. It wasn’t until it was too late that people woke up to their awful state. But the eight people who followed the prophet of God on the earth were saved from the destructive flood.

Antichrists in the Book of Mormon

There are several false preachers in the Book of Mormon that are called antichrists. An antichrist is “anyone or anything that counterfeits the true gospel plan of salvation and that openly or secretly opposes Christ.” Nehor and Korihor were two of these wicked men. Elder Christofferson said:

Nehor appeared on the scene about 90 years before the birth of Christ….About 15 years later, Korihor came among the Nephites preaching and amplifying the doctrine of Nehor….

As in the days of Nehor and Korihor, we live in a time not long before the advent of Jesus Christ—in our case, the time of preparation for His Second Coming. And similarly, the message of repentance is often not welcomed. Some profess that if there is a God, He makes no real demands upon us (see Alma 18:5). Others maintain that a loving God forgives all sin based on simple confession, or if there actually is a punishment for sin, “God will beat us with a few stripes, and at last we shall be saved in the kingdom of God” (2 Nephi 28:8). Others, with Korihor, deny the very existence of Christ and any such thing as sin. Their doctrine is that values, standards, and even truth are all relative. Thus, whatever one feels is right for him or her cannot be judged by others to be wrong or sinful.

On the surface such philosophies seem appealing because they give us license to indulge any appetite or desire without concern for consequences. By using the teachings of Nehor and Korihor, we can rationalize and justify anything. When prophets come crying repentance, it “throws cold water on the party.”

One of the problems with the teachings of antichrists is that they are short-sighted and selfish. They have the attitude, “Eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die; and it shall be well with us… [God] will justify in committing a little sin” (2 Nephi 28:7-8). Elder Robert D. Hales said:

…Not only did Korihor disbelieve in God, but he also ridiculed the Savior, the Atonement, and the spirit of prophecy, falsely teaching that there is no God and no Christ.

Korihor was not content merely to reject God and quietly go his own way. He mocked the believers and demanded that the prophet Alma convince him with a sign of God’s existence and power. Alma’s response is as meaningful today as it was then: “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.”

Eventually Korihor was given a sign. He was struck dumb. “And Korihor put forth his hand and wrote, saying: … I know that nothing save it were the power of God could bring this upon me; yea, and I always knew that there was a God.”

Finding Safety in Perilous Times

Feed My Sheep, by Kamille Corry

Paul and other ancient prophets perfectly described our day. But they also taught us how to find safety for our souls—through the words of ancient and modern prophets. Ancient prophets help us see the patterns in the world, and modern prophets warn us of the dangers that lie ahead. Elder Christofferson said:

God uses scripture to unmask erroneous thinking, false traditions, and sin with its devastating effects. He is a tender parent who would spare us needless suffering and grief and at the same time help us realize our divine potential. The scriptures, for example, discredit an ancient philosophy that has come back into vogue in our day—the philosophy of Korihor that there are no absolute moral standards, that “every man prosper[s] according to his genius, and that every man conquer[s] according to his strength; and whatsoever a man [does is] no crime” and “that when a man [is] dead, that [is] the end thereof” (Alma 30:17–18). …

Scripture tutors us in principles and moral values essential to maintaining civil society, including integrity, responsibility, selflessness, fidelity, and charity. In scripture, we find vivid portrayals of the blessings that come from honoring true principles, as well as the tragedies that befall when individuals and civilizations discard them. Where scriptural truths are ignored or abandoned, the essential moral core of society disintegrates and decay is close behind. In time, nothing is left to sustain the institutions that sustain society.

The scriptures teach us that “God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets” (Amos 3:7). This is the reason that modern prophets and Apostles are so important—they have “a message from the Lord” for us in our day. President Henry B. Eyring taught:

There seems to be no end to the Savior’s desire to lead us to safety. … He calls by more than one means so that it will reach those willing to accept it. And those means always include sending the message by the mouths of His prophets whenever people have qualified to have the prophets of God among them. Those authorized servants are always charged with warning the people, telling them the way to safety.

Looking for the path to safety in the counsel of prophets makes sense to those with strong faith. When a prophet speaks, those with little faith may think that they hear only a wise man giving good advice. Then if his counsel seems comfortable and reasonable, squaring with what they want to do, they take it. If it does not, they consider it either faulty advice or they see their circumstances as justifying their being an exception to the counsel.

Those who don’t have faith in the prophets of God leave themselves open to the teachings of antichrists, such as Korihor of the Book of Mormon. Rather than finding safe harbors in the ways of the world, they find temporary pleasure that fades with the passage of time. President Eyring said:

Korihor [argued], as men and women have falsely argued from the beginning of time, that to take counsel from the servants of God is to surrender God-given rights of independence. But the argument is false because it misrepresents reality. When we reject the counsel which comes from God, we do not choose to be independent of outside influence. We choose another influence. We reject the protection of a perfectly loving, all-powerful, all-knowing Father in Heaven, whose whole purpose, as that of His Beloved Son, is to give us eternal life, to give us all that He has, and to bring us home again in families to the arms of His love. In rejecting His counsel, we choose the influence of another power, whose purpose is to make us miserable and whose motive is hatred. We have moral agency as a gift of God. Rather than the right to choose to be free of influence, it is the inalienable right to submit ourselves to whichever of those powers we choose.

Failing to take prophetic counsel because we don’t like what is said is spiritually destructive. We may be OK for a little while, but we are not on solid ground—even if the counsel we choose to not follow seems insignificant to us at the time. When I was a teenager, I had multiple piercings… and not just 2 in each ear. I wore multiple pairs of earrings into adulthood. And then one day the late President Gordon B. Hinckley, who was the prophet of God at that time, said that members of The Church of Jesus Christ should only wear one pair of earrings at a time. It seemed trivial to me, but I decided that if I was going to follow the prophet, I was going to follow him in all things. I didn’t want my children to think that it was OK to pick and choose which prophetic counsel to obey. So I took them out, and I’ve never looked back. Now, when my kids ask me why I have so many holes in my ears, I tell them that I’m following the prophet. Not because I have to, but because I want to do it. President Eyring illustrates how important this is:

Another fallacy is to believe that the choice to accept or not accept the counsel of prophets is no more than deciding whether to accept good advice and gain its benefits or to stay where we are. But the choice not to take prophetic counsel changes the very ground upon which we stand. It becomes more dangerous. The failure to take prophetic counsel lessens our power to take inspired counsel in the future. The best time to have decided to help Noah build the ark was the first time he asked. Each time he asked after that, each failure to respond would have lessened sensitivity to the Spirit. And so each time his request would have seemed more foolish, until the rain came. And then it was too late.

If there is one thing that the scriptures teach us, it’s this: the only way to be safe in the chaos and tumult of this world is to follow the counsel of the ancient and modern prophets. It might not always be easy, but it’s always worth it.

Isn’t that what we all desire: to be the heroes and heroines of our own stories; to triumph over adversity; to experience life in all its beauty; and, in the end, to live happily ever after? …

Sandwiched between their “once upon a time” and “happily ever after,” they all had to experience great adversity. … The scriptures tell us there must be opposition in all things, for without it we could not discern the sweet from the bitter. Would the marathon runner feel the triumph of finishing the race had she not felt the pain of the hours of pushing against her limits? Would the pianist feel the joy of mastering an intricate sonata without the painstaking hours of practice?

In stories, as in life, adversity teaches us things we cannot learn otherwise. Adversity helps to develop a depth of character that comes in no other way. [1]

The depth of character forged in the fires of adversity is what makes a hero great. We look up to our heroes because we admire their courage and strength. We may face similar trials as our heroes, but we might not. The lessons we learn aren’t in the situations but in the way our heroes react to them.

Standing for Truth, Righteousness and the Cause of Freedom

Artwork by Steve Nethercott

The scriptures are full of stories of men and women who had the courage to stand for the right. Captain Moroni’s tale is found in the Book of Mormon—which is another testament of Jesus Christ, a companion scripture to the Bible and a record of God’s dealings with some inhabitants of the ancient Americas. Captain Moroni was a righteous military commander who led his people, the Nephites, in defense of their homes, their families and their freedom—first from invaders who would enslave them and then from one of their own who wanted to be king. When the enemy seemed too great to overcome, Moroni rallied his troops by reminding them that they were fighting for a just and righteous cause. (See Alma 43 and Alma 46.)

Captain Moroni’s greatness is not only in his military wisdom, but also in his unfailing commitment to God’s laws. Moroni never sought power, greatness or glory. He only wanted to protect his people, their families, their freedom and their ability to worship God according to their deeply held beliefs. The scriptures teach:

Moroni was a strong and a mighty man; … a man of a perfect understanding; … a man who was firm in the faith of Christ. …If all men had been, and were, and ever would be, like unto Moroni, behold, the very powers of hell would have been shaken forever; … the devil would never have power over the hearts of the children of men. (Alma 48:11, 13, 17)

Captain Moroni not only led his people into battle, but he helped to prepare them both physically and spiritually to defend against their enemies. Elder Richard G. Scott, an Apostle of Jesus Christ, said:

In between the many battles, Captain Moroni directed fortification of the weakest cities. … Captain Moroni understood the importance of fortifying the weak areas to create strength. [2]

This Book of Mormon leader isn’t just a hero for us today—he was a heroic leader for his people in his day as well. He not only stood up for what was right—but he rallied his troops to do the same. He was a hero, and he helped to create heroes. We only know Captain Moroni’s name, but those who followed his righteous example are heroes too. Through his courage, strength and inspiration, he helped to save an entire nation from destruction—multiple times.

Courage to Face our Foes—and Fears

Artwork by Steve Nethercott

The 2,000 Stripling Warriors are another group of heroes from the Book of Mormon. But the heroes in this story aren’t limited to those who fought in the battles. The story actually begins with the parents of the 2,000 young men—and they are contemporaries of Captain Moroni. Their Lamanite fathers had been wicked, bloodthirsty people. But then they and their families were taught the gospel of Jesus Christ and repented. They made a covenant with God to never fight again and buried their weapons of war. They also changed their tribal name as a symbol of their repentance. (See Alma 23:7, 13, 17.) The newly named Anti-Nephi-Lehies moved over to the land of the Nephites because the Lamanites were trying to kill them.

So, fast-forward. The Nephites are becoming exhausted after years of fighting. And the Anti-Nephi-Lehies want to help their protectors. But a man named Helaman (who becomes the leader of this band of young men) and others persuade them against this idea. The Anti-Nephi-Lehi fathers had many sons who had not made the covenant to not fight. These 2,000 young men said, in essence, “Dad, don’t go to war. You can’t break your promise to Heavenly Father. We didn’t make that promise. We will go in your place—to save your soul and protect your freedom.” The scriptures teach:

They were all young men, and they were exceedingly valiant for courage, and for strength… but behold this was not all—they were men who were true at all times in whatsoever thing they were entrusted. Yes, they were men of truth and soberness, for they had been taught to keep the commandments of God.” (Alma 53:20-21)

This story is inspiring on so many levels. To begin with, these young men loved their fathers so much that they were willing to go to battle for them—literally in their fathers’ place. Much is made of their heroism, as well it should. But the quiet heroes in this story are the fathers and mothers who trusted the Lord enough to allow their sons to go to war. I am certain there were many parental prayers offered. I can’t imagine allowing my sons to go war in my place. That must have been humbling. The scriptures teach us a little about the relationship between the sons and their parents:

They did think more upon the liberty of their fathers than they did upon their own lives; yea, they had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them. And they rehearsed unto me the words of their mothers, saying: We do not doubt our mothers knew it. (Alma 56:47-48)

None of these 2,000 young men were killed in battle, although many were wounded. They all made it back home. They were blessed because of their faith—and the faith of their mothers and fathers. The parents of the 2,000 Stripling Warriors set the example of righteousness and keeping their covenants with God. They taught their sons well, and their sons followed their example. Even though they lived in a time of war and uncertainty, both parents and children placed their trust in the Lord—and faced their foes and fears with faith.

Unwavering Obedience to God’s Commands

Artwork by Steve Nethercott

The early history of The Church of Jesus Christ in modern days has many heroes also. The founding prophet Joseph Smith and his wife, Emma, are at the top of that list. At the tender age of 14, on a spring day in 1820, young Joseph knelt in a grove of trees and prayed, asking God which church he should join. In answer to his humble petition, Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, appeared to the young boy and told him not to join any of them. Through his powerful, simple faith, young Joseph received the answer to his prayer—in what is called today the First Vision. President Thomas S. Monson—the president of The Church of Jesus Christ and current successor to Joseph Smith—said:

A few days after his prayer in the Sacred Grove, Joseph Smith gave an account of his vision to a preacher with whom he was acquainted. To his surprise, his communication was treated with “contempt” and “was the cause of great persecution, which continued to increase.” Joseph, however, did not waver. He later wrote, “I had actually seen a light, and in the midst of that light I saw two Personages, and they did in reality speak to me; and though I was hated and persecuted for saying that I had seen a vision, yet it was true. … For I had seen a vision; I knew it, and I knew that God knew it, and I could not deny it.” Despite the physical and mental punishment at the hands of his opponents which the Prophet Joseph Smith endured throughout the remainder of his life, he did not falter. He taught honesty—by example. [3]

Joseph Smith is the prophet of the Restoration. Through him, Jesus Christ restored His Church to the earth and brought forth The Book of Mormon. Joseph accomplished many great things with the Lord’s help—but he was always a humble servant of God, seeking to do His will. Joseph was a kind and gentle soul. One of my favorite stories about the Prophet Joseph illustrates this:

Joseph Smith was as tenderhearted as he was sociable, as one young man remembered: “I was at Joseph’s house; he was there, and several men were sitting on the fence. Joseph came out and spoke to us all. Pretty soon a man came up and said that a poor brother who lived out some distance from town had had his house burned down the night before. Nearly all of the men said they felt sorry for the man. Joseph put his hand in his pocket, took out five dollars and said, ‘I feel sorry for this brother to the amount of five dollars; how much do you all feel sorry?’” [4]

Elder Robert D. Hales, an Apostle of Jesus Christ, said:

… The Prophet Joseph Smith endured all manner of opposition and hardship to bring to pass the desire of our Heavenly Father—the restoration of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Joseph was harassed and hunted by angry mobs. He patiently endured poverty, humiliating charges, and unkind acts. His people were forcibly driven from town to town, from state to state. He was tarred and feathered. He was falsely charged and jailed. …

Joseph knew that if he were to stop going forward with this great work, his earthly trials would probably ease. But he could not stop, because he knew who he was, he knew for what purpose he was placed on the earth, and he had the desire to do God’s will. [5]

Artwork by Steve Nethercott

Emma Smith was the faithful and devoted wife of the Prophet Joseph. She stood by his side through all of the trials and tribulations. One of my favorite stories of Emma occurs during a time when her husband had again been arrested and the Latter-day Saints were being driven from their homes in Missouri by angry mobs and relocating to Illinois:

For Emma Smith, the months after Joseph’s arrest were especially trying. In February 1839 a neighbor, Jonathan Holman, helped her place her four children and her meager belongings into a straw-lined wagon pulled by two horses. On the evening prior to her departure she received from Miss Ann Scott the priceless manuscripts of her husband’s “translation” of the Bible. James Mulholland, the Prophet’s secretary, had given the papers to Ann for safekeeping thinking that the mob might not search a woman. Ann had made two cotton bags to hold the documents. Emma used these same cotton bags to carry the manuscripts from Missouri to Illinois, tying them under her long skirt.

When the party arrived at the Mississippi they found the river frozen over. Rather than risk the weight of the wagon, Emma walked across the ice holding two children, with the other two clinging to her skirt. They finally arrived safely at the outskirts of the village of Quincy, Illinois, where Emma lived until Joseph’s release. [6]

Joseph and Emma Smith were faithful followers of Jesus Christ. They endured intense persecution and suffering, yet accomplished great things through their obedience to the gospel. Their examples of kindness and love toward others even when the times got tough are truly inspiring.

‘I’ll Go Where You Want Me To Go’

Artwork by Steve Nethercott

During the early years of The Church of Jesus Christ, the members were persecuted and forcibly removed from their homes and cities several times. Church leaders decided to relocate the entire body of Saints to the tops of the Rocky Mountains. It took much courage, faith and dedication to follow the leaders of the Church into the wilderness—but they did. The Latter-day Saints left their comfortable homes and most of their belongings, because they had faith in God and believed that The Church of Jesus Christ was the Savior’s Restored Church on the earth. The pioneer exodus began in 1847 but continued for many years. The majority of Latter-day Saint pioneers came in wagons, but some came in handcart companies. All of those early Latter-day Saint pioneers are heroic in their own right, but members of two notable handcart companies stand out for their sacrifice, their valor and their unwavering faith in God and in His goodness. The Martin and Willie Handcart Companies came across the plains in 1856. They left late in the season, but hoped to make it to the Salt Lake Valley before the snow fell. But they were caught in early winter snows in present-day Wyoming, and they ran so low on food and supplies that many were boiling leather to make a broth to eat. Their suffering was unimaginably severe. And yet, their heroism isn’t only in the fact that they endured these trials—it’s also that they endured these trials and through it all, thanked God for His goodness and blessings.

One survivor’s story tells it all, I think. The late President David O. McKay, a past president of The Church of Jesus Christ, recounted a story that occurred some years later. During a class at church, the teacher and others began sharply criticizing Church leaders in a discussion concerning the Martin and Willie handcart tragedy. President McKay continued:

An old man in the corner … sat silent and listened as long as he could stand it, then he arose and said things that no person who heard him will ever forget. His face was white with emotion, yet he spoke calmly, deliberately, but with great earnestness and sincerity.

In substance [he] said, “I ask you to stop this criticism. You are discussing a matter you know nothing about. Cold historic facts mean nothing here, for they give no proper interpretation of the questions involved. Mistake to send the Handcart Company out so late in the season? Yes. But I was in that company and my wife was in it. … We suffered beyond anything you can imagine and many died of exposure and starvation, but did you ever hear a survivor of that company utter a word of criticism? Not one of that company ever apostatized or left the Church, because everyone of us came through with the absolute knowledge that God lives for we became acquainted with him in our extremities.

“I have pulled my handcart when I was so weak and weary from illness and lack of food that I could hardly put one foot ahead of the other. I have looked ahead and seen a patch of sand or a hill slope and I have said, I can go only that far and there I must give up, for I cannot pull the load through it.” He continues: “I have gone on to that sand and when I reached it, the cart began pushing me. I have looked back many times to see who was pushing my cart, but my eyes saw no one. I knew then that the angels of God were there.

“Was I sorry that I chose to come by handcart? No. Neither then nor any minute of my life since. The price we paid to become acquainted with God was a privilege to pay, and I am thankful that I was privileged to come in the Martin Handcart Company.” (Relief Society Magazine, Jan. 1948, p. 8.)

The late President James E. Faust, who was an Apostle of Jesus Christ until his death, said:

I cannot help wondering why these intrepid pioneers had to pay for their faith with such a terrible price in agony and suffering. Why were not the elements tempered to spare them from their profound agony? I believe their lives were consecrated to a higher purpose through their suffering. Their love for the Savior was burned deep in their souls, and into the souls of their children, and their children’s children. The motivation for their lives came from a true conversion in the center of their souls. [7]

Elder M. Russell Ballard, an Apostle of Jesus Christ, said:

Those 19th-century pioneers … never set out to be heroes, and yet they accomplished heroic things. That is what makes them Saints. They were a band of believers who tried to do the right thing for the right reasons, ordinary men and women who were called on to perform an extraordinary work. [8]

The greatest heroes didn’t set out to be heroes—they just set out to do what was right. And in doing so they left a priceless gift for generations to come: a legacy of faith. Some heroes led, and some faithfully followed. Greatness isn’t measured by wealth, fame, prestige or prominence. Greatness is when ordinary people do extraordinary things—like remaining steadfast and true to the gospel of Jesus Christ no matter what the cost. True heroes inspire us to do better and to be better—because if they could do it, so can we. We may not put on our armor and fight—but we can fight for religious liberty. We may not go to battle for our parents—but we can honor them and recognize their sacrifices for us. We can take the lessons we learn from our heroes and apply them in our own lives, in our own day. That’s what makes a true hero—someone who is worthy of emulation as well as adulation. And that is the best gift that anyone can give.

Behold, I sent you out to testify and warn the people, and it becometh every man who hath been warned to warn his neighbor (Doctrine and Covenants 88:81).

Missionary work has been a critical part of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Jesus spent three years teaching the gospel and after His death, his disciples continued the work, traveling to many nations to share their message of the atonement of Jesus Christ. A modern Mormon apostle, explained:

Missionary work isn’t the only thing we need to do in this big, wide, wonderful Church. But almost everything else we need to do depends on people first hearing the gospel of Jesus Christ and coming into the faith. Surely that is why Jesus’s final charge to the Twelve was just that basic—to “go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” Then, and only then, can the rest of the blessings of the gospel fully come… (See Jeffrey R. Holland, We are All Enlisted, General Conference, October 2011.)

Missionary work is often a focus of the Doctrine and Covenants because many of the revelations sent Mormon men on missions. In those early days of the church, many adult men, both married and single, served missions. They traveled, usually on foot if they were assigned to the United States, preaching along the way to their assigned destinations. There are many accounts of large numbers of people being converted at a time. Those who served faithfully frequently found their lives enhanced by many blessings. Those who considered the Savior’s command that we teach the gospel to be a burden often found their lives challenging and unhappy. They sometimes learned that our happiness in life comes from doing what the Lord asks of us and in helping others find what we were fortunate enough to find.

15 And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!

16 And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto me into the kingdom of my Father, how great will be your joy if you should bring many souls unto me! (Doctrine and Covenants 18).