It is a joy to be with you today on another great day at BYU-Idaho. I pray that the Holy Ghost will be with us as we consider together the power of the word of God and faith in Jesus Christ in our lives.
Most of you presently are living in what Elder Robert D. Hales has called the "Decade of Decision."[1] It is a personally significant time in which you face decisions about education, dating, marriage, employment, and children.[2] You also are making decisions almost every day about personal prayer, scripture study, keeping covenants, and serving the Lord. These daily decisions establish a pattern of attitude and behavior that also will have a profound influence on your lives.
If you seek to be a true follower of Christ, you have to make all of these decisions righteously in the face of diabolical opposition. Satan uses the temptations of pride and physical appetite to try to lure you into sin against God. He hurls at you his fiery darts of discouragement, doubt, fear, ridicule, scorn, and distraction to try to stop you from doing the good things God wants done.
Making righteous decisions in the face of such opposition is all part of our Heavenly Father's plan. He prepared for us a Savior and Redeemer, even His Only Begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. When we face decisions of such consequence, large or small, we are not alone.
Many years ago Elder Neal A. Maxwell gave us wonderful counsel about making and implementing righteous decisions with the help of the Savior. He said:
"Real disciples absorb the fiery darts of the adversary by holding aloft the quenching shield of faith with one hand, while holding to the iron rod with the other. There should be no mistaking; it will take both hands!"[3]
I want to talk to you today about the iron rod and the shield of faith. We will consider the light and power that is in the word of God and the protection and strength that come through faith in Jesus Christ. When our grasp on the iron rod is strong and we move forward with the shield of faith firmly in hand, the Savior will "quench . . . the fiery darts" of the adversary,[4] illuminate our path,[5] redeem us from sin and darkness, and strengthen us on our journey to peace and happiness in this life and eternal life in the world to come.
Let's begin with the iron rod.
The Iron Rod
The iron rod appears in Lehi's dream recorded in the eighth chapter of 1 Nephi. In the dream, the rod "extended along the bank of the river, and led to the tree [of everlasting life]"[6] whose fruit was "desirable above all other fruit."[7] The tree is the love of God manifest in His Only Begotten Son.[8] Its fruit is the fruit of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.[9]
The iron rod is the word of God.[10] It is the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Father's great plan of happiness and salvation. The word of God gives us eternal principles applicable to all mankind and very personal guidance, comfort, and instruction. The word of God may come in the scriptures, in the words of the living prophets, and in personal revelation. In whatever form it comes, and whatever message God has for us, the word of God always leads us to Christ.
Jesus said:
Behold, I am Jesus Christ, whom the prophets testified shall come into the world.
And behold, I am the light and the life of the world; and I have drunk out of that bitter cup which the Father hath given me, and have glorified the Father in taking upon me the sins of the world, in the which I have suffered the will of the Father in all things from the beginning.[11]
Now this is the commandment: Repent, all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me and be baptized in my name, that ye may be sanctified by the reception of the Holy Ghost, that ye may stand spotless before me at the last day.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, this is my gospel . . . .[12]
The Holy Ghost carries the light and truth of the gospel "unto the hearts" of those who hear or read it.[13] When people receive it with a heart open to the Spirit, the word has great power.
Consider these words of prophets about that power:
- "[the word of God] had had more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the sword, or anything else, which had happened unto them . . . ."[14]
- "the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any [two-edged] sword . . . ."[15]
- "their souls were illuminated by the light of the everlasting word . . . ."[16]
- "Never did any passage of scripture come with more power to the heart of man than this did at this time to mine. It seemed to enter with great force into every feeling of my heart."[17]
There truly is light and power in the word of God. With this in mind, it is instructive that the rod in Lehi's dream is made of iron. Iron conducts electricity. The iron rod, therefore, is like the third rail in a subway system.
In a subway system there are two rails that carry the wheels of the train. They are like the path in Lehi's dream. But there is a third rail that carries the electric current that powers and lights the train. There is a device on the train that connects to the third rail. The device allows the current to flow to the lights that illuminate the train and its path and to the electric motors that move the train forward.
In Lehi's dream, the iron rod conducts the spiritual light and power of the word of God. We take hold of the rod when we make covenants with God. If we keep our covenants, we move forward on the path with a strong grip on the rod. We establish a firm and sure connection, and the light and power of the word flow into our lives. We receive knowledge, understanding, insights, guidance, and warnings that help us make decisions and take action in accord with the will of the Lord. We receive gifts and blessings, encouragement, commandments, and true, eternal principles by the grace of Christ through the power of the Holy Ghost.
We cannot loosely hold on to the rod, nor can we let go and expect to receive that kind of light and power.[18] In Nephi's account of the dream, only those who "continually [held] fast to the rod of iron"[19] made their way through the mists of darkness, obtained the precious fruit of the tree of life, and gave no heed to the scorn and ridicule from the great and spacious building.[20]
Holding fast to the iron rod, grabbing on to it tightly with a strong connection, means that we receive and keep the ordinances and covenants of salvation. It means that we obey God's commandments. It means that we feast on the words of Christ—that we read, study, and search the scriptures every day. It means that we pray morning and night in gratitude and in faith. It means that we worship in the temple, serve in the kingdom, and renew our covenants in the sacrament. It means that we look to Christ and follow Him.
I had an experience many years ago that taught me the power that is in the word of God and the importance of strengthening our grip on the iron rod. One morning, during a very difficult time in our family, I sought direction from the Lord. I opened the sixth chapter of Ephesians in which Paul writes about the armor of God, and I read these verses:
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.[21]
When I read those words, I felt a powerful impression of the Spirit. This was the Lord's answer to my prayers: I needed to put on the whole armor of God and strengthen my grip on the iron rod.
I prayed diligently about that message, and the Lord answered my prayers. He showed me what I needed to stop doing and what I needed to start doing in order to put on the whole armor of God. I followed that counsel; and the Lord blessed me with increased light, understanding, and faith in Him.
Which brings me to that great companion of the iron rod, the shield of faith.
The Shield of Faith
Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is the first principle of the gospel. The scriptures teach us that "faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."[22] Thus, "if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true."[23]
Like His church, faith in Jesus Christ is both true and living. It is true because it is centered in the reality that Jesus is the Christ, the Savior and Redeemer of all mankind. It is living because faith is a principle of action and power, and it can grow within us.
Faith in Christ brings an assurance of the truth of all that He has done, all that He does now, and all that He will do to bring about the Father's great plan of salvation for you and for me. These are the "things" of Christ in which we have hope, for which we have assurance and evidence, and which are true.
We learn about the things of Christ by holding fast to the iron rod. The scriptures, the words of living prophets, and the whisperings of the Spirit all testify of the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ and His glorious resurrection. Listen to the Savior's own words of testimony and invitation:
Behold, I am Jesus Christ the Son of God. I created the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are.
I am the light and the life of the world. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.
Behold, I have come unto the world to bring redemption unto the world, to save the world from sin.
Therefore, whoso repenteth and cometh unto me as a little child, him will I receive, for of such is the kingdom of God. Behold, for such I have laid down my life, and have taken it up again; therefore repent, and come unto me ye ends of the earth, and be saved.[24]
Brothers and sisters, our faith is in the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the Savior and Redeemer. Our faith is in Him, and our faith is true. It is also living. Faith in Jesus Christ inspires us to action and qualifies us for the blessings of divine power.
Faith in Christ comes with spiritual assurance and spiritual feelings of love, gratitude, and reverence for Jesus Christ. We have read and felt the Savior's own words about His suffering and His character:
Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit—and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink—
Nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men.[25]
Jesus did not shrink from horrible agony and terrible suffering and pain. Because of our faith in the Savior, we have confidence in His love, kindness, patience, and power. We have reverence for His suffering and love and gratitude for Him.
This means that our faith in Christ is a righteous force motivating us to do what the Lord wants done. When we act with faith in Christ, our faith lives in us; our faith grows; and divine light and power flow into our lives.
As Elder David A. Bednar has taught:
. . . faith in Christ leads to righteous action, which increases our spiritual capacity and power. Understanding that faith is a principle of action and of power inspires us to exercise our moral agency in compliance with gospel truth, invites the redeeming and strengtheningpowers of the Savior's Atonement into our lives, and enlarges the power within us whereby we are agents unto ourselves.[26]
Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is a gift from God that we must use and nurture if it is to live and grow. If we do not act on our faith, it will wither and die.[27] As James taught, faith in Christ without the works of Christ is dead.[28]
True and living faith in Jesus Christ is the shield in the armor of God that "[quenches] . . . the fiery darts"[29] of the adversary. When we face significant decisions or challenges, we may feel fiery darts of temptation, scorn, ridicule, fear, doubt, and discouragement. Acting with faith in Christ will quench those darts.
We see that principle in action in the 27th chapter of Mosiah when an angel appeared to Alma the Younger and the sons of Mosiah and called them to repentance. Alma fell to the earth and suffered for three days the "pains of a damned soul,"[30] including the fiery darts of fear, doubt, hopelessness, and despair.
In the midst of that suffering, there came a moment when Alma caught hold of the iron rod. He remembered the teaching of his father about Jesus Christ, and that memory gave him hope.[31] Alma chose to act on his new, tender faith in Christ. He cried in his heart, "O Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy on me."[32]
And now, behold, when I thought this, I could remember my pains no more; yea, I was harrowed up by the memory of my sins no more.
And oh, what joy, and what marvelous light I did behold; yea, my soul was filled with joy as exceeding as was my pain![33]
Alma's exercise of agency to turn to Christ with faith in His redeeming power activated the shield of faith. The light and power of Christ flowed into Alma's soul and quenched the fiery darts. Alma's pain, doubt, fear, and hopelessness were swallowed up in the joy of Christ.
Brothers and sisters, Jesus Christ is our shield against the fiery darts of the wicked. As the Lord Himself taught the Prophet Joseph:
Wherefore, I call upon the weak things of the world, those who are unlearned and despised, to thresh the nations by the power of my Spirit;
And their arm shall be my arm, and I will be their shield . . . .[34]
It is the light and power of Christ that "quenches . . . the fiery darts."[35] That light and power come through the iron rod. When our grip on the rod is strong and firm and when we act with faith in Christ, His light and power flow into us and into the great shield of faith.[36] As Elder Maxwell taught us, when we have one hand firmly on the iron rod and one hand holding aloft the shield of faith, Christ protects us and strengthens us and illuminates the way forward.[37]
Conclusion and Testimony
When Sister Clark and I were younger, we faced the same kinds of decisions you face. I want to close today with an experience we shared. I do so not because our experience is dramatic or unusual, but rather because it is not. It is just like your experiences. I hope in this account of what we faced, you will find encouragement and inspiration from the Lord to face your own decisions with faith in Christ, holding fast to the iron rod.
After Sister Clark had been at BYU for a couple of years, she had an opportunity to move into a great apartment much closer to campus. On her first day in the new apartment, she sat on her bed surrounded by her boxes and received this very strong impression of the Spirit: "you are in the wrong place; you need to go back." She struggled with that thought for a while, but the Spirit was insistent. So, not knowing why but with faith in the Lord, she went back to her old apartment far from campus.
She did not find out why the Lord sent her back until about two years later while out for a walk with me on a beautiful Sunday evening. Sister Clark and I were in the same home evening group. I had invited her to go on a walk with me that evening, and she accepted. As we walked, I told her how I ended up in the apartment where I lived. As she heard that pretty miraculous story, she had a feeling come to her that we were going to get married. The Spirit whispered to her, "This is why the Lord sent you back."
That evening I also felt I was walking with my eternal companion, and as you know we did get married. But it wasn't easy. After we were engaged, we faced some very strong opposition from my family and also the fiery darts of doubt and fear. It is not hard to understand why. I knew I was supposed to go back to Harvard; but that meant moving to Boston, and Sue was really afraid of living in Boston. I knew a few people there, but Sue knew not a soul. She had never lived in a place bigger than Provo, and the prospect of living and working in the Boston area filled her with fear. I, too, had doubts if this was all going to work.
My family thought I was rushing things and not thinking straight about all that we would face. Sue had graduated from BYU, but I still had three years of undergraduate work left and probably more years of graduate school. I had only been home from my mission for a few months, and Sue and I had only known each other for a few weeks. We had no money, no place to live in Boston, and no jobs there.
It was a hard time. There are two scriptures—one from Doctrine and Covenants, section 78, and one from Hebrews, chapter 10—that capture our experience very well. I am going to read them together as though they were one. They have been a great inspiration to us ever since.
As I sat here this afternoon and thought about reading these scriptures to you, I received a very clear impression from the Lord that I should tell you that this passage I am going to read to you is for you. This is the word of the Lord for you.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, ye are little children, and ye have not as yet understood how great blessings the Father hath in his own hands and prepared for you;
And ye cannot bear all things now; nevertheless, be of good cheer, for I will lead you along. The kingdom is yours and the blessings thereof are yours, and the riches of eternity are yours.[38]
Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.
For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.[39]
Sue and I faced fiery darts, but our grip on the iron rod was firm and the shield of faith quenched the fear and the doubt. We knew what we felt. We had faith in Christ, and we moved forward. We were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple on June 14, 1971, and shortly thereafter set off for Boston. I told Sue that we would move back to the West in three years. Thirty-four years and seven children later I made good on my promise; we moved to Rexburg in 2005.
From this experience and many, many others, I know that when we face decisions and challenges, large and small, Jesus will bless us with the light of truth and with His almighty power. With His strength we can move forward to do what He wants done, paying no heed to ridicule and scorn, taking no counsel from our fears, setting doubt aside, overcoming discouragement with hope, and resisting temptation with our faith in Christ.
There still will be a path to walk and challenges to face. There will be times of testing and trial. But I bear you my witness born of my own experience that the light and the power of the Lord Jesus Christ come to those who hold fast to the iron rod with one hand and hold aloft the bright, shining shield of faith with the other. "[Jesus is] the way, the truth, and the life."[40] And He is our shield. I so testify, in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Notes
[1] Robert D. Hales, "To the Aaronic Priesthood, Preparing for the Decade of Decision," Ensign, May 2007
[2] Ibid
[3] Neal A. Maxwell. "Overcome . . . Even As I Also Overcame." Ensign. May 1987 (Ephesians 6:16; 1 Nephi 15:24; D&C 27:17)
[4] Ephesians 6:16
[5] Psalms 119:105
[6] 1 Nephi 8:19
[7] 1 Nephi 8:15
[8] 1 Nephi 11:25
[9] David A. Bednar. "Lehi's Dream: Holding Fast to the Rod." Ensign. November 2011
[10] 1 Nephi 11:25
[11] 3 Nephi 11:10-11
[12] 3 Nephi 27:20-21
[13] 2 Nephi 33:1
[14] Alma 31:5
[15] Hebrews 4:12
[16] Alma 5:7
[17] Joseph Smith History 1:12
[18] If we loosen our grip or even turn loose of the rod altogether and leave the path, we lose that connection to divine gifts and blessings. Though the way back may be long and hard, we can repent of our sins, return to the path, and get a new grip on that glorious rod. Through the redeeming power of Christ, we can receive forgiveness, be cleansed from sin, and receive the light and power of the gospel once again.
[19] 1 Nephi 8:30
[20] 1 Nephi 8:30-33
[21] Ephesians 6:10-12
[22] Joseph Smith Translation (JST) Hebrews 11:1 (in Hebrews 11:1 footnote 1b)
[23] Alma 32:21
[24] 3 Nephi 9:15, 18, 21-22
[25] D&C 19:18-19
[26] David A. Bednar. "Ask in Faith." Ensign. May 2008
[27] As President Gordon B. Hinckley taught, "Faith and love for the Lord are like the muscle of my arm. If I use them, they grow stronger. If I put them in a sling, they become weaker. " ("Find the Lambs, Feed the Sheep," satellite broadcast given at the Salt Lake Tabernacle, 21 February 1999). When you exercise a muscle you trigger a cascade of biochemical signals and processes that result in the creation of new muscle cells. Over time the muscle gets stronger. Note, however, that you do not create the biochemical signals, nor do you create the new muscle cells and organize them into muscle tissue. That is a gift to you from God. Faith in Christ works the same way. If you exercise faith in Christ, you invite the gift and blessing of divine power into your life. Over time your faith in Christ grows because God blesses you with that gift.
[28] James 2:26
[29] Ephesians 6:16
[30] Alma 36:16
[31] Alma 36:17
[32] Alma 36:18
[33] Alma 36:19-20
[34] D&C 35:13-14
[35] Ephesians 6:16
[36] Moreover, our faith in Christ moves us to follow Him with a firm hold on the iron rod, thus ensuring that divine light and power will flow into our lives
[37] Neal A. Maxwell, "Overcome . . . Even As I Also Overcame," Ensign. May 1987
[38] D&C 78:17-18
[39] Hebrews 10:35-36
[40] John 14:6