Brothers and sisters, it is a great honor to address you this afternoon. I have been fasting and praying that what I say to you today will be what the Lord would have me say. I have also prayed that the Holy Ghost will bring thoughts and promptings into your heart and mind. My goal is to provide doctrine and specific strategies to help keep you safe in a world of sin. If thoughts do come, please treasure them, write them down, and try to apply them.
While living in the preexistence, we learned that leaving our heavenly home, as well as having a veil covering our memories, would be necessary so that we could choose good or evil without being influenced by the memories of our heavenly parents. We learned that trials, sickness, disappointments, sorrow, and pain would give us experience and be for our good.[1] We learned that because of our weakness we would sin and that a Savior would be provided for us.[2] In Job it recounts that after hearing this plan we were so happy that we shouted for joy.[3] But there was one who rebelled against this plan. In the Doctrine and Covenants 29:36 it states:
"...for, behold, the devil was before Adam, for he rebelled against me, saying, Give me thine honor, which is my power; and also a third part of the hosts of heaven turned he away from me because of their agency"[4]
Satan, who was called Lucifer wanted to force us to do his will and take away our gift of agency. He wanted all of the honor of our salvation for himself. President Benson described it this way: "In the pre-earthly council, Lucifer placed his proposal in competition with the Father's plan as advocated by Jesus Christ. He wished to be honored above all others. In short, his prideful desire was to dethrone God."[5]
Because Heavenly Father rejected Satan's plan and chose Jesus Christ to be our Savior, Satan became angry, rebelled, and he and his followers fought against Jesus and those who accepted our Father's plan. Due to this rebellion Satan and his followers were cast down from heaven and were denied the right to receive mortal bodies.
In the 76th section of the Doctrine and Covenants it states:
"And this we saw also, and bear record, that an angel of God who was in authority in the presence of God, who rebelled against the Only Begotten Son whom the Father loved and who was in the bosom of the Father, was thrust down from the presence of God and the Son, ... for we beheld Satan, that old serpent, even the devil, who rebelled against God, and sought to take the kingdom of our God and his Christ—Wherefore, he maketh war with the saints of God, and encompasseth them round about."[6]
The war in heaven continues today. Since Satan's plan to dethrone God failed, his plan is now to dethrone and destroy you and me. Satan and his followers have not forgotten who we are and are constantly tempting and enticing us to sin.
In 1 Peter we read:
"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:"[7]
Brothers and sisters there are some key principles if understood and practiced will aid us in this war between good and evil. Christ and his prophets have long taught these principles to us.
I would like to speak to you of fortification and defense.
My father served in the military at the end of the Korean War. After a precarious agreement was signed between North and South Korea to stop hostilities until a peaceful agreement could be found, a buffer zone was created crossing the 38th parallel. This demarcation line between North and South Korea is called a demilitarized zone, even though it is the most heavily militarized border in the world. There has been no peaceful agreement to this day and this buffer stretches 160 miles long and two and a half miles wide. One of my father's responsibilities was to help dig trenches, bunkers, and reinforcements to help fortify this line. His stories have helped me realize the importance of fortifications and a layered defense in times of war.
These same principles can aid us in our war with Satan and his forces.
President Kimball explains:
"This is our proper pattern, if we would prevent sin rather than be faced with the much more difficult task of curing it. As I study the story of the Redeemer and his temptations, I am certain he spent his energies fortifying himself against temptation rather than battling with it to conquer it...
The secret of a good life is in protection and prevention. Those who yield to evil are usually those who have placed themselves in a vulnerable position."[8]
Captain Moroni knew this could be applied both physically and spiritually. In the Book of Mormon during the 18th year of the reign of the judges Captain Moroni introduced the idea of a "layered defense" to fortify both his warriors and the Nephite cities. Captain Moroni prepared his people with breastplates and with arm-shields, helmets and thick clothing. The Lamanites after seeing the Nephites armor, even though their numbers was much greater, were afraid and did not come against the Nephites in the borders of Jershon.
Likewise, Captain Moroni fortified his cities as well by erecting small forts, throwing up banks of earth around the cities with walls of stone. He built high fences and towers with security so that the stones and arrows of the Lamanites could not hurt them. He also stationed more men at the weakest cities to make the weak areas become strong. The result was that many Nephite's lives were saved.
Just as physical armor protected the Nephite armies, spiritual armor can help protect you and me.
President Kimball provides powerful imagery when he said the following:
"We must be prepared to make a bold stand before Satan ... and against principalities and powers and the rulers of darkness. We need the whole armor of God that we may withstand. 'Put on the whole armour of God,' as Paul admonished. With this divine influence and protection, we may be able to discern the adversary's deceptions in whatever appealing words and rationalizations and we may be 'able to withstand the evil day, and having done all, to stand.'"[9]
In October's General Conference President Monson said:
"We know, however, that the adversary is committed to our failure. He and his hosts are relentless in their efforts to thwart our righteous desires. They represent a grave and constant threat to our eternal salvation unless we are also relentless in our determination and efforts to achieve our goal."[10]
I would like to echo our prophet President Monson and all of the prophets before him as I suggest three strategies to increase our fortifications.
The first is prayer.
Prayer is one of our best defenses. If we liken ourselves to a castle, with Satan and his followers as the attacking enemy, the quality of our prayers would be the thickness and height of our outer walls. Some of the questions we can ask ourselves to judge the strength of our castle walls are: Do we use vain repetition in our prayers or are they sincere and from the heart? Do our minds wander while saying our prayers? Do we think about what we are going to say before we approach our Father? Do we think through what we really need help with, and what questions have been bothering us? Are we expressing earnest gratitude for our blessings? Are we listening for promptings and answers? As we improve the quality of our prayers our castle walls are strengthened and we are increasing our protection and defense from the forces of evil.
Before my children leave for school I will hear my wonderful wife call out to our children asking them if they have put their armor on? They know this means have they knelt in prayer and asked for heaven's protection, guidance, and safety?
Think for a moment of Helaman's two thousand stripling warriors.
They were a perfect example of those with strong spiritual fortifications. They were protected both physically and spiritually through the teachings of their mothers. What do you think their mothers taught them? Could there be any doubt that their mothers taught them how to pray with power? Can you picture these mothers sending their sons off with Helaman telling them to put on their spiritual armor?
The second strategy is studying the scriptures and heeding the words of living prophets.
If prayers would be likened to the thickness and height of your castle walls, studying your scriptures and following the prophets council is like heeding the watchmen on the towers overlooking the countryside to prepare and defend the castle.
These watchmen are prophets and apostles from the past and those living today. Heavenly Father has called them to help defend his children. They receive revelation and guidance on the dangers we face. If we will listen, study, and apply their words we will be better prepared, protected, and fortified.
Elder M. Russell Ballard in a recent CES devotional characterized the Apostles as being charged "to be watchmen on the towers to see and teach the doctrines of Christ," and he applied that to the doctrine of marriage. He stated: "Traditional marriage is under attack today, with many framing the discussion in terms of civil rights." He then quoted from a recent letter sent to local leaders by the First Presidency, which reads in part, "Changes in the civil law do not, indeed cannot, change the moral law that God has established. God expects us to uphold and keep His commandments regardless of divergent opinions or trends in society."[11] At the last general conference President Monson invited us to live the commandments, strengthen our testimonies, exercise constant vigilance in order to avoid giving in to Satan's lies and temptations, and be an example and light to others.
The third fortification strategy is service.
Service is a principle that is counterintuitive. It is counterintuitive because we would imagine that the more energy we give to others the less we have for ourselves, however the opposite is true. The Savior used metaphors to describe this principle "For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it"[12] and "But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant."[13]
Service could be compared to a mote surrounding your castle except the more water you take out (by giving service) the bigger the mote gets. When you give service, although you are helping others, in fact you are really helping yourself more. It is evident when seeing a missionary return. It is evident in the face of someone performing an act of kindness. It is felt after attending the temple and doing family history. Service changes our very nature; it fortifies us without even realizing it.
Now brothers and sisters, it is instructive to examine some of the tactics the adversary uses to try and penetrate our defenses. If we go back to our castle analogy, there were many ways castles fell or were compromised and I would like to discuss three. These are also some of the same tactics Satan uses to try and penetrate our spiritual defenses and fortifications.
The first way a castle would fall is by a massive attack.
The opposing army by sheer numbers would overwhelm the defenses of the castle. If the fortifications were weak it would not hold up to the barrage of the opposing force.
Can you picture a castle under this type of attack? Maybe you have seen a movie where an invading army compromised a castle's defense. Brothers and sisters, is there any doubt that we live in a day and age where we are under a massive attack from the adversary and his forces.
In 2nd Timothy, Paul described our day when he said: "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come."
We are now living in the perilous times Paul foresaw.
In 2003 President Hinckley said:
"The traditional family is under heavy attack. I do not know that things were worse in the times of Sodom and Gomorrah... We see similar conditions today. They prevail all across the world."[14]
In the October 2014 general conference. President Monson states:
"We have been placed on earth in troubled times. We live in a complex world with currents of conflict everywhere to be found. Political schemes ruin the stability of nations, despots grasp for power, and segments of society seem forever downtrodden, deprived of opportunity and left with a feeling of failure. The sophistries of men ring in our ears, and sin surrounds us."[15]
How, you may ask, can we survive in such a world? The key to defend against the massive attack we are undergoing is to strengthen our fortifications, to thicken and heighten our outer walls of prayer, listen, heed, and apply the council of the watchmen on the towers and to help and serve our fellowman. If we do, we will have the blessing of having the companionship of the Holy Ghost to help strengthen and fortify us.
President Henry B. Eyring during a BYU-Idaho devotional address in 2005 spoke forcefully to us on what is needed to defend ourselves. He said:
"As the challenges around us increase, we must commit to do more to qualify for the companionship of the Holy Ghost. Casual prayer won't be enough. Reading a few verses of the scripture won't be enough. Doing the minimum of what the Lord asks of us won't be enough. Hoping that we will have the Atonement work in our lives and that we will perhaps sometimes feel the influence of the Holy Ghost won't be enough. And one great burst of effort won't be enough..."[16]
President Eyring is a watchman on the tower and is telling us what is required to withstand the massive attack of the enemy that surrounds us.
The second way castles fell was by the invading force laying siege.
When an opposing army saw that there were strong fortifications, they would sometimes decide to surround the castle, not let any food in, and study the castles defenses to find weak spots.
Satan and his followers are masters at this. Lucifer and his followers know our weaknesses and will try to take advantage of them. They have had a long time to figure out the best ways to try and tempt us.
President Kimball said:
"Having been reared on the farm, I know that when the pigs got out, I looked first for the holes through which they had previously escaped. When the cow was out of the field looking for greener pastures elsewhere, I knew where to look first for the place of her escape. It was most likely to be the place where she had jumped the fence before, or where the fence had been broken. Likewise the devil knows where to tempt, where to put in his telling blows. He finds the vulnerable spot. Where one was weak before, he will be most easily tempted again...
It seems that evil is always about us. ... Accordingly, we must be alert constantly. We catalogue our weaknesses and move in against them to overcome them. Most of us have vulnerable spots through which disaster can overtake us unless we are properly safeguarded and immunized."[17]
May I echo President Kimball, and suggest that we regularly take time to reflect on our vulnerabilities and what can be done to correct them? Who knows us better than ourselves the areas we need strengthened? After we have reviewed our weaknesses it is helpful to create a plan. You might create a short and long-term plan. You might need to review this plan daily or weekly. Reflect on what went well that day or week, and what areas of weaknesses need to be strengthened. We need to make adjustments to our plans as a general would make adjustments in the midst of a battle.
A great example of this is in the third and fourth chapter of 3rd Nephi, the Gadiantian robbers sent a letter stating they were going to come down out of the mountains and destroy the Nephites and Lamanites that had united. After an unsuccessful attack, due to strong fortifications, the Gadiantian robbers decided to lay siege to the city. We read:
"And in the twenty and first year they did not come up to battle, but they came up on all sides to lay siege round about the people of Nephi; for they did suppose that if they should cut off the people of Nephi from their lands, and should hem them in on every side, and if they should cut them off from all their outward privileges, that they could cause them to yield themselves up according to their wishes. ...But behold, this was an advantage to the Nephites; for it was impossible for the robbers to lay siege sufficiently long to have any effect upon the Nephites, because of their much provision which they had laid up in store."[18]
Again we see the Nephites protected by following the council of their leader prophet Gidgiddoni by storing provisions and fortifying their city. Likewise, we are promised protection if we will take up spiritual provisions and fortifications.
The third tactic that could cause a castle to fall is a backdoor or secret entrance.
A king might create a backdoor in a castle so that they could escape in case he needed to flee. If the enemy found this secret entrance they could bypass all of the fortifications put into place and march right into the center of the castle.
I would now like you to think about and view in your minds eye your apartments and bedrooms. These are places you may study your scriptures and say your prayers. You might have pictures of temples on the wall and scriptures sitting on your desk. Can you see possible backdoors that Satan might use? Do you see gaming consoles, computers, televisions, and cell phones? I would like to speak for a moment on gaming and social media. When I ask my class how many know people addicted to gaming, almost all hands go up. I have seen students so addicted to gaming that they lie to their girlfriends, telling them they can't go out Friday nights when really they won't go because they need to finish a level. One student explained how a married couple divorced due to a spouse spending every free moment playing games rather than talking to each other. I had a student teaching assistant explain that when he decided to quit gaming due to his addiction, he gave all of his games away to his friend, and soon his friend was addicted. We could also visit about social media. How much time do we spend on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and news sites?
Elder Bednar spoke at BYU-Idaho in 2009 on this subject. He said:
"I raise an apostolic voice of warning about the potentially stifling, suffocating, suppressing, and constraining impact of some kinds of cyberspace interactions and experiences upon our souls.
My heart aches when a young couple—sealed together in the house of the Lord for time and for all eternity by the power of the holy priesthood—experiences marital difficulties because of the addicting effect of excessive video gaming or online socializing. A young man or woman may waste countless hours, postpone or forfeit vocational or academic achievement, and ultimately sacrifice cherished human relationships because of mind- and spirit-numbing video and online games."[19]
Satan is using technology to try to get us to give up our physical experience for virtual ones. Now a word on cell phones.
This device I hold in my hand is a tool that can be used for much good, and is the greatest weapon Satan has in his arsenal. It is with you 24 hours a day and if you do not master this device it will master you. One of the definitions of "device" in the dictionary is "a plan or scheme for effecting a purpose, or trick." You can bet Satan has a plan on how to use this device to sneak past all of your defenses. Do we have a plan on how to keep these backdoors shut? Is it written down and reviewed frequently? By one click of a button or link, Satan can bypass all of your fortifications and slip you into sinning within seconds.
President Kimball states:
"It is extremely difficult, if not impossible, for the devil to enter a door that is closed. He seems to have no keys for locked doors. But if a door is slightly ajar, he gets his toe in, and soon this is followed by his foot, then by his leg and his body and his head, and finally he is in all the way."[20]
Keeping the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost is the key to keeping these doors shut and locked. Before we click on a link or website that could possibly be suspect, the Spirit will warn us of Evil, if but only for a split second.
President Kimball has provided a clear picture of how Satan uses back doors. He states:
"He will shade meanings, open doors an inch at a time, and lead from purest white through all the shades of gray to the darkest black. The arch deceiver has studied every way possible to achieve his ends, using every tool, every device possible. He takes over, distorts, and changes and camouflages everything created for the good of man, ... so he may take over their minds and pervert their bodies and claim them his. He never sleeps—he is diligent and persevering. He analyzes carefully his problem and then moves forward diligently, methodically to reach that objective. He uses all five senses and man's natural hunger and thirst to lead him away. He anticipates resistance and fortifies himself against it. He uses time and space and leisure. He is constant and persuasive and skillful.... He knows that he cannot induce good men and women to do major evils immediately, so he moves slyly, whispering half-truths until he has his intended captives following him. We must be prepared to make a bold stand before Satan."[21]
President Monson stated in the last General Conference that great courage will be required, as we remain faithful and true and that we cannot allow ourselves to believe that we can participate "just a little" in disobeying the commandments of God.[22]
Although all of us have allowed Satan to slip through our defenses to some point, the Savior never did. He is not only our great Captain and General helping us know how to fortify ourselves against sin, but also our great Physician that can rebuild and cleanse us. The Atonement can wipe away the filth of sin. We can experience the peace after the storm and battle. Although repentance is difficult, our eternal salvation depends on it. For some sins, your Bishop is a necessary step and Satan will try and convince you that this is not the case. Please do not listen to these whisperings. Your mind is lying to you. Take whatever steps necessary to cleanse your castle so that someday it might become a temple.
The Lord is constantly encouraging us. We can do this! We can be victorious!
In D&C 38:30 the Lord tells us if ye are prepared ye shall not fear. And in section 128 of the Doctrine and Covenants Joseph Smith says:"Brethren, shall we not go on in so great a cause? Go forward and not backward. Courage, brethren; and on, on to the victory! Let your hearts rejoice, and be exceedingly glad."[23]
President Hinckley has encouraged us:
"Victory will be yours. There is not a person in this Church who needs to [surrender] to any of these forces. You are a child of God. You have His power within you to sustain you. You have the right to call upon God to protect you... Stand your ground ... , and you will be triumphant."[24]
President Monson is continually encouraging us:
"Though the storm clouds may gather, though the rains may pour down upon us, our knowledge of the gospel and our love of our Heavenly Father and of our Savior will comfort and sustain us and bring joy to our hearts as we walk uprightly and keep the commandments. There will be nothing in this world that can defeat us"[25]
Please remember that everyone here at BYU-Idaho loves you and is praying for you. Your parents and family are praying for you and if you listen carefully you will hear the Holy Spirit encouraging you, warning you.
I testify that God lives, He is our Heavenly Father and that we are here because we love Him, chose His plan, and believe that He knows what is best for us. I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer, our greatest teacher and our truest friend. I know that through Joseph Smith the kingdom of God is again upon the earth. I know that we have a prophet and watchman on the tower today, even Thomas S. Monson. I know that if we increase the effectiveness of our prayers, study our scriptures, follow the prophet's council, and provide meaningful service to our brothers and sisters we will be better fortified against sin and temptation. I know that if we will continually keep the covenants we have made, the adversary will be held at bay and the peace of safety will surround us. Of this I testify in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Notes
[1] D&C 122:7
[2] Abraham 3:27
[3] Job 38:7
[4] D&C 29:36
[5] Teachings of President Benson, Ch. 18
[6] D&C 76:25, 28, 29
[7] 1 Peter 5:8
[8] Teaching of the Presidents of the Church: Spencer W Kimball, 2006) 102-13
[9] Teaching of the Presidents of the Church: Spencer W Kimball, 2006) 102-13
[10] October 2015 General Conference: President Monson: Keep the Commandments
[11] CES devotional May 4, 2014
[12] Matthew 16:24-25
[13] Matthew 23:10-11
[14] "The State of the Church," Liahona and Ensign, Nov. 2003, 4, 7
[15] Oct 2014 General Conference "Guided Safely Home"
[16] President Henry B. Eyring - BYU-Idaho Devotional 2005
[17] Teaching of the Presidents of the Church: Spencer W Kimball, 2006) 102-13
[18] 3 Nephi: 4:16,18
[19] Elder David A. Bednar - Things as They Really Are: Church Educational System fireside address delivered at Brigham Young University-Idaho on May 3, 2009
[20] Teaching of the Presidents of the Church: Spencer W Kimball, 2006) 102-13
[21] Teaching of the Presidents of the Church: Spencer W Kimball, 2006) 102-13
[22] October 2015 General Conference: President Monson: Keep the Commandments
[23]Doctrine and Covenants 128:22
[24] January 2002, Come Listen to a Prophet's Voice: God's Power Within You
[25] April 2009 General Conference "Be of Good Cheer"