Armor of God
In the
early summer of 2010, I was serving in my Ward as the Young Men President. The Priest and Teacher age young men were
capable farm boys and outdoors oriented.
They were anxious to do some extended horseback riding for an
activity. At the time, I was very busy during
the week with my profession. I also had
to get the mountain range ready to graze cattle by placing rock salt at the
various salt lick locations, clear tail, install a new trough and spring
development at the lower water in Turner Timber and turn water into existing
troughs at various springs. I had the
bright idea of taking the boys with me on a 3 day camping trip in the mountains
where we could do all the work; kill two birds with one stone so to speak. It would be a service project and outing for
them and I could get my work done. We
made arrangements for the work and sufficient adult leaders to maintain a base
camp. I was in charge of safety.
On the
last week of June we set out with high spirits with about 15 riders plus a
number of pack horses. With that many
horses, I knew the chances were good that we would eventually have a rodeo. We rode the mountain pasture each day, did
our chores, the new trough and spring development turned out beautiful and the
camping was great for the boys and leaders.
On the
second day we rode into Cedar Springs Canyon to work on a spring diversion
structure in the Upper Water at the Forks.
One boy, Jeffery, sat on his horse and waited while the rest of us
worked, but another horse got tangled in its reins and both horses went to
bucking. In the ruckus, Jeffery fell off
with his foot stuck in the stirrup. He
broke his leg and I will be eternally grateful to the fast action by a close-by
adult who contained the horse and released the boy.
We were in
trouble. To make a long story short, I
witnessed boys change that afternoon into men while an outing that started as
fun and adventure became an activity of sacrifice and rescue. When the ambulance crew finally hiked in with
a stretcher, the boys told them to stand aside.
The boys carried their injured comrade about 1 mile down a narrow trail
to a mountain road and a waiting vehicle.
The injured boy ended up missing a season of football but is now healthy
and serving a mission in Mexico. The first
aid, medical treatment and evacuation were so picture perfect that the
Sheriff’s office gave our group an award.
Based on results, they should have cussed me out.
I worry
about the physical and spiritual safety of our missionaries just like my young
men on the mountain. Much like riding
horses, there is only so much one can do to protected yourself from physical or
spiritual injury, after that you go through life on an “at-risk” basis. We are all vulnerable to accidents and sin.
The Apostle Paul stated the following eerie truth as he admonished you to
protect yourself, “Put on the whole armour of God that ye may be able
to stand against the wiles of the devil.”
12 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.
(Eph. 6:11-12)
He then
goes on to explain how you can prepare yourself to withstand the powers of
darkness by putting on the whole armor of God.
The nature of your vulnerability and the armor that Paul prescribes is
interesting. (Eph. 6: 13-18)
The loins
are the part of the body between the lower ribs and the hips. It is where the vital organs for reproduction
are located. In scripture the loins often
represent virtue and chastity. It is a
part of the body that is most vulnerable and must be protected with armor. Paul said, “Stand therefore, having your
loins girt about with truth…” Truth then is the protective armor he placed
over the loins. Knowledge of truth
regarding virtue and chastity is critical to establish a standard to measure your
conduct. Truth will guide you along your
earthly path and protect you from injury to your virtue and chastity.
The heart
was often viewed as the base of moral character and spirituality. We say, “Serve God with all our heart,” or “Your
treasure is where your heart is.” Your
heart determines your basic desires and thus directs your conduct. Temptations of the devil harden the heart. (1
Nephi 12:17) Your heart must be
protected with armor. Paul said, “…and
having on the breastplate of righteousness;” What better armor than
righteousness to protect your moral character, spirituality and conduct during
your journey through life?
Your feet
take you toward your goals or objectives and are the source of your
mobility. We often say, “Don’t get off
on the wrong foot,” or “you must walk the path yourself.” Your feet carry you through life. Your feet must be protected. Paul said, “And your feet shod with the preparation
of the gospel of peace;” The gospel of peace revolves around Jesus Christ and
His atonement. Preparation begins with
children who have been taught and given the steps to live the gospel throughout
their lives. It is ongoing each day with
our own preparation to live the gospel.
Preparation is the best way to protect and guide your feet to take you
in the right direction.
Your head
is where the brain is, the source of thinking.
It is where the eyes are which the temptations of the devil can blind.
(1 Nephi 12:17) Your thoughts and
thinking and what you look toward (want) must be protected with armor. Paul said, “And take the helmet of salvation,”
which is the armor to protect your head.
Salvation is being saved from death and sin. It is this knowledge that should guide your thoughts,
thinking and where you look all the days of your life. He then goes on and explains a powerful way to
accomplish this, “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit.”
All parts
of the body as a whole can be effectively protected with a shield. In insurance business lingo, this is a sort
umbrella policy. Paul said, “Above all,
taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the
fiery darts of the wicked.” Faith then
plays a vital role during this life in your general protection from injury to
body and spirit.
All of
this armor is a defensive move to protect you from attack by the “…wiles of the
devil.” But, the Lord declared through
Joseph Smith that you can also be outfitted with one item that is not used to
protect yourself but is a weapon to use in the offense against attack. The Lord said, “And take the … sword of my Spirit,
which I will pour out upon you, and my word which I reveal unto you…” (DC 27:15-18)
Thus the spirit and the word of God is your sword our weapon against evil.
Those
young men did what they could to be safe that day on the mountain, but we
learned that bad things can and do still happen. I am convinced you are trying to be safe,
both physically and spiritually, as you experience these wonderful lessons of
life compressed into the short 18 or 24 months in your mission. But, being careful is not good enough. You must wear the full armor of God not only
on your mission but at all times during your life for protection from
evil. It makes good sense. Understand it and put it on now. Make it a habit to wear it.
President
Robinson
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