3
Nephi 2:11
Stand Obedient and Strong
“Standing obedient and strong
on the doctrine of our God, we stand in holy places, for His doctrine
is sacred and will not change.”—Elder Robert D. Hales, “Stand
Strong in Holy Places”
What
11 And
it came to pass in the thirteenth year there began to be wars and
contentions throughout all the land; for the aGadianton
robbers had
become so bnumerous,
and did slay so many of the people, and did lay waste so many cities,
and did spread so much death and carnage throughout the land, that it
became expedient that all the people, both the Nephites and the
Lamanites, should take up arms against them.
Why
The lamanites and
Nephites who were enemies to each other were forced to become allies
to protect themselves from the Gadianton robbers.
Pattern
3 Ne.
1:27
27
And it came to pass that the ninety and third year did also pass away
in peace, save it were for the Gadianton robbers, who dwelt upon
the mountains,
who did infest the land; for so strong were their holds and their
secret places that the people could not overpower them; therefore
they did commit many murders, and did do much slaughter among the
people.
Morm.
2:8
8
But behold, the land was filled with robbers and
with Lamanites; and notwithstanding the great destruction which hung
over my people, they did not repent of their evil doings; therefore
there was blood and carnage spread throughout all the face of the
land, both on the part of the Nephites and also on the part of the
Lamanites; and it was one complete revolution throughout all the face
of the land.
Isaiah 1:23
23
Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves:
every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards: they judge not
the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them.
Helaman 11:26
26
And thus in time, yea, even in the space of not many years, they
became an exceedingly great band of robbers;
and they did search out all the secret plans of Gadianton; and thus
they became robbers of
Gadianton.Helaman
11:27
27
Now behold, these robbers did
make great havoc, yea, even great destruction among the people of
Nephi, and also among the people of the Lamanites.
- 37 And it came to pass that the Lamanites did hunt the band of robbers of Gadianton; and they did preach the word of God among the more wicked part of them, insomuch that this band of robberswas utterly destroyed from among the Lamanites.
Ether 13:26
26
And there were robbers,
and in fine, all manner of wickedness upon all the face of the land.
9
And now, behold, I say no more concerning them, for there are none
save it be the Lamanites and robbers that
do exist upon the face of the land.
Christ
John 18:40
40
Then cried they all again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now
Barabbas was a robber.
John 18:40
40
Then cried they all again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now
Barabbas was a robber.
D&C.
122
7 And
if thou shouldst be cast into the apit,
or into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon
thee; if thou be cast into the bdeep;
if the billowing surge conspire against thee; if fierce winds become
thine enemy; if the heavens gather blackness, and all the elements
combine to chedge up
the way; and above all, if the very jaws of dhell shall
gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all
these things shall give thee eexperience,
and shall be for thy good.
9 Therefore, ahold on
thy way, and the priesthood shall bremain with
thee; for their cbounds are
set, they cannot pass. Thy ddays are
known, and thy years shall not be numbered less; therefore, efear
not what
man can do, for God shall be with you forever and ever.
Conference
M.
Russell Ballard Of
the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
The
Book of Mormon teaches that secret combinations engaged in crime
present a serious challenge, not just to individuals and families but
to entire civilizations. Among today’s secret combinations are
gangs, drug cartels, and organized crime families. The secret
combinations of our day function much like the Gadianton robbers of
the Book of Mormon times. They have secret signs and code words. They
participate in secret rites and initiation ceremonies. Among their
purposes are to “murder, and plunder, and steal, and commit
whoredoms and all manner of wickedness, contrary to the laws of their
country and also the laws of their God.”4
If
we are not careful, today’s secret combinations can obtain power
and influence just as quickly and just as completely as they did in
Book of Mormon times. Do you remember the pattern? The secret
combinations began among the “more wicked part” of society, but
eventually “seduced the more part of the righteous” until the
whole society was polluted.5
Today’s
young people, just as those “of the rising generation”6 in
Book of Mormon times, are the most susceptible to the influence of
gangs. Our young men and young women see it all around them. There is
an entire subculture that celebrates contemporary gangs and their
criminal conduct with music, clothing styles, language, attitudes,
and behaviors. Many of you have watched as trendy friends have
embraced the style as something that was “fashionable” and
“cool,” only to be dragged into the subculture because of their
identification with gangs. We’ve all heard the tragic stories of
unsuspecting wanna-bes who have been victimized by gangs simply
because they were wearing the wrong color in the wrong neighborhood.
The
Book of Mormon teaches that the devil is the “author of all sin”
and the founder of these secret combinations.7 He
uses secret combinations, including gangs, “from generation to
generation according as he can get hold upon the hearts of the
children of men.”8 His
purpose is to destroy individuals, families, communities, and
nations.9 To
a degree, he was successful during Book of Mormon times. And he is
having far too much success today. That’s why it is so important
for us as priesthood holders to take a firm stand for truth and right
by doing what we can to help keep our communities safe.
Several
years before Christ came to the American continent, the Lamanites
exercised such great faith and courage that they completely destroyed
the influence of the Gadianton robbers in their society by
“preach[ing] the word of God among … them.”10 Brethren,
we are now in a similar position to “stand as witnesses of God”
by setting an example, keeping Church standards, and sharing our
testimony with those around us.
The
Savior has promised that if we will “keep all the commandments and
covenants by which [we] are bound; … [He] will cause the heavens to
shake for [our] good, and Satan shall tremble and Zion shall rejoice
upon the hills and flourish.”11 He
has even promised that the day will come when, “because of the
righteousness of his people, Satan [will have] no power” over the
hearts of men.12
As
a Church, we recognize that the gospel of Jesus Christ, with its
saving truths and teachings, provides the most effective preventative
and rehabilitative assistance in overcoming criminal behavior.
Parents bear the first and greatest responsibility to teach their
children principles of gospel living and good citizenship. There are,
however, those who have little or no support at home. We need to be
aware of them and do all we can to bless their lives. They need
positive role models who demonstrate integrity by honoring their
covenants and keeping their promises.
To
you brethren who are fathers, bishopric members, and youth leaders:
Please remember that all young men and young women have a great need
to feel loved, respected, and valued and to succeed in ways that will
help them gain a sense of confidence and self-worth. Appropriate and
uplifting activities should be planned that will provide a safe and
wholesome environment in which our youth and their nonmember friends
can strengthen one another and draw closer to the Savior.
We
should also support the efforts of individuals, organizations,
communities, and governments to assist them and help prevent crime.
We should work within our respective legal and judicial systems to
enact and enforce laws that provide necessary protection against
criminals while ensuring essential rights and freedoms. And we should
volunteer to support and assist government leaders in promoting
programs designed to protect and strengthen families and communities.
Many
of you young men of the Aaronic Priesthood may find yourselves on the
front line of a battle against those who intend to do things that are
morally wrong. I do not believe that you can stand for truth and
right while wearing anything that is unbecoming one who holds the
priesthood of God. To me, it is impossible to maintain the Spirit of
the Lord while listening to music or watching movies or videos that
celebrate evil thoughts and use vulgar language.
I
know it is sometimes hard to stand for truth and right. Yet we need
to be positive examples if we are to help others find a better way.
Thankfully, we can draw strength from those who have gone before us.
While the road they walked may have been different from the road we
walk today, the courage required to be faithful is similar, and their
experiences are instructive.
As
a boy growing up in Nauvoo, George Q. Cannon learned to cope with
those who would do harm to others. In his own words, he tells how he
and a group of boys his age did their part to defend the Saints
against potential troublemakers:
“It
was … a common practice …, when engaged in conversation or in
making a bargain, to take out … pocket knives and commence
whittling; frequently, … accompanying the whittling by whistling.
No person could object, therefore, to the practices of whittling and
whistling. Many of the boys of the city had each a large bowie knife
made, and when a man came to town who was known to be a villain, and
was there for evil purposes, a few of them would get together, and go
to where the obnoxious person was, and having previously provided
themselves with pine shingles, would commence whittling. The presence
of a number of boys, each [harmlessly] whittling … was not a sight
to escape the notice of a stranger. … His first [reaction] …
would be to … ask what this meant. The boys would make no reply,
but with grave faces, keep up their [harmless] whistling. … What
could the man do? If he was armed, he could shoot; but the resolute
expression of the boys’ faces, and the gleaming knives … would
convince him that discretion was the better part of valor. … The
most we ever knew them to do was to stand for awhile and curse and
threaten. … Then they would walk off …, followed by the troop of
boys vigorously whittling and whistling.”13
Dealing
with crime is very complex. However, there are some simple things
that we can do in our day to prevent others from drifting toward
gangs and crime. We can avoid the temptation of being cliquish at
school or at church. All of us can refrain from finding fault or
alienating anyone by our words or actions. Nothing is more hurtful
than to feel left out or made fun of. Therefore, we must never do
anything that may drive others toward being accepted by a gang
because they feel rejected by us. Many new families are moving in
among us. Brethren, reach out the hand of friendship and make
everyone feel welcome and secure in our neighborhoods and in our
Church. Guard against spreading rumors or saying unkind things or
allowing anything to occur that may hurt another. Make friends with
your neighbors, watch out for each other, and help build a spirit of
unity, peace, and love among them. These may seem like small things,
but I assure you, if we do these kinds of things, they may be every
bit as effective in keeping people away from evil and crime as
whittling and whistling were in the days of Nauvoo. True friendship
may well be the best thing that we can do to help reach those who may
be drifting toward unsafe and morally damaging activities and
counterfeit forms of belonging.
These
are difficult times in which we are living. In some respects, it is
perhaps the most challenging age of all time. We want you young men
to know that we are aware of that. But we are also aware that God has
reserved some of His strongest spirit children for these perilous
days. While God’s laws and standards of right and wrong are under
attack at every turn, we are a great army of priesthood holders who
are prepared to make a valiant stand for truth and right. Brethren,
let us stand, shoulder to shoulder, as bearers of the priesthood of
God and as followers of Christ and do what we can to make this a
better, safer, and happier world. Let us be “witnesses of God at
all times and in all things, and in all places,” I humbly pray in
the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
APRIL
2013 | Stand
Strong in Holy Places
By
Elder Robert D. Hales Of the Quorum of
the Twelve Apostles
As
he drew and read from the scriptures, I learned how to be a faithful
priesthood holder—to protect and defend the kingdom of God. The
words of the Apostle Paul were my guide:
“Wherefore
take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to
withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
“Stand therefore,
having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the
breastplate of righteousness;
“Above
all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench
all the fiery darts of the wicked.
Brethren,
if we are faithful in the priesthood, this armor will be given to us
as a gift from God. We need this armor!
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.”5When
we understand and accept this, we are prepared to face the social
pressure, ridicule, and even discrimination that will come from the
world and some who call themselves friends.
Most
of us know someone who would say, “If you want to be my friend,
you’ll have to accept my values.” A true friend doesn’t ask us
to choose between the gospel and his or her friendship. To borrow the
words of Paul, “From such turn away.”6 A
true friend strengthens us to stay on the strait and narrow path.
Above
all, have faith in the Savior! Fear not! As we diligently live the
gospel, we become strong in the Lord. With His strength we are able
to reject the anti-Christ who says, “Eat, drink, and be merry,”
for God “will justify [you] in committing a little sin; … there
is no harm in this … , for tomorrow we die.”7 In
the strength of the Lord we are able to stand against any philosophy
or creed that denies the Savior and contradicts the great, eternal
plan of happiness for all of God’s children.
...Sometimes
we become the lightning rod, and we must “take the heat” for
holding fast to God’s standards and doing His work. I testify that
we need not be afraid if we are grounded in His doctrine. We may
experience misunderstanding, criticism, and even false accusation,
but we are never alone. Our Savior was “despised and rejected of
men.”9 It
is our sacred privilege to stand with Him!
In
the Garden of Gethsemane, our Savior and Redeemer did not shrink from
drinking the bitter cup of the Atonement.22 And
on the cross He suffered again to do His Father’s will, until at
last He could say, “It is finished.”23 He
had endured to the end. In response to the Savior’s perfect
obedience in standing strong, our Heavenly Father declared, “Behold
my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified
my name.”24
My
beloved priesthood brethren young and old, let us glorify God’s
name by standing strong with our Savior, Jesus Christ. I bear my
special witness that He lives and that we “are called with a holy
calling”25 to
participate in His work. “Wherefore, stand ye in holy places, and
be not moved.”26 Standing
obedient and strong on the doctrine of our God, we stand in holy
places, for His doctrine is sacred and will not change in the social
and political winds of our day. I declare, as did the Apostle Paul,
“Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, [behave] like men, [and] be
strong.”27 This
is my fervent prayer for you in the holy name of Jesus Christ,
amen....
Apply
Avoid
being cliquish, reach out to neighbors in friendliness, Help build
unity and peace and love. Stand for truth and right. In our day,
there are wicked men all around and they also come from other
countries and try to destroy our people and our freedom through
terrorism. There are men who would destroy our freedoms and take
away our religious rights and our military protection so that we are
easy prey for the enemies of freedom.
We
must be willing to stand for the right at all times and in all
places.
Hymns
Choose
the Right (#239)
Children
Choose
the Right Way (#160)
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