3 Nephi 3:14
Fortify Your Faith
“The Lord isn’t
asking us to load up a handcart; He’s asking us to fortify our
faith.”—Elder M. Russell Ballard, “The
Truth of God Shall Go Forth”
What
14 And
he caused that afortifications should
be built round about them, and the strength thereof should be
exceedingly great. And he caused that armies, both of the Nephites
and of the Lamanites, or of all them who were numbered among the
Nephites, should be placed as guards round about to watch them, and
to guard them from the robbers day and night.
Why
The
robbers were a real threat to their safety. They would kill them and
destroy their whole nation and their families if they did not protect
themselves so they built walls or fortifications to protect
themselves inside.
Pattern
Morm.
2:4
4
And it came to pass that we did come to the city of Angola, and we
did take possession of the city, and make preparations to defend
ourselves against the Lamanites. And it came to pass that we
did fortify the
city with our might; but notwithstanding all our fortifications the
Lamanites did come upon us and did drive us out of the city.
Morm.
2:21
21
And it came to pass that we did fortify the
city of Shem, and we did gather in our people as much as it were
possible, that perhaps we might save them from destruction.
Nahum 3:14
14
Draw thee waters for the siege, fortify thy
strong holds: go into clay, and tread the mortar, make strong the
brickkiln.
9
Moreover Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the corner gate, and at
the valley gate, and at the turning of the wall, and fortified them.
2 Chronicles 11:11
11
And he fortified the
strong holds, and put captains in them, and store of victual, and of
oil and wine.
Jacob 7:25
25
Wherefore, the people of Nephi did fortifyagainst
them with their arms, and with all their might, trusting in the God
and rock of their salvation; wherefore, they became as yet,
conquerors of their enemies.
Christ
They
were fortified against evil and seeking the protection of Christ.
Conference
Spencer W.
Kimball
President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
In
all of this evidence of progress, there is cause for rejoicing, but
unfortunately we cannot proclaim that “all is well in Zion.” We
find that we Latter-day Saints are also vulnerable to the destructive
forces of evil that are all about us in this sin-sick world. Of the
greatest concern in this day are those evils which tear at the fabric
of the home and family.
Often
we have called upon our people, and we repeat it again, to give
attention to the outward appearance of their homes and buildings, the
barns, the sheds, the fences, the places of business, to make our
communities attractive and desirable. We have asked, and repeat it
again and again, that you plant trees and shrubs and vegetables and
berry gardens to beautify your properties and help provide for your
needs. Your response to these appeals has been gratifying, and many
letters have been received telling of your cooperation in these
matters, and we are very proud of you.
Don’t
stop. Continue on. But while we would encourage you to continue to
give attention to the outward appearance of your homes, we now
implore you to give more and more attention to the interior of
your homes. I do not refer alone to the cleanliness and
attractiveness of the home and furnishings, as important as these may
be, but to the cleanliness and godliness of the family members and to
the general atmosphere that prevails.
The
Church’s long-standing concern for children and its massive
commitment in time and energy and resources to improve their lot are
well-documented. We are constantly seeking ways to strengthen
families and bless children, and that commitment will be continued
and reinforced this year and in all the years to come.
The
Church welcomes the concerns of others to achieve these beneficial
ends through appropriate means. We again are reemphasizing, however,
that the greatest blessing we can give our own children and that can
be extended to all the children of the world will come through the
simple processes of teaching and training them in the way of the
Lord.
Home
life, proper teaching in the home, parental guidance and
leadership—these are the panacea for the ailments of the world and
its children. They are the cure for spiritual and emotional diseases
and the remedy for its problems. Parents should not leave the
training of children to others.
Such
evils are very real and very threatening. One has but to read the
headlines of our newspapers and magazines to become frighteningly
aware of the crumbling, destructive influences which surround us.
Perhaps
I sound like an alarmist. If so, it is because I am alarmed.
I am greatly concerned, and so are my Brethren in the First
Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles and others of the
General Authorities.
If
we could but suggest you go home and lock these evils out by closing
and bolting the windows and locking the doors of your homes securely,
it would be a simple matter.
However,
such security would be ineffective against the evils of which we
speak. They come into our homes on ether waves by radio and the
television screen. We find these evil forces almost everywhere we go.
Exposure is almost constant. We track them into the home from the
school, from the playground, from the theater, the office, and the
marketplace. There are but few places we go in our everyday world
where we can escape them.
What
then must be our service? What must we do? We must be constantly
alert to their evil presence in our homes and destroy them as we
would the germs and filth of disease. We must hunt them from the
closets of our minds, freeing ourselves of such worldliness,
quenching the embers of wickedness before they become destructive
flames. How do we do this?
If
we would escape those deadly thrusts of the evil one and keep our
homes and families free and solidly fortified against all destructive
influences so rampant about us, we must have the help of the very
founder and organizer of this family plan—the Creator himself.
There is only one sure way and that is through the gospel of the Lord
Jesus Christ and being obedient to its profound and inspired
teachings. Surely we must be made to realize that the purchase price
of a family hearth free of such evil influences is the keeping of the
commandments of God.
Apply
from
President Kimball
The
history of man evidences that these teachings are true. The rise and
fall of civilizations according to the alternating righteousness and
wickedness of the peoples proclaim the need to hear and to heed the
Savior’s divine messages. We must prepare ourselves, both
individually and as a church, to defend the gospel truths against a
world steeped in atheism and godlessness. We must oppose the
so-called intellectuals who reason that they have all the answers,
and we must contend mightily with those whose lust for power and
worldly gain destroy their sense of right and wrong.
As
members of Christ’s true church we must stand firm today and always
for human rights and the dignity of man who is the literal offspring
of God in the spirit. We cannot condone a separation of our religious
beliefs from our daily living. Righteousness must prevail in our
lives and in our homes.
It
is a must that
we develop a love for Christ and give full allegiance and service in
the establishment of his kingdom. Being a good Christian means we
must be a good citizen of our country, wherever we live. We must be
respectful and honorable in all our relationships with our fellowmen.
We must worship the Lord in truth and keep all of his commandments.
We must seek for an enlarged capacity to influence the world toward a
return to righteousness and a pure love of God.
May
the Lord bless us all in our homes and families as we strive to draw
nearer to him and keep his commandments, I humbly pray, my beloved
brothers and sisters, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Hymns
Children
