Saturday, August 23, 2008

Royal Army


Like Helaman’s young warriors, we are part of a great army.
President Ezra Taft Benson directed the following statement to Aaronic Priesthood holders, however, it applies to all members of the Church.

“You have been born at this time for a sacred and glorious purpose. It is not by chance that you have been reserved to come to earth in this last dispensation of the fulness of times. Your birth at this particular time was foreordained in the eternities.

“You are to be the royal army of the Lord in the last days. …

“In the spiritual battles you are waging, I see you as today’s sons of Helaman. Remember well the Book of Mormon account of Helaman’s two thousand stripling warriors” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1986, 55; or Ensign, May 1986, 43; note that stripling means young man).

I have always liked the story of the 2000 young men that had the courage to fight for their country. They were valient and willing to help in troubled times. I know we live in troubed times now. Good is being called bad. Bad is being called good. Where do we stand? How do we become like the Mothers of those 2000 young men that taught them right from wrong?

President Spencer W. Kimball made the following statement about the influence that mothers can have on their children.

“To be a righteous woman during the winding-up scenes on this earth, before the Second Coming of our Savior, is an especially noble calling. The righteous woman’s strength and influence today can be tenfold what it might be in more tranquil times. She has been placed here to help to enrich, to protect, and to guard the home—which is society’s basic and most noble institution. Other institutions in society may falter and even fail, but the righteous woman can help to save the home, which may be the last and only sanctuary some mortals know in the midst of storm and strife” (The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, ed. Edward L. Kimball [1982], 326–27).

As mothers where can we learn how to enrich, protect, and guard the home? I know the answer. Family Home Evening, scripture study, family and personal prayer.

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