In her book, No Doubt About it, Sheri Dew tells the following story. Before a routine drive home from college with a friend her father encouraged her to get snow chains. She casually listened as her dad explained how to use them. Later, while driving, the roads got very icy and slippery so she and her friend ended up pulling over and spending hours putting them on. It was tedious. Even after putting the chains on, they noticed a clinking sound every time the wheels turned. After all that work, the weather soon improved and the chains weren’t even needed. However, a few hours later at the very last mountain pass before reaching their destination, there was a blizzard. It was around midnight, and the weather was ten times as bad as it had been when they had first put the chains on. This time, she and her friend knew what they were doing so getting the chains on in the freezing cold wasn’t nearly the ordeal it had been just a few hours earlier. “There is no way we could have installed those chains in the dark of night in a blinding blizzard with three feet of snow already on the ground if we hadn’t had a practice run earlier that day.” We may not know when or how preparation will be needed but we can follow our prophet’s guidance now.
Principle Number One: Create Places of Security
Just as Captain Moroni prepared Nephite cities for attack, we need to create places of physical and spiritual safety. Homes, stakes and temples can each serve as a refuge. They are places where you can teach truth (even unpopular truth) and ponder in “an environment of revelation.” Please note that President Nelson renewed invitations to “increase understandings of priesthood power and of temple covenants and blessings.”
· Moroni was assertive (Alma 43:26, 46:16,20). He took covenants and sacred ordinances seriously. Elder Hales said, “As Christians today, we have the opportunity to act straightway, immediately, and decisively, just as Peter and Andrew did, “they forsook their nets, and followed him.” In the book, Becoming Bulletproof, Evy Poumpouras, a Special Agent in the United States Secret Service, wrote about an experience where she was preparing for a flight. When offering her a seat, the ticket agent, truly contrite, apologized that of the two seats still available one was on an exit row. She asked herself, “Did I hear him right? There were only two seats left and one of them was the exit seat next to the emergency door, which had a window and extra leg room? Obvious no-brainer. ‘Yes, thank you. I’ll take the exit row, please.’” The ticket agent explained that most people don’t want the responsibility of being in that seat. She wrote, “There are times in our lives where we are quick to surrender power to someone or something else, to avoid the burden of responsibility. But by physically and mentally preparing yourself for a potential crisis, there is no reason why you can’t be equipped and capable in an emergency.” The principle can be applied spiritually as well. If we are consistently repenting and recommitting to our covenants we can act with confidence because we will have the Spirit guiding us (D&C 84:88).
· Moroni had a strategy (Alma 43:30). We too can have a strategy to defend what we hold most dear (Alma 44:5). Moroni fortified forts and cities with banks of earth, timbers and walls of stone (Alma 48:8-9, 49:14, Alma 50:6,10). He made sure his armies were adequately protected with breastplates, arm shields and head-plates (Alma 43:37,38). Let’s build strong defenses, doing all within our power to go into battle prepared.
Principle Number Two: Prepare Your Mind to Be Faithful to God
“Spiritual foundations must be solid” founded on faith in the Savior Jesus Christ. The Book of Mormon is our latter-day survival guide.
· Moroni armed and taught his people. He always pointed them to Christ and, like the sons of Mosiah, nourished them with things pertaining to righteousness (Alma 43:18, Alma 48:11-13, 17-18, Mosiah 23:18). “Most often it is the sacrifices we make to keep our covenants that sanctify us and make us holy” Elder D. Todd Christofferson quoting Sister Carol F. McConkie
· Moroni was willing to sacrifice for the safety his people (Alma 43:45-50). I confess that neither my dogs nor my horses are very well trained. I pay them little attention until they become intolerable. The truth is, I just don’t care enough about them to spend the time needed. They just aren’t worth the inconvenience. “He that hath ears to hear…”. Michael Peral in No Greater Joy On a day-to-day basis, what gets our attention? Are we “all in” in our covenants, our commitments, our callings? Sometimes we are in a situation where we are trying to help someone in our stewardship and can see clearly that they are in a dangerous situation. We need to recognize that especially if they don’t have the Spirit strongly with them, their minds may be muddled. In these situations, we may need to correct kindly and lovingly to lead them to safety. M. Joseph Brough from the YM General Presidency said, “Tolerating improper behavior (and I’m going to add in ourselves or others) without loving correction is false compassion and reinforces the common notion that wickedness might in fact be happiness.” Moroni held himself to a higher standard than what he expected of his people. We too should set clear, firm boundaries for ourselves and not do, listen to or watch anything we wouldn’t be comfortable having emulated by those we care for. When encountering especially difficult trials or temptation, we can take advantage of our monthly fast for added strength (Alma 45:1, Isa. 58:6).
· Moroni intervened early (Alma 50:32) when he first noticed seemingly small things that would “lay a foundation for that which would lead to the overthrow of their liberty.”
· Moroni was aware of both the intent and strongholds of the enemy (Alma 43:29,48). Who is the enemy? The scriptures teach, those who “come to us in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravening wolves”. There’s an incorrect message in our society that allure, money, looks, popularity and prestige will give us power. However, true strength comes from keeping God’s laws. The scriptures warn of false prophets and churches built up to get gain. A church could be seen as any location where people gather to worship. These “churches” could be interpreted as online forums, articles we read, videos we watch. Anyone or anything encouraging us to worship ideas, object or people other than The True and Living God. We can avoid deception by being aware of what we are allowing into our lives (Isaiah 5:20).
Principle Number Three: Never Stop Preparing
Captain Moroni even prepared when attacks were not happening. The future is glorious for people who prepare to be instruments in God’s hands, despite challenges.
· Moroni’s consistency exemplified his complete loyalty to God and devotion to God’s children (Alma 44:5). He lived what President Monson taught, “We serve God by serving his people.” If you want to read about an amazing experience of the power of preparation to serve in time of need, take a look at Elder Eyring’s experience with the Teton Dam Flood.
· Moroni knew that the people needed reminders of God and what He had done for them. In making the Title of Liberty he took an object considered ordinary and made it into a powerful symbol. I love this woman’s unspoken testimony of love, sacrifice and devotion. Video of Sister Holland (start video at 3:45 and end at 6:35)
We may feel we are weak or insignificant in our limited sphere of influence but can be reminded that God uses the weak things of the earth to bring about His marvelous work. He can use us. D&C 124:1
