Battlements / Parapet Wall / Crenellations
A defensive low wall (chest height to head height) around the top of a castle wall or tower, in which gaps occurred at regular intervals, to allow arrows or other projectiles to be fired while also protecting the defenders behind the wall.
The alternating pattern of walls and gaps enabled a defender to hide behind the raised solid portion of the wall, known as merlons, and then quickly move in front of the gap portion, known as crenels or embrasures (not to be confused with the embrasures behind an arrow loop), to fire arrows at attackers.
Doctrine and Covenants 109
22: armed with the power
25: no weapon shall prosper
26: no combination of wickedness shall have power to rise up and prevail over thy people
28: if they smite this people, thou wilt smite them; thou will fight for thy people as thou didst in the day of battle, that they may be delivered from the hands of their enemies
32: plead before thee for a full and complete deliverance
33: break it off, O Lord; break it off from the necks of thy servants, by they power, that we may rise up...and do thy work
These are also seen along the wall in the old city of Jerusalem.
Not only do temple covenants serve as a defense but also enable covenants keepers to fight for what is right in the spiritual battles of life.
Blood and sins of this generations- sins passed down from environment and family, hereditary weaknesses
Elder Bruce R. McKonkie: "The dead are not really dead."
The. people that knew the prophet Joseph the best loved him the most.
The Church Handbook
3.4.1.2
Order to God’s Work
Priesthood keys ensure that God’s work of salvation and exaltation is accomplished in an orderly manner (see Doctrine and Covenants 42:11; 132:8). Those who hold priesthood keys direct the Lord’s work within their areas of responsibility.
Joseph, the Man and the Prophet
Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles "Like most other leaders on the frontier, Joseph Smith did not shrink from physical confrontation, and he had the courage of a lion. Once he was kidnapped by two men who held cocked pistols to his head and repeatedly threatened to shoot him if he moved a muscle. The Prophet endured these threats for a time and then snapped back, “Shoot away; I have endured so much persecution and oppression that I am sick of life; why then don’t you shoot, and have done with it, instead of talking so much about it?” (in Journal of Discourses,2:167; see also History of the Church, 5:440).
Recently there was a church shooting in Michigan. I was impressed with the heroism of those who were there. Here are two examples.
https://latterdaysaintmag.com/an-er-doctor-ran-into-a-burning-grand-blanc-church-again-and-again/
When the shots start firing, what will I do? Prepare and practice beforehand. Like in the MTC or role playing with kids at home. Joseph Smith's example above. Dad saying "You aren't prepared to live until you're prepared to die." Being right with God.
Verses 8 and 15 of 109 refer to being prepared
Being made clean. William Smith actually asked to be released from being an apostle because it was so much work to make the people holy. They made every effort to be clean in thought, acts and physically. Even washing all their clothes. Just think of how much planning it takes to get a family to church dressed in clean, ironed clothes. Then relate that to being spiritually clean.
Verse 21 acknowledges the need for repentance even after we have striven to be clean.
And when thy people transgress, any of them, they may speedily repent and return unto thee, and find favor in thy sight, and be restored to the blessings which thou hast ordained to be poured our upon those who shall reverence thee in thy house.
Yes, repentance is needed but He has "bastanche poder", more than enough power to make me holy.
A charge is a responsibility of someone or something.
I wish to testify that there are forces which will save us from the ever-increasing lying, disorder, violence, chaos, destruction, misery, and deceit that are upon the earth. Those saving forces are the everlasting principles, covenants, and ordinances of the eternal gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. These same principles, covenants, and ordinances are coupled with the rights and powers of the priesthood of Almighty God. We of this church are the possessors and custodians of these commanding powers which can and do roll back much of the power of Satan on the earth. We believe that we hold these mighty forces in trust for all who have died, for all who are now living, and for the yet unborn. -Elder James E. Faust
