Great Battle

Families are strengthened when individuals in them accept that we are all involved in a great battle and must take proper action to be on the right side. This intense battle is between good and evil, and it includes arguments and fights in homes, misunderstandings and problems between religious groups, and skirmishes among conservatives, liberals and progressives as well as wars between nations.

According to Gordon B. Hinckley, the late prophet and president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, “We are involved in an intense battle. It is a battle between right and wrong, between truth and error, between the design of the Almighty on the one hand and that of Lucifer on the other. For that reason, we desperately need moral men and women who stand on principle, to be involved in the political process. Otherwise, we abdicate power to those whose designs are almost entirely selfish” (Stand A Little Taller, 15).

We must get involved in the political affairs of our nation. We must be among the groups that choose those who will represent us in our state legislatures, in Congress, and in the White House. We must find those moral men and women who will stand on principle, and then we must support them and protect their backs.

The Apostle Paul explained how to fight this battle: “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:11-12).

Paul also explains that there are four parts of our bodies that are the most vulnerable to the powers of darkness: our loins, our heart, our feet, and our head. He told us that we should have our loins “girt about with truth.” The loins typify virtue and chastity. When we know the truth about the importance of living the law of chastity, we will be proactive about protecting our virtue. We must understand that the ability to procreate is a power of gods given to mankind for a few short years in order for us to learn to use those powers wisely.

Paul tells us that we should protect our heart with a “breastplate of righteousness.” The heart typifies our conduct. When we know the truth we have a measure to judge between right and wrong. We best protect our conduct by guarding our feelings and attitudes.

Paul also tells us to make sure that our feet are “shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.” Feet typify our goals and objectives of life; therefore, we can understand that we must guard our goals and the direction we head. By learning the gospel of Jesus Christ, we can set better goals and head in the right direction.

Paul then tells us that we should “take the helmet of salvation” to protect our head, which typifies our thoughts. We can guard our thoughts better when we have a good understanding of Heavenly Father’s plan of salvation, keep an eternal point of view, and look at the big picture.

Paul recommends that we carry “the shield of faith” to “ quench the fiery darts of the wicked” because faith in God will protect us even if part of our armor fails. He also tells us to carry “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

I find it very interesting that the only weapon is the word of God, which is found in the scriptures and in revelation. Without the word of God, our faith will grow weak. I also find it interesting that there is no armor to protect us from the rear. Evidently, this is a battle that must be fought face to face and cannot be won by running from it.

Jesus Christ spent forty days in the wilderness while He put on His armor. He used the scriptures and prayer to protect Himself against Satan. Families are strengthened when they prepare for this intense battle by putting on the whole armor of God.