Fortify Your Family
This past week I enjoyed seeing pictures of many of our friends spending time with family. Thanksgiving is just one of the traditions our family celebrates in which we have the opportunity to spend quality time together. Time that is rich in sharing our faith, strengthening family bonds and creating lasting memories.
I have often wondered what the members of the Church—who in 1980 heard the prophet speak of the gathering evil around us—thought that evil might be. Could we have imagined the impact of satellite television, the Internet, and personal portable communication? Certainly these things in and of themselves are not evil. But in the hands of wicked persons they can become tools of mass destruction. Pornography is but one example of how a useful technology can be misused for evil purposes. Filth of this type has never been so widely spread. It can, with the click of a button, invade your workplace, your home and even your smart phone.
To make matters even worse, there are individuals and corporations who thrive on spreading these evil practices. Satan and his followers work in concert with them to devise ways to lure unsuspecting souls into enemy territory, away from their places of refuge and safety. The tactics of the adversary are constantly changing, evolving new forms of so called entertainment, to ensnare both young and old alike in time and talent wasting habits as well as destructive trends.
The family unit is one of the primary places of refuge, a place where we can find shelter and protection from the storms of our day. So naturally the destruction of the family, with it’s traditional and moral foundation are at the forefront of Satan’s efforts.
Elder M. Russell Ballard warned in 2003, “Let me say again that the family is the main target of evil’s attack and must therefore be the main point of our protection and defense. As I said once before, when you stop and think about it from a diabolically tactical point of view, fighting the family makes sense to Satan. When he wants to disrupt the work of the Lord, he doesn’t poison the world’s peanut butter supply, thus bringing the Church’s missionary system to its collective knees. He doesn’t send a plague of laryngitis to afflict the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. He doesn’t legislate against green Jell-O and casseroles. When evil wants to strike out and disrupt the essence of God’s work, it attacks the family. It does so by attempting to disregard the law of chastity, to confuse gender, to desensitize violence, to make crude and blasphemous language the norm, and to make immoral and deviant behavior seem like the rule rather than the exception” (“Let Our Voices Be Heard,” Ensign, November 2003, p. 16).
As the forces of Satan become more numerous and they gain confidence in their perceived advantage, we too must strengthen our forces. Otherwise we will be overrun, and our families will be spoiled—ruined by worldly influences. As you read this post, ponder ways in which you can strengthen your family. Pay special attention to the divinely inspired remedies which are unique for our day.
Elder Harold B. Lee said: “Using words that are common to modern warfare, we might say that there are in the world today fifth columnists [spies] who are seeking to infiltrate the defenses of every one of us, and when we lower those defenses, we open avenues to an invasion of our souls. There are carefully charted on the maps of opposition the weak spots in every one of us. They are known to the forces of evil, and just the moment we lower the defense of any one of those ports, that becomes the D Day of our invasion, and our souls are in danger” (in Conference Report, October 1949, p. 56).
Amalickiah, a Nephite who sought to be king of the Nephites, joined forces with the Lamanites and through treachery became king of the Lamanites. He appointed Zoramites, who had also hardened their hearts and dissented to the Lamanites, as chief captains over the army. He did this because they, like the fifth columnists spoken of by Elder Harold B. Lee, knew the weak points in the Nephites’ fortifications: “And thus he did appoint chief captains of the Zoramites, they being the most acquainted with the strength of the Nephites, and their places of resort, and the weakest parts of their cities” (Alma 48:5).
Next Amalickiah sent a large army of Lamanites to destroy the Nephites. The Lamanites felt confident that they could slaughter and carry away the Nephites “because of the greatness of their numbers, yea, they supposed that they should be privileged to come upon them as they had hitherto done; yea and they had also prepared themselves with shields, and with breastplates; and they had also prepared themselves with garments of skins, yea, very thick garments to cover their nakedness” (Alma 49:6).
Satan, like Amalickiah, has sent an innumerable host to defeat the children of God on Earth. And these spirits, who kept not their first estate, know of our weaknesses. However, if we humble ourselves, we too will see clearly our weaknesses. If we have faith and are obedient to both God and His appointed leaders, He will help fortify us so that even our weak points will become strong:
“My grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.”
Captain Moroni was a man of God who, through obedience to God’s commandments and personal inspiration, was able to identify the weak points in the Nephite defenses and strengthen them. He did three things to prepare the Nephites.
First, he strengthened the people spiritually: “Moroni . . . had been preparing the minds of the people to be faithful unto the Lord their God” (Alma 48:7). Our faith in any principle of the gospel is strengthened when we obey the related commandment or instruction from the living prophets.
Second, he built defensive strongholds for his armies, including a wall of stone to protect them physically: “Yea, he had been strengthening the armies of the Nephites, and erecting small forts, or places of resort; throwing up banks of earth round about to enclose his armies, and also building walls of stone to encircle them about, round about their cities and the borders of their lands; yea, all round about the land” (Alma 48:8).
Alma spoke of “places of resort.” Places where his people would be safe or protected from the invading Lamanites. Ask yourself, in today’s world where are those places of resort? The answer should include such sacred places as our homes, chapels and temples. Consider this question, what can you do to make your home a place of resort and to fortify your family against the hordes of spiritual enemies that will surely come?
The manner of Moroni’s preparation was different from any that had previously been found in the Americas. It was truly inspired of the Lord. “They [the Nephites] were prepared for them [the Lamanites], in a manner which never had been known among the children of Lehi” (Alma 49:8).
Today’s prophets are preparing us in ways that are unfamiliar to the world. Personal religious practices including daily scripture study, daily family prayer and regular temple attendance along with programs such as family home evening, seminary and institute are just a few of the many ways to prepare ourselves and our families. Full participation in inspired organizations within the church such as priesthood quorums, Relief Society, the Primary and Young Men and Young Women’s programs are also integral adjuncts to fortifying our homes.
Elder Boyd K. Packard said, “The defenses of the home and the family are greatly reinforced when the wife and mother and daughters belong to Relief Society” (“The Relief Society,” Ensign, May 1998, p. 73).
“Following the counsel of prophets and apostles will help us fortify and protect our families from the attacks of Satan.”
This preparation involves all who are members of the Church. Each ward, each family and each member of your family must be actively engaged in fortifying your defenses against Satan. In Alma 49:13 we read, “Moroni had fortified, or had built forts of security, for every city in all the land round about.”
Third, he evaluated the fortifications and assessed each one individually; then he strengthened them accordingly. “In their weakest fortifications he did place the greater number of men; and thus he did fortify and strengthen the land which was possessed by the Nephites” (Alma 48:9).
This final example of Moroni’s inspired preparation has special meaning to parents and leaders alike. As parents, stewards of our families, it is essential for us to develop a personal relationship with each family member. Through personal interviews and close observation of daily activity, you will be able to assess the strengths and weaknesses of your individual family members and better fortify and strengthen them against Satan’s attacks. And like Moroni you can send timely reinforcements—or your strongest members—to help those who are weak, vulnerable or struggling.
As leaders, Heavenly Father’s earthly stewards for His earthly kingdom, it becomes necessary to broaden this application and strengthen every family, every ward and every stake so that each can stand when attacked. Clearly this difficult task can be facilitated in part by proper home and visiting teaching. With the proper preparation, regular assessments and appropriate improvements, even the weakest among us can become strong.
Two additional important features of the Nephite fortifications were: (1) the walls around the city were so steep that the Lamanites could only gain access into the city through a narrow entrance, and (2) the entrance was narrow so that only a few persons could pass through it at the same time.
Because of these two strategies the Lamanites were forced to attack only a few at a time, thus taking away their numerical advantage. This allowed the Nephites to place their strongest men in the entryway, protecting the weaker members of their city. “Now behold, the Lamanites could not get into their forts of security by any other way save by the entrance, because of the highness of the bank which had been thrown up, and the depth of the ditch which had been dug round about, save it were by the entrance. . . .
“Thus they were prepared, yea, a body of their strongest men, with their swords and their slings, to smite down all who should attempt to come into their place of security by the place of entrance” (Alma 49:18-20).
Several years ago during a fast and testimony meeting I was pondering some very challenging circumstances which our family was experiencing. I was feeling a little overwhelmed, as if my wife and I were the only ones standing at the entrance of our family’s fortification. We felt like the constant attacks of the world were wearing us down.
The distinct impression came into my mind that we were not alone. Then a parade of names and faces filled my thoughts. I received a testimony that the strong men at the entrance to our place of refuge included other family members (grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins), bishops, Young Women and Young Men leaders, and other caring members of our ward family.
Following that insight, I have been careful to observe and more deeply appreciate the help which we have received in keeping our family from being overrun by the innumerable host of the adversary. At the same time came the understanding that for others in our ward, we may be called to take a turn providing protection at the narrow entrance leading to their places of security (their homes). This call could come in the form of a formal calling (such as a youth adviser, Sunday school instructor, or Scoutmaster) or an assignment (home teaching, visiting teaching).
“By friendshipping, fellowshipping and being good examples, we can become as the strong men at the gates of our friends and neighbors.”
The battle for the hearts and souls of men, women and children is real. As we work diligently to be like Moroni and prepare ourselves according to the counsel received from our living prophets and leaders, we will have the power to overcome the adversary: “Thus the Nephites had all power over their enemies” (Alma 49:23).
That is not to say that you won’t receive injuries in the battle, some of which may be very serious, but you will not be wounded beyond your ability to recover. In fact you will not only recover, but if you will give heed to your leaders and are diligent in keeping the covenants which you have made with the Lord, you will prosper, the gospel will spread and you will enjoy peace. “Yea, and there was continual peace among them, and exceeding great prosperity in the church because of the heed and diligence which they gave unto the word of God” (Alma 49:30).
After many years of war Moroni observed that “it was easier to keep the city from falling into the hands of the Lamanites than to retake it from them” (Alma 59:9). In other words it is always easier to prepare and prevent, than to repair and repent. It is always more difficult to reclaim a son or a daughter who is lost than to do whatever it takes to keep from losing them in the first place.