Hales - Stand Strong in Holy Places - April 2013

Elder Hales speaks to the priesthood of the church.  He talks about our role in life and the example we are to the world of following the Savior in the world we live in.

• As bearers of the priesthood, we have the responsibility to stand strong with a shield of faith against the fiery darts of the adversary. We are role models to the world, protecting God-given, inalienable rights and freedoms. We stand in defense of our homes and our families.

He speaks about temptations and how we can resist temptation by putting on the armor of God.

• Today temptation finds you! Please remember that! Satan desires to have you, and “sin lieth at the door.” How will you resist his aggressive tactics? Put on the whole armor of God.

He speaks of the need for good friends to be part of our lives.  We need friends that make it easier to keep the commandments and not take us away from the gospel truth.

• A true friend doesn’t ask us to choose between the gospel and his or her friendship. A true friend strengthens us to stay on the strait and narrow path.

Being on the gospel path provides us protection.  Elder Hales shares that the ways of the world lead us to captivity and take away our freedom to choose.  Living the gospel brings light and happiness in a world that is dark and lonely.

• Staying on the gospel path of covenants, commandments, and ordinances protects us and prepares us to do God’s work in this world. When we obey the Word of Wisdom, our agency is protected from addictions to substances like alcohol, drugs, and tobacco. As we pay our tithing, study the scriptures, receive baptism and confirmation, live for the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost, partake of the sacrament worthily, obey the law of chastity, prepare for and receive the Melchizedek Priesthood, and make sacred covenants in the temple, then we are prepared to serve.
  
• In the temple we are prepared to and promise to live the law of consecration. Able young men begin to live this law by seeking a mission call—giving a tithing of the first years of their lives in the full-time service of the Lord. That sacrifice strengthens them to go forward to the highest covenant in life—for many, it will be to be sealed in the temple and begin an eternal family.

Elder Hales gives us some ideas on how to use our agency to get us to a place where we can find eternal joy in this life.  The spirit will be a greater part of our lives as we do these things.

• Use your agency to develop yourself personally. As you discover your gifts and talents, remember that parents and mentors may assist you, but you must let the Spirit guide you. Choose and act for yourself. Be motivated from within. Make a plan for your life, including education or vocational training. Explore interests and skills. Work and become self-reliant. Set goals, overcome mistakes, gain experience, and finish what you begin.

But even if we do the right things, that doesn't mean we won't have trials and troubles in our lives.  We need to remember that the Savior did the right things are still suffered.  We are no different at moments in our lives.

• Sometimes we become the lightning rod, and we must “take the heat” for holding fast to God’s standards and doing His work. I testify that we need not be afraid if we are grounded in His doctrine. We may experience misunderstanding, criticism, and even false accusation, but we are never alone. Our Savior was “despised and rejected of men.” It is our sacred privilege to stand with Him!

He provides exampels from the scriptures of great men who stood with Christ even in great adversity.

• Be assured that all of the prophets before us stood strong in their day:
  
  • Nephi performed the curious work of the Lord despite the buffetings of Satan and the persecutions of Laman and Lemuel, his brothers.
    
  • Abinadi testified of Christ in the face of suspicion, scorn, and certain death.
  • The 2,000 stripling warriors defended their families against those who despised gospel values.
    
  • Moroni raised the title of liberty to preserve his people’s families and religious freedom.
  • Samuel stood on a wall and prophesied of Christ’s coming while rocks and arrows were assailing him.
  • The Prophet Joseph Smith restored the Savior’s gospel, sealing his testimony with his blood.
  • And Mormon pioneers stood strong in the face of withering opposition and hardship, following a prophet in their great trek and settlement of the West.
• These great servants and Saints of God were able to stand strong because they stood with the Savior.

He concludes with asking us to consider where the Savior stood and how it is a great privilege to stand with the Savior in our day.

• Consider how the Savior stood strong:
  • As a young man, Jesus faithfully went about His Father’s business, preaching the gospel to the learned men in the temple. Throughout His ministry, He accomplished the work of the priesthood —teaching, healing, serving, and blessing and lifting others. When appropriate, He boldly stood against evil, even cleansing the temple. He also stood for truth—whether with words or with dignified silence. When the chief priests accused Him before Caiaphas, Jesus wisely and courageously refused to respond to untruth and held His peace.
    
  • In the Garden of Gethsemane, our Savior and Redeemer did not shrink from drinking the bitter cup of the Atonement. And on the cross He suffered again to do His Father’s will, until at last He could say, “It is finished.” He had endured to the end. In response to the Savior’s perfect obedience in standing strong, our Heavenly Father declared, “Behold my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified my name.”
    

We need to remember that trials in our lives lead us to greater things eternally.  When trials come into our lives, we need to remember to look for the message of the Savior in our trials.  Each heartache, problem, and temptation, allows us to make decisions to either draw closer to the Savior or away from the Savior.  It is our obligation to ask for the Saviors help through our trials and come closer to Him as a result.