Sunday, May 8, 2016

Alma 56:45-48 -- On Courage and Faith and Mothers

"And now I say unto you, my beloved brother Moroni, that never had I seen so great courage, nay, not amongst all the Nephites.
For as I had ever called them my sons (for they were all of them very young) even so they said unto me: Father, behold our God is with us, and he will not suffer that we should fall; then let us go forth; we would not slay our brethren if they would let us alone; therefore let us go, lest they should overpower the army of Antipus.
Now they never had fought, yet they did not fear death; and they did think more upon the liberty of their fathers than they did upon their lives; yea, they had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them.
And they rehearsed unto me the words of their mothers, saying: We do not doubt our mothers knew it."
Alma 56:45-48


This is part of the story of the 2000 stripling warriors.  I really like this part because these kids who had never fought were brave, willing to fight to protect their lands, people, and faith, and trusted that they would be okay, because their mothers had taught them faith.  And in the ensuing battle, that faith sustained them.  While many, many people died, not one of these 2000 died.  It was a miracle that can be attributed not only to God, but to their incredibly faithful mothers who taught them not to doubt.

I think that our faith can similarly sustain us.  We might not be in a battle or have to defend our homes against an army... but sometimes we do have to defend our homes against the pervasive influence of the world. :)  And maybe our faith isn't going to guarantee that we escape death in battle, but it can guarantee that we survive the challenges and trials of life, and come out okay.  We can know, and trust in God, that no matter what comes, we will be okay, and able to handle it.  Even in the worst times, we can have that assurance that God will never abandon us.  Today, let's believe this message, often delivered by our mothers... and let's pass it on to others, including our children.  If we do not doubt, God will deliver us.  Faith, and courage, and "on, on to the victory!" (D&C 128:22).

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