Fortification for the Soul (Part 1: Walls and Towers)

Fortification is a system of defence that has been prepared for an attack.  Through out the history of the world, men have made different fortifications to protect their homes and country from an attack from an enemy.  It has gone from simple wood walls, to majestic castles, to high tech radar that spots enemy movements long before the attack is made.  It is necessary for nations to be fortified in order to protect their rights and liberties.  The same thing applies to us.  We need spiritual fortification in order to protect ourselves from Satan and his lies.  If we are not fortified he can break through to our hearts and put us under his control.  I have here step-by-step instructions how you can built an unbeatable defence that Satan cannot punch through.

(Alma 48:11-13, 17)

In the Book of Mormon, in Alma Chapter 50, verses 1-6, it talks about about a man who fortified his people when their security was endangered.  His name was Captain Moroni.  He was the supreme commander of the Nephite Armies.  He came around during a time of great crisis.  The enemies of the Nephite Nation were invading their borders, jeopardizing their dearly treasured freedoms. The Lamanite Nations, their enemies, wanted to destroy all Nephites.  Naturally you'd expect tons of preparation immediately taking place once the attacks began.  However, they did not start building weapons and fortifying their cities once the Lamanite armies began marching into their county.  They were already prepared long before the attacks were made.  Verse one says that they never stop preparing for war and making fortifications.  It doesn't say, "and we began to fortify our towns and training our armies once the Lamanites attacked."  Once the Lamanites attacked there was no time left for preparing their fortifications.  Therefore they needed to be ready NOW, not later.  How do we get ready Now? Let's read on to find out what Moroni did to prepare now, then we will apply it to ourselves so that we are fortified and ready.

First he built "ridges/heaps of earth" around each city (verses 2-3).  He set up walls to slow the enemy down so they could not enter the city as fast.  We can build walls around us in order to protect ourselves.  We set up strong standards or morals to help keep unwanted influences out.  It's a matter of decision, it's like saying, "I am never going to drink alcohol."  When we decide to choose good over bad it adds stones to our walls.  When we are so set on choosing good, we have so high a walls that Satan cannot reach us.  When offered that drink, you will promptly refuse it and avoid the nasty consequence that follows.  The same can be said for Pornography, drugs and other vices.  Make sure your standards are strong stone walls, not simple wood walls that can be burned down.  Those are called, "maybe I won't choose bad". It's not firm.

Once the walls were built Moroni constructed towers.  Why would he want towers? Are not walls good enough?  Towers were built as a early warning system, long before airplanes and satellites were built.  Sending patrols of men were not good enough either.  In the case of a surprise attack, these men could not warn the city in time.  Towers could see the attack before it happens and give a warning just in time to meet the attack.  Since people in towers can see more than someone on the ground, they are able to know what is coming.  Our towers are people who we can trust that can guide us in life from a source of truth.  It can be parents, teachers, friends, or people of inspiration.  You wouldn't let a drunk or a lazy bum to stand guard in your towers now would you?  We should be very careful who we choose to follow.  There are many people who can lead you down "false paths" and into the land of shame and misery.  Christ has said, "By their fruits ye shall know them." (Matt. 7:20) If their actions and philosophy are not in harmony with God's commandments and will not help you become a better person, then it wouldn't be a smart idea to follow them.  God is usaully the best one to have in our towers.  Look to him, and Christ as often as you can.  He will never let you down.

(See "Fortification for the Soul (Part 2: Weapons) to have further instruction for you defence)

The Sculptor

". . . Faith is things which are hoped for and not seen . . . for ye recieve no witness until after the trial of your faith." (Ether 12:6)
"My Son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment . . . And then if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high . . ." (D&C 121:7-8)
" . . . know thou, my Son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good." (D&C 122:7)

There was a certain Sculptor, whose name was Jacob, who was the creator of wonderful pieces of art.  He took great care in creating these sculptures.  Every day he would sit down and shape and mold a lump of clay and turn it into a beautiful statue or figurine.  One day Jacob set his clay on the table and began to mold and shape this mound of clay.  As the clay began to dry and harden he would moisten it with water so that it was easier to mold.  As time went on this sculpture was refusing to be shaped any more.  The molding and shaping was very uncomfortable to the sculpture and it hurt to be changed so often.  As it refused to budge Jacob applied more water only to find it just as difficult to shape it. When Jacob finally shaped the sculpture the way he liked, he set it in the furnace solidify it.  In the fires the sculpture melted and shape itself into a hideous and deformed shape.  The fires were too hot and the sculpture bent under the pressure.  When Jacob took it out he looked over it, and with sorrow in his heart, threw it out with the garbage.

The next day Jacob put a new lump of clay on the table and once again began to shape, and mold.  When it began to dry and harden he would moisten it with water. As time went on the sculpture cried out, "Master, my afflictions are great and my only relief is the water that I only receive occasionally.  Why must I endure so much?"  Jacob paused at his work and replied, "My friend, what I have done is necessary for you to be a wonderful piece of art.  I know your trials are hard but I know it will bring you the most joy." The sculpture agreed and allowed Jacob to do what he found necessary.  When Jacob was finished he carried the sculpture in the furnace to be made solid.  "My friend," said Jacob, "This will be your most trying time, but it will also bring you the greatest joy.  It will be but a small moment, but will be for your good."  The door was closed and the fires were set.  The pressure was strong and the sculpture was tempted to bend, but he trusted in the word of Jacob and held firm and undaunted.  The fires died and Jacob pulled out the sculpture and set it on the table.  He looked over it and looked pleased.

Jacob then carried the sculpture to a great mansion and set him down.  Before leaving Jacob said, "You have been strong in your trials and now you may enjoy peace and in Paradise."  As Jacob left the sculpture looked into a mirror and saw his reflection.  The sculpture was a wonderful, and perfect, work of art.

Checkmate!

"Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them that are expedient unto man.  And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life through the great mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself." - 2 Nephi 2:27 (see also Gal. 5:1)

I enjoy playing an occasional game of chess.  One thing I really like about it is you're always making choices.  Some are not so good.  Every choice you make decides the outcome of the game.  Careful consideration must be taken with each move.  Because your opponent has the same object as you, there will be opposition in your attempts to win.  Once you make too many poor choices you will be placed in checkmate.  However, if you are careful in your choices, you will win the game.

Imagine your life like a chess board.  You're making decisions every day.  Being able to make choices is a wonderful gift called "Free Agency", the ability to choose for ourselves.  But just because you can decide what you want to do doesn't mean you will always be right.  Just like in a chess game good decisions bring us closer to winning, good decisions in life bring us closer to happiness.  We are all trying to find happiness, just like in chess we are trying to put the opposing king in checkmate.  When we make a choice in life we are held responsible for the choices we make.  We can't blame others or certain events for making us.  We are our own masters, but if we allow someone to make our choices for us, then we are surrendering our freedom to choose.  You might as well let your opponent control your pieces and say nothing about what he does.

The decisions we make shape who we are and who we are decides our futures.  Satan is going to try and steal our freedom to choose by tempting us.  He is positioning is pieces to where he can checkmate your king.  When you refuse to listen to the lies he tries to feed you, you're counter moving him and exposing his king.  When we follow Christ he gives us strength and direction to where Satan has no say in our lives.  When we follow Christ with all our hearts Satan has no more power over us and he is put in Checkmate. (see Helaman 5:12, John 8:12)

Vice, Your Wolves

"Do not suppose, because it has been spoken concerning restoration, that ye shall be restored from sin to happiness. Behold, I say unto you, wickedness was never happiness." - Alma 41:10

In my travels I have talked to hunters and farmers and their most common hate are Wolves.  Why?  Wolves are predators and in order to help preserve the pack they must kill enough animals to feed the pack.  They do not have limits and are constantly hungry.  How does this effect these men?  Wolves will make short work of sheep, cows, horses and dogs in order to eat.  That's why farmers hate wolves.  Hunters hate them because they destroy the game population.  What could be just a pack of five could soon be a pack of fifteen, really fast.  These are pack animals and the more numbers they have, the more work they can accomplish.  I hate to say this but, there doesn't seem to be very much good said about wolves.  Wolves are often used as descriptions for bad things.

Now tell me, what is a vice? A few dictionary definitions would be: an immoral or evil habit or practice, depraved or degrading behavior, or a particular form of depravity.  A vice is destructive as you can see, but what's this have to do with wolves?  Just like wolves will ravage and destroy the country side, a vice of any kind (pornography, excessive drinking, etc.) will ruin and eventually destroy your character.  Before you start throwing rocks at me I want to explain I am not calling for the blood of every wolf I see.  I am making a comparison.  Have you ever watched someone who has allowed vices take over their life?  It's like a horror movie, a hideous transformation takes place as their soul is eaten away by the pitiful behavior that they embraced.

Why would someone want to embrace any kind of destructive behavior?  From my understanding is they either want to fit in with their group of friends or they are trying to find happiness.  Most often they don't find happiness.  It can bring temporary pleasure, but lasting happiness is not there.  Why?  President Ezra Taft Benson said, "You cannot do wrong and feel right. It is Impossible!"  Simply, you cannot embrace a vice without feeling the pain that follows with it.

One small vice can grow to a bigger one and even invite other vices to follow him.  That one will multiply into thousands if not stopped.  However there is a way to escape the dreaded seen before you.  It is not closing the blog page and leaving, but changing yourself.  In 1st Cor. 10:13 says, "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."  Look at the picture to your left, things are looking pretty bleak over there for that Buffalo.  God will never allow that to happen so long as you are willing to change.

The Solution: (Repentance)

Christ can help us overcome our struggles,
we just have to reach out to him.

How do you repent?  First, you have to recognize the vice which you have invited into your life.  You cannot fix something that isn't broken.  Next you have to want to change, you need to feel remorse.  Remorse is feeling sorry for what you have done; not because you were caught but because you have displeased God.  It will not change for you, you need to take action NOW.  You'll need to admit your wrong and take responsibility for your actions.  It isn't enough to admit your wrong.  Not only that you need to confess to God and take action to become better.  Action is abandoning the vice.  This may include avoiding certain areas, friends or throwing out certain items in you home to remove your temptations.  Do not procrastinate by saying I'll take care of it tomorrow.  That is rationalization, you would just be making excuses.  The faster you get rid of your temptations the less of a hold it has in staying.  If damages have been made you will need to make restitution, or amends.  That will restore any trust that has been lost.  The last thing you will need to do is continue doing good and avoiding evil.  This is the process of repentance, it doesn't stop there but continues.  We can always become better, and repentance allows that.  Repentance requires faith in Jesus Christ.  When we have fully repented of our sins he takes our burdens upon him and we are able to progress.  So quite simply, a vice or sin will stop your progression.  Repentance clears the way to Eternal Life.