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.

Enduring not Racing

"Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfast faith in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have Eternal Life."
-2 Nephi 31:20

Life is not a race, but a test of endurance.

One of my favorite memories was running the St. George Marathon.  It was 26.2 miles, and I ran it in 4:12:56.  It was my first marathon and it was quite an achievement, especially my time.  I spent a little more than a year training for this event, running 25-30+ miles a week including 5ks, 10ks, and an occasional half marathon.  It was long, it was hard at times, But it was fun, it was worth it and I am proud of that accomplishment.  Some things that helped me finish my marathon were: Pacing myself, Thinking Positively, Encouraging or serving others, and being Diligent to the end.  I like to see life as another marathon and these four ideas can help us in our "race" in life.

Pace (balance) yourself
To often people get caught up in life.  Everything is at a constant fast pace.  This will usually causes people to disregard certain things which would be of the most importance.  When you don't have a proper balance you will get frustrated and worn out.  A proper balance will include: Family, God, Prayer, and daily scripture study.  Properly balancing yourself will place peace in your life.  It also makes frustrations easier to handle.  (Mosiah 4:17) If I would have sprinted the whole marathon on what training I had, I most likely would have quit at mile 5.  When we are constantly hurrying about life and trying to get everything done at once our own "stamina" would eventually break and then we become bitterly frustrated.

Think Positively
In Matt. 5:12 it says, "Rejoice, and be exceeding(ly) glad: for great is your reward in heaven".  God doesn't want us to be gloomy and sad.  We have much to look forward to.  In a marathon negative thinking will slow even a well seasoned runner down.  I've noticed that when I'm feeling whiny I am really slow.  Life doesn't seem to have much of a purpose when I'm depressed.  When I'm happy I have a ton of energy and I can plow right through obstacles.  It is the same for everyone. So be happy!

Serve Others
I've been told the best way to shoo gloom out the door is by service.  When I serve I feel good.  When I ran my marathon, I would do everything I could to encourage the people I past to keep moving forward.  When I did that I forgot how sore I was and made a few friends on the way.  When we reach out a serve those around us we brighten our day and help lift up the heads that hang down.  I can guarantee that life will mean so much more when you use it to help others because "when you are in the service of your fellow beings you are in the service of your God" (Mosiah 2:17, Matt 25:40).  We can be God's hands on earth and help them find joy in their trials.

Be Diligent to the end!
There is a point where most runners hit a point where they just want to give up.  This is often called a wall because that's what it feels like; hitting a brick wall.  There will be times where we will hit a "wall" in our life.  Times where we feel like we can't go on.  Balance, Optimism, and service is a continual process.  There will be times where you hit a "wall" and you just want to say, "I've had enough, this is to hard."  Don't quit.  God has told us to "be strong and of good courage (Joshua 1:9." Life is not an eternal torment, it is to help us grow.  God gave us difficult experiences for our good, we just need to press forward with faith (D&C 121:7-8, 122:7).  When I crossed that finish line I felt like I had accomplished a great task, and it felt good.

The end is always there, and worth the trial.

Life is going to be hard, but who said it couldn't be worth it?  Just like I felt proud of my accomplishment after that 26.2 mile test of endurance we will feel great joy knowing that we came, saw and conquered our trials with high heads.  Our reward is a great reward, more than we can imagine.  All we have to do is press forward with faith and God will reward with eternal life.

To the peak of Angel's Landing

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, ye must watch and pray always, lest ye be tempted by the devil, and ye be lead away captive by him." - 3 Nephi 18:15

One of my favorite hiking spots in St. George is in Zion's National Park.  It is called "Angels Landing" and is the highest point in Zion's.  At one point of the hike you have to go over a thin trail head that is a straight drop on one side and a slide on the other.  The very ground you walk on is slippery sandstone.  Your only support is a chain that is chain that stretches along the trail.  This is a obstacle you must cross in order to make it to the top.  Many are deterred by this and do not reach the top.  When I made it to the top the first time I was deathly afraid of heights.  I couldn't get within ten feet of a ledge without turning white and running away.  My scout troop wanted to go to the top, and I did not.  One of my leaders offered me some words of encouragement and the troop had a group prayer before beginning our assent.  Almost instantly my worries were put aside.  Once we reached our major obstacle I had no fear at all.  I could look right over the cliff edge and have not an ounce of fear.  My heart still beats rapidly when I get close to the edge but it has never bothered me since that time.

One prayer was all I needed to help obtain the courage I needed to complete that hike.  I know it was not me.  I still hate heights but that one time I was never bothered by that fear.  What is so special about prayer?  Prayer is our two way communication with God.  In our journey through life God has given us a way to go through our trails with out being blind.  Just like on the trail to the peak of Angel's Landing, you are going to encounter trials and obstacles that will make you want to turn back.  All you have is a narrow pathway for you to travel on, and it appears that you may slip and fall.  BUT, you have a chain to hold you in place, you have prayer to hold to a solid and firm foundation so that you don't go anywhere.  Life will be challenging, you might slip at times, but you will not fall.  Because you have God to help keep you on the straight and narrow path YOU will make it to the top.  In Matt. 21:22 it reads, "whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall recieve." (see also 1 Nephi 15:11)  In our trials we can ask God for faith and give it to us.  He will only give us things that will benifit us.

Now I've saved the best for last.  When you reach the top of the peak you get to enjoy a spectacular view of most of the park.  The beauty of the canyons just soaks into you wit colors of red, green and blue.  When we reach our ultimate goal, despite our obstacles that try to turn us away, we get to enjoy the joy that comes from obedience to God's commandments and we have something that will last forever.  Eternal Happiness.  (D&C 121:7-8)  God has promised Eternal life when we diligently strive to obey his commandments and that is the most rewarding part of life.

Stay where it is safe.

What does it mean to be complacent?  The dictionary defines "complacency" as: self satisfaction especially when accompanied by unawareness of actual dangers, or deficiencies.  In other words it is being comfortable with your situation even when your actions and activities could harm your body or destroy your Moral Character.  When someone is complacent they don't recognize the changes they need to make which can help them become a better person.  They are slowly, but surely, tearing down themselves.  To show a example of really bad complacency let's go to Petersburg, Virginia, 1864.

Petersburg was a nasty and long battle during the American Civil War.  It resulted in becoming a long and tedious siege.  Since neither side could move, they dug trenches and holes to provide protection for themselves to fortify their position so that it was even harder for the other army to drive them away.  This also provide desperately needed cover from enemy sharpshooters.  Anyone who would expose themselves from the safety of their trench would be shot at and most likely hit by a sharpshooter.  As time went on, the men would get comfortable with the shots constantly whizzing past them and would eventually begin to leave the saftey of the trench.  Eventually some of them were walking on top of the fortifications just daring the sharpshooters on the other side of the field to shoot them.  Many men died from foolish actions like this. Why?  They were complacent.  They were too comfortrable with their situation that they did not recognize the dangers confronting them.  They were ignoring common sense which was telling them, stay where it was safe.

Now we are not going to be shot at by someone with a gun.  Satan will always try to get us to leave our place of safety; or in other words, get you to disregard the commandments of God which will protect you from harm.  He is trying to get you out just a little bit.  Just like a well trained sharpshooter needs just a little portion to be exposed to hit his intended target, Satan only needs a little crack in our defense to get in.  We don't become comfortable with which is wrong immediately.  But when we continue in degrading and lowly activity we become comfortable and it becomes harder and harder to leave.  It's like putting a frog in a pot of boiling water.  When put in a boiling pot of water a frog will immediately jump out.  But put it in a pot of cold water and turn up the heat, he will become complacent and boil to death.  When Satan has a strong hold on us it hurts us.  It's like being boiled, it just eats you from the inside out and places you in a miserable state.  However, there is a way out!  That way is repentance and using the Attonment of Jesus Christ.

Christ can raise us out of our troubles

When we recognize that we are not living how God would want us to live, so that we can be happy, we are pulled out of the boiling water and cleansed from sin. (2 Nephi 31:10, 12-13)  We can also recognize the pot of water before we are put in and can get away.  Frogs are safe in ponds right?  Imagen the commandments of God like a pond.  You can't boil a pond right?  Well Satan cannot influence you unless you leave behind God's commandments.  God can help us recognize what is wrong because he won't let anything happen to us that we can't handle (1 Cor. 10:13).  Praying to God and keeping a prayer in our heart will make it so Satan will never be able to pull us down (D&C 10:5).  He wouldn't be able to touch you with a 297 1/2 foot pole.  So what we need to remember is to avoid the appearance of evil, pray always and use the attonment in our lives.  Most importantly, don't get comfortrable with sin, stay away from it.           

Additional Scriptures:

Matt. 16:24

Mark 1:17-18

John 8:12
1 John 1:7
3 Nephi 9:21-22
D&C 38:22