The Armor of God

When I was just entering into high school I remember a talk given by President Hinckley about scripture study. He passed by the usual topic of the importance of reading the scriptures, shared some of the stories we all know and love, and everything appeared to be just a normal run-of-the-mill talk on scriptures. Unfortunately, when talks go that direction I have a bad habit of tuning out the speaker and start thinking about other things, but luckily enough for me President Hinckley then said a phrase that has stuck with me to this day. I can’t find the talk he gave today but the words were similar to this; “I promise that if you read the Book of Mormon daily, you will be given the strength to resist any temptation from the adversary that may come upon you.”

To me there are 8 or so life changing events that remove us from one comfort zone and place us in another.  For example birth if an obvious one, then starting school for the first time, getting baptized, receiving the priesthood, starting high school, leaving home for the first time to either college or a mission, getting married, and starting a family. Each time one of these events pass by the need to fit in, to find yourself, and change to fit the new environment grows. We can no longer be the old person that fit in with the previous life section. I feel that Satan knows this all too well, and attacks harder at those who are in these transition stages.

At the time of President Hinckley’s talk I was in one of those transition stages just entering high school. I needed a way for ensure my testimony wouldn’t falter, a way to enter that stage of life confident and focused on making it to the next without stumbling. His promise to me and to all was my insurance plan. As long as I did my part to read the Book of Mormon every single day Satan would not be able to overtake me with temptations. High school introduces us to a new world of temptations, with drugs, alcohol, sex, language, disobedience, and much more all for that security of fitting in with the rest of the crowd. I knew I didn’t want to have any part in those things but also knew my weaknesses. I loved to fit in and have always had a tough time saying no when placed in such circumstances.

I leaned on the Prophets promise and read The Book of Mormon daily without fail. When I stepped foot in the MTC I could honestly say that I had not missed one day of reading The Book of Mormon since his talk. Some days all I could muster was one verse, but I would do at least that to maintain obedience to the promise. Not reading the scriptures became as needed as eating and sleeping. I can remember lying awake some nights having not read the scriptures for the day and having guilt overwhelm me until I would break down and read. At that point I came to realize two things. First, The Book of Mormon was true. How could a false book bring so much emotion to me if it weren’t from God? Secondly, President Hinckley’s promise also rang true. I knew I had to read if I wanted to stay clean from sin. I feared God and that fear led me to follow his words.

Throughout the four years of high school I can remember several situations where I was in the oven of temptation, having choices right before me to fall away from the teaching of the Savior, but each time I felt strength greater than my own remove me from harm and reward me for my preparedness in reading daily. I know that God keeps his end of promises, and he rewards obedience. This gospel is true and The Book of Mormon protects us from the natural man.