Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. (Ephesians 6:10-12)
I’ve been thinking about the Apostle Paul’s counsel a lot these last few days. I can’t help but reflect on how much these words apply to all of us today. I want to talk for a moment s
pecifically with those of you my brothers and sisters in the military.
To all of you who are serving in the military, may I first express my thanks and my love. I pray that our Lord will bless you and your families abundantly during the Christmas season. If you are deployed I pray that you will return safely to your loved ones soon.
As soldiers and followers of Christ, I know that you often find yourselves in situations where your beliefs and values are constantly challenged. One such situation is the language that is often spoken around you. Swearing appears to be commonplace in many military circles. Whether you are a Mormon (or member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) or a member of another faith, swearing or foul language is not the language of one who is strong in the Lord. Do not be a party to it. The language that we speak, or listen to, does affect us.
Put on the whole armor of God. When our kids were younger, they used to love putting on my husband’s protective gear whenever he brought them home. They looked so funny because all that stuff covered them pretty much from head to toe. In a real situation, all of you would don this same gear in order to protect yourselves from expected dangers and attacks. You wouldn’t dare to step out without this armor. Just as you don a metal armor to protect you from physical harm, so too should you put on the whole armor of God in order to withstand temptations and other workings of the devil. Unlike your metal armor that you take off when the physical danger is averted, the whole armor of God is something that you must never take off. You must wear it always for this enemy never rests or gives up.
What is the whole armor of God and how do we put it on? Elder Russell M. Ballard (of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles) offered this wonderful analogy:
I like to think of this spiritual armor not as a solid piece of metal molded to fit the body but more like chain mail. Chain mail consists of dozens of tiny pieces of steel fastened together to allow the user greater flexibility without losing protection. I say that because it has been my experience that there is not one great and grand thing we can do to arm ourselves spiritually. True spiritual power lies in numerous smaller acts woven together in a fabric of spiritual fortification that protects and shields from all evil.
The Apostle Paul said that in this battle we are not fighting against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Unlike conventional warfare, we will not always see our attackers or where the attacks are coming from in the battle that Apostle Paul is talking about. We are fighting against rulers of darkness and those who would destroy everything good and spiritual if they had their way. Perhaps, there is nowwhere is this more evident than on the Internet.
Many who do not believe in God are using the Internet to push their opinions on others and destroy the sanctity of homes and families. All of us who say that we follow Jesus Christ can use the Internet to tell the whole world we do believe. All of us who say that we are strong in the Lord must also use the Internet to proclaim the truth. I’m sure that we are all doing a little bit already. We need to do more.
Here are a few suggestions of what you can write about online:
- Tell us about your unique perspective on being a Mormon or a member of any other faith in the military.
- Share an experience you’ve had that has strengthened your faith in God.
- Send out email or other online notifications about your group’s worship activities and invite other soldiers to join you.
- Tell us how putting on the whole armor of God helped you stand against the wiles of devil.
- Post your testimonies of Jesus Christ on a blog such as this or start one.
- Share with the world how your faith is helping you as a soldier like this blog I discovered recently by Chaplain Kline.
As a military wife, I want to thank you all for the examples you’ve been in our lives. Our association with our fellow military families has enriched our lives and brought so many rewarding friendships with men, women, and children of all faiths. My life has been blessed abundantly because of the rich diversity in the military community. I will always be grateful and proud to be a part of this military family. May God bless and keep you all!
