2000 Stripling Warriors

Today I want to talk about an event that took place in the Book of Mormon. It is the story of the Stripling Warriors. The word "stripling" means young, around the early to mid teenage years. These young men were of such age. The story takes place in the midst of a war between the Lamanites and the Nephites. These young men volunteer to go to war because their parents and the older men of their people have entered into a covenant with God to not take up arms against anyone. It was left to their sons to fight and aid the Nephites.

What COURAGE and FAITH it must have taken for these extremely young men to leave their families to fight for the liberty of their people! "They were men of TRUTH and SOBERNESS for they have been taught to keep the commandments of God and to walk uprightly before Him." The respect and admiration I have for these young men is immense. They were willing to die for the cause of liberty, the cause of family and the cause of God.

It was now time to put their faith and courage to the test. They went to battle against a very large army of Lamanites, much larger than their small band of 2000. When Helaman asks his "sons" if they should go to battle, the answer that was given are some of the most inspiring words that I have ever heard, especially from the mouths of such young men. They answered saying, "Father, behold our God is with us and he will not suffer that we should fall; them let us go forth; we would not slay our brethren if they would let us alone." (Alma 56:46)

These young men have never fought before, and "yet they did not fear death" (Alma 56:47). Have you ever seen so great courage? They were selfless; they thought more "upon the liberty of their fathers" than their lives (Alma 56:47). What even amazes me further is this is how they were taught by their mothers. Their mothers taught them that, "if they did not doubt, God would deliver them." These sons did not doubt, they also "[did] not doubt [their] mothers knew it" (Alma 56:47-48). They went to battle, and not ONE stripling warrior was lost.

  I know that God keeps his promises to us. If we live according to the commandments that we are given, we too will become as these young stripling warriors. We will be delivered from adversity, we will overcome temptation, and we will triumph over the adversary. I am grateful for the knowledge that I have received from my loving parents, it is invaluable. I, like the stripling warriors, DO NOT DOUBT that my parents know of these things. I know with a deep conviction that God lives, His Son, Jesus Christ is the Savior and Redeemer of the world and that through Him, we can obtain "never ending happiness" (Mosiah 2:41), forgiveness of our sins, and eternal life.

With love,
Elder Brennan Edwards

The Fruits of the Spirit

"The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, [and] temperance..." (Galatians 5). Have you ever experienced these feelings before? I know that I have, especially when I read the scriptures, pray, and while attending church. These are feelings that the Spirit gives to us. But, what really is the role of the Holy Ghost?

We know that the Holy Ghost is the 3rd member of the Godhead, and that he doesn't have a body so that he can dwell within us; but most importantly, the Holy Ghost testifies of Jesus Christ and God the Father. In essence, the Spirit testifies of truth. It is by the feelings of the Holy Ghost that we gain our testimonies and come to a knowledge that the Church of Jesus Christ has been restored to the earth. As we strive to gain knowledge of the gospel of Jesus Christ, true understanding comes through the Holy Ghost. When we read the scriptures, we need to pray for understanding so that we can be taught by the Spirit so that we might gain a deeper understanding of what we are reading. As we pray for the Spirit to be with us, we will be filled with the "fruits of the Spirit," and we will find truth.

I have gained a testimony of the Book of Mormon through the feelings that I have received from the Holy Ghost. I have been guided many times in my life by that gift that can only be attained through the sacred ordinance of baptism. I know that Christ lives, and that His church has been restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith. I have gained this witness through the powerful feelings of the Holy Ghost. As I read the scriptures and ponder their messages, I feel the confirming power of the Holy Ghost that the Book of Mormon is, indeed, true. I invite all who read this blog to strive to find that witness through the Spirit, and those who have already received it, get a refresher and do it again. We need to constantly nourish our faith and our testimonies, if we don't, they are in danger of "being hewn down" (Alma 32). I love you all and I hope that we can continue to nourish and strengthen our faith and strive to enjoy the companionship of the Holy Ghost in our lives.

With love,
Elder Brennan Edwards