recently I was blessed to meet with the
most impressive group of youth from the
state of Idaho one virtuous young woman
asked me what I feel is the most
important thing they should be doing in
their lives
right now I suggested they learn to
recognize the power of the atonement of
Jesus Christ in their lives today I
expound on one aspect of that power
which is the personal strength we can
receive through the atonement of Jesus
Christ in the Book of Mormon we read it
Amma and his brother and teaching the
gospel that Jesus Christ to a people who
were a wild and a hardened and ferocious
people many of the people were converted
and chose to leave behind their sinful
behavior so complete was their
conversion that they buried their
weapons and covenant with the Lord that
they would never use them again later
many of their unconverted brothers came
upon them and began to slay them the now
faithful people chose to succumb to the
sword
rather than risk their spiritual lives
by taking up arms they're righteous
example helped even more people to be
converted and to lead down their weapons
of rebellion Naaman the Lord guided them
to refuge among the Nephites and they
became known as the people of Ammon the
Nephites protected them for many years
but eventually the Nephite army began to
wear down and reinforcements were
gravely needed the people of Ammon read
a critical moment of their spiritual
lives they had been true to their
covenant never to take up arms but they
understood that fathers are responsible
to provide protection
to their families that needs seemed to
be great enough to merit consideration
of breaking their covenant there was
priesthood leader he Thurmond knew that
breaking a covenant what the Lord is
never justified he offered an inspired
alternative he reminded them that their
sons had never been guilty of the same
sins and therefore had not needed to
make the same covenant the sons were
very young they were physically strong
and more importantly they were virtuous
and pure the sons were fortified by the
faith of their mothers under the
direction of their prophet leader these
young men took their father's place in
defense of their families and homes the
events surrounding this critical
decision demonstrated how the atonement
of Jesus Christ brings personal strength
to the lives of the children of God
considered of tender feelings those
father's us they have felt to know that
the rebellious action of their past
prevented them from protecting their
wives and children at that moment of
need knowing personally of the
atrocities of their sons for now phase
they must have privately wept fathers
not children are supposed to protect
their families their sorrows must have
been intense
why were there inspired priesthood
leader fear their consideration to
retrieve their weapons lest they should
lose their soul the Lord has declared
behold he has repented his
the same is forgiven and I the LORD
remember them no more these faithful
fathers had long since repented of their
sins and became clean to the atonement
of Jesus Christ so why were they
counseled not to defend their families
it is a fundamental truth that through
the atonement of Jesus Christ we can be
cleansed we can become virtuous and pure
however sometimes our poor choices leave
us with long-term consequences one of
the vital steps to complete repentance
is to bear the short and long-term
consequences of our past sins their past
choices had exposed these ammonite
fathers to a carnal appetite that could
again become a point of vulnerability
that Satan would attempt to exploit
Satan will try to use our memory of any
previous guilty to Doris back into his
influence we must be ever villainous to
hoard his enticement such was the case
of the faithful ammonite fathers even
after years of faithful living it was
imperative for them to protect
themselves spiritually from any
attraction to the past and memory of
sins in between the many battles captain
Moroni directed a fortification of the
weakest cities because that they should
build a breastwork of Timbers upon the
inner bank of the ditch and they cast
out dirt out of the ditch against the
breastwork Timbers until they hadn't
sure
the city with a strong wall of timbers
and earth to an exceeding height captain
Moroni understood the importance of
fortifying the weak areas to create
strength these ammonites fathers were
much the same they need taller and wider
fortifications between their faithful
lives and the unrighteous behavior of
their past their sons who were blessed
with righteous traditions when or not
isn't venerable to the same temptations
they were able to defend their families
faithfully without compromising their
spiritual well-being the choy --fill
news for anyone who desires to be rid of
the consequences of poor choices is that
the Lord sees weaknesses differently and
he does read it whereas the Lord warns
that unrepentant rebellion will bring
punishment when the Lord speaks of
weaknesses it is always with mercy
undoubtedly there is some allowance that
the ammonite fathers were taught the
false occasions of their parents but all
of father in Heaven's children come to
mortality with a light of Christ
regardless at the cause of their sinful
deeds the effect was the development of
a spiritual venerability
that Satan would attempt to exploit
mercifully they were taught the gospel
repented and through the atonement of
Jesus Christ became spiritually much
stronger than Satan's enticements it is
likely they had not felt the temptation
to return to their brutal past yet by
following their prophet leader
they didn't give Satan the chance to
cheat their soul and to lead them away
carefully down to hell the Savior's
atonement don't only cleanse them from
sin but because of their obedience to
the counsel of their priesthood leader
the Savior was able to protect them from
their weaknesses and strengthen them
their humble lifelong commitment to
forsaking their sins did more to protect
their families than anything they could
have done on the battlefield their
submission did not deprive them of
blessings it strengthened them and
blessed them and blessed future
generations the end of the story
illuminates how the mercy of the Lord
made weak things become strong these
faithful fathers sent their sons off
part of the care fever though the sons
fought in fierce battles were all
received at least some injury not one
life was lost
the young man proved to be a vital boost
to the weary defied army they were
faithful and spiritually stronger when
they returned home their families were
blessed protected and strengthened in
our day countless students at the Book
of Mormon have been edified by the
example of these pure and righteous sons
each of us has had times in our lives
when we have made poor choices they're
all in desperate need of and empty of
power in the atonement of Jesus Christ
each of us must repent of any rebellion
for I the Lord cannot look upon sin with
a beast degree of allowance and quote he
cannot because he does what it takes to
become like him
many of us have allowed weakness to
develop in our character through the
atonement of Jesus Christ we like the
ammonites can build spiritual
fortifications between ourselves and any
past mistake that Satan attempts to
exploit the spiritual protections built
around the ammonite father's blessed and
strengthened themselves their families
their country and future generations the
same can be true with us so how do we
build these eternal fortifications the
first step must be sincere thorough and
completely hands through the atonement
of Jesus Christ each of us can become
clean and the burden of our rebellion
will be lifted remember repentance is
not punishment it is the hope filled
path to a more glorious future Father in
Heaven has provided us tools that help
to build the fortifications between
ourselves our vulnerabilities and our
faithfulness consider the following
suggestions make covenants and receive
ordinances for yourself then steadily
consistently work to provide ordinances
in the temple for your own ancestors
share the gospel with non-member or less
active
family members or friends sharing these
truths can bring a renewed enthusiasm
into your life serve faithfully in all
church callings especially home teaching
and visiting teaching assignments don't
be just a fifteen minutes a month home
teacher or busy teacher rather reach out
to each individual member of the family
to know them personally be a real friend
through acts of kindness show them how
very much you care for each of them most
importantly serve the members of your
own family make the spiritual
development of your spouse and children
a very high priority be attended to the
things you can do to help each one give
freely of your time and attention
each of these suggestions there is a
common theme fill your life with service
to others as you lose your life and
service and father in heaven is children
Satan's temptations lose power in your
life because your father in heaven loves
you profoundly your tongue it to Jesus
Christ
makes that strength possible isn't it
wonderful
many of you have felt the burden of poor
choices and each of you can feel the
elevating elevating power of the Lord's
forgiveness mercy love and strength I
have felt and I testify that it is
available to each one of you
in the name of Jesus Christ amen