I love the story of the army of Helaman (Alma 56-60). Sometimes people will ask, if you could meet anyone from the scriptures or in the past who would you want to meet? And I’ve never really cared. But after really studying about these 2000 stripling warriors, I think it would be amazing to meet them and feel of their countenance. I’m sure you would be able to feel their spiritual strength, just by being in their presence. As I thought about it, I thought about you young women and the amazing women which you are and thought, wouldn’t it be awesome to be like them? And to have people say about you in 300 years,
(Alma 53:20-21) And they were all young women, and they were exceedingly valiant for acourage, and also for strength and activity; but behold, this was not all—they were women who were true at all times in whatsoever thing they were entrusted.
21 Yea, they were women of truth and asoberness, for they had been taught to keep the commandments of God and to bwalk uprightly before him.
I believe that you can all be such women. We’ve talked about a couple of things that made these young men so valiant. I want to talk about one other character that they possessed.
Read Alma 57:20-21, 58:40
These young men obeyed with exactness (vs. 21) and they kept the commandments continually (vs.40)
That’s pretty amazing!
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO YOU, to obey with exactness & continually?
· No selective obedience
· We must obey all the commandments—the hard and the easy—even the ones that challenge us.
· Doesn’t mean we are perfect at it, but we are continually trying and working at it.
These young men were fighting some pretty intense battles. Yet they listened to their commander, Helaman, and did exactly what he told them. It was not easy. It took great effort, physically, mentally and I’m sure spiritually.
How do you obey with exactness?
1. Commitment 2. Courage 3. Faith 4. Plan
Alma 56:30 Now when we saw that the Lamanites began to grow uneasy on this wise, we were desirous to bring a stratagem into effect upon them;
They had a plan and they followed that plan. You have to have a plan and you have to follow that plan. Part of that plan may be general, like the 5 points of focus that Pres. Mullen has given us. Part of your plan may relate strictly to what you need to work on. That would help you overcome your weaknesses. Follow that plan and you will succeed.
General Conference is full of things that our Heavenly Father wants us to do. It contains a great plan.
You are faced with some pretty intense battles. We are blessed with prophets that understand what lies ahead. You have a great Stake Presidency and wonderful Bishop who are also here to help you.
I started to make a list of the battles that you could face today. It was discouraging so I stopped. BUT, I realized one major thing. That no matter what the problem was, I was able to find a solution. There’s a great talk given by so and so at such and such conference. There are scriptures that address everything in our lives. And I realized again: OUR HEAVENLY FATHER WANTS YOU TO RETURN—HE DOESN’T WANT ONE SOUL IN THIS ROOM TO BE LOST!
Jesus Christ loves you! EVERYTHING HE DID WAS BECAUSE OF LOVE!
The prophet cares about you.
Pres. Mullen is concerned with your well being.
I care about what you do with your life!
We must hold onto the iron rod with both hands and we must follow the words of the prophets.
Couple of quotes on obedience:
A young man who served as a missionary when Elder Neil Andersen was the mission president in France, had this to say about Elder Andersen, “He always raised our vision of the blessings the Lord desired for France. He taught about pure faith and obedience with exactness, and the Lord poured out His miracles upon us.”
Kevin Pearson said in the April 2009 General Conference, When we teach our children by example or precept to be casual or situational in obeying God’s commandments, we prevent them from receiving this vital spiritual gift of faith. Faith requires an attitude of exact obedience, even in the small, simple things. . . . . As patterns of obedience develop, the specific blessings associated with obedience are realized and belief emerges.
Elder Robert D. Hales October 2010 conference:
“In our premortal state we chose to follow the Savior Jesus Christ! And because we did, we were allowed to come to earth. I testify that by making the same choice to follow the Savior now, while we are here on earth, we will obtain an even greater blessing in the eternities. But let it be known: we must continue to choose to follow the Savior. Eternity is at stake, and our wise use of agency and our actions are essential that we might have eternal life. . . . . Whenever we choose to come unto Christ, take His name upon us, and follow His servants, we progress along the path to eternal life.”
I love you and care about you. Have courage and faith to face what lies ahead and to Obey God’s commandments with exactness and continually.
You are a daughter of God and He loves you!! He wants you to return to Him. He does not want one soul to be lost.
I have 3 areas of counsel and 1 challenge that I would like to leave with you today.
1. Be careful how you use your time. Don’t spend countless hours doing things that have no purpose.
At our regional conference in September, Sister Beck spoke briefly about this topic. In my notes I recorded, “life passes while you’re staring at “that screen”. “that screen” may be a television, or a computer, or an ipod or cell phone. I’m not saying, don’t watch TV or don’t use the computer. We all need a little down time. Just be careful. And it’s not only technology that may be monopolizing our time. I am saying, Don’t spend countless hours doing things that have no purpose.
2. Stay away from Pornography and anything that resembles it. Help your friends do the same. Young Women don’t usually get this counsel, but I have felt impressed to say it to you today.
3. Be careful in how you dress. Elder Russell M Ballard said:
. . .understand that when you wear clothing that is too tight, too short, or too low cut, you not only can send the wrong message to young men with whom you associate, but you also perpetuate in your own minds the fallacy that a woman’s value is dependent solely upon her sensual appeal. This never has been nor will it ever be within the righteous definition of a faithful daughter of God.
Elder Dallin H. Oaks said in a talk on pornography in General Conference 2005, … young women, please understand that if you dress immodestly, you are magnifying this problem by becoming pornography to some of the men who see you.
I want to offer a challenge to you:
When you pull something out of your closet to wear, evaluate it. Look at yourself in the mirror when you put it on. Ask yourself:
· Is it too low? Too short? Too tight?
· If you haven’t received your endowment yet, could you wear what you have on with temple garments?
· If you have temple garments, do you have to tuck your garments so they don’t show?
Is it too low? Too short? Too tight? If it is then have the COURAGE to modify or throw it out. Even if you love it to pieces. With today’s fashions, you could easily put something underneath if it’s too low, If it’s too short, you might be able to put on a pair of leggings. Too tight??? I’m not sure there’s much hope for modification on that one.
When you go to buy something new, ask yourself the same questions.
Is it too low? Too short? Too tight?
If it is, don’t buy it. Even if it’s the cutest thing you’ve ever seen and you REALLY REALLY want it!!
Since starting ward conferences last fall, I have been very aware of my clothing. I don’t usually have a problem. But a few weeks ago, I put on a dress that I had only worn once. It wasn’t too tight or too low but it was just a little short. It really wasn’t TOO short, but I felt like if I bent over even a little, then it would be TOO short. So I took it off and put it in my DI pile. I didn’t want to do it. But I decided I had to do it!
Dress in such a way that the young men won’t question your motives. Even if your motives are completely innocent to begin with. Prove it by how you dress.
It takes effort to get to the celestial kingdom. It takes effort to obey with exactness.
It takes courage and faith and commitment. But I know that you can be such young women, who are exceedingly valiant for courage and also for strength and activity.
Don’t get discouraged. When you slip, grab the rod and hold on tighter. Don’t let go.
I LOVE YOU! I love my Heavenly Father. I love Jesus Christ. Heavenly Father wants you to win this battle and He doesn’t want one soul to be lost. And I don’t either.
WE ARE AS THE ARMY OF HELAMAN!
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