The devotional was given by David F. Evans. Does that name sound familiar at all? If not, I would challenge you to go watch the most recent Sunday Afternoon session of Conference until you see him. (Disclaimer: give yourself a couple hours...he gave the closing prayer!) Maybe you will recognize him from the image below:
Elder Evans recounted a time when he was discussing the word "tenacity" with President Uchtdorf (if you don't know who that is, go type "lds airplane" into the search bar and you will discover who he is!). Tenacity, in the words of President Uchtdorf, is:
Elder Evans likened the missionaries to the 2000 stripling warriors. I loved this comparison and spent this past week studying this more in depth. It's kind of crazy to think that I had read this a million times, but it has never impressed me this way before. The Book of Mormon is true!!:)
I picked out a few verses that I really liked (this is in Alma 56-57):
21 Yea, and they did obey and observe to perform every word of command with exactness; yea, and even according to their faith it was done unto them; and I did remember the words which they said unto me that their mothers had taught them.
25 And it came to pass that there were two hundred, out of my two thousand and sixty, who had fainted because of the loss of blood; nevertheless, according to the goodness of God, and to our great astonishment, and also the joy of our whole army, there was not one soul of them who did perish; yea, and neither was there one soul among them who had not received many wounds.
27 Now this was the faith of these of whom I have spoken; they are young, and their minds are firm, and they do put their trust in God continually.
As I studied the young stripling warriors in regard to tenacity, I was blown away! I seriously think they redefine tenacity! They performed every word of command with exactness. That's incredible! They were obedient with the utmost exactness...that's like.... perfection! It seems unfathomable...but if they did it, through faith, then by golly I should be able to! I want to! May we all have the desire to obey with exactness as the stripling warriors did!
I love love love love love verse 25. Not one of the warriors were killed. None. BUT not one came out unscathed. They all received wounds. I thought about this immediately in terms of my missionary service. I know it will be hard. But Heavenly Father has promised that as long as I act in faith and in accordance with His will, He will never let me fall or fail. I know I will receive many, many wounds on my mission. Maybe a few physical, but the majority won't be. There will be times when my heart will break when someone rejects a message that I want so desperately to touch their heart. At times, my confidence may be tested. My patience will be tested. There will be days when I wonder what I am doing. I will wonder how in the world I am supposed to be successful when I am so small, inadequate, and insignificant. But no matter how many wounds I receive, I will never perish. As long as I am doing my best, the empowering aspect of the atonement will come into full effect and give me strength beyond my own. My Savior will not let me perish. What comfort comes from knowing that! Granted, knowing beforehand that I will struggle, at times fail, and hurt...it's unsettling and even a little bit scary. But I have no need to fear. When I do the will of the Lord, I will ultimately be successful.
And it is the same for you! Tenacity isn't just a word that applies to missionary work. The stripling warriors are not a direct symbol for missionaries. YOU can be tenacious just as the stripling warriors. This life is rough! Would you agree? We are all going to receive wounds, whether self-inflicted or from others. But take comfort in the Lord's promise to sustain you as long as your mind is firm and your unwavering faith is continually placed in God. He's got your back:)
After pondering these scriptures, I thought of one of my favorite songs: We'll Bring the World His Truth. How many times do we sing through songs out of routine? How many times to we really recognize the implications of the words we sing? I have found great comfort and insight in picking apart some of my favorite songs this week. We are always told to liken the scriptures to ourselves, why not songs too?:)
We'll Bring the World His Truth We have been born as Nephi of old To goodly parents who love the Lord We have been taught and we understand That we must do as the Lord commands We are as the army of Helaman We have been taught in our youth And we will be the Lord's missionaries To bring the world His truth We have been saved for these latter days To build the kingdom in righteous ways We hear the words our prophet declares "Let each who's worthy go forth and share" We know His plan and we will prepare Increase our knowledge through study and prayer Daily we learn until we are called To take the gospel to all the world We are God's children, we have received The blessings promised to Abraham's seed. We'll share the gospel, this is our quest Till every nation on earth is blessed | I'll Bring the World His Truth I have been born as Nephi of old To Gary and Lisa who love the Lord I have been taught and I understand That I must do as the Lord commands I am as the army of Helaman I have been taught in my youth And I will be the Lord's missionary To bring the world His truth I have been saved for these letter days To build the kingdom in righteous ways I hear the words our prophet declares I am worthy, I'll go forth and share. I know His plan and I will prepare Increase my knowledge through study and prayer Daily I'll learn and I have been called To take the gospel to all the world. I am God's child, and I have received The blessings promised to Abraham's seed. I'll share the gospel, this is my quest Till every nation on earth is blessed. |
Anyways, I am getting carried away! Back onto tenacity--it's not easy. It requires constant perseverance and "absolute determination." As I have gained increased confidence in my purpose, it has made it so much easier to persevere and be determined despite all the opposition. If we can understand our purpose and have the utmost confidence in it, then the persevering with absolute determination comes naturally! What is your purpose? Are you confident in pursuing that purpose? Take some time today and reflect on your purpose! It will be time well spent, I promise! Disclaimer: it can be time consuming, but what better way to spend your time, right?!:)
I'll conclude with the words of Jeffery R. Holland:
CHALLENGE:
BE TENACIOUS. Develop and strengthen your desire to be tenacious in your righteous living.
I promise that as you do, you will find that you are 10-fold happier! It's a natural side-effect of living in accordance with God's commandments. Stress in your life will be relieved-not taken away-but relieved. There will be more love in your interactions with others. The enabling and empowering aspect of the atonement will flow readily into your life. Recognize it and be grateful for it. It's stinking awesome:)