Our family has been praying for the families in California who lost their homes, and family member. It’s absolutely devastating. The constant question has been “How could this happen today?” Implying that with all our technology, and experience how could it be possible to have a situation where a whole town is wiped out….where people were unable to get out in time…many dying as they attempted to leave. It has been absolutely horrific.
I couldn’t help but think about the fires that are blazing in our own cities, or towns. The fires that are blazing at our kids schools, in their activities, in their heads. The risk of spiritual death is scary. Many who will suffer trying to get out, but unable to find the strength, the support, or the will power.
How could this be possible in our day. The day that the the scriptures have prophesied abut for thousands of years. The time when the Lord would send the best of the best. It doesn’t seem possible.
I love the analogy of the watchman on the tower. Before all the computers…they literally had towers where highly trained watchmen would keep an eye 24/7 for forest fires. When they spotted one, the alarm would be rung and the people below would evacuate. Those who chose to not listen would be engulfed by the flames and die. It’s hard to believe that people would not listen to someone trained to save their lives. But it happened. As it happens today! Some people look out their windows and don’t see the danger, thinking they have time, and they procrastinate their evacuation. Others love their homes and the memories so much they refuse to leave it. If the home goes, they will go with it. Others could be sleeping, too busy, or distracted and not hear the siren.
We too have watchmen for our spiritual fires. First, the Lord has blessed us with a prophet, he is the spokesman for the Lord. He is a voice of warning…and he equips us with all the tools we need to stay clear of the flames. If we will listen to and obey every word that the Lord chooses to express through the mouth of His prophet…we will be fire resistant.
Some around us may procrastinate their repentance and obedience …we must not procrastinate. Today is the best day repent and obey!
Some may be asleep, too busy, or distracted….we must wake up!!!! Do whatever it takes to WAKE UP!! Starting with the Book of Mormon….it is always a great way to stay awake and aware.
We must not be stubborn and love our iniquities so much that we choose to let them engulf us. Let us flee from all iniquities.
Dieter Uchtdorf
Today, we have again apostles, seers, and revelators who are watchmen on the tower, messengers of supernal, healing truth. God speaks to us through them. They are profoundly aware of the different circumstances we members are living in. They are in this world, but not of this world.
“Nevertheless, God has chosen these men. He has singled them out, … but He has selected them, and He has placed upon them the authority of the Holy Priesthood, and they have become His representatives in the earth. He places them as shepherds over the flock of Christ, and as watchmen upon the walls of Zion. And He holds them to a strict accountability … for the authority which He has given to them, and in the day of the Lord Jesus they will have to stand and be judged for the manner in which they have exercised this authority. If they have exercised it wrongfully and against the interests of His work and the salvation of His people, woe unto them in the day of the Lord Jesus! He will judge them. …” (Gospel Truth, p. 276.)
The flames we fight are real…they are in our everyday lives and in our children’s lives. We need to not only protect ourselves but our homes. The second watchmen that the Lord has given us is the Holy Ghost. If we allow the Holy Ghost to dwell in our homes at all times no matter what…all who dwell within will feel the blessing of His comfort, guidance, and warnings. The Hold Ghost like the prophet works in perfect union with our Heavenly Father and His son Jesus Christ. We would be wise to do everything in our power to build that relationship and keep him close.
How great a blessing is it to have the ministering influence of a member of the Godhead…to commune with infinite wisdom, infinite knowledge, and infinite power.
-Gordon B Hinkley
Henry B Eyring
To always have the Spirit with us is to have the guidance and direction of the Holy Ghost in our daily lives. We can, for instance, be warned by the Spirit to resist the temptation to do evil.
The companionship of the Holy Ghost makes what is good more attractive and temptation less compelling. That alone should be enough to make us determined to qualify for the Spirit to be with us always.
Just as the Holy Ghost strengthens us against evil, He also gives us the power to discern truth from falsehood. The truth that matters most is verified only by revelation from God. Our human reason and the use of our physical senses will not be enough. We live in a time when even the wisest will be hard-pressed to distinguish truth from clever deception.
Then if we can teach by example to follow the Lord with exactness…our children will remember that example…and follow, if not immediately…eventually.
We have been given the sacred charge over our own families. We too are watchmen for our children. It is up to us to teach, protect, guide, love, shield, fortify, embrace, understand, listen, and fervently pray for our children every single day.
I love what David A. Bednar has to say about our calling as parents…he promises we will be equipped with all the necessary tools to protect our children from the fires that rage around them if we will read from the Book of Mormon daily to our children, testify of the gospel truths that we know, and help our children to make good choices regardless of what is happening around them.
David a bednar April 2010
I bear witness that parents who consistently read and talk about the Book of Mormon with their children, who share testimony spontaneously with their children, and who invite children as gospel learners to act and not merely be acted upon will be blessed with eyes that can see afar off (see Moses 6:27) and with ears that can hear the sound of the trumpet (see Ezekiel 33:2–16). The spiritual discernment and inspiration you will receive from the combination of these three holy habits will enable you to stand as watchmen on the tower for your families–”watching … with all perseverance” (Ephesians 6:18)–to the blessing of your immediate family and your future posterity. I so promise and testify in the sacred name of the Lord Jesus Christ, amen.
-Sherri Jorgensen
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