To Be Not Moved

In his letter to the Thessalonians, Paul gave this counsel about trials to the Saints there: “That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto. For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know. For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain” (1 Thessalonians 3:3-5).  His message to them was not to be moved by troubles, or in other words, to not let their faith falter or slacken because of trials.  He had apparently predicted to them in advance that they would suffer tribulations and they did.  The Thessalonians were to stand fast, to not be moved out of their place in the face of adversity.   

 In our dispensation the Lord gave similar counsel as He warned of the difficulties that would come upon the earth.  In the midst of wars and earthquakes and the chastening hand of God, we are told, “Wherefore, stand ye in holy places, and be not moved, until the day of the Lord come; for behold, it cometh quickly, saith the Lord” (Doctrine and Covenants 87:8).  We must not be swayed and “tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men,” but rather we must build our house upon the rock of the gospel and not be moved away from it (Ephesians 4:14).  Paul gave similar encouragement to stand fast to the Colossians, “If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister” (Colossians 1:23).  No matter what the tribulation is that comes our way, we must be grounded in the gospel, settled in our conviction to stay in the covenant path, and we must not be moved away from the hope we have in the Lord.   

              Mormon lamented how men often do not stand fast in the faith but are moved easily away from it.  He wrote of “the unsteadiness of the hearts of the children of men” as they are quick to move away from the paths of righteousness.  In the midst of his discussion on how men do not listen to the voice of the Lord, he gave this interesting observation: “And thus, according to his word the earth goeth back, and it appeareth unto man that the sun standeth still; yea, and behold, this is so; for surely it is the earth that moveth and not the sun” (Helaman 12:15).  The earth moves (a representation of men) whereas the sun stands still (a representation of the Son of God).  Christ is “unchangeable from all eternity to all eternity,” and like the sun gives light from a fixed position.  Man, like the earth, moves and does not stand still.  But we can be “Firm as the mountains around us, Stalwart and brave we stand, On the rock our fathers planted.”  We must seek to follow Paul’s counsel, that we be not moved no matter how much the world around us changes.