Three Pillars of Protection

I see at least three actions spoken of the scriptures that are essential to keep us protected from the power of the adversary.  The first is to keep the commandments.  Alma spoke about this to his son Helaman as he gave him charge of the plates of brass and the other Nephite plates.  Alma warned, “I tell you by the spirit of prophecy, that if ye transgress the commandments of God, behold, these things which are sacred shall be taken away from you by the power of God, and ye shall be delivered up unto Satan, that he may sift you as chaff before the wind” (Alma 37:15).  In other words, Helaman’s protection would be in keeping the commandments of the Lord to the best of his ability.  If he did not do that, then he would be “delivered up unto Satan” and his protection would be gone.  This is similar to what the Angel Moroni told to Joseph about his plates.  Joseph recounted, “If I would use all my endeavors to preserve them, until he, the messenger, should call for them, they should be protected.”  We must likewise “use all our endeavors” to keep the commandments of the Lord and He will protect us.  The Lord said it this way in the Doctrine and Covenants: “Keep all the commandments and covenants by which ye are bound; and I will cause the heavens to shake for your good, and Satan shall tremble and Zion shall rejoice upon the hills and flourish” (D&C 35:24).  

                A second action that we must take is to earnestly pray for the protection of the Lord.  The Lord told Joseph early on in his ministry: “Pray always, that you may come off conqueror; yea, that you may conquer Satan, and that you may escape the hands of the servants of Satan that do uphold his work” (D&C 10:5).  When the Savior was among the Nephites, He told them, “Behold, verily, verily, I say unto you, ye must watch and pray always lest ye enter into temptation; for Satan desireth to have you, that he may sift you as wheat” (3 Nephi 18:18).  We must understand that we are completely dependent upon the Lord for protection and seek that as if our life depends on it.  The Nephites’ example in the days of the great war with the Gadianton robbers is surely relevant to us.  When the enemies came upon them in full force and fury, the Nephite armies “did lift their cries to the Lord their God, that he would spare them and deliver them out of the hands of their enemies….  They did fear their God and did supplicate him for protection” (3 Nephi 4:8, 10).  So evident was their supplication to the Lord that the Gadianton robbers thought they were giving up—that’s the kind of pleading we must sometimes do with the Lord to have His protection against the great trials ahead of us. 

                The third thing that will provide us great protection is to exercise our faith in Jesus Christ.  This was what ultimately saved Moses in his frightening encounter with the adversary.  In their extended exchange, it was finally when Moses cast out Satan in the name of Jesus Christ that the prophet was saved.  We read, “Nevertheless, calling upon God, he received strength…. Moses received strength, and called upon God, saying: In the name of the Only Begotten, depart hence, Satan.” (Moses 1:20-21).  He showed his faith by calling upon God and the name of the Only Begotten.  Moses understood that it is Christ that has the power to save us, and we need faith in Him to make it through the great difficulties and temptations that we face.  The Savior seemed to be teaching this same principle when He said to Peter, “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not” (Luke 22:31-32).  He knew that what Peter needed most was to have faith that would not fail him.  Surely the Savior likewise prays for us that we can have that same kind of faith to overcome. 

                After speaking about the terrible wars that would come upon the nations in the last days, the Lord said: “Wherefore, stand ye in holy places, and be not moved, until the day of the Lord come” (D&C 87:8).  Once we are committed to these three pillars of protection--keeping the commandments, praying with all earnestness, and exercising faith in Jesus Christ--then we must stand “and be not moved” from these methods of security as the challenges of the last days come upon us.  Then will we be “armed with righteousness and with the power of God in great glory” to see us through (1 Nephi 14:14).