Clear as the Moon, Fair as the Sun, as Terrible as an Army with Banners

Yesterday I wrote about the passages in the Doctrine and Covenants which speak of the church coming forth out of the wilderness. In some of those passages there is interesting poetic language used to describe the church. One speaks of the “rising up and the coming forth of my church out of the wilderness—clear as the moon, and fair as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners” (Doctrine and Covenants 5:14). In another Joseph Smith prayed, “that thy church may come forth out of the wilderness of darkness, and shine forth fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners” (Doctrine and Covenants 109:73). And speaking of the camp of Israel for the church who would go forth to help the Saints in Missouri, the Lord said in similar language, “But first let my army become very great, and let it be sanctified before me, that it may become fair as the sun, and clear as the moon, and that her banners may be terrible unto all nations” (Doctrine and Covenants 105:31). This poetic language actually comes from, of all places, the Song of Solomon: “Who is she that looketh forth as the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners?” (6:10) So what is the Lord trying to say about the church in our day with this description?

               Surely the idea of this description is that the church is to rise up in beauty and power, in majesty and might, that it is to be a light to the world and a force for good in the last days. In another revelation after declaring the name of the church, the Lord said, “Verily I say unto you all: Arise and shine forth, that thy light may be a standard for the nations” (Doctrine and Covenants 115:5). The church is to be a light to the world, just as the sun and the moon are a light by day and by night. The reference to sun and the moon may also be alluding to their Creator, the Savior, whom the church should emulate: “Also he is in the sun, and the light of the sun, and the power thereof by which it was made. As also he is in the moon, and is the light of the moon, and the power thereof by which it was made” (Doctrine and Covenants 88:7-8). Perhaps to be “clear as the moon, and fair as the sun” is to become like the Savior who is in the moon and in the sun, to hold up our light that will point others to Him. As He said to the Nephites: “Therefore, hold up your light that it may shine unto the world. Behold I am the light which ye shall hold up—that which ye have seen me do” (3 Nephi 18:24). As a church we can let our light shine by holding up His light, the light in the sun and moon and all His wondrous creations

And what is an “army with banners?” One reference I found describes it this way: “Throughout military conflict the ‘banner’ or ‘Standard’ has played an important role in the act of warfare. Used to coordinate multiple units and ensure that each unit of men could identify its leaders and the centre of command. A rallying point in the chaos of battle the banner ensured each unit was able to fight and manoeuvre effectively. The loss of the banner usually indicated the unit’s leader had fallen and often resulted in eventual defeat. The more visible banners an army displayed that more fighting units it had placed into the conflict, hence the expression ‘terrible as an army with banners.’” The banners then could represent the priesthood and apostles and prophetic leadership that we are blessed to follow today. The church has power because it has the direction of the Savior through the leaders He calls. The banners that we have in our spiritual army could also be the great “standard of truth” that has been erected, the “ensign” that we are lifting up to the nation to declare the Restoration of the gospel. President Hinckley quoted Doctrine and Covenants 109:73 and then said, “We are witnessing the answer to that remarkable pleading. Increasingly the Church is being recognized at home and abroad for what it truly is…. We go forward, marching as an army with banners emblazoned with the everlasting truth. We are a cause that is militant for truth and goodness.” As a church, we are to rise up out of obscurity and out of darkness, striving to bring the light of the Savior and His truth and goodness to the world.