Against All the Fiery Darts of the Adversary

To my daughter, 

                I was impressed by a quote that I heard recently from the book The Brothers Karamazov by a famous Russian author Fyodor Dostoyevsky. In the book a young man named Alyosha received some spiritual counsel from a monk named Father Païssy as he was going out into the world. He said this, “Remember, young man, unceasingly, that the science of this world, which has become a great power, has, especially in the last century, analyzed everything divine handed down to us in the holy books. After this cruel analysis the learned of this world have nothing left of all that was sacred of old. But they have only analyzed the parts and overlooked the whole, and indeed their blindness is marvelous. Yet the whole still stands steadfast before their eyes, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Has it not lasted nineteen centuries, is it not still a living, a moving power in the individual soul and in the masses of people? It is still as strong and living even in the souls of atheists, who have destroyed everything! For even those who have renounced Christianity and attack it, in their inmost being still follow the Christian ideal, for hitherto neither their subtlety nor the ardor of their hearts has been able to create a higher ideal of man and of virtue than the ideal given by Christ of old. When it has been attempted, the result has been only grotesque. Remember this especially, young man, since you are being sent into the world by your departing elder. Maybe, remembering this great day, you will not forget my words, uttered from the heart for your guidance, seeing you are young, and the temptations of the world are great and beyond your strength to endure. Well, now go, my orphan.” As you continue to interact with the world you will find that these words are indeed true: many will seek to discount the gospel of Christ and its messages, analyzing and criticizing individual parts, denouncing doctrines they don’t agree with while never offering a replacement of anything better. They will try to prove that parts of the scriptures are not true, they will yell that particular doctrines are not just, and they will seek to discredit prophets as imposters. Know that while these ideas that attack the Savior, His Church, and His prophets may seem to be accepted by the majority of people, they are relatively few in number compared to those who those who have had faith in Jesus Christ for two millennia and even more. Always remember what the prophet Elisha taught: “They that be with us are more than they that be with them” (2 Kings 6:16).

                This week we read about one of your favorite scripture stories, that of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego in the fiery furnace. In Babylon they may have felt that those who followed Jehovah were few in number and that they were alone against the world. And yet, when they were put in the furnace, did they find that they were alone? No! The Savior came and stood there with them as the king described looking in: “Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God” (Daniel 3:25). When we stand for the Savior against the world, He will stand with us and support us in every trial. As you learn to reject the philosophies of the world that are contrary to the principles of the gospel, the Lord won’t leave you alone. He will help you even in your figurative fiery furnace and, as He said to the Prophet Joseph Smith, He will “support you against all the fiery darts of the adversary; and he [will be] with you in every time of trouble” (Doctrine and Covenants 3:8). I hope that you are never afraid to stand up for what is right, no matter how unpopular that may be. Know that your mother and I love you and want the very best for you in your life.

Love,

Dad