Steadfast and Immovable

When Lehi spoke to Lemuel in the wilderness by the Red Sea to encourage him to walk in righteousness, he said this: “O that thou mightest be like unto this valley, firm and steadfast, and immovable in keeping the commandments of the Lord!” (1 Nephi 2:10) King Benjamin was perhaps paraphrasing Lehi when he encouraged his people in these words: “Therefore, I would that ye should be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in good works, that Christ, the Lord God Omnipotent, may seal you his, that you may be brought to heaven, that ye may have everlasting salvation and eternal life” (Mosiah 5:15). Mormon described how the righteous at the time of the beginning of the reign of the judges followed that counsel despite their persecutions: “Now this was a great trial to those that did stand fast in the faith; nevertheless, they were steadfast and immovable in keeping the commandments of God, and they bore with patience the persecution which was heaped upon them” (Alma 1:25). Shortly before the time of the coming of Christ among the Nephites, when most were turning to wickedness, some of the “Lamanites who were converted unto the true faith… would not depart from it, for they were firm, and steadfast, and immovable, willing with all diligence to keep the commandments of the Lord” (3 Nephi 6:14). Again, Mormon used these two adjectives from Lehi—steadfast and immoveable—to describe those who would not depart from their faith in God. Paul used similar language to the Corinthians when he encouraged them with these words: “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58). We must be steadfast and immoveable in our determination to follow Christ, firmly committed that whatever happens we will not abandon our faith in Him.

                My six-year-old child has taught me what it means to be immoveable. When he wants something, there is often nothing that can deter him from getting it or doing everything in his power to obtain it. For example, one Sunday morning recently he decided he wanted pancakes and not the breakfast I had already made. I told him no, especially because we had to get out the door very soon for Church and he was not even dressed. But the word “no” to him is usually a call to him to stand his ground and prepare for battle, and he planted himself in the kitchen to make pancakes or die trying. I abandoned my efforts to get him to get dressed and despite not ever having made pancakes by himself before he set out to do it. He knew approximately what ingredients needed to go in the pancakes but did not know what the measurements were. That didn’t stop him, and he combined some eggs, flour, baking powder, milk, etc. in a bowl and mixed them together. He plugged in the skillet and went to work. And he indeed made those pancakes which, I have to admit, actually tasted halfway decent. Once more, as is usually the case, he proved to us that nothing would stop him once he was determined to obtain something. When his mind is set, he is immovable. This and a thousand other experiences with him and have led me to repeatedly say to myself in my mind, “If that boy can channel his determination on worthy causes in life, he will go far in life!” I earnestly hope that he can learn to follow the invitation of Paul and Lehi and King Benjamin and be “steadfast and immoveable” in what matters most, the gospel of Jesus Christ.

                In the Olive Leaf revelation, those attending the school of the prophets were instructed to greet each other with these words: “I salute you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, in token or remembrance of the everlasting covenant, in which covenant I receive you to fellowship, in a determination that is fixed, immovable, and unchangeable, to be your friend and brother through the grace of God in the bonds of love, to walk in all the commandments of God blameless, in thanksgiving, forever and ever” (Doctrine and Covenants 88:133). I love that language. This should be our goal in keeping our covenants with God: we must be “fixed, immovable, and unchangeable” in our determination to keep them. As we strive to do that no matter what happens, we will indeed one day receive the promised blessing from King Benjamin for those who are steadfast and immovable: “Have everlasting salvation and eternal life, through the wisdom, and power, and justice, and mercy of him who created all things, in heaven and in earth, who is God above all.”