Spiritual Strength

The prophet Joseph Smith taught, "Happiness is the object and design of our existence; and will be the end thereof, if we pursue the path that leads to it; and this path is virtue, uprightness, faithfulness, holiness, and keeping all the commandments of God."¹ 

We came to this earth with the express purpose of being tested and tried by our Father in Heaven. Taught the Lord, "And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them."² Should we be successful in striving to keep the commandments and "hold out faithful to the end [we] are received into heaven, that thereby [we] may dwell with God in a state of neverending happiness"³ together with our families.

But holding out faithful to the end isn't always easy. In fact, rarely is keeping the commandments ever easy. We live in a world of shifting and changing values where men call evil good and good evil.⁴ The prophet Abinadi taught that as a result of the Fall of Adam, "all mankind were lost; and behold, they would have been endlessly lost were it not that God redeemed his people from their lost and fallen state."⁵

Taught the prophet Alma, "all mankind must unavoidably perish; yea, all are hardened; yea, all are fallen and are lost, and must perish except it be through the atonement which it is expedient should be made."⁶ He continued, "Therefore may God grant unto you, . . . that ye may begin to exercise your faith unto repentance, that ye begin to call upon his holy name, that he would have mercy upon you."⁷ We live in a fallen world and each of us "have sinned and come short of the glory of God."⁸ We are born natural men and women subject to all manner of temptations and weaknesses. However, we can, by yielding to the enticings of the Holy Ghost, put off the natural man and become saints through the Atonement of Christ the Lord.⁹ We must exercise faith unto repentance and through the redemptive power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ all wrongs, inequalities, disappointments, and trials are made right and our sins are forgiven.

Following the pathway to eternal life is simple to understand yet difficult to perform. The way is clear and the guideposts are well-defined, but Satan is very good at creating mists and haze and distractions that entice us to loosen our grip on and eventually leave the iron rod.¹⁰

How, then, are we to maintain the proper focus to stand against the adversary and his minions? How can we become strong enough to yield to the promptings of the Holy Ghost and put off the natural man? The answer lies in spiritual strength. Developing spiritual strength enables us to "continue in the way which is narrow, until [we] shall obtain eternal life."¹¹ Spiritual strength is the key to successfully staying on the strait and narrow path and overcoming our trials and weaknesses.

As we prepare for trials and life in general and pray for the strength to endure all things, we are endowed with power from on high and are blessed with the capacity to do all things. Our spiritual strength grows, as does our capacity to endure hardships and trials. As life gets harder, our ability to endure our trials increases, but only if we are constantly striving to develop and increase our spiritual strength.

Developing Spiritual Strength

In preparation for this study and post, I searched, "spiritual strength" in General Conference addresses on LDS.org and these are the first 10 results (some similar results omitted):

• "The very nature of the Redeemer’s Atonement and the purpose of the restored Church are intended to help us receive . . . spiritual strength."
• —Elder David A. Bednar, "And Nothing Shall Offend Them," Ensign, Nov 2006
• "a temperate soul—one who is humble and full of love—is also a person of increased spiritual strength."
• —Elder Kent D. Watson, "Being Temperate in All Things," Ensign, Nov 2009
• "As we obey our Heavenly Father’s commandments, our faith increases, we grow in wisdom and spiritual strength, and it becomes easier for us to make right choices."
• —Elder Wolfgang H. Paul, "The Gift of Agency," Ensign, May 2006
• "I repeat, fervent prayer is key to gaining the spiritual strength..."
• —Elder M. Russell Ballard, "O That Cunning Plan of the Evil One," Ensign, Nov 2010
• "Righteous character provides the foundation of spiritual strength."
• —Elder Richard G. Scott, "Truth:The Foundation of Correct Decisions," Ensign, Nov 2007
• "Increased spiritual strength is a gift from God which He can give when we push in His service to our limits. Through the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, our natures can be changed. Then our power to carry burdens can be increased more than enough to compensate for the increased service we will be asked to give."
• —President Henry B. Eyring, "O Ye That Embark," Ensign, Nov 2008
• "Making and keeping temple covenants also adds spiritual strength..."
• —Julie B. Beck, "And upon the Handmaids in Those Days Will I Pour Out My Spirit," Ensign, May 2010
• "Spiritual strength frequently comes through selfless service." 
• —President Thomas S. Monson, "Preparation Brings Blessings," Ensign, May 2010
• "Through our discipleship, we are able to receive the spiritual strength that we need to deal with the challenges of life."
• —President James E. Faust, "Discipleship," Ensign, Nov 2006
• "I am grateful for the spiritual strength and guidance the gift of the Holy Ghost has given me throughout my life."
• —Elder Robert D. Hales, "The Covenant of Baptism:To Be in the Kingdom and of the Kingdom," Ensign, Nov 2000

And one non-General Conference bonus:

• "As you adhere to the standards of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, you will . . . gain protection and spiritual strength in complete obedience.”
• —Elder Russell M. Nelson, BYU-Hawaii commencement address, 9 April 2011

Even simply by skimming the results of this search, the way to develop spiritual strength becomes clear: keep the commandments. Pray, make and keep temple covenants, work on developing Christlike attributes, love and serve, seek the guidance and companionship of the Holy Ghost, etc. Spiritual strength is developed in doing spiritual things.

Conclusion

As we strive to develop spiritual strength, we must rely on the Savior, who is the source of all strength.¹² The Savior told the early Saints, "as many as received me gave I power to do many miracles, and to become the sons of God; and even unto them that believed on my name gave I power to obtain eternal life."¹³ The promise of miracles and power to overcome the world and obtain eternal life can be ours too, if we come unto Christ desiring to be perfected in Him.¹⁴ President Ezra Taft Benson taught, "By his grace [meaning Jesus Christ] we receive an endowment of blessing and spiritual strength that may eventually lead us to eternal life if we endure to the end."¹⁵

The Lord is the source of all spiritual strength. May we strive to develop such strength that we may overcome the trials of life and be happy and gain eternal life with our Father in Heaven and our families.

Jeremy

1. History of the Church, 5:134–35.

2. Abraham 3:25

3. Mosiah 2:41

4. see Isaiah 5:20

5. Mosiah 16:4

6. Alma 34:9

7. Alma 34:17

8. Romans 3:23

9 Mosiah 3:19

10. see 1 Nephi 8:23

11. Jacob 6:11

12. For more about the Lord as our strength, try searching "strength" simply in the Old Testament, or even just in The Book of Psalms or Isaiah.

13. D&C 45:8

14. Moroni 10:32

15. "Redemption Through Jesus Christ After All We Can Do," Liahona, Dec 1988

In the Service of the Savior

In the song I’m Trying to Be like Jesus I specifically love the line in the second verse-

“I’m trying to love my neighbor; I’m learning to serve my friends.” (Children's Song, #78)

The love that Christ has for each of us is ever present in the love others show us and the love we show through service of our own. In “trying to be like Jesus” we help to accomplish and further his work.

In the June 2010 Ensign Alison Palmer wrote,

 “Accepting service and giving service back lightens our own load, and, in turn, lifts those who serve us. Everyone is blessed as we strive to listen to the Spirit and do things as the Lord would have us do them.” ("Accepting and Giving Service," Ensign, June 2010)

Letting people serve you gives them the chance to be Christ-like, if we do not allow others to help us, we are depriving them of the opportunity to be a tool in the hands of the Savior and we are not giving ourselves the chance to humbly acknowledge the hand of the Lord expressed through the love of others. 

To further address this, M. Russell Ballard says, 

"It is only when we love God and Christ with all of our hearts, souls, and minds that we are able to share this love with our neighbors through acts of kindness and service—the way that the Savior would love and serve all of us if He were among us today.

When this pure love of Christ—or charity—envelops us, we think, feel, and act more like Heavenly Father and Jesus would think, feel, and act. Our motivation and heartfelt desire are like unto that of the Savior. He shared this desire with His Apostles on the eve of His Crucifixion. He said:

“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you. …

“By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:34–35).

The love the Savior described is an active love. It is not manifested through large and heroic deeds but rather through simple acts of kindness and service.

There are myriad ways and circumstances in which we can serve and love others." (Finding Joy through Loving Service, April 2011 General Conference)

As I read and studied this song I was eager to serve. I wanted to be as “like Jesus” as possible by serving. But, due an accident I've recently been in, I am now extremely limited in my capacity to help even myself, let alone anyone else. So, in an attempt to do all that I can, I have been observing and doing my best to show gratitude for those around me that are striving to “be like Jesus.”  I have watched numerous doors be opened without a second thought and seen a touching eagerness to help in my new roommates. Just this morning one of them graciously helped me pull back my hair. It is humbling to have to accept help for a task you have, in the past, so easily done for yourself. It creates an appreciation for what you have, had and what is currently being given to you. In developing an appreciation for the things you have you draw closer to the Lord, expanding your ability to feel the spirit and, in turn, recognize how to better serve. What a beautiful circle of Christ-like love.

We must follow in the footsteps of the Savoir; we must learn of him, understand him and use his atonement in our daily lives. The closer we draw to Christ, the more we spend time with him, the greater his influence in our lives will be. Like living with roommates and family members, we pick up the habits- good and bad- of those with whom we spend the most time. If we diligently surround ourselves with the things of the Savior, we will slowly but surely develop his habits- serving more effectively, teaching and learning better, and loving deeper. 

“Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen.”(Mosiah 7:48)

 I have heard my whole life that “you love those you serve” but it is only until recently that I have come to realize that if you acknowledge with gratitude the service being given, you love those who serve you. How then, can our hearts not be constantly filled with love for the Savior?

Elisabeth

Becometh As A Child

"At the same time came the disciples into Jesus saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?

"And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,

"And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

"Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is in greatest in the kingdom of heaven." (Matt 18:1-4)

These words the Savior spoke to His disciples in the midst of His earthy sojourn. In the aftermath of the destruction in the Americas following His crucifixion, Jesus Christ taught:

"Therefore, whoso repenteth and cometh into me as a little child, him will I receive, for of such is the kingdom of God.” (3 Nephi 9:22)

What does it mean to become as a little child, why are children the greatest in the kingdom of heaven, and how are we to become like children that we, too, may inherit the kingdom of God? The Book of Mormon prophet King Benjamin taught:

“For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been since the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father." (Mosiah 3:19)

We learn from King Benjamin that in order to become as a child, we must follow the promptings of the Holy Spirit and put off the natural man. We must try to be like Jesus and do the things that we have seen Him do (see 3 Nephi 18:24; 27:21). Children are the greatest in the kingdom of heaven because they are so precious an innocent. They are not so jaded by the world and are quicker to show love. They are closer to their Father in Heaven, trusting, humble, submissive, and possess each of the Christlike attributes that we must develop as we are trying to be like Jesus. Children are greatest in the kingdom of heaven because they are pure.

But how do we become as little children with all of our day-to-day stressors, how do we simply trust God when His teachings so often conflict with the teachings of the world, and how do we persist during those times in which we are tempted to make a wrong choice? As we are trying to be like Jesus and follow in His ways, how can we know that we are being successful in putting off the natural man even though we may not see immediate, measurable improvement?

In answer to these concerns, President Henry B. Eyring counseled:

"For all of us it may be hard to see in our lives an increasing power to love and to see ourselves becoming more like the Savior, our perfect example. I wish to encourage you. You have had evidences that you are moving along the road to becoming more like Jesus. It will help to remember how you have felt, at times, like a little child, even in the midst of cares and trials.... Think of the times you felt, perhaps recently, as those little children did singing, 'I’m trying to be like Jesus; I’m following in his ways.'... You have felt the peace of a pure little child at times when you have tried to be like Jesus.

“I hope you will go out today looking for opportunities to do as He did and to love as He loves. I can promise you the peace that you felt as a child will come to you often and it will linger with you." (“Our Perfect Example,” Ensign, Nov 2009)

We can have the assurance that we are on the pathway to becoming like the Savior as we try to love our neighbors and learn to serve our friends. Remember that all are our neighbors and all are children of our Heavenly Father. The key to becoming as a little child lies in the chorus to the Primary song quoted by President Eyring:

“Love one another as Jesus loves you.
Try to show kindness in all that you do.
Be gentle and loving in deed and in thought,
For these are the things Jesus taught.”

(Children’s Songs, #78)

Friends, try to remember the lessons taught by the Savior. Serve others, be kind, lift up the hands which hang down and strengthen the feeble knees. When the path of discipleship, the road to eternal life, gets difficult, remember the day of gladness when Jesus will come again. Lose yourself in the service of others. All will be made right through His Atonement. As we try to be like Jesus, we will all receive the blessings of leading a Christlike and childlike life.

Jeremy