The Lord instructed David Patten to "settle up" his business in preparation to serve as a missionary the following year. Alma and Nephi similarly gave up their government positions so that they could dedicate themselves to the ministry. We need to eliminate commitments which might divert resources from our most important goals and responsibilities.
The Shield of Faith
Like a shield deflecting fiery darts, faith protects and empowers us to press forward. Elder Boyd K. Packer and Sister Joy D. Jones have emphasized building faith at home. Parents can help children prepare spiritually, so they face life’s challenges with confidence, armed with their own handcrafted shields of faith.
“Thou Hast Been Enlightened”
We may receive an answer to a prayer before we realize that we have received an answer to a prayer. God explained to Oliver Cowdery that he had been enlightened many times by the Spirit of Truth. Jesus declared that a group of Lamanites had been baptized by fire without being aware of it. They had experienced the miracle, but they didn't yet have the gospel context to fully grasp its meaning.
Founded Upon a Rock
Both the Savior and Helaman taught us to build our lives on a solid foundation. We will all experience storms, but if we our foundation is securely connected to Jesus Christ, we will be better positioned to withstand them.
“I Am Jesus Christ”
When the Savior visited the people at the temple in Bountiful, He introduced Himself concisely and powerfully. He provided context for His arrival, identified what He does for us, and explained the atoning sacrifice He had offered on our behalf.
Samuel the Lamanite on the Burden of Freedom
Samuel the Lamanite concisely synthesized the teachings of prior Book of Mormon prophets into a sobering statement about agency: You own your choices and their consequences, including the choice to repent.
Helaman 5 and 3 Nephi
The miracle experienced by Nephi and Lehi in the Lamanite prison mirrors the experience of the Nephites and the Lamanites when the Savior visited. Both experiences teach us that we have access to divine power and help when we open our hearts to God.
The Spiritual Power of Remembering
Our brains are designed to forget. Every day, we forget far more than we remember. Our brains naturally select some knowledge for retention, but it is up to us to intentionally remember the most important things, especially the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
“Repentance…Bringeth Unto the Power of the Redeemer”
Only Jesus can save us. He doesn't save us as we are; He saves us by changing us, making us holy. We indicate our willingness to be transformed by repenting. As we follow His "conditions of repentance," we open the door to be transformed by His grace.
A Call from Arms
The Lamanites who were converted buried their weapons. This act of consecration is so remarkable that it appears many times in the Book of Mormon, including a final invitation from Mormon to us. President Nelson has also invited us to bury our weapons.