Stories about David and Goliath, Ammon at the waters of Sebus, and the stripling warriors are nothing but good stories unless we are able to emulate the great faith which was the foundation for each success. Faith will forever remain an ethereal concept unless we exhibit courage without concern for ourselves, follow every command with exactness, rely on the Lord, believe in the teachings of our mothers, and exhibit faith without doubting. Many believe that Peter walked, for a time, on the surface of the Sea of Galilee, but few would have been courageous enough to say to the Lord, bid me come unto thee on the water (Matt 14:28). Many believe that David killed Goliath, but how many would have said to Saul, “I will go and fight with this Philistine” (1 Sam 17:32). While we believe the story of the stripling warriors, how would we have responded to the question, ’what say ye, my sons, will ye go against them to battle’ (v. 44)?
While believing in the scriptures, we still seem to get stuck in a quagmire of faithlessness. While we believe in great stories, we don’t emulate great faith. While we know the Lord is soon to come again, we don’t act like the generation foreordained to usher in the Millenium. Certainly, the latter-day armies of Israel need to fight as did the sons of Helaman, who could not be slain because they fought as if with the strength of God. The secret to this great source of ultimate power, ironically, is the first principle of the gospel—Faith.
“The war is on. Satan is real. He attacks, but we have the upper hand. We have the means to defend ourselves; we know how to prepare ourselves, how to avoid the fiery darts of temptation by putting on the armor of Christ (see ”Eph. 6:12“Eph. 6:13”Eph. 6:14“Eph. 6:15”Eph. 6:16"Eph. 6:17Ephesians 6:12-17). We do this by making our will and the Lord’s will the same—by choosing what he would want us to choose, doing what he would want us to do, saying what he would want us to say.
"In this battle we have a leader—the Lord Jesus Christ. Will we listen to this commander? Of course! If we really believe that this earthly war is real, we will listen to and follow him and his servants. We will humbly and gratefully submit to his will and guidance. We will plead and pray for his direction. We will obey just as the Sons of Helaman did—with exactness—and receive the blessings of obedience which are safety and happiness.
“The Savior, our leader, knows we can win this war. He and our Heavenly Father have great confidence in us. And they have promised us great blessings.” (Ed and Patricia Pinegar, Why Say No When the World Says Yes? Resisting Temptation in an Immoral World, compiled by Randal A. Wright, pp. 4 - 5.)
Gordon B. Hinckley
“[You are] out there as the sons of Helaman in a world that is full of destructive influences… . But if you put your trust in the Almighty and follow the teachings of this Church and cling to it notwithstanding your wounds, you will be preserved and blessed and magnified and made happy.”(LDS Church News, 09/21/96)
Ezra Taft Benson
“Men and women who turn their lives over to God will discover that He can make a lot more out of their lives than they can. He will deepen their joys, expand their vision, quicken their minds, strengthen their muscles, lift their spirits, multiply their blessings, increase their opportunities, comfort their souls, raise up friends, and pour out peace” (“Jesus Christ—Gifts and Expectations,” Christmas Devotional, Salt Lake City, Dec. 7, 1986).