Keep our focus on Christ
We say this phrase a lot. In fact, it rolls off our tongue often.
However, to really do this takes continual effort. We trust the plan of our Father in Heaven. He
is in perfect control of each event happening in our lives. We help facilitate his bringing to pass
our eternal life by trusting him completely. As we practice putting off the natural man of worry,
and instead, trust our Father in Heaven, we grow in this capacity, line upon line. In the Book of
Mormon, we read where even Jacob, a prophet of God, expresses his fear of stumbling and
losing his own firmness of mind by being overly anxious about his own worries.
Behold, my beloved brethren, I will unfold this mystery unto you; if I do not, by any
means, get shaken from my firmness in the spirit, and stumble, because of my over
anxiety for you (Jacob 4:18). As we practice trusting rather than giving way to fear we come to receive the promise found in Isaiah “ Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth thee”
(Isaiah 26:3). As we follow this commandment, we are given the peace we need, which helps us to endure our trials with uprightness.
Be undaunted
Being undaunted means not allowing ourselves to become intimidated or
discouraged by difficulties, dangers, or disappointments. It is to be courageously, resolute.
During the great battle with the stripling warriors, Helaman tells us that there came a point during the battle, where the remainder of his army was about to “ give way before the Lamanites” they where bout to give in, give out, and allow themselves to be taken prisoner or killed. Notice here the descriptive words, Helaman uses in, “little band of two thousand” who fought most desperately.
Yea, they were firm before the Lamanites, and did administer death to all those who
opposed them . . . behold, those two thousand and sixty were firm and undaunted. Yea,
they did obey and observe to perform every word of command with exactness; yea, and
even according to their faith it was done unto them (Alma 57:19-21).
These young men knew what they were to accomplish. Their orders were clear. They were to
defend and hold their ground. It is equally important for each of us to stand our ground firm
and undaunted. Perhaps there are lines in the sand we have yet to draw. Let us go forth
undaunted, and meet our challenges with courage and resoluteness.
As we continually turn to our Savior, Jesus Christ, He will enable us to become pure in heart,
firm in our minds, and undaunted. Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be
established (Proverbs 16:3). Doing this is transformative in our spiritual growth. As we seek the
change of heart to become pure in heart, firm in our minds, and undaunted, let us remember Helaman's
inspiring counsel to his own sons who he was seeking to strengthen.
And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our redeemer, who is
Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall
send forth, his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and
his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down
to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock, upon which we are built, which
is a sure foundation, a foundation, whereon if men build, they cannot fall (Helaman 5:12).
These kids are cute 😊. We taught them a simple lesson about the Restoration
