Having Faith - A Choice, Not Chance

As I was fasting the other day, I did a search on my phone in the Gospel Library app for Captain Moroni. In doing so I came across a great article given by Elder Joseph B. Worthlin in the February 2008 Ensign entitled Band of Brothers  The overall theme of the article, using the term "brotherhood" to include both men and women in the church, was the following:

"Establishing a bond of brotherhood is critical. If those who serve with you feel mutual love and trust, the work of the Lord will thrive and heaven will aid you in your efforts."

In this marvelous article, Elder Worthlin discusses the "Easy Company" from World War II. They were an elite group of Army paratroopers that were highly trained in the skills of war. The went through a rigorous training and because of the nature of their activities, they had to be completely unified and dedicated to their cause. Elder Worthlin discusses their efforts to establish a band of brotherhood and then discusses men of our day who established that brotherhood such as " Joseph, Hyrum, and Samuel Smith; Parley and Orson Pratt; Brigham Young; Heber C. Kimball; Wilford Woodruff. They... formed a great band of brothers who, though very different in personality and background, were all united by a common goal: to serve their God and build His kingdom on earth."

A Great Cause

Elder Worthlin then goes on to talk about the importance of a great cause. He talks about Captain Moroni and his cause and the ability he had to rally his people to that cause. He also discusses Helaman and the strippling warriors and the courage they had, in the face of tremendous danger and challenging situations, to move forward with faith, and unshaken confidence saying, " Behold our God is with us and he will not suffer that we should fall," (See Alma 56:46). What was that cause that both Captain Moroni and Helaman and the strippling warriors represented? It was the "cause of the Christians," or in other words, the Cause of Christ.

The Cause of Christ

What is the Cause of Christ? The answer is found in Moses 1:39:

"For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man."

All of us, as individuals, parents, leaders in the church or the community, or whatever position or calling we may hold, as covenant members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, have committed to be a part of and uphold Christ's Cause. We have a responsibility to strive to create an overall bond of brotherhood with those over whom we have a stewardship as well as our friends and neighbors. We are living in the last days, and as you know, the war with Satan and all those who have subjected themselves to him, is only intensifying. The war that started in Heaven so long ago rages on. 

Like Captain Moroni of old, we face a living enemy that greatly outnumbers us. Additionally, as the apostle Paul stated to the Ephesians, " ...we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."

The Title of Liberty

When faced with great danger from enemies within the Nephites, Captain Moroni did not flinch. Rather, he tore his own coat open and wrote, "In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children." He then fastened that title to a pole, knelt in mighty prayer asking that God would favor the cause of the Christians and the freedom of the land, and went forth waving the "Title of Liberty" rallying people to his cause (See Alma 46:12-13, 19-20).

We too must raise "Titles of Liberty" in our own lives today and strive to rally our families, friends, and everyone we can to those standards. We must raise the title of our own personal testimonies and become truly converted. We must do all we can to raise the same title in our homes by building and strengthening the testimonies of our families. We must have the courage to stand fast in the Cause of Christ and serve as His witnesses in all things, all places, and all times.

Additionally, we must support the cause of freedom by befriending our national "Title of Liberty", even the United States Constitution as the Lord commands in D&C 98:6 and keep in mind that the Lord said,

"And as pertaining to law of man, whatsoever is more or less than this [speaking of the constitution], cometh of evil (See D&C 98:7)."

We must remember that the Savior taught the Nephites in 3 Nephi 21:4 that this nation would be "set up as a free people by the power of the Father, that [the gospel] might come forth." For that to happen, God raised up good men who redeemed the land by the shedding of blood and established the United States Constitution (see D&C 101:80). It had to be in place in order for the restoration of the gospel to take place. We must also remember that our inspired constitution was not only written and established for the freedom of the United States, but, as the Lord states in D&C 98:5, it belongs to all mankind and and should be "maintained for the rights and protection of all flesh," according to just and holy principles, (See D&C 101:77). For the gospel of Jesus Christ to continue to thrive throughout the world, it is incumbent upon us, as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, who know like no other people the importance of our constitution, to do everything in our power to uphold that sacred "Title of Liberty". To do so, we must befriend the constitution as instructed and also do as it says in D&C 98:10 seeking out honest, wise men and women for political office and doing all we can to uphold them--all the while remembering, as the Lord says, that "whatsoever is less than these cometh of evil," (see D&C 98:7,10). We must have the determination to stand fast in the Cause of Christ and, like Captain Moroni, pray mightily for God's favor upon "the cause of the Christians" and also for the "freedom of the land," (See Alma 46:16).

On To Victory!

We have a daunting task. However, going back to Elder Worthlin's talk, we must not fear. We must be willing to work hard. We must move forward with faith. We must become the leaders in our own lives and for our families that God needs us to be. Elder Worthlin reminds us, " Great leaders communicate a vision that captures the imagination and fires the hearts and minds of those around them... if you want to create a band of brothers, you must inspire those who work with you and encourage them to give their all in a great cause."

Our great cause is Christ's Cause.  Tremendous is our responsibility. To close with the words from Joseph Smith, "Brethren [and sisters], shall we not go on in so great a cause? Go forward and not backward. Courage, brethren; and on, on to the victory!

---

Author

Randy McNeely is a father of five, an aspiring author as well as a singer/songwriter. He has written several patriotic songs, children’s songs and multiple religious hymns, including Oh Jesus, Savior of Mankind, which won a Special Recognition award in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints 2008 Music Submission contest.