the enemy shall not overcome

"Wherefore, gird up your loins and be prepared. Behold, the kingdom is yours, and the enemy shall not overcome." Doctrine & Covenants 38:9

As I read the Ensign yesterday, I was struck deeply by an talk given at the October conference 1946 by Elder John Widtsoe. He begins, "The world is in a disturbed condition. There is discouragement everywhere. No man seems to see the end from the beginnning. I have pondered in my heart for some time what my obligation is in this state of worldly confusion...There is a world cry for peace...so with peace. It is not a thing by itself to be picked up casually; but it is the fruit of something precedent. Like the tree, something must be planted and nourished and cared for if we are to obtain peace."

Today the plea is not only for peace but for safety, liberty, security, and privacy. Can we have all these things and maintain our uncivil and unvirtuous attitudes?

“He has given to us the kingdom. He has made us the promise that the enemy of the kingdom shall not overcome. We may have trouble. We have had trouble. We may meet with opposition, but that opposition shall fail in its endeavor to destroy the work of God...The Lord has called attention to the fact that he is going to destroy systems and organizations and combinations that are false. And how is he going to do it? By giving their members the truth, if they will receive it; by giving them the privilege of coming out of those organizations to receive the truth and have every opportunity to come into his kingdom, for his hand is outstretched ready to greet them. If they will not come; if they will not receive his message; then, of course, they must fall with their systems. Truth will prevail; truth will stand when all else is removed, and it is destined to cover the face of the earth.” (Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 1:241.)

Sadly, America has joined in with some of the organizations, systems, and combination that are false. However, we are promised that the enemy shall not overcome. What then are we to expect in this time where the kingdom of God and the pseudo-kingdom of Satan are at such odds right in front of our faces and even in some of our homes?

"Therefore, be ye strong from henceforth; fear not for the kingdom is yours." Doctrine & Covenants 38:12

Elder Widtsoe gave plenty of good advise in his talk that would bring us peace, safety, liberty, security, and even a little privacy.

1. Peace is a result of obedience to the Gospel.

2. We have an obligation to teach the truth.

3. We must supplant evil with good.

4. God's work is eternal.

I have been a stay at home mom for most of three decades. My obligation to teach the truth during that stage in my life pertained mostly to my children. "A wise parent would never miss a chance to gather children together to learn of the doctrine of Jesus Christ. Such moments are rare in comparison with the efforts of the enemy. for every hour the power 9of doctrine is introduced into a child's life, there may be hundreds of hours of messages and images denying or ignoring the saving truths. The question should not be whether we are too tired to prepare to teach doctrine or whether it would be better to draw a child closer by just having fun or whether the child is beginning to think that we preach too much. The question must be, 'With so little time and so few opportunities, what words of doctrine from me will fortify them against the attacks on their faith which are sure to come?' The words you speak today may be the ones they remember. and today will soon be gone." (Henry B. Eyring, Ensign, April 2009, 6)

I didn't always heed the advise above and certainly reaped the consequences. During the time when my children were the most demanding, I was always so exhausted. I didn't realize then that it was one of the many trials I was to go through during my earthly sojourn. God was asking me, 'will you still live up to your obligations to teach my children during this time? Did you supplant the evil they learned outside your home with good? Did you teach them My truth? Did you teach them how to obtain peace and hope?'