Isn't that a dismal word? I will admit I am prone to doubting. I doubt my abilities, I doubt my possibilities, and I doubt others sometimes too. In the latest General Conference, President Dieter F. Uchtdorf spoke about NOT doubting (as you can see from the photo above).
Recently, I was reading in the book of Alma (chapters 56 and 57) one of the greatest stories of the Book of Mormon. I was reading about the Stripling Warriors.
"47 Now they never had fought, yet they did not fear death; and they did think more upon the aliberty of their bfathers than they did upon their lives; yea, they had been taught by their cmothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them.
48 And they rehearsed unto me the words of their amothers, saying: We bdo not doubt our mothers knew it."
Wow. They had never fought in war, but they didn't fear death. And why didn't they fear? Because they knew what and who they were fighting for. And, they also repeated in their minds the words and teachings of their mothers.
Growing up, I heard the words, "Keep the commandments! In this there is safety and peace!" as I got out of the car for school each day. Other times, my mom would call out, "Always have a prayer in your heart!"
Then, in Alma 57: 20-21, it says:
"20 And as the remainder of our army were about to give way before the Lamanites, behold, those two thousand and sixty were firm and undaunted.
21 Yea, and they did aobey and observe to perform every word of command with exactness; yea, and even according to their faith it was done unto them; and I did remember the words which they said unto me that their bmothers had taught them."
These 2,060 performed EVERY word with exactness. There is a phrase you hear quite often in the mission -- "obedience brings blessings; exact obedience brings miracles."
The story continues to say that though nearly all had battle wounds, none were killed. Isn't that amazing? And it was because of their perseverance and dedication to keeping the commandments that they weren't killed. Not only that, but they continued remembering the words their mothers had taught them.
Most of us don't live at home anymore, but we can always remember the words of our mothers. And, if our mothers weren't good examples, we have people in our lives who have influenced us greatly whose teachings stay with us long after we have moved away. In any case, I know I have been greatly blessed by the teachings of my mother. And that if I know who and what I'm fighting for, I can remain "firm and undaunted" in keeping the commandments with exactness.
Finally, I was reading this morning in "Daughters in My Kingdom" and I loved this quote:
"“Whenever … temptations became most alluring and most tempting to me, the first thought that arose in my soul was this: Remember the love of your mother. Remember how she strove for your welfare. Remember how willing she was to sacrifice her life for your good. Remember what she taught you in your childhood. … This feeling toward my mother became a defense, a barrier between me and temptation.”
So, I ask you ... what have you been taught?
