In October 2015 our prophet President Nelson, then a member of the quorum of the
twelve apostles, spoke about raising a sin resistant generation. Not a generation free from sin,
not a generation untouched by sin, a sin resistant generation. This phrase is especially applicable as we address the plague of immorality, lust, and pornography. In times past this wickedness was like the river of filth spoken of in Lehi’s dream. To become involved in this filth, we had to figuratively, “go to the river.” In our day, things have
changed. This river of filthy water has risen, it has crested over it’s banks. It has become a
powerful flood, even a tidal wave.
No one will be left untouched or unaffected. This great temptation is found at every
turn; in music and movies, books, billboards, main stream television, in our living rooms, and in
the palms of our hands. It will take over our very minds, if we allow it.
We are commanded to be in this world, not of the world. How is this possible? How
can we fight it? How can we even survive this tidal wave, when we are, in a very real sense,
swimming for our lives?
In the 55th chapter of Alma, we read about a people in a parallel situation. Many of the
Nephites had been taken prisoner and held in the city of Gid. They were men women and
children. They were surrounded by Lamanites on every side.
The great Prophet and leader Moroni, devised a plan to free these people. He caused
that a small number of his men should deliver wine prepared in its strength to the Lamanite
guards. Verse 16 states “…and Moroni had prepared his men with weapons of war; and he
went to the city of Gid, while the Lamanites were in a deep sleep and drunken, and cast in
weapons of war unto the prisoners, insomuch that they were all armed;”. Further in vs. 20 we
read, “…he had obtained his desires; for he had armed those prisoners of the Nephites who
were within the wall of the city, and had given them power…”. These people were able to
escape. Yeah even their men, women and children were armed and given power. Like the
Nephites, we can be armed and given power to fight our enemies and escape the filthy tidal
wave of immorality, lust and pornography that surrounds us.
This power begins with Faith in Jesus Christ. The Bible dictionary tells us faith is a
principle of action and of power. That faith in Jesus Christ is more than belief, since true faith
always moves its possessor to some kind of physical and mental action.
Brothers and Sisters, is our faith in Jesus Christ moving us to physical and mental action?
We must act to fortify ourselves, our marriages, our families and our children. In Alma chapter
50 we can read of an example of faith that moved the people to physical and mental action.
We return to the great leader Moroni who caused his people to make preparations against their
enemies in an unusual manner. 1 And now it came to pass that Moroni did not stop making
preparations for war, or to defend his people against the Lamanites; for he caused that his
armies should commence in the commencement of the twentieth year of the reign of the
judges, that they should commence in digging up heaps of earth round about all the cities,
throughout all the land which was possessed by the Nephites.
2 And upon the top of these ridges of earth he caused that there should be timbers, yea, works
of timbers built up to the height of a man, round about the cities.
3 And he caused that upon those works of timbers there should be a frame of pickets built
upon the timbers round about; and they were strong and high.
4 And he caused towers to be erected that overlooked those works of pickets, and he caused
places of security to be built upon those towers, that the stones and the arrows of the
Lamanites could not hurt them.
5 And they were prepared…
6 Thus Moroni did prepare strongholds against the coming of their enemies, round about every
city in all the land.
10. And he also placed armies, that they might secure… their people from the hands of their
enemies.
11. And thus he cut off all the strongholds of the Lamanites…
This was true faith, physical and mental action to fortify the people against their
enemies. The people were blessed. In verse 23 we read, “But behold there never was a
happier time among the people of Nephi…”
We can have this same faith in our fight, we can take physical and mental action and we
can have assurance that we will be blessed. Practically speaking, what can we do to gain this
power and become armed? How can we build fortifications like Moroni’s army? How can we
move with the mental and physical action of true faith?
We can start by asking ourselves this question; What is the spirit prompting my heart
right now in this meeting, in this moment?
Is the spirit prompting you to follow Jesus Christ with more purpose of heart?
Is the spirit prompting you to see your bishop? To confess, to repent ?
Is the spirit prompting you to make specific changes in you behavior?
Is the spirit prompting you to more fully immerse yourself in the Book of Mormon?
Is the spirit prompting you to pray with more intent, to better receive the Holy Ghost , or to
follow personal revelation?
Is the spirit prompting you to better keep the sabbath day holy?
Is the spirit prompting you with any other specific action?
All of these actions, and more, will bring us power if we heed our individual promptings!
In addition to this power, we can be armed as we follow the prophet and our church
leaders. Our own Stake Presidency have been inspired to arm us with additional weapons in
our fight against pornography. We can listen and head their direction given this very night in
this session of stake conference. Brothers and sisters, we can have confidence in the Lord
Jesus Christ without reservation. He can do all things, He is mightier even than this tidal wave
of immorality, lust, and pornography. His power can buoy up those who are swimming for
safety. His power can strengthen those who are struggling to stay afloat. His power can
rescue those who are drowning. He will give us this power, yea, even to our men women and
children. I speak from experience and I bare you my personal witness that Jesus Christ can
heal us and through him we can become a sin resistant people. I love my savior Jesus Christ.
He is the answer, the solution, and the conclusion to every trial and every battle we face. In the
name of Jesus Christ. Amen