The Queen's Battles

A Queen of royal birth in her country has her own armies to fight the battles. Sometimes they fight to conquer other kingdoms, or to gain power. Sometimes they fight to defend and maintain a kingdom.

As women and mothers in today’s world--obviously not a Queen of a country, but as Queens in the making for the Eternal realms, our homes are spiritually speaking our country and kingdom. And unlike a Queen of country, we have no Queen’s army to fight the battles. But battles we must face of every kind. Sometimes the battle is simply on the home front. It may be nothing more than the battle of the laundry and missing socks. It may be the battle of the endless meals and dishes. It may be the battle of the dust bunnies, or the weeds that never stop growing, or just the endless household chores that women face each day. Then there are the battles with the children, or the husband, or other relationships, or maybe the battle of no husband, or a loss of a loved one. There are financial battles. There are broken appliances battles. And so on.
But this post is about another kind of battle. And it is on no ordinary battle ground. This battle is an inward, spiritual battle. It’s a battle for our souls.

President Ezra Taft Benson said, “The greatest battles we will ever face will be within the silent chambers of our own soul.” (Ensign, Sept. 1988, pg 2)

These are the toughest battles. We fight: fear, inadequacy, self-confidence, appearance, weight, health, loneliness, rejection, discouragement, depression, pain, unhappiness, being judged unfairly, self-worth, guilt, myriads of choices and decisions---many of them just trying to discern the best choices from tons of good choices. Sometimes we face persecution, even from those close to us, even persecution for trying to live the gospel. Every day we are in need of repenting and forgiving. Just watching the news can sap all the joy out of you with anxieties for what tomorrow will bring.

As daunting as these battles are, we are really up against something far worst. Our greatest enemy, the one who riddles us with all the negative feelings that come into our lives is none other than Satan himself. In Ephesians 6:12 we read, “For 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.” Satan is the enemy of all righteousness. In the pre-existence was a Son of the Morning, and his name was Lucifer. When he fell from heaven, the heavens wept over him. (D&C 79:26) Why did he fall? Because he wanted power and glory. He was selfish. He was prideful. He loves only himself. He has now become the father of all lies. He wants everyone to be miserable like himself. He stirs up iniquity and causes contention, and rejoices in it. He uses every strategy known (but not necessarily known to men) to cause people to sin and be lead away from God. Because we have the veil over our eyes he has something of an advantage over us because he knows things about us from the pre-existence that we do not remember about ourselves. He has legions of his angels working with him, a whole third of the hosts of heaven that fell with him. He can transform himself into an angel of light. He can produce miracles and manifestations, though false. He can possess the bodies of man because he is only a spirit. He still believes that he can win this war and that he has power to become a God.
C. S. Lewis said, “Pride is the power by which Satan wishes to reign over us.”

I mention all these things about Satan, not to induce fear, but I feel really strongly that we need to be aware of who the true enemy is, and what he can do. That is one of the first strategies and victories in the battle. Know Satan and be aware that he is never far, trying all he can to make you loose not only small battles, but the great spiritual war that we are in. Satan will try to divert us away from thinking about what this life really is, a battle for our souls. Any diversion from spiritual things is one of Satan’s greatest weapons---he may not be able to get us to be bad---but he can direct us and distract us away from many of the things that we need to be doing to really progress as the Lord would have us.

The great news is, we are not left without hope or without help! God has sent us numerous “weapons” to use that are of greater power than anything Satan can come up with, even with his “principalities, powers, ruling of the darkness, and spiritual wickedness in high places.”

In 2 Nephi 1:23 and Ephesians 6:13-18 the Lord tells us to “put on the whole armor of God that ye may stand against the wiles of the devil.” Then he tells us what that armor is.

TRUTH - learn it, know it! The truth will make you free of Satan’s grasp. Satan can and will try to deceive us in every possible way. Truth will protect our most vulnerable spots.

RIGHTEOUSNESS - keep the commandments, be obedient, do what we know we should--even with exactness like the 2000 stripling warriors, shew forth good works. It’s our breastplate--it will be a shield to another vital spot, the heart.

PEACE - by trusting the Lord and keeping hope with us we will be fearless. Our feet will be shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. With fearlessness we will not be paralyzed and will continue to move forward.

FAITH - use it! Exercise it! Practice it in every possible way! In Ephesians 6:16 it says, “Above all…” --it’s the most important thing!-- “…taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.” Again, it’s going to take some wielding of this shield for it to be effective. Use it!

KNOWLEDGE - Knowledge is power! What more can be said. It’s our “Helmet of Salvation.“ Study the scriptures, the words of our prophets and apostles and good gospel literature.

PRAYER - We are told to pray always. In our recent General Conference Elder Bednar spoke extensively about making our prayers more meaningful. Everywhere in the scriptures it warns us to watch and pray always and not faint.

You’ve probably read or heard this great quote dozens of times by Ezra Taft Benson:

“In all ages prophets have looked down through the corridors of time to our day. Billions of the deceased and those yet to be born have their eyes on us. Make no mistake about it—this is a marked generation. There has never been more expected of the faithful in such a short period of time than there is of us. Never before on the face of this earth have the forces of evil and the forces of good been so well organized.”

He goes on to say, “Now is the great day of the devil’s power. But now is also the great day of the Lord’s power, with the greatest number of priesthood holders on the earth. Each day the forces of evil and the forces of good enlist new recruits. Each day we personally make many decisions showing the cause we support. The final outcome is certain—the forces of righteousness will win.”But here’s the part where OUR battle comes in:

“…what remains to be seen is where each of us personally, now and in the future, will stand in this battle—and how tall we will stand. Will we be true to our last days and fulfill our foreordained missions? Great battles can make great heroes and heroines. We will never have a better opportunity to be valiant in a more crucial cause than in the battle we face today and in the immediate future...each of us has his or her own battlefield. The tactics which the enemy will use against us will vary from time to time. He will seek to exploit our weak spots, so we must be alert to the devil’s devious designs—the subtle sins and clever compromises as well as the obvious offenses.”
(This awesome talk is called “In His Steps” and can be found in the Sept. 1988 Ensign page 2.)

Queens, we CAN fight and we CAN win! “…shall we not go on in so great a cause? Courage…and on, on to the victory!” (I could not resist using that phrase because I love it! Doctrine & Covenants 128:22) Here’s a quote I found years ago that helped me through a difficult trial, and it has always been there in my head whenever I need it:
“We should never let Satan fool us into thinking that all is lost. Let us take pride in the good and right things we have done; reject and cast out of our lives those things that are wrong; look to the Lord for forgiveness, strength, and comfort; and then move onward.” (President Howard W. Hunter) Isn’t that awesome! Just like D&C 128:22 “...Go forwards and not backwards...” It’s so important to keep trying and to not waste time beating ourselves up inside for things that we maybe should have done but didn’t, or things that we did, but wish we hadn’t. If we turned those thoughts around and used it towards thinking positively, having hope in the Savior’s Atonement, and being grateful, think of how much it would empower us, instead of being drug down by things that can no longer be changed.

We had Elder Charles Didier of the Presidency of the Seventies visit our stake conference about 3 years ago, and he spoke of the battles we face. He likened it to a real war saying, “A battle is lost when a soldier decides he just can’t do it anymore.” He said “In our battle of mortality against Satan, we must NOT retreat or surrender. We must hold the fort!”
As Queen’s our “fort” or “kingdom” is our home. But it is also our hearts. Because ultimately, the only battle that will count is the one we wage ourselves, and what that final outcome will be. I mentioned a thought in my “Queen’s Heart” post about seeking for Zion, and how Zion is the pure in heart, and that we must look for Zion in our own hearts. President Harold B. Lee, on the subject of people gathering to Zion, said: “…there is just as much safety wherever you are, if you are living and keeping the commandments of God. It’s how we live---not where.”

Elder Didier also said that a valid temple recommend is a spiritual passport. Do we hold one? And do we use it? As we come out of the temple we are promised to be armed with the spirit of God and with angels on all sides! “I will go before your face…on the right and on the left…and angels round about you.” (D&C 84:88)

Which brings me to one of my favorite scripture stories, in 2 Kings 6:16-17 where Elisah the prophet was in the city of Israel and awakened one morning by his servant to find the city surrounded with the armies of the Syrians on horses and chariots. And the servant was afraid and asked him what they were going to do. And Elisah answers, “Fear not, for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.”
That is so inspiring, because if we would but have that kind of faith, we would see how many of those on the other side are surrounding the hosts of Satan and how the battle for righteousness will be won!

There is much that we can do to stand tall in our battles. We have weapons we can wield and use. But ultimately, we have the Savior, Jesus Christ. President Benson said that when Christ walked the earth, he won every battle he faced. “He is the most successful warrior that ever walked the earth, and He wants to help us win every battle, be it personal or public. When we fall short, His atonement will compensate for us on condition of our repentance. Jesus knows His kingdom will triumph, and He wants us to triumph with it. He knows in advance every strategy the enemy will use against us and the kingdom. He knows our weaknesses and He knows our strengths. By personal revelation, we may discover some of our strengths through careful and prayerful study of our patriarchal blessing. In prayer we can ask Him to reveal to us our weaknesses so that we can amend our lives.” (Again, in his great talk, “In His Steps”)

In “The Best of Women’s Conference Talks” page 304-305 Gerald Lund also spoke of our mortal battlefield. He said, “The Fall was necessary to gain a battlefield, and thus began the plan of God…life comes down to one word: warfare…the ultimate battle is absolutely individual.”

You might gather that I love to “collect” quotes. The smallest quote, when memorized and repeated at times of difficulties, can give so much strength in overcoming. As I was preparing for this I looked at my walls in front of my study table (I’m lucky enough to have created a special little place for me to study the gospel) and I couldn’t believe how many of them pertained to battles. I guess that is what brought me to my knees in the first place, and whenever you turn to the Lord in times of great needs, his answer is often going to be, study the scriptures. Here are some of my weapons of war:

“The smallest good act today is the capture of a strategic point from which, a few months later, you may be able to go on to victories you never dreamed of.” C. S. Lewis

“Don’t be discouraged at seemingly overwhelming odds in your desire to live and help others to live God’s commandments. At times it may seem like David trying to fight Goliath. But remember, David did win.” Elder David B. Haight

“With God’s help, you cannot fail. He will give you the courage to participate in meaningful change and purposeful living.” Elder Marvin J. Ashton

“As the forces around us increase in intensity, whatever spiritual strength was once sufficient will not be enough.” Elder Henry B. Eyring (and this was back in about 2000)

“Our fear is part of what gives Satan his power.” Blaine Yorgason

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Phillipians 4:13

“When Satan is bound in a single home---in a single life---the millennium has already begun in that home, in that life.” President Spencer W. Kimball
Have you ever had an experience where someone offended you, or where something unjust and unfair happened to you when you did nothing to deserve it? Or have you had an experience where you feel you try and try to be charitable towards someone with nothing in return? Do you ever feel used or unappreciated? If so, ponder upon this scripture and see if it helps you as much as it does me:
“If they have not charity it mattereth not unto thee, thou hast been faithful; wherefore thy garments shall be made clean. And because thou has seen thy weakness though shalt be made strong, even unto the sitting down in the place that I have prepared in the mansions of my Father.” Ether 12:37 Just keep repeating in your mind, “If they have not charity it mattereth not unto me.” What is important is that you have charity regardless.

Another great quote I picked up somewhere, “Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.”

Most battles do not show up on the outside. We can be walking around and seem perfectly normal, but inside our heart can be breaking because of the battle we are fighting. And it often seems there is no where to turn, only to find in the end that the help was there all along, if we only had used our faith and turned to the Lord and trusted in him. The battle might have been a little easier. An important mention here is that whatever you do, conduct your life in every way worthy to keep the Spirit with you and you will be guided right.

We can learn so much on fighting our battles from the many wars in the Book of Mormon. If you ever wondered why there is so much on war in that book, the Lord knew what we would most need. For instance, the 2000 Stripling Warriors. They were young and inexperienced. But they were taught by their mothers, nothing doubting, that if they put their faith in the Lord, and fought in His strength they would be protected. Not only this, they obeyed their Captain, Helaman with exactness. And they fought with strength and valor and though many of their good and righteous brethern, the Nephites, were killed in the battles, and though many of the Stripling Warriors were wounded, not one of them ever lost their life!

This has turned out to be a very long post. I guess you can tell I am passionate on this subject because of the blessings the Lord has given me in the form of my own personal battles. I have a testimony that our battles can and will bring us closer to Heavenly Father and especially to the Savior, Jesus Christ who is the mediator to our Heavenly Father. The reason I wanted to do this blog in the first place is to share with others my testimony and the things that I’ve learned. If I could uplift and inspire any reader by just one thought, it would be worth my time. But I have to admit, I have fought a great battle in continuing on with this blog. I’m not sure if it’s my own inadequacy or lack of confidence that has made me think of bagging it, or if Satan wants me to throw in the towel so that I will not stand tall in the war against him. So, if anything keeps me going, it is because of my great desire in helping to defeat him and thwart his purposes, and to help anyone who is willing to take the time to read this, to encourage them to stand tall, stand fast, and don’t give up! We can win! We can win it individually, and we can win it collectively as we lift and encourage each other.

Here are some great links for more reading on this subject. I love Meridian Magazine and it’s a great supplement for my scripture studies. If you will read from your scriptures each day, and then supplement it with a great article or something from the Ensign or the myriads of other great church literature we have out there, including our Priesthood/RS manuals, I promise that you will definitely notice an increase in your spiritual strength in no time at all! And don’t forget to pray! What a powerful weapon you will then find you wield.

“We Are All Warriors” by G.G. Vandagriff
http://www.meridianmagazine.com/articles/080415warriors.html

“Overcoming Opposition” by D. Bryce Baker
http://www.meridianmagazine.com/articles/070330opposition.html

“Why Do Some Trials Continue Despite Faith and Prayers” by Mark Chamberlain
http://www.meridianmagazine.com/articles/050610trials.html

“When Life’s Storms Arise” by Sean E. Brotherson
http://www.meridianmagazine.com/articles/060316storms.html

“Putting Our Trust in the Lord” by Wendy Rojas
http://meridianmagazine.com/articles/060712trust.html

“Today’s Striplings” by Paul Bishop
http://meridianmagazine.com/articles/060410striplings.html

“How To Overcome Fear” by Truman Madsen
http://meridianmagazine.com/articles/010209fear.html

“Gifts and Challenges of Chronic Illnesses” by Darla Isackson
http://www.meridianmagazine.com/articles/060308illness.html

And I have another really great one called "No Where Else To Turn" by Ted Gibbons but I don't know where it came from. I spent an hour looking on Meredian for it, and that is how I found all these other great articles! I will be glad to email it to you upon request.