Safety in Standards (8/1/24)

Message from Sister Barlow

Happy August, y’all! Here we are at the last week of the transfer. Thank you for your attendance in yesterday’s TKMTC as we went over Missionary Standards for Disciples of Jesus Christ and Safeguards for Technology. These come to us from the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

It’s interesting that we often see letters and introductions in publications from the First Presidency, but it’s not as common to see all 15 prophets together endorse something. In addition to Missionary Standards for Disciples of Jesus Christ, the Quorum of the Twelve and the Fist Presidency have endorsed together The Living Christ, The Family Proclamation, and the Restoration Proclamation. I just highlight this to remind us how important it is that we individually know these standards and strive to follow them with exactness. They are given to us to keep us safe physically, emotionally, and spiritually. 

A few weeks ago, I spent some time doing a personal inventory of where I am now and where I’d like to be. I listed the things I am doing well and some things I can do better to help me be a more consecrated missionary. I made the decision to get to work changing, rearranging priorities,  and eliminating things that pull me away from my goals.  I have felt more confidence and joy in doing this.

I invite each of you to do a personal inventory. Recognize and acknowledge the things you’re doing well and some things you could improve on. Make a plan and stick to it. A new transfer is a great time for a fresh start!

Have a great weekly planning tomorrow! Remember your missionary purpose and who you are – actual representatives of the Savior, Himself. Then set goals and make no small plans!

We love you,

Sister Barlow

Message from President Barlow

Amalickiah in the Book of Mormon is a type and shadow of the adversary. President Russell M. Nelson has said, “The Book of Mormon both illuminates the teachings of the Master and exposes the tactics of the adversary” (“The Book of Mormon: What Would Your Life Be Like without It?”, October 2017 General Conference). The story in the Book of Mormon about Lehonti in Alma 47 warns us of the unintended and tragic consequences that come to our life when we lower our standards, even just a little bit. 

Lehonti and his soldiers are in a place of security on a mountain top named Antipas, and declare that they are “fixed in their minds with a determined resolution” that they will not join Amalickiah’s army in their attack on the Nephites. Amalickiah recognizes the position of strength Lehonti has on being on higher ground, so his goal is to get Lehonti to “come down” off the mountain. 

Amalickiah sends a secret embassy (interesting that it was done in secret) and three times they ask Lehonti to “come down to the foot of the mount, for [Amalickiah] desired to speak with him.” All three times, Lehonti refuses. He is “fixed in his mind with a determined resolution”, and he will not come down.

Finally, when Amalickiah was convinced “that he could not get Lehonti to come down off from the mount,” he decided that he would go up, “nearly to Lehonti’s camp”. On his fourth try, Amalickiah invited Lehonti to come down “just a little” and to keep his guards with him if he felt unprotected. Feeling everything would be okay, Lehonti compromises where he was previously determined. He leaves the safety of his mountain top and accepts Amalickiah’s offer. Lehonti should have never come down from his mountain. Because he made that compromise, Amalikiah would now have the opportunity to “administer poison by degrees to Lehonti, that he died.” 

What are the lessons here?

First of all, stay on higher ground. There is safety in keeping the standards found in Missionary Standards for Disciples of Jesus Christ. The First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve have promised that these standards “will help protect you physically, spiritually, and emotionally and help you be the disciple Jesus Christ needs you to become.” Satan wants us to come down from our mountain, so he repeatedly invites us to leave the higher ground offered by these standards. If we won’t come down all the way, he invites us to come down just a little. Don’t do it! Keep the standards with exactness. As the hymn states, “Keep the commandments. In this there is safety and peace.”

Second, as Sister Barlow often says, “The LITTLE things ARE the BIG things!” One of the adversary’s techniques is to get us to feel that small compromises are no big deal, that we are still safe and still in control. Beware of these little compromises on standards. “By small and simple things are great things brought to pass” (Alma 37:6). President Nelson has promised, “Obedience brings success; exact obedience brings miracles” (Talk at the MTC, December 2013).

Sister Barlow and I love you all! We testify of this eternal truth: your obedience to commandments (and Missionary Standards for Disciples of Jesus Christ) will always lead to joy, peace, and safety in your life. If there are any changes you need to make to be more exact in your obedience, we invite you to make those changes. Let us know if there is anything we can do for you. 

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