I'm posting this for Marquie because it wouldn't post for her for some reason. Enjoy!
Joshua 1:9—Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be though dismayed; for the Lord they God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
((As you can probably guess due to the scripture I just read and the fact that it’s the beginning of the year, and I’m a youth speaker,)) I’m going to talk a little bit about this year’s new Mutual Theme: Be thou Strong and of a Good Courage. Now, I’m going to re-read the scripture and put my name in because we are told in 1 Nephi 19:23 to liken all scriptures unto ourselves. As I read this verse, put your name in instead of mine.
Have not I commanded thee, Marquie? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be though dismayed; for the Lord they God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
This scripture is a commandment.
Let’s start off by defining some words. Most of us know the general terms of these words pretty well, but let’s make sure.
Strong-especially able, competent, or powerful in a specific field or respect—in this case the gospel
Another definition: of great moral power, firmness, or courage -- the dictionary’s sentence: strong under temptation.
Courage--the quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger, pain, etc., without fear; bravery.
Afraid--feeling fear or feeling reluctance, unwillingness, distaste
Dismayed--sudden or complete loss of courage; utter disheartenment. to break down the courage of completely, as by sudden danger or trouble; dishearten thoroughly; daunt
Whithersoever—Wherever
Let us begin with Strong:
Of great moral power, firmness, or courage
Not just firmness, GREAT firmness, GREAT moral power, GREAT courage.
Courage-- a quality of mind. If you think you can do it, you can. You just have to have the right state of mind to face those difficulties and temptations that come to you. You have to be in a pure state of mind. And WITHOUT FEAR.
Afraid—well it’s the opposite of courage. Afraid is fear. And you cannot have fear if you are going to be strong. You can’t be reluctant or unwilling. You can’t just go ½ at it. You must go all the way without fear.
I’m going to slip in a scripture right here: 2 Timothy 1:7--:For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Just look at that. It’s right there. Fear is a characteristic of man, not of God. So you can overcome it.
Moving to our next definition:
Dismayed—we talked about courage right? Well, all your courage just got sucked out of you. Something happened. Say you stood up for what was right no matter how simple or hard, and you got put down for it. You got made fun of. Well don’t let it get you down! You can’t.
So I tell you all of this, and maybe you are thinking well that’s just not possible. I can’t do that. All of those things are natural. That’s too much to ask. Well no it’s not. And I’m going to tell you why. The only cross reference in Joshua 1:9 is on the word Lord and it references us to Doctrine and Covenants 38:7 (again substitute your name)—But behold, verily, verily, I say unto you, *Marquie* that mine eyes are upon you. I am in your midst and ye cannot see me;
The Lord is watching out for us. If we are in the right state of mind, He will be there, guiding our every step, our every conversation, our thoughts, telling us to change the radio station even though your favorite song is on, but it’s not a good song. There are suggestive lyrics or swear words. But it’s only one, or not that suggestive. But it is that bad. And we should change the station or turn it off.
Another scripture-- Matthew 5:10---Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Don’t worry about what your friends say to you. It doesn’t matter. It really really really doesn’t. It only matters what God thinks. Doctrine and Covenants 38:7 refers us to Doctrine and Covenants 6:32- …Where two or three are gathered together in my name, as touching one thing, behold, there will I be in the midst of them—even so am I in the midst of you.
Again… the Lord is with us. He isn’t going to leave us. Come to church, come to those places where two or three are gathered in His name. You will be able to feel the presence of the Savior more strongly in your life.
Now I would like to tell you a story that Elder Holland told, and you will probably recognize it:
I would like you to go back nearly 600 years to the New Year of 1412. That week in the small village of Domrémy, France, a baby girl was born who, a little later, at roughly the age some of you are, changed the political and religious landscape of her world. Through military developments and a variety of personal religious experiences, Joan of Arc, sometimes called the Maid of Orléans, was made a captain in the French army at the tender age of 16. In a rather remarkable series of battles and victories, she brought acclaim to herself and her cause, inspiring not only the men under her command but also the entire French nation. Later she was captured, tried, and put to death—burned at the stake—her life complete at 19 years of age.
As the fires were being ignited around the stake to which she was tied, Joan was given a last chance to save her life and regain her liberty if she would deny her religious—and thus some of her personally motivated political—beliefs. She refused to deny anything she believed or anything she had said about her faith, and thus chose fire above freedom, and principle above politics. Maxwell Anderson, who wrote a moving drama about this young woman and her courage, has her say in his play as the flames begin to consume her: “The world can use these words. … Every man gives his life for what he believes; every woman gives her life for what she believes. Sometimes people believe in little or nothing, [and yet] they give up their lives to that little or nothing. One life is all we have, and we live it as we believe in living it, and then it’s gone. But to surrender what you are, and live without belief—that’s more terrible than dying—more terrible than dying young” (Joan of Lorraine, act 2, interlude 3).
Elder Holland goes on to say:
“My young brothers and sisters, that is my message to you—a message from me, from the leaders of the Church, and from a teenage young woman of 600 years ago. “One life is all we have” and our happiness will come in living it the right way for the right reasons—reasons that are eternal, reasons that matter in this life and in the next. Now, we don’t want you to die! And we surely don’t want you to die young, but truly there are some things worse than dying. In Joan’s words that would be to “live without belief,” to surrender what you are and live contrary to what you know—or should know—to be true.” We must be strong. If we are going to believe in something, believe in something that’s going somewhere. It’s going somewhere beyond our wildest imaginations and dreams. We cannot comprehend it.
Elder Holland has connected the past years’ themes to our new one this year. This is what he said:
“Two years ago the Mutual theme was to be “steadfast and immovable, always abounding in good works” (Mosiah 5:15). Last year’s theme was to “be … an example of the believers” (1 Timothy 4:12). And this year’s theme is to “be strong and of a good courage” (Joshua 1:9). Those themes say scripturally and much more powerfully what that little French girl, [Joan of Arc,] tried to convey so long ago.
They say:
Stand up and be strong. (In some cases that means to grow up and be strong.)
Be faithful.
Be courageous.
Be worthy.
Be clean.”
All of the themes we have had over the years connect to one another. Especially these recent ones. Temptations are flooding and breaking down our guards. We have to keep our guards up and strong. Elder Holland said “You have more temptation than I had; you face a world much less committed to religious values; you deal with drugs I didn’t know existed; and pornography—well, in my day we didn’t even know what the word meant or what it represented. Now it is true that I also never had a computer or a cell phone or an iPod. You have many more material blessings than I had, but along with those blessings over those nearly 50 years have also come a lot more temptation, a lot more heartache, a lot more personal tragedy.”
With more knowledge comes more responsibility. The more technology, the more temptations can invade, and the more alert and aware and strong we have to be. Elder Holland tells us we “inspire” him. Are we standing strong and being courageous enough to inspire him? To inspire a prophet of God? That is our goal this year. But to do it with the strength of Christ. Because HE WILL BE WITH US. WHEREVER WE GO. WHATEVER we do. As long as we are trying our hardest, doing our best, he will carry us the rest of the way.
Elder Holland leaves us with these words “ Listen to the words of the Lord. Listen to your leaders. Listen to your parents. Listen to the best that is within you. Above all listen to the sweet, soft, undeniable whispering of the Spirit which will teach you all things, including that what I am saying to you is true. It is true. Believe in yourself, and believe in this gospel.”. We have to believe in ourselves. Believe in the gospel. Believe Jesus will help us. Believe we are doing the right thing. Because we are strong. The gospel is true. Jesus will help us, and we are doing the right thing.
President Hinckley told us “My dear young friends, you must not give in. You must be strong. You must take the long look ahead rather than succumbing to the present seductive temptation.”
He also said of Joshua 1:9: “There is never reason to despair. This is the work of God. Notwithstanding the efforts of all who oppose it, it will go forward as the God of heaven has designed it should do.” So we need to go with it and help it along. Don’t despair. Don’t be dismayed or afraid, because we have the greatest helper we could ever want.
In Ephesians 6:11 it says: -- Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
And in Helaman 5:12, it tells us “And now, my sons, [or my daughters, or my youth, or Marquie (you put in your name)], remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.” So there you go. We could dissect that scripture to no end, but the basic principle is just what we have been talking about. If we are strong, courageous, and relying on the Lord with his foundation under us, nothing, and I mean NOTHING can pull us down. Nothing can dismay us, and no temptation or whirlwind or storm will be too great for us. We have no need to fear when we are on the Lord’s side.
I would like to leave you with my testimony that I know this theme is inspired. This is what we are to focus on this year. And if we really do focus on it, and not just recite it every week in our routine, it will become a part of lives, and we will become stronger, more courageous, our fear will leave, and we will be able to rely on the Lord and know he is always here for us. We need to have courage, and President Monson says the best way to gain courage is to live your standards. We have to try it out. If we never do anything, never try, we can’t become courageous. I know we can do this. I know I can. I know you can. If we will just trust the words of the prophets because they are the words of the Lord. And we can trust Him. I love my Savior and Heavenly Father and the guidance and direction and help and love they give me.
Say these things…..
