Wielding the Sword in Defense of Others

March 21, 2023


 "The people having loved Nephi exceedingly, he having been a great protector for them, having wielded the sword of Laban in their defence, and having labored in all his days for their welfare" (Jacob 1:10).

In the time of Nephi, one of the main threats to the people's welfare were the attacking Lamanites. These days, while physical assaults by our enemies are comparatively rare, many people are being attacked by forces such as depression, anxiety, loneliness, discouragement, perfectionism, comparison, self-criticism, heavy demands, unrealized hopes, physical challenges, life setbacks, the chains of sin, spiritual famines, and attacks on faith.
While these forces and the damage they cause could make us sad or weigh us down, we can also choose to find joy in the opportunity they give us to labor for the welfare of others by running to their defense.

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