Week 3

We have all heard the saying "Sometimes the best offense is a good defense."  I think the Nephites really drove this point home in the chapters that we read for this week.  In Alma 43:19 it reads,
 "And when the armies of the Lamanites saw that the people of Nephi, or that Moroni, had prepared his people with breastplates and with arm-shields, yea, and also shields to defend their heads, and also they were dressed with thick clothing--"
The Nephites were prepared for their battle with the Lamanites.  They were wearing armor that would protect them from the weapons of their enemies.  In a more symbolic sense, though, they were also wearing the armor of God.  This armor protects from the weapons of the world.  No amount of filth, temptation, wickedness, or evil can ever penetrate the armor of God. 
We learn in Ephesians 6:10-18 that the armor of God consists of having your loins girt about with truth, having on the breastplate of righteousness, having your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, and having the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit.  I love that this leaves no part of your body or Spirit unprotected.
We also learn from this scripture that we need to be prepared.  It is pointless to put on your armor in the middle of the battle.  The Nephites were ready and fully protected before the Lamanites came to fight them.  I think this applies to our lives in many ways.  We need to be prepared and protect ourselves before we face the world.  It's important to read our scriptures and gain a testimony before we go up against Satan.  It's important to make decisions on how we will act before we have to decide when we are tempted.  If we are prepared and if we have put on the whole armor of God, Heavenly Father is sure to bless us with the strength to resist and overcome whatever temptations and hardships come our way.
The Lamanites were not prepared to protect themselves; rather, they came to the battle ready to fight.  They had so many weapons, but the weapons were rendered useless against the armor of the Lamanites.  Likewise, we as Latter-day Saints should be ready to defend and protect our standards.  We should prepared to be defensive because offensive thinking will only damage us.  Putting on the whole armor of God will give us the strength and power to withstand these difficult times.