The Stripling Warriors did not doubt that the Lord their God would deliver them because of the faith and teachings of their mothers. They had FAITH big time. But that didn't mean that once they got out to the battle the sat down and took their helmet off. It didn't mean they slept through training or ignored their captain's warnings or directions.
These young men had incredible faith and they combined it with putting on the whole armor of God both literally and physically. They trained and prepared and fought with their full strength. They were young men and probably were not stronger than the full grown soldiers in the opposing army. But they didn't give up. They let their faith fuel their works. They did the work necessary to know how to fight, they practiced and then they put that practice into action in battle.
They were also exactly obedient to their leaders every command. There was no arguing or questioning or suggesting a better alternative plan.
These three ingredients are essential to our youth today.
FAITH
WORK
OBEDIENCE
Each day I send my kids out into the battlefield. When kids leave primary, there is about a 95% rate of activity in the gospel from active families. Once kids are 19 the activity rate or rate drops hugely. I'm sure it is different in different parts of the world but recently in our area stake conference a visiting authority said it was close to 30% active by 19.
Make no mistake that these middle and high school years are indeed a battlefield. I have been and continue to teach my children and strengthen their faith. I can see them growing in that faith. I can see them putting in the work (though often begrudgingly) to train and to put on that full armor of God. We are working on being exactly obedient. It's still a process- for all of us.
And just like those stripling warriors I have seen my kids take battle wounds from the enemy. Each one hurts me right along with them. I want them to come out without a scratch but they are doing battle and they aren't perfect and they are young and learning against a seasoned powerful enemy. But I have faith that they will emerge from the battlefield victorious.
So today I encouraged them to put on their armor, have faith, do the work, and be obedient.
