This was a reflection I wrote for Brother Griffin's Book of Mormon class on January 25, 2011:
"This class (covering Alma 56) reminded me of a great experience I had last semester. I was in the greatest FHE family that has ever existed in the history of the Church Education System. We loved each other so much, and one Sunday night at Ward Prayer, we were going to sing the "As Sisters in Zion/Armies of Helaman - EFY medley" as a ward. I was at the front because I had been asked to lead the altos and the boys. The girls sang beautifully, and when it came time for the boys to sing, I was more than a little apprehensive that they wouldn't know what to do. To my great and wonderful surprise, my wonderful FHE brothers--all of them--stood up from off the floor, strong, tall, and handsome, and started to sing that beautiful song proudly as I'm sure Helaman's sons would have done. Their sound blew me away. I finally started leading two lines into the song, and I almost started to cry.
Those boys, and we, are like the Army of Helaman. We have been taught by goodly parents what we should do, and we need to have that kind of faith in God. Now, many of those wonderful brothers are serving and preparing to serve missions. We are not together anymore, but we will always be united in spirit and cause. The Book of Mormon is our story. We are to stand wherever we may be as an army of God, to fight against Satan and to bring the world God's truth."
. . .
Today, in Sunday School, I sat thinking about the words of the song Armies of Helaman. It is such a powerful song, and it makes me so happy to think of my super-strong cousins, grandparents, and friends who are out serving missions all over this world. I'm such a fan of them. They're just wonderful. My favorite part of the story of the sons of Helaman is Alma 56:44-48:
"Therefore, what say ye, my sons, will ye go against them to battle?
And now I say unto you, my beloved brother, Moroni, that never had I seen so great courage, nay, not amongst all the Nephites.
For as I had ever called them my sons (for they were all of them very young) even so they said unto me: Father, behold our God is with us, and he will not suffer that we should fall; then let us go forth; we would not slay our brethren if they would let us alone; therefore let us go, lest they should overpower the army of Anitpus.
Now they had never fought, yet they did not fear death; and they did think more upon the liberty of their fathers than they did upon their lives; yea, they had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them.
And they rehearsed unto me the words of their mothers, saying: We do not doubt our mothers knew it."
Heleman's Army
These guys are sooooo cool.
What wonderful, strong young men! Nowadays, we compare their courage and willingness to serve to missionary work--something else I've been thinking about a lot. As I sat in church, thinking about the words to this song, I just grew happier and happier to know that God loves his children (you and I included). I became ever more conscious of the ways in which He has seen fit to bless my life, and I will always be grateful for that.
We have been born as Nephi of old
To goodly parents who love the Lord.
We have been taught and we understand
That we must do as the Lord commands.
We have been saved for these latter days
To build the kingdom in righteous ways.
We hear the words our Prophet declares
Let each who's worthy go forth and share.
We know his plan, and we will prepare
Increase our knowledge through study and prayer.
Daily we'll learn until we are called
To take the gospel to all the world.
We are as the Army of Helaman.
We have been taught in our youth.
And we will be the Lord's missionaries
To bring the world his truth.
God loves you. He lives, and next time you see two Mormon guys in suits (or girls in dresses (or my grandparents, if you're in Finland)) walking around, please say "Hello!" You never know, they might just maybe be my best friends, and they have some extremely happy news to share with you.
:)
P.S. Feel free to ask me too. :]
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