"And they did liken the scriptures unto themselves..."

When my mom would call our family to scripture study everyday, I would find myself moaning and groaning. I didn't enjoy reading the scriptures. I didn't understand them and there were so many things that I would rather be doing! As I have gotten older however, I have found that the scriptures mean so much to me when I liken everything I read to what is happening in my life at that time.

The Book of Mormon Prophet Nephi wrote, "...I did liken all scriptures unto us, that it might be for our profit and learning." That is so true! The scriptures are amazing and there stories and accounts in them are incredible, however, they touch our lives as we liken what we read to our everyday lives and situations.

One of my favorite heroes in the Book of Mormon is Captain Moroni. He was a strong, mighty man not only physically but spiritually as well. Being put in as captain over all Nephite as the age of 25, he had grown up learning the language of war, and how to protect his people. He was also a man of great faith and love for the Lord. In fact, in the Book of Alma there is a wonderful description of this great man saying, "...if all men had been, and were and ever would be, like unto Moroni, behold, the very powers of hell would have been shaken forever; yea, the devil would never have power over the hearts of the children of men." (Alma 48:17). 

During a time of peace, Captain Moroni began to protect the Nephities cities against the angry Lamanities who would soon come against them to battle. He caused that around every city there should be heaps of earth around all the walls. On top of the ridges of earth there would be timbers, the height of a man, constructed and on top of them pickets were put up that were strong and high. Towers were erected to overlook the pickets with places of security upon the towers so that those were up observing the land could throw rocks or shoot arrows to those enemies that were trying to break through to the city (Alma 50).

Every city was protected against the enemy so that there would be no way for intruders to come in. However, as we read later on in the Book of Mormon, there are those who begin to be prideful because of the fortifications that they had just built. They felt that there would be no way for enemies to ever invade the city, so they began to slack off on their duties to watch for intruders, to continually strengthen the protections, and to rely on the Lord for help. We read that the enemy slowly begins to penetrate the walls until cities are taken and Captain Moroni must help them recapture the cities once more.

Now, after hearing such a story one may ask, "how does that apply to me?" or "how can I liken that scripture to my situation?" In our life we have been given counsel and direction from prophets both old and modern how to defend our families, our homes, and ourselves. Reading the scriptures, going to church, and praying and just a few ways that we are able to spiritually "put up our mounds of earth, walls of timbers, rows of pickets" etc. It seems as though the adversary has no way into our hearts and minds, however, it is when we begin to be prideful and stop relying on the Lord when trouble begins. When we stop doing the little things to continually strengthen our walls and fortifications, that is when the adversary creeps his way into our lives until he eventually  takes over our lives, families, and homes. We have the ability to stop him and protect ourselves, the question in, are we willing to continually take the steps to strengthen our walls?

As we liken the stories of the scriptures to ourselves and to our situations, we are able to find answers that can't come from anyone or anywhere else. The Lord has counseled His servants to record their experiences so that future generations can learn and prosper. May we all take a new look at the words of the prophets and liken them to ourselves that we will be protected and blessed.

To learn more about Captain Moroni or other stories in the Book of Mormon, visit www.mormon.org.