Blogger of Jared

With President James E. Faust’s recent passing, I decided to review one of his prophetic talks to remember his counsel regarding these last days. In the April 2000 General Conference, the first held in the new Conference Center, President Faust gave a talk entitled “The Shield of Faith.” Because I’m more of a visual learner, I outlined some of the essential points in this talk and found a progression from problem to solution. I’ve provided the outline here followed by two amazing prophetic pronouncements that speak of these last days.

1. Problem: “Brigham Young said, ‘It was revealed to me in the commencement of this Church, that the Church would spread, prosper, grow and extend, and that in proportion to the spread of the Gospel among the nations of the earth, so would the power of Satan rise.’”

a. “The greatest century of advancement in science and technology has just ended. Yet a spirit of darkness prevails in our day as it did many centuries ago when Jesus Christ was about to be crucified.”

b. “Although science and technology open up boundless opportunities, they also present great perils because Satan employs these marvelous discoveries to his great advantage.”

2. Solution: “As we move into a new era, we have only one safe course: to press forward in faith.” How can faith help us against the perils of Satan?

a. “Faith will be our strong shield to protect us from the fiery arrows of Satan.”

b. “This faith will be the sanctuary for our souls.”

c. “[T]hrough faith, our natural gifts and powers of achievement are increasingly enhanced.”

3. How can we obtain this faith? “Strong faith is earned by keeping the commandments.”

4.What is this faith we should seek? “There are for this people some absolutes upon which our faith must rest. They are basic, eternal truths. They are that:

1. Jesus, the Son of the Father, is the Christ and the Savior and Redeemer of the world;

2. Joseph Smith was the instrument through which the gospel was restored in its fulness and completeness in our time;

3. The Book of Mormon is the word of God and, as the Prophet Joseph Smith said, is the keystone of our religion and another testament of Jesus as the Christ and the Redeemer of all mankind;

4. Gordon B. Hinckley holds, as all of the preceding Presidents of the Church did, all of the keys and authority restored by the Prophet Joseph Smith.”

In this talk, President Faust also offered two prophetic insights which are fascinating and show the hand of the Lord in the world today.

1. “I believe that the appearance of God the Father and His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, in 1820 to Joseph Smith unlocked the heavens not only to the great spiritual knowledge revealed in this dispensation but also to secular knowledge.” President Faust then cites some examples of the accelerated progress human civilization has made since the restoration of the Gospel. I don’t think President Faust is the first to note this principle, but by reminding us of it, he again points our attention toward heaven where we may look in humility to our omnipotent Father and his Son.

2. “I solemnly declare that this spiritual kingdom of faith will move forward with or without each of us individually. No unhallowed hand can stay the growth of the Church nor prevent fulfillment of its mission.” While given us as a warning, this prophetic statement also provides great comfort. We are on the Lord’s side. Satan cannot stop His work from progressing to its promised conclusion.

If we will seek faith by keeping the commandments and rest our faith on the eternal truths President Faust identified, and remember that God continues to direct his great work on the earth, we will enjoy greater protection against the perils of Satan.