The Immovable Rock By Vallan Sherrod

If you ask several of the kids in my neighborhood what “The Rock” is, they would know exactly what you were talking about. This “Rock” is actually a group of rocks that my friends and I found a little over a year ago while we were exploring the canyon in which we live. One of these rocks is at least fifty to sixty feet tall on its highest side. These rocks are definitely immovable and firm where they stand. When we first discovered them, we even joked around that maybe Father Escalante (who had explored the area centuries earlier) was maybe the only other person who had ever been to these rocks before. We even named the biggest rock after him. The scriptures make mention of similar, immovable rocks. Christ told the Nephites, “Therefore, whoso heareth these sayings of mine and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, who built his house upon a rock” (3 Nephi 14:24). What is this rock which Christ talks about?

In the Old Testament, rock is translated from the Hebrew word, tsûr, which also means “strength.” What is this strength we must build on? In Psalms 18:2, King David says, “The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.” Here David tells us that God is our rock and strength. In fact, in a few places in the Bible, tsr is translated to mean “God.” This means that the rock that Christ talks about is God.

In Matthew 16, Christ gives us more insight in the meaning of the rock on which we must build. Here Jesus asked his disciples who they believed he was, and Peter answered in verse 16, ...Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” In verses 17 and 18 Christ replied,

...Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Here I think Christ tells us that faith in him and our Heavenly Father is the rock on which we must build our lives and the church.

How can we obtain this faith? Of course, there are millions of ways that someone’s faith in Christ could be increased; however, I would like to mention one. In one of Nephi’s visions, an angel told him,

For, behold, saith the Lamb: I will manifest myself unto thy seed, that they shall write many things which I shall minister unto them, which shall be plain and precious; and after thy seed shall be destroyed, and dwindle in unbelief, and also the seed of they brethren, behold, these things shall be hid up, to come forth unto the Gentiles, by the gift and power of the Lamb. And in them shall be written my gospel, saith the Lamb, and my rock and my salvation. (1 Nephi 13: 35-36)

These words are the Book of Mormon, and in them are written his “rock.” Further testimony of this is in the following two scriptures. “Wherefore, he shall bring forth his words unto them, which words shall judge them at the last day, for they shall be given them for the purpose of convincing them of the true Messiah...” (2 Nephi 25:18). And in modern times, Heavenly Father has told us, “Behold, you have my gospel before you, and my rock, and my salvation” (D&C 18:17). Not only is the rock (faith in Christ) found in studying the Book of Mormon, but it is also found in the other scriptures and the words of the prophets. It is the Holy Ghost that testifies that the words, or “rock,” is good, just as he did to Peter. I know that when I read the scriptures, my faith in Heavenly Father and Christ increases by the “rock” it contains, and it is through the Holy Ghost in which I receive this witness.

It may not always be easy to have faith in God and follow the commandments in order to have this rock as our foundation. Referring back to the rock that my friends and I found, I remember that we all wanted to be able to climb and stand on the top of the rock. However, it was very difficult to climb. One of my friends climbed up with a rope. Once he was at the top, he secured the rope, allowing the rest of us to climb up with each other's encouragement. Like my friend, the Savior has provided a way in which all of us can reach the top of this rock and have the blessings of its firm foundation. Also, others, such as our friends, family, and Priesthood leaders, can encourage us to reach this goal. We in turn, should also encourage others in obtaining this firm foundation.

Once my friends and I where on top of the rock, the view it provided was fantastic! We could see the surrounding area with more clarity. When we put this firm foundation of Christ beneath us, we can also see our purposes and goals in life more clearly. We are also filled with hope. We must remember that Christ is the only “rock” or foundation we can build on that can bring this true happiness and hope. “...there shall be no other name given nor any other way nor means whereby salvation can come unto the children of men, only in and through the name of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent” (Mosiah 3:17). I remember a great Sunday School lesson I had on this principle. In this lesson, my class discussed how some people build their foundation on the things of this world. Some examples are riches, popularity, talents, and even self-esteem. However, all of these foundations can be taken from us, and if we base our lives on them, we will fall. Even the rock my friends and I found could fall if there was a big enough earthquake. Christ is the only sure foundation on which we can build. Richard G. Scott said,

I testify that you will remove barriers to happiness and find greater peace as you make your first allegiance your membership in the Church of Jesus Christ, and His teachings the foundation of your life. Where family or national traditions or customs conflict with the teachings of God, set them aside. Where traditions and customs are in harmony with His teachings, they should be cherished and followed to preserve your culture and heritage. There is one heritage that you need never change. It is that heritage that comes from your being a daughter or son of Father in Heaven (“A Sure Foundation”)

It is okay to have other focuses in our lives; however, Christ and his gospel should be our main focus. We should get rid of any other distractions that turn us away from this main focus.

We must all build our foundations on faith in Christ. If we do, we will have power to overcome the trials of this life. I think Helaman says it perfectly when he was counseling his sons, Nephi and Lehi, in Helaman 5:12,

And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.

Faith in Christ is the only sure foundation on which we can build. If we do build on it, we will be able to withstand the tempests and storms of life when they come.

Works Cited

“A Sure Foundation.” Book of Mormon Gospel Doctrine Teacher’s Manual. 1999. LDS. 10 Oct. 2008.

The Book of Mormon Another Testament of Jesus Christ. Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1981.

The Doctrine and Covenants of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1981.

The Holy Bible. Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1979.