Firm as the Mountains by Lauren Bush

While a declining society beckons us to be weak and self-indulgent, the growing gospel cries out for every soul to be firm. Firmness in mind and spirit allows us to be securely fixed on a proper course through life. Being solid and unyielding can be beneficial, but on the other hand, a rigid and hardened heart is the kind of firmness to be avoided at all costs. Furthermore, as a true seeker longs for spiritual firmness, the Savior is the rock in which to draw that strength from. As we continue to apply correct principles in our life, we derive a firmness that enables us to be valiant disciples of Jesus Christ.

Spiritual firmness means to be strong, immovable, secure, steadfast, and solid in the gospel. “Look unto God with firmness of mind, and pray unto him with exceeding faith, and he will console you in your afflictions, and he will plead your cause, and send down justice upon those who seek your destruction” (1). Firmness of mind and spirit enables individuals to live courageously. The prophet Abinidai had great firmness of mind when it came to dealing with Kind Noah. He was so immovable in his spiritual strength that he never wavered, and faced death with extreme courage. Latter-Day Saints can have the same kind of strength and firmness when they experience persecution or difficulties. “Now this was a great trial to those that did stand fast in the faith; nevertheless, they were steadfast and immovable in keeping the commandments of God, and they bore with patience the persecution which was heaped upon them” (2). Recently, my home state of Arizona voted on, and passed, Proposition 102 that amends the Constitution citing marriage as being between one man and one woman. The same proposal was passed with Proposition 108 in the state of California. After the voting process was over, Latter-Day Saints were singled out and persecuted and people I know personally have been threatened physically and emotionally. Aside from a little diss here and there throughout High School about my religion, I had never seen this kind of persecution or hatred. It is pleasing, and comforting, to realize that this does not scare me or affect me, because I am firm and steadfast in my faith.

Unfortunately, there are other forms of firmness that are dangerous and crippling to our spiritual well-being. “Ye are lifted up in the pride of your hearts, and wear stiff necks and high heads because of the costliness of your apparel, and persecute your brethren because ye suppose that ye are better than they” (3). I admit to being caught up in this unflattering kind of stiffness in High School. Expensive jeans and name-brand clothing were a temptation I often indulged in. I rarely found something to my liking on the sales rack or discount table. I am sure there were times my neck was stiff as a board! Now I am a poor college student and have changed my ways! As awful as this is, there is another form of firmness even more undesirable; a hard heart. “Now the eyes of the people were blinded; therefore they hardened their hearts against the words of Abinadi, and they sought from that time forward to take him. And king Noah hardened his heart against the word of the Lord, and he did not repent of his evil doings” (4). It is difficult to soften a hard heart. Stiffness and hardness pull us away from Christ. They lack the foundation of firmness that enables us to live with true happiness.

There is but one firm foundation on which to base our lives. It is a rock upon which we can always rely on for strength - it is our Savior Jesus Christ. “Wherefore, the people of Nephi did fortify against them with their arms, and with all their might, trusting in the God and rock of their salvation; wherefore, they became as yet, conquerors of their enemies” (5). When one is firm it means one is not likely to change. The Savior will never change. “Change and decay in all around I see; O thou who changest not, abide with me!” (6) When we rely on Jesus Christ we are able to stand firm in our convictions. David O Mckay once said, “If you have a testimony of Christ on your side, you can pass through the dark valley of slander, misrepresentation, and abuse, undaunted as though you wore a magic suit of mail, that no bullet could enter, no arrow could pierce. You can hold your head high, toss it fearlessly and defiantly, look every man calmly and unflinchingly in the eye, as though you rode, a victorious king returning at the head of your legions, with banners waving and lances glistening and bugles filling the air with music” (7).

As the world grows increasingly more wicked, it is more important than ever to have a firm spiritual backbone. Spiritual firmness enables us to stay on the path of righteousness and provides the greatest degree of happiness. When we allow ourselves to get stiff, or harden our hearts to the teachings of the gospel, we become spiritually weakened. The one true way to find the necessary strength we need is to believe in Christ. He is our rock. Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said, “May you and I build our lives upon the foundation of Christ. May we apply correct principles to become steadfast and immovable - solid, firm, resolute, firmly secured, and incapable of being diverted from the path of righteousness - keeping and honoring our covenants and commitments, living worthy and pure lives, and becoming valiant disciples of the Savior” (8). I too testify of the importance of being steadfast and immovable. It is a pleasure each day to stand on campus and look upon the beautiful Wasatch mountains. They represent firmness to me and are a daily reminder to be strong in my faith. “Firm as the mountains around us, stalwart and brave we stand. On the rock our fathers planted for us in this goodly land” (9). I further testify that to have a hard heart, or to be firm in opposition to the gospel plan, is dangerous and can even cause spiritual death. If we believe in Christ, and take his name upon us, we will find the courage we need to fight temptation and overlook persecution and difficulty.

Works Cited
1. Jacob 3:1
2. Alma 1:25
3. Jacob 2:13
4. Mosiah 11:29
5. Jacob 7:25
6. Hymn #166
7. David O. Mckay, CR, Apr. 1958, p. 130
8. David A. Bednar, “steadfast and Immovable, Always Abounding in Good Works,” New Era, Jan 2008, 2-6
9. Hymn #255