By Bill Beardall

http://beardall2000.com/gospdoct.shtml

The Gospel Doctrine Class | Book of Mormon - Lesson 32 | Alma 53-63

"Now they never had 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.” (Alma 56:47)

A study of this lesson will help us see that the Lord will strengthen us as we follow the example of Helaman's valiant young soldiers.

President Lorenzo Snow: "... if we as Elders fail to keep the covenants we have made, namely, to use our time, talent, and ability for the upbuilding of the kingdom of God upon the earth, how can we reasonably expect to come forth in the morning of the first resurrection identified with the great work of redemption?" (Journal of Discourses, 18:301-302)

President Ezra Taft Benson: "Men and women who turn their lives over to God will discover that He can make a lot more out of their lives than they can. He will deepen their joys, expand their vision, quicken their minds, strengthen their muscles, lift their spirits, multiply their blessings, increase their opportunities, comfort their souls, raise up friends, and pour out peace. Whoever will lose his life in the service of God will find eternal life." (Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, p 361)

President Harold B. Lee: "The power of Satan will increase; we see it in evidence on every hand… Now the only safety we have as members of this church is to do exactly what the Lord said to the Church in that day when the Church was organized. We must learn to give heed to the words and commandments that the Lord shall give through his prophet, 'as he receiveth them, walking in all holiness before me;...as if from mine own mouth, in all patience and faith.' (D&C 21:4-5.) There will be some things that take patience and faith. You may not like what comes from the authority of the Church. It may contradict your political views. It may contradict your social views. It may interfere with some of your social life. But if you listen to these things, as if from the mouth of the Lord himself, with patience and faith, the promise is that the gates of hell shall not prevail against you; yea, and the Lord God will disperse the powers of darkness from before you, and cause the heavens to shake for your good, and his name's glory." (Conference Report, Oct 1970, p 152)

President Ezra Taft Benson: "Remember well the Book of Mormon account of Helaman's two thousand stripling warriors and how the teachings of their mothers gave them strength and faith. These marvelous mothers taught them to put on the whole armor of God, to place their trust in the Lord, and to doubt not. By so doing not one of these young men was lost. (See Alma 53:10-23; 58:41-56.) My young brethren, I counsel each of you to draw close to your own mother. Respect her. Honor her. Receive your mother's counsel as she loves and instructs you in righteousness." (Come Listen To A Prophet's Voice, pp 1-2)

President Spencer W. Kimball: "To be a righteous woman during the winding-up scenes on this earth, before the Second Coming of our Savior, is an especially noble calling. The righteous woman's strength and influence today can be ten fold what it might be in more tranquil times. She has been placed here to help to enrich, to protect, and to guard the home which is society's basic and most noble institution. Other institutions in society may falter and even fail, but the righteous woman can help to save the home, which may be the last and only sanctuary some mortals know in the midst of storm and strife." (Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, p 326)

President Spencer W. Kimball: "Being human, we would expel from our lives physical pain and mental anguish and assure ourselves of continual ease and comfort, but if we were to close the doors upon such sorrow and distress, we might be excluding our greatest friends and benefactors. Suffering can make saints of people as they learn patience, long-suffering, and self-mastery. The sufferings of our Savior were part of his education." (Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, p168)

Alma 57: The stripling warriors did perform every word of command with exactness. We are told that we are to live by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God (Matt 4:4). On a military level, the stripling warriors had accomplished this, for they fought by every command that proceedeth out of the mouth of Helam[a]n. The result was that there was not one soul of them who did perish (verse 25).

Elder James E. Faust: "Generally, those children who make the decision and have the resolve to abstain from drugs, alcohol, and illicit sex are those who have adopted and internalized the strong values of their homes as lived by their parents. In times of difficult decisions they are most likely to follow the teaching of their parents rather tha[n] the example of their peers or the sophistries of the media, which glamorize alcohol consumption, illicit sex, infidelity, dishonesty, and other vices. Those young people who demonstrate moral courage are like Helaman's two thousand young men who had been taught by their mothers, 'that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them' from death (Alma 56:47). 'And they rehearsed… the words of their mothers, saying: we do not doubt our mothers knew it' (verse 48)."

President Gordon B. Hinckley: "You are out there as the sons of Helam[a]n in a world that is full of destructive influences… But if you put your trust in the Almighty and follow the teachings of this Church and cling to it notwithstanding your wounds, you will be preserved and blessed and magnified and made happy."