You Were Born for Glory

Come Follow Me August 10-16

“Moroni took a small number of men, … and took his march towards the land of Gideon. And he did raise the standard of liberty in whatsoever place he did enter, and gained whatsoever force he could in all his march towards the land of Gideon. And it came to pass that thousands did flock unto his standard and did take up their swords in the defense of their freedom, that they might not come into bondage.

Book of Mormon, Alma 62:3-5

These three small verses could be a full-length feature film. Here are the cliff notes. Amid the war, Moroni and his soldiers have received no supplies from the government centered in Zarahemla. Moroni writes a letter of stinging rebuke to Governor Pahoran threatening to come to Zarahemla and pull him down from power.

Governor Pahoran responds back telling Moroni there has been a coup by the King-men. Pahoran has fled to the land of Gideon and is gathering an army of Freemen to fight for their liberty. In the opening verses above, Moroni immediately stops what he is doing, and with a few men, begins his march to Gideon. As he passes each city, he plants the standard of liberty and gathers all who will fight for freedom.

There was no emergency broadcast system, telephones, internet, or nightly news to issue a call to arms. Picture being in your fields and hearing an army approaching. Maybe runners were sent to your city ahead of time telling you to gather your family. You listen as Moroni with, what I imagine, is an impassioned speech, enlists the fathers and sons to join the Freemen. Moroni’s ranks swell as he continues his march city after city. Upon reaching Gideon, he has gathered an army of thousands. Imagine Pahoran’s joy and relief as this vast army of Freeman march into Gideon.

Spiritually, the threat today is even more desperate than in Moroni’s time. Today, the Lord himself, is gathering an army that includes all those on both sides of the veil willing to stand with Him. In my mind, I visualize a picture of Jesus Christ with His army of millions from both sides of the veil standing behind Him.

”I would not be surprised if, when the veil is lifted in the next life, we learn that you actually pled with our Heavenly Father to be reserved for now. I would not be surprised to learn that premortally, you loved the Lord so much that you promised to defend His name and gospel during this world’s tumultuous winding-up scenes. One thing is certain: You are of the House of Israel and you have been sent here to help gather God’s elect.”

The Love and Laws of God
By President Russell M. Nelson

“You have been told countless times that you are a chosen generation reserved for the latter part of the latter days…It’s akin to being chosen to run the last leg of a relay, where the coach always positions his strongest runner. You were recommended to help run the last leg of the relay that began with Adam and Eve because your premortal spiritual valor indicated you would have the courage and the determination to face the world at its worst, to do combat with the evil one during his heyday, and, in spite of it all, to be fearless in building the kingdom of God. You simply must understand this, because you were born to lead by virtue of who you are, the covenants you have made, and the fact that you are here now in the 11th hour. You were born to lead as mothers and fathers, because nowhere is righteous leadership more crucial than in the family. You were born to lead as priesthood and auxiliary leaders; as heads of communities, companies, and even nations. You were born to lead as men and women willing “to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places,” because that’s what a true leader does (Mosiah 18:9; emphasis added). You were born to lead, and, in the words of Isaiah, you were born for glory (see Isaiah 62:2–3).

You Were Born to Lead, You Were Born for Glory
SHERI L. DEW
President and CEO of Deseret Book Company
December 9, 2003

As you go through your week, think of the one small thing you can do to gather the Lord’s army on both sides of the veil. There are so many things to choose from. Ask what you could do, that maybe only you, could do.