The Worst Kind of War

I've been thinking a lot today about this. My thoughts started with something someone posted on Facebook. I tried to brush it off but for some reason my mind became consumed. I turned to the Lord and found myself reading a talk from a General Conference a few years back. So here I am writing about it, and I'm not sure how this will go. Let's just see if I can get my thoughts down...

We live in tumultuous time. It is the best of times and the worst. We're blessed to live in a time where temples dot the Earth, the gospel is available and can be present in our lives, our families can be together forever. We also live in a time where physical wars (whether on a grand scale or small) rage over land, oil, politics, governments, etc. I have not lived in a place where I've had to really deal with the physical repercussions of such a war. I do not live everyday fearing that my life will be taken by gunfire, bombs or other horrible things that occur during wartime. I cannot say for sure how horrible it is, and I try to not imagine it.

I can say that I do live in a place that suffers from a different but still horrible kind of war. I would venture to say it is the worst kind of war. It is a war against our souls. The scariest thing to me about this war is how unaware and ignorant people are about this war and that it's even going on. They live each day falling into the traps set by the enemy and are unaware that they've even been captured. They are ignorant to their imprisonment. And their numbers are climbing.

My heart aches at the consequences and results of the battle that rages on. Pornography, adultery, abuse and neglect, pride and selfishness. All of these and more are thrown at us each day, whether we suffer from these temptations or are victims caught in the crossfire of its perpetrators. Our families, marriages, friendships, and relationships of all sorts are literally under attack. How many of us have a close friend or family member (or maybe themselves) who suffer from the emotional and spiritual pains of temptation and sin? We can all think of a least someone. Probably more than that.

How many of us are doing something about? Do we just brush it off as their problem that they have to deal with?

Why did the Lord put us into families? I believe a part of his plan for families on the Earth is to pray for, help, serve, uplift, mourn with, and bear each other's burdens. I believe that responsibility extends beyond the family ties and into all of our relationships. Even with strangers. This is the way we fight and win the war.

Physical war is awful. It can leave emotional and mental damage. But I can tell you, the damage is not permanent. The Atonement of Jesus Christ has the power to heal all pains, all sorrows and all afflictions. Even those that happen because of the spiritual war we are in. But, we must embrace Him and His gospel and accept His Atonement. It is good to believe in Jesus Christ but it is even better to believe Him.

I want to fight for my soul and for yours. I hope you do too. And I hope that we will fight and not remain ignorant.