Major Armor

I had the opportunity Saturday night to listen to the Air Force reserve helicopter pilot Major Jeff Peterson who rescued the Loan Survivor Marcus Luttrell. He had a wonderful message about being an everyday hero. That the motto that drives these men, when put in the gospel setting is the same that should drive and motivate each of us. 

"These things we do that others may live."

He talked about the circumstances that led up to the rescue and how the rescue should not have happened successfully. The conditions for landing could not be done on a good day in perfect conditions, and that there was no explanation for their success other than God's will. He tied everything back into the armor they wear and the armor of God. Them fighting evil men and us fighting evil. Here are the scriptures he used:

Helaman 5:12

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.

Doctrine and Covenants 27:15-18

15 Wherefore, lift up your hearts and rejoice, and gird up your loins, and take upon you my whole armor, that ye may be able to withstand the evil day, having done all, that ye may be able to stand.

 16 Stand, therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, having on the breastplate of righteousness, and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, which I have sent mine angels to commit unto you;

 17 Taking the shield of faith wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked;

 18 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of my Spirit, which I will pour out upon you, and my word which I reveal unto you, and be agreed as touching all things whatsoever ye ask of me, and be faithful until I come, and ye shall be caught up, that where I am ye shall be also. Amen.

1 Peter 5:8

8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

Alma 46:12

12 And it came to pass that he rent his coat; and he took a piece thereof, and wrote upon it—In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children—and he fastened it upon the end of a pole.

 13 And he fastened on his head-plate, and his breastplate, and his shields, and girded on his armor about his loins; and he took the pole, which had on the end thereof his rent coat, (and he called it the title of liberty) and he bowed himself to the earth, and he prayed mightily unto his God for the blessings of liberty to rest upon his brethren, so long as there should a band of Christians remain to possess the land—

 14 For thus were all the true believers of Christ,...

His presentation reminded me of a post I did years back about being special forces. I am filled with awe and reverence for those who 'do things so that others may live.' I always wonder if I am brave enough. If I am strong enough. If I am determined enough. It all goes back to our supreme example of doing something so hard and filled with so much anguish and sacrifice as our Lord and Savior did. He truly did what he did so that we may live. What can we do each day to yoke ourselves to that great work?