Walk Uprightly Before God

We live in a time where the battles we face are coming from every possible front: economic upheaval, wars and rumors of wars, despair, depression, divisions and dissensions within the church / persecutions without, insurrections and corruption in governments, broken homes and families, marriages torn-apart, natural disasters, and "natural -man" disasters sweeping like an immoral Tsunami through our communities.  And the enemy is not anywhere near backing down, in fact, he's bearing down...  he's packing sucker-punches with grisly fatal blows and we need to be prepared and be on guard.

Who will have the strength to not only "withstand the evil day" and endure this great thrashing but who will "come off conqueror" and "be true" through it all?

During Biblical times a threshing floor was a place where sheaves of wheat were heavily beaten to break apart the true grain from the husk (or tare).  "After the threshing process, the stalks and grain were thrown up into the air so that the wind might blow the unwanted chaff away and leave the valuable kernels." (learnthebible.org)  It's through this beating and tossing that the "true grain" is gathered.

In the Book of Mormon we read of horrible prolonged battles, the kind that would beat and thrash down the bravest and strongest of souls.  The last twenty chapters of Alma describe such battles and as one searches among their ruins, they can see very clearly who was "true through it all."

Helaman, commander of the Nephite army, describes his band of brave young soldiers as being ones who were "exceedingly valiant for courage, and also for strength and activity... who were true at all times in whatsoever thing they were entrusted." He states that they were "men of truth and soberness, for they had been taught to keep the commandments of God and to walk uprightly before Him." (Alma 53:20-21 emphasis added)

"Walk uprightly" are two words that stood out to me as I read that description.  They are repeated again in Alma 63:2 in the description of Shiblon, Helaman's brother:  "He was a just man and he did walk uprightly before God; and he did observe to do good continually, to keep the commandments of the Lord his God."

What does it mean to "walk uprightly"?  What images come to your mind?  Do you think of someone walking with confidence, without fear, unflinching, someone who can hold their head high?  Note that this kind of confidence isn't in the presence of just anyone; it says that they "walked uprightly before God."  That is significant. There are plenty of people who walk uprightly or confident in the presence of their peers... perhaps a little too confidently.

Confidence before God is not attained through the ways of the world.  No manner of elaborate dress, or fine pressed suit, no self-affirming talk or pepped-up cheer, no academic accolades or scholarly awards could endow one with the assurance necessary to be confident before God. Because in His presence, what is in our "inward vessel" will be revealed.  Isaiah teaches that our "countenance will witness against us" and Alma warns "our words will condemn us, yea, all our works will condemn us; we shall not be found spotless; and our thoughts will also condemn us; and in this awful state we shall not dare to look up to our God; and we would fain be glad if we could command the rocks and the mountains to fall upon us to hide us from his presence." (Alma 12:14)

So what is it then that instills confidence before God, this ability to "walk uprightly before Him"?

Let's look again at descriptions in the verses shared previously and see if we can find a pattern.

To Grow in Godly Confidence

(Alma 53:20-21)

• The stripling warriors "were true at all times"
• "They were men of truth and soberness" (Now “soberness” is an interesting word because we often refer to it in the scriptures as being genuine or sincere but I also believe it means being sober like a recovered alcoholic is considered sober.  I believe it means that these were men free from addiction. They were focused outward in love, not inward with indulgence.) - See D&C 121:45

(Alma 63:2)

• They "kept the commandments of God"
• Shiblon was a "just man" (which is another way of saying, he stuck with or treasured truth.)
• He "kept the commandments of God"

Seeing that these stripling warriors, these young men "were true at all times" reminds me of our modern-day Young Women's Theme, "We will stand as witnesses of God, at all times, in all things, and in all places."  THIS is what builds Godly confidence, being true to God's word, true to His commandments, purely and sincerely devoted to Him in "whatsoever thing we are entrusted" heart, mind, and action.  Here we can hold our heads high in the toughest battles and fiercest thrashings.  Here we can "walk uprightly before God" and "come off conqueror!"

-Alicia