The shield of faith


"Lest parents and children be “tossed to and fro,” and misled by “cunning craftiness” of men who “lie in wait to deceive” (Eph. 4:14), our Father’s plan requires that, like the generation of life itself, the shield of faith is to be made and fitted in the family. No two can be exactly alike. Each must be handcrafted to individual specifications.

The plan designed by the Father contemplates that man and woman, husband and wife, working together, fit each child individually with a shield of faith made to buckle on so firmly that it can neither be pulled off nor penetrated by those fiery darts.

It takes the steady strength of a father to hammer out the metal of it and the tender hands of a mother to polish and fit it on. Sometimes one parent is left to do it alone. It is difficult, but it can be done.

In the Church we can teach about the materials from which a shield of faith is made: reverence, courage, chastity, repentance, forgiveness, compassion. In church we can learn how to assemble and fit them together. But the actual making of and fitting on of the shield of faith belongs in the family circle. Otherwise it may loosen and come off in a crisis."


Boyd K. Packer

Shield of Faith, April 1985


My dear Sisters,

I want to start my letter with this quote so to give you the premise if where I am starting from. I want you to know that those that you teach are teaching children of our Father in Heaven who work hard to buckle their faith as hard as they can. Some forged their own shield whilst others had parents who did their best to prepare them for fiery darts of fear, doubt and pride.

What I encourage you to do is see them as the children who are more precious than gold,who's spirits want desperately to be home with a loving Father. Send a thanks to your mom and dad for what they did and share it. Wear you faith with the pleasure that Heaven gives when you have it on. Dont ever take it off. You are the Lords servants and we here at home truly sustain you in you calling. 


God bless you and keep you till we meet again.


Your beloved cousin and uncle,


Nathan Bingham

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