My dad was a fan of old western movies. Common elements in those old westerns were white hats, black hats, and the damsel in distress. John Wayne, Clint Eastwood, Ronald Reagan, Roy Rogers, and many others were frequent visitors on our TV screen. In the old days (my kids would call that the 1990s, but let’s go with the 1940s and 50s) it was always easy to know who the good guys were from the bad guys.
The good guys wore white hats, and the bad guys wore black hats. White hats always won, saved the damsel in distress, and lived happily ever after. Those wearing black hats always lost and never ended up with the damsel in distress. This made sense to me and provided me with a core foundational principle in life. Good will always prevail.
Media and entertainment flip the script and good will not always prevail. Gone are the white hats, black hats, and the damsel in distress. The good guys became less good, and the lines blurred between good and evil. And bad guys became heroes. Criminals are pop culture stars, and good guys are weak and scared. White and black hats are now just computer hackers and a damsel in distress would never appear on the screen. Heroes turn out to be villains, and sin and immorality are accepted as the way things are. Good has become evil and evil has become good.
Does this mean we should just give up and accept defeat? Are we afraid to stand up and be good? Is there no hope?
A world without virtue
One of our founding fathers, Samuel Adams said, “It is in the interest of tyrants to reduce the people to ignorance and vice. For they cannot live in any country where virtue and knowledge prevail.” Satan is a tyrant and would have us accept a world without virtue and knowledge of truth and righteousness.
I do not accept that world, and neither does my God. So, how do we fight back and win this war? How do we become heroes of the gathering of Israel? How do we restore virtue and knowledge to the world we live in?
Sun Tzu said, “Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win”. Christ has already won, and now He has called us to go to war with evil. Satan has already lost but continues to push his followers to win.
Prepare to crush evil
How do we prepare to crush evil in our time? Let us look to the scriptures for counsel.
“Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not.” (D&C 6:36)
“Doubt not, but be believing, and begin as in times of old, and come unto the Lord with all your heart, and work out your own salvation with fear and trembling before him.” (Mormon 9:27)
“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” (Isaiah 41:10)
“Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the Lord God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the Lord.” (1 Chronicles 28:20)
The Title of Liberty
We fight for our souls, the souls of our families, our friends, and our neighbors. We cannot doubt our God or fear our enemy. Rallying the Nephite nation to save their country, Captain Moroni raised the Title of Liberty. This banner, to call the righteous to arms, said: “In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children”. This banner was carried into each battle as a reminder of why and for whom they fought.
Our fight does not require physical prowess or advanced weaponry. Our fight requires a broken heart and a contrite spirit. We must fill our armory with faith, hope, and charity. The pure love of Christ leads our army. Humility, gentleness, and meekness shield us from the attacks of our enemy.
My friends, the ending has been written and we know who will win. Shall we not go on in so great a cause?
