“Preparing for Spiritual Combat,” New Era, December 2016
Preparing for Spiritual Combat
It’s critical that we develop basic spiritual maneuvers that allow us to successfully navigate the pitfalls of life and become spiritually self-reliant.
Photo illustrations by Allan Davey
As a young fighter pilot, I learned a series of basic fighter maneuvers—like the barrel-roll attack, Immelmann turn, and high speed yo-yo. These maneuvers, when used individually or in combination with each other, allowed me to employ the F-4 Phantom jet effectively in dangerous situations, to attack more lethally, or to defend more successfully. Pilots who learned, practiced, and perfected these maneuvers always did better in actual combat, helping them save resources and lives.
I once investigated an airplane accident where a young lieutenant was trying to practice the basic fighter maneuver called a pop-up attack. The plan called for him to approach the target at low level and high speed, acquire the target, then pull up abruptly, and, at the appropriate altitude, roll over and attack the target at a 20-degree dive angle—for more effective weapons effects. This particular lieutenant tunneled his vision solely on the target, not paying attention to anything else, and suddenly he found himself in the clouds. But if you’re in the clouds and your only reference is the ground, then you’ve lost the ability to effectively continue the attack.
Instead of discontinuing the attack and executing the appropriate escape maneuver as he’d been trained, the young pilot thought, “Well, I remember where the target is, so I’m going to keep going.” Because he’d had no real reference, he’d flown too high. So when he rolled over, he exited the clouds at a steep 45-degree angle and was flying much too fast to avoid hitting the ground. Realizing his mistake, he immediately pulled the ejection handle, just prior to the airplane impacting the ground. Because he failed to perform a single basic maneuver, he lost a valuable combat aircraft and came within about a half second of losing his life.
In a similar way, it’s critical that we develop basic spiritual maneuvers that allow us to successfully navigate the pitfalls of life and become spiritually self-reliant. Like the fighter pilots in training, when we learn, practice, and become proficient in the skills of the gospel, we will be able to stand strong—sometimes alone if we have to—in times of mortal spiritual combat. There are a number of basic gospel maneuvers that we need to learn in order to become self-reliant in times of spiritual combat, like obeying the commandments, making the Sabbath day a delight, heeding the words of living prophets, and many more. Here I want to highlight four that have strengthened me, particularly when I faced some of my greatest trials as a young fighter pilot.
1. Regularly Reading the Scriptures
Reading the scriptures on a regular basis is how we become familiar not only with their terminology and language but also with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. We don’t come to know someone we’re not familiar with. By familiarizing ourselves with God and His word, we become more receptive to His message. That’s the beauty of reading the scriptures—it allows us to be receptive to the will and the mind of the Lord through the Holy Ghost.
2. Studying the Scriptures
Studying is one step further than reading. When we deeply study the scriptures, we not only have the influence of the Holy Ghost with us, but we also allow Him to direct our minds toward the things that Heavenly Father wants us to learn. There are many ways to approach this—like studying the doctrine of a verse or using the Topical Guide as a starting point to find topics to study. We should delve deeply into the scriptures, striving to learn so we can activate our faith and keep it from going dormant.
3. Praying Meaningfully
Developing patterns of prayer is important throughout life. When an unexpected crisis arrives, if we’ve developed the skill of meaningful prayer, then we’ll be able to more easily withstand those times. Each day we should work to have kneeling, unrehearsed, and meaningful prayers where we spend time listening and contemplating what we want to talk with Heavenly Father about before and after we say it.
4. Pondering
When we ponder what we’ve learned from our scripture study and prayer, we invite Jesus Christ into our hearts and our minds, allowing Him to help us change our attitudes and will and also for the Holy Ghost to sanctify us. When we become sanctified through God’s power, He will trust us to perform His most sacred work—assisting Him to bring His other children home to Him. We will be a more effective friend, a more powerful example, and a more spiritual temple patron when we ponder His word and allow the Savior into our hearts and minds.
These Skills Strengthen Us
I spent a year overseas as a young officer, and the environment was not good. I was away from my family and constantly surrounded by evil and temptation, and each day was a challenge. But by applying basic gospel skills that I already knew, my testimony remained strong and intact.
As we work to be spiritually self-reliant, we each must develop basic gospel skills. Through reading, studying, praying, pondering, and participating in other gospel activities, we will be prepared in times of spiritual danger. Developing and practicing these basic gospel skills will help us grow closer to Heavenly Father. Our prayers will become more meaningful, our worship more sincere, and our love for the gospel deeper and more abiding.