Another visitation came to the Prophet Joseph Smith in Kirtland, Ohio, on January 21,1836, when he saw the blazing throne of God, whereon was seated the Father and the Son.(4) Then Joseph learned that “the Lord, will judge all men according to their works, [and] according to the desires of their hearts.”(5) He also taught “that all children who die before the years of accountability are saved in the celestial kingdom of heaven.”(6) (From the book “Accomplishing the Impossible” (2015) by Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, pg 20-21)
Near the conclusion of the above chapter Elder Nelson said; “The Lord made a promise to those faithfully engaged in His service, He said; “I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up.”(7)
He then spoke of an incident that shows that even our Latter-day Apostles and their families can be subject to exceptional abuse. They do not live in bubble as many might think. He said, “My wife Wendy and I are the beneficiaries of that promise, On one occasion, we were attacked by armed men with malicious intent. They announced their purpose to kidnap her and to kill me. After they maliciously molested us in those evil objectives, they became totally foiled. A gun to my head failed to fire. And my wife was suddenly released from their hideous grasp. Then they disappeared as quickly as they had appeared. We were mercifully rescued from potential disaster. We know we were protected by angels around us. Yes, the Lord’s precious promise had been invoked in our behalf.” (The incident occurred May 29,2009 and description is from page 25 of the above mentioned book)
The point here embraces the truth, “The righteous need not fear”(8) because they continue to strive for a closer relationship with God, causing their lives to be in order before Him… no matter what mortal weaknesses that often ‘get in the way’. The more we strive to keep our lives in order and focused upon the Lord and those things of His purposes, the greater His promises and protection… and if not ‘our preferred protection’ then our sufferings will be consecrated to our eternal good. kdm
