Chapter 29
Being Valiant — Defending the Constitution
"One can hardly speak for freedom
without being accused of being political.
Some might even call the war in heaven a political struggle
— certainly it was controversial.
Yet the valiant entered it with Michael."
— Ezra Taft Benson

Speaking of those who will eventually receive the celestial kingdom, President Ezra Taft Benson, while quoting from D&C 76:51 and 53, said, "These are thy who are valiant in their testimony of Jesus. . . . They are courageous in defending truth and righteousness. These are members of the Church who magnify their callings in the Church. . . ." (The Ensign, February 1987, pp. 2-3.)

Being Committed
Before we can start to be valiant in keeping the commandments and covenants of the Lord, we must first be committed to the purpose of doing so with an understanding of the reasons behind the commitment. Without an understanding of the purpose, the commitment will have little strength and will be short-lived.

When we commit ourselves, it means that we undertake to do something with a pledge, promise, or an oath. The promise made could be to someone else, or to ourselves. President McKay expressed some thoughts on dedicated commitment; a commitment is more than a belief or an understanding, it is an attitude:

"Merely an appreciation of the social ethics of Jesus is not sufficient. Men’s hearts must be changed. Instead of selfishness, men must be willing to dedicate their ability, their possessions — if necessary, their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor for the alleviation of the ills of mankind." (CR, October 1961, pp. 7-8.)

Speaking of the Lord and the principle of dedication, Thomas S. Monson wrote in his book, Pathways to Perfection, "He calls you and me to serve Him here below and sets us to the tasks He would have us fulfill. The commitment is total." (Pathways to Perfection, pp. 84-85.)

Speaking of the "unwillingness to be totally committed," Elder Marvin J. Ashton said, "The parable of the sower would refer to these as those who have no deepness. They are those without commitment or testimony." Then he continues by saying:

"These are those who would be convenience members. Some testimonies spring up quickly and flourish for awhile until the heat comes on or a stony place is encountered. Then the withering starts to take place.
"As the events of daily life come upon us, some testimonies wither under the heat of everyday occurrences. Roots are shallow, testimonies fade, and there is no harvest.
"Let us seek to be totally committed. Then we will not fall upon stony places, wither away, or stray from the paths of security and happiness." (Ye Are My Friends, Deseret Book Company, 1982, pp. 71-72.)

Everything in life that is worth doing is worth having a commitment behind it. When we are not committed, or do not understand the reason for that commitment, our efforts will be hollow and will crumble into pieces. The Lord does not want us to be members of "convenience," He wants us to be members with a commitment of purpose — those of us who will valiantly take up the cross and "pledge to each other our Lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor."

The Importance of Being Valiant
Those who will inherit the celestial kingdom are "valiant in their testimony of Jesus." In verse 79, it tells us that those who are to enter the terrestrial kingdom "are they who are not valiant in the testimony of Jesus; wherefore, they obtain not the crown over the kingdom of our God."

It also states, in verse 75, that those who will receive the terrestrial kingdom are "honorable men of the earth, who were blinded by the craftiness of men." So, here we have good and honorable men, who are not valiant in their testimony, receiving not the celestial but the terrestrial kingdom of God.

Now, if they were not valiant in their testimony, then that means that they must have a testimony to start with. And since a testimony of Jesus only comes by the spirit of prophecy and the Holy Ghost (Rev. 19:10; 2 Pet. 1:21; Moses 6:8), and the Holy Ghost is only given to members of the Church, then, it seems that some of those who will inherit the terrestrial kingdom will be members of the Church — Church members who have not been valiant in their testimony of Jesus. To qualify for an inheritance in the celestial kingdom requires not only being good and honorable members in Christ’s Church but also valiant in that membership.

Priesthood holders are taught to "magnify" their priesthood. Magnify means to "amplify," "enlarge," "increase," "glorify," "enhance," etc. It does not mean that the priesthood should stand neutral, disinterested, impartial, uninvolved, or mediocre. The Priesthood is to lead out. The Savior was not mediocre, or neutral; He led out and took a stand on issues. To magnify the priesthood is to be valiant in that priesthood.

Now what is valor? Dictionaries give us such synonyms as, "bold," "brave," "daring," "heroic," "intrepid," "undaunted," "courageous," and to "perform with valor." President Benson said that the heirs of the celestial kingdom "are courageous in defending truth and righteousness." Do these definitions of valor depict those who only pay their tithes and offerings, live morally clean lives, keep the Sabbath day holy, live the word of wisdom, do their home teaching, perform their Church duties, etc.? No, it does not; the good and honorable can do that. It implies more. It requires more. It requires valor!

The scriptures give us a good idea of what a valiant person is to be. (Alma 53:20; Heb.11:34; 1 Sam. 16:18; 18:17; 2 Sam. 24:9; 1 Chr. 5:18.) And as we study the scriptures, we find that those who are valiant are those who do not shun a fight but are brave in battle, not just those who keep their proverbial "nose clean," because an issue may be controversial, or let their neighbor handle problems, trusting in the arm of flesh. The valiant know the right, stand up for it, and get into the battle — are, "anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness." (D&C 58:27.) It says to bring to pass, not watch it come to pass, or watch it go past — but, to "bring to pass much righteousness." The valiant will "stand up and be counted," and bring to pass that which is good.

The opposite of valiant is "cowardly," and "ignoble." Now some dictionaries say that cowardly means "spineless," and "timid." And ignoble means: "disgraceful, dishonorable, contemptible," etc. In Jeremiah it tells us that, "they bend their tongues like their bow for lies: but they are not valiant for the truth upon the earth." (Jer. 9:3.) And in Chapter 46 we are told that the valiant men were "swept away" because "they stood not." (Jer. 46:15.) This seems to say that we not only need to be good and honorable but we must also stand up courageously for that which is right. The cowardly will not stand for that which is right but will shun the battle and rationalize (rational lies) their apathy and complacency.

As we study the foregoing thoughts on being valiant, the words of President Benson, in regard to the Constitution, appear to take on a more significant meaning as he said,

"Not to be valiant in one’s testimony is a tragedy of eternal consequence. These are members who know that this latter-day work is true but who fail to endure to the end. Some may even hold temple recommends, but they do not magnify their callings in the Church. Without valor, they do not take an affirmative stand for the kingdom of God. Some seek the praise, adulation, and honor of men; others attempt to conceal their sins; and a few criticize those who preside over them.
"One who rationalizes that he or she has a testimony of Jesus Christ but cannot accept direction and counsel from the leadership of His church is in a fundamentally unsound position and is in jeopardy of losing exaltation." (Come Unto Christ, pp. 13-15.)

"There are people . . . all over the world who in their own courageous and sometimes quiet way are working for freedom. In many cases we will never know until the next life all they sacrificed for liberty. These patriots are receiving heaven’s applause for the role they are playing, and in the long run that applause will be louder and longer than any they could receive in this world." (Let Us Live to Keep Men Free, p. 12.)
"I testify that the God of heaven sent some of His choicest spirits to lay the foundation of this government, and He has now sent other choice spirits to help preserve it." (General Conference, October 1987; The Ensign, November 1987, p. 7.)
"The time is fast approaching when it will require great courage for Latter-day Saints to stand up for their peculiar standards and doctrine — All their doctrine, including the more weighty principles such as the principle of freedom. Opposition to this weighty principle of freedom caused many of our brothers and sisters in the pre-existence to lose their first estate in the War in Heaven." (CR, October 1963, pp. 15-19.)
"Now part of the reason why we do not have sufficient Priesthood bearers to save the Constitution, let alone to shake the powers of hell . . . our souls do not joy in keeping our country free and we are not firm in the faith of Christ, nor have we sworn with an oath to defend our rights. . .
"As members of the Church, we have some close quarters to pass through if we are to save our souls." (An address delivered at Brigham Young University, October 25, 1966, pp. 11, 13.)

The decision to be committed and valiant in the cause of Christ to the very end, as He was committed and valiant, is the ultimate expression of the freedom to exercise our God-given agency. If we do not choose to be committed in the cause of Christ, or if we are not valiant in that commitment, we may then surmise where we fit into the eternal scheme of things.