Build testimony on faith

- Repent of sins

- Follow example of Savior

Just as Ukrainian travelers years ago protected themselves from packs of wolves by building bonfires in their camps at night, so must people today protect themselves from Satan's devious wolves that take the form of temptation, evil and sin, declared Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin.

"We live in dangerous times when these ravenous wolves roam the spiritual countryside in search of those who may be weak in faith or feeble in their conviction," Elder Wirthlin of the Council of the Twelve said Saturday afternoon.

He observed that some believe their testimony is a raging bonfire when it really is little more than the faint flickering of a candle. "Their faithfulness has more to do with habit than holiness, and their pursuit of personal righteousness almost always takes a back seat to their pursuit of personal interests and pleasure."

No matter why testimonies grow dim, the Savior urges people to come unto Him and be strengthened, Elder Wirthlin observed. Some are weak in their faith, but are not aware of how precarious their situation is. "They raise their right hand to sustain Church leaders and then murmur and complain when a decision does not square with their way of thinking," he said. "They claim to be obedient to God's commandments but do not feel at all uncomfortable about purchasing food at the store on Sunday and then asking the Lord to bless it. Some say they would give their lives for the Lord yet they refuse to serve in the nursery."

Elder Wirthlin offered three suggestions to "fan the flame of personal testimony" as a protection against the wolves of evil:

"First," he said, "make sure your testimony is built upon a solid foundation of faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ." He said people may have been impressed by the Tabernacle Choir, blessed by the Church welfare program, or have strong feelings about the inspired programs of the Church, but the anchor of the gospel is Jesus Christ.

The second suggestion, Elder Wirthlin said, "is humble, sincere repentance. Few things extinguish the fervor of the Holy Spirit in the heart of an individual more quickly than does sin. It dulls the spiritual senses, diminishes confidence and personal security, and separates the sinner from the Savior. One who carries the burden of unrepented sin is more likely to rationalize additional disobedience. The more sin is rationalized, the greater the possibility of destruction by Satan's wolves. . . . Anything that does not draw us closer to God takes us away from Him."

Elder Wirthlin said his third suggestion "is that we follow the example of the Savior. He set the pattern. In any pursuit and under any condition we can ask ourselves what Jesus would do and then determine our own course accordingly. . . .

"If we live our lives to conform as nearly as possible to the pattern the Savior set, our testimonies will be fortified continually and our spiritual bonfires never will be reduced to embers."