The armor of God takes on a whole new, more real, kind of meaning when it is a bunch of cut up pizza and shoe boxes on a 6 foot 5 inch (or so) tall, African American....Tonight we had Family Home Evening with the Missionaries and a family in our neighborhood. Undre, the dad, is preparing to be baptized next month and so the missionaries came and did a lesson on the Armor of God. After reading the verses about the Armor of God in Ephesians (I'm sure I spelled that wrong) Undre was volunteered to put on the Armor which consisted of loins girded with "hot and fresh" pizza box sides, a pizza breast plate, shoe box foot shields with pictures of the Savior over his feet. A garbage can lid for a shield covered with the Savior and a broom for his sword. Then the 6 small children, the missionaries and Heidi were able to throw all the temptations they could find at him. They found pillows, balls, pill bottles, girl scout cookie boxes and I think a few fist to throw at him. It was pretty funny but, I think in a round about kind of way, it got the point across that if we do all we can by reading the scriptures, praying, living the commandments to the best of our ability and trying to be a true disciple or follower of the Savior, Jesus Christ, nothing, no matter how strong or fast it comes at us can get past that armor. But it takes work on our part every day.
It was a good reminder that we are all fighting a battle, not with swords or guns necessarily, but with the devil, everyday. The better we prepare ourselves and our families to face the trials of the world, the better we will be shielded. What a blessing it is to know that we have a Father in Heaven who loves us and has given us all the tools we need to overcome temptation of any kind. He wants us to succeed and be happy, but we have to do our part-daily.