I recently read the story of Ammon, in The Book of Mormon. There are many amazing experiences and lessons to learn from this amazing, repentant, and changed man, who becomes a valiant witness of Christ. The lesson that struck me during this reading was the protection the Lord promised Ammon’s father, King Mosiah, which was so dramatically fulfilled when a man, who raised his sword to slay an unconscious Ammon, suddenly dropped to the floor, dead.

“Now we see that Ammon could not be slain, for the Lord had said unto Mosiah, his father: I will spare him, and it shall be unto him according to thy faith—therefore, Mosiah trusted him unto the Lord.” Alma 19:23

This story is unique, in that the Lord specifically promised Mosiah that he would protect Ammon, yet there are countless examples of those who have been protected by the Lord as they went about His work.  Sometimes that work is missionary work, like Ammon’s, but there are many ways to serve the Lord, many ways to encounter challenge and danger, and many ways to be protected. This scripture also reminds us that it was by faith the miracle occurred.

Daniel was spared from hungry lions. Young David slayed the giant, Goliath. Millions of Israelites crossed the parted Red Sea. The list of times the Lord protected His disciples is a long one.  However, there is also a list of those who were not spared but sealed their testimonies with their blood, such as Stephen, Abinadi, Joseph Smith, and thousands of converted Lamanites who refused to take up weapons after repenting.

When Shadrach Meshach, and Abednego were told to bow to the idols or be cast into the fiery furnace, their response is one each of us would benefit from remembering.

“If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.  But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.”  Daniel 3: 17-18

Those three words, “but if not,” have been spoken by other believers who were willing to serve the Lord, at any cost. The Lord is able to protect and save our physical bodies, but if not, He has already saved our souls, so we have nothing to fear.

“The Lord has given us agency, the right and the responsibility to decide. He tests us by allowing us to be challenged. He assures us that He will not suffer us to be tempted beyond our ability to withstand. But we must understand that great challenges make great men. We don’t seek tribulation, but if we respond in faith, the Lord strengthens us. The but if nots can become remarkable blessings…

“Our God will deliver us from ridicule and persecution, but if not. … Our God will deliver us from sickness and disease, but if not …He will deliver us from loneliness, depression, or fear, but if not…He will deliver us from death or impairment of loved ones, but if not…we will have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, knowing that if we do all we can do, we will, in His time and in His way, be delivered and receive all that He has.” Dennis E. Simmons

Faith isn’t believing God will do whatever we ask in faith; it’s believing He will do what is best for everyone involved, no matter how it looks to us in our limited understanding. We do the best we can, trusting Him to help us get through whatever we are called to endure and use it for our good.

I’m inspired and amazed at the courage and faith of many who are willing to love and serve others despite risk to themselves. Of course, Jesus was the epitome of loving and serving the sick and afflicted. Countless others have followed His example to relieve suffering, including missionaries, who have served all over the world, and healthcare workers, who often risk their own health serving others.  My family has personally been blessed by loving friends willing to come and minister, even during serious illness.

I was touched by a talk given by Robert C. Gay, in the October 2018 General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, about taking upon ourselves the name of Christ.  He shared,

“I recently learned about an experience in the life of Elder James E. Talmage that caused me to pause and consider how I love and serve those around me. As a young professor, before he became an Apostle, in the height of the deadly diphtheria epidemic of 1892, Elder Talmage discovered a family of strangers, not members of the Church, who lived near him and who were stricken by the disease. No one wanted to put themselves at risk by going inside the infected home. Elder Talmage, however, immediately proceeded to the home. He found four children: a two-and-a-half-year-old dead on the bed, a five-year-old and ten-year-old in great pain, and a weakened thirteen-year-old. The parents were suffering with grief and fatigue.

“Elder Talmage dressed the dead and the living, swept the rooms, carried out the soiled clothing, and burned filthy rags covered with the disease. He worked all day and then returned the next morning. The ten-year-old died during the night. He lifted and held the five-year-old. She coughed bloody mucus all over his face and clothes. He wrote, “I could not put her from me,” and he held her until she died in his arms. He helped bury all three children and arranged for food and clean clothing for the grieving family. Upon returning home, Brother Talmage disposed of his clothes, bathed in a zinc solution, quarantined himself from his family, and suffered through a mild attack of the disease.”

Elder Gay closes with these words:

“So many lives around us are at stake. Saints take the Savior’s name upon themselves by becoming holy and ministering to all regardless of where or how they stand—lives are saved as we do so.”

Reading that talk again in May 2020 pierced my heart. Though most of us are not called to do such difficult and courageous acts, we are each able to ask what the Lord would have us do, listen for the Spirit to guide us, and then put aside fear to courageously act on what we have heard and felt. If we do that, taking His name upon us, all will be well with our souls, no matter the outcome.

And should we die before our journey’s through,
Happy day! All is well!
We then are free from toil and sorrow, too;
With the just we shall dwell!
But if our lives are spared again
To see the Saints their rest obtain,
Oh, how we’ll make this chorus swell—
All is well! All is well!

William Clayton, 1814–1879