Build Your Spiritual Foundation in Christ

The other day I received a text from my 9^th grade daughter who is in seminary. She asked, “What is your favorite scripture?” Within just a couple of seconds I responded with ease, “Helaman 5:12”

This has been my favorite scripture ever since I was introduced to it in my own seminary days. The dramatic elements of being able to withstand whirlwinds, storms beating, and things dragging me down seemed ennobling and still do!

In April 2024 Elder David A. Bednar taught something profound about this verse.

“Remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.

The symbolism of Christ as the “rock” upon whom we should build the foundation of our lives is most instructive. Please note in this verse that the Savior is not the foundation. Rather, we are admonished to build our personal spiritual foundation upon Him.”

When I studied this my mind was opened! I realized I could make my foundation (or my life) look a myriad of ways if it was built upon The Rock.

I remember walking to church on my first Sunday as a college freshman. The memory is so vivid I can almost hear my steps. The thought came joyfully to my mind, “You are going to church!” I felt overwhelming joy that I was choosing to go to church because I wanted to. Nobody would know or care if I went or didn’t go, I was going because I wanted to build the foundation of my life on Christ.

1 Nephi 8:26 says the great and spacious building “stood as it were in the air, high above the earth.” I’m sure it had a foundation, but it wasn’t linked to the Rock.

Elder Bednar further explained, “A strong and reliable connection between the ground and a foundation is essential if a structure is to remain sturdy and stable over time. And for particular types of construction, anchor pins and steel rods can be used to attach the foundation of a building to “bedrock,” the hard, solid rock beneath surface materials such as soil and gravel.

In a similar way, the foundation of our lives must be connected to the rock of Christ if we are to remain firm and steadfast. The sacred covenants and ordinances of the Savior’s restored gospel can be compared to the anchor pins and steel rods used to connect a building to bedrock. Every time we faithfully receive, review, remember, and renew sacred covenants, our spiritual anchors are secured ever more firmly and steadfastly to the “rock” of Jesus Christ.”

Making choices that will anchor us to the Bedrock is one of the main purposes of mortality. Using our agency to build our life on the Savior is what he asks of us and in return he gives us the best, safest life we can have that makes it possible to withstand the dramatic whirlwinds, storms, and the beatings of this life.

In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.