How are your anchor points?

We’ve heard a lot of talk recently about strengthening our foundations in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As recently as October President Russell M Nelson warned: “If you and I are to withstand the forthcoming perils and pressures, it is imperative that we each have a firm spiritual foundation built upon the rock of our Redeemer, Jesus Christ.”

We’ve all sung the song about the wise man and the foolish man and their respective houses. We know not to build our house on a sandy foundation – we build our houses on a rock. But what if strengthening our foundations is not enough? What if there is something more we can do to make sure our spiritual houses withstand the storms raging around us?

Lessons from a Super Tornado

I was watching a documentary on super tornadoes recently – specifically the super tornado that hit Joplin, Missouri in 2011. After studying the buildings around the path of the tornado scientists had some interesting conclusions. 

If the building’s roof and walls were well anchored to the foundation, it was more likely to withstand the tornado. 

What is being done because of this information? Construction codes are being updated to include common precautions to secure buildings against the wind. Practices common on the coast but not so much on the plains until now. 

The goal in constructing super tornado resistant buildings is to not let the wind get into the building. If there is the smallest opening the wind is going to take it and knock down the building from the inside out. How is this being done? By firmly securing the walls and roof to the foundation and strengthening the openings:

Using anchor bolts to anchor the walls to the foundation.

Using hurricane clips to anchor the roof to the walls.

Using hurricane glass or hurricane shutters at door and window openings.

How does this apply to our spiritual lives? If the adversary can get his whirlwinds inside our spiritual walls, it doesn’t matter how strong our foundation is: our house will tumble.

Building your spiritual house

How do we anchor our walls on the foundation of Jesus Christ and the roofs of our testimonies to those walls? What are our anchor points? What can strengthen and protect our weak points?

Primarily, we anchor ourselves to the Lord through covenants and holding fast to those covenants. Whether we have just been baptized or have entered further into the Abrahamic Covenant through temple ordinances we must hold fast to the promises we have made. As President Nelson has invited: “I invite you to set a regular time to rehearse in your mind the covenants you have made.”

Second, we remember the times in our lives that the Lord has been with us and shown us His love. We look for His miracles. We look for answered prayers. We look for His hand in our lives. We write a record of them to help us remember. In a journal or on a note taking app – it doesn’t matter – as long as our spiritual experiences get written down so we can look back in times of struggle or doubt and remember what the Lord has done for us.

Third, we need to protect our weak points – our “windows”. In construction this is usually done by strengthening the glass, the weakest part of the building or putting shutters in place to cover the glass. Its why people put plywood in their windows when a hurricane comes, it offers a small amount of protection.

In our lives, this looks like doing the everyday small and simple things that help us build up resistance to the temptations of Satan. It’s our scripture study, prayers and living close to the Spirit. It’s also recognizing our weaknesses – where we fall prey most often to the whispers of temptation, and – with the help of Jesus Christ – figuring out ways to fortify yourself against those things. That’s going to be a little different for everyone, a custom-built solution that is unique to each of us.

In order to survive spiritually we need to anchor ourselves to the foundation of Jesus Christ and fortify our vulnerable places. Then, when the winds come, because they always do, each part of our spiritual house will be firmly connected to the rock of our Redeemer. It’s going to take time and work, but we can build lives that will withstand any storm.

We look for His miracles.

We look for answered prayers.

We look for His hand in our lives.

We write a record of them to help us remember.