Protection from Fiery Darts

When Nephi was trying to explain in to his brothers 1 Nephi 15 the significance of his father's vision of the Tree of Life, they asked him what was meant by the Iron Rod. In verse 24, Nephi says that it is the "word of God" and that:

"Whoso would hearken unto the word of God, and would hold fast unto it, they would never perish; neither could the temptations and the fiery darts of the adversary overpower them unto blindness, to lead them away to destruction."

Do you see what that means? First, we can't just hearken unto the word of God, just hear it and say, "Yeah, that sounds like a good thing." We have to hold fast to it. Grab on and with all our might refuse to let go.

Second, and most importantly, it shows that when we really do hold fast to the word of God--keeping His commandments, constantly praying to get closer to him, and diligently seeking out that word by scripture study and church attendance--we are only promised that Satan's fiery darts will not overpower us. It does not promise that the darts won't come!

Trials are a guarantee. We WILL be tempted. Satan is an eternal enemy.

But, if we can "endure it well, God shall exalt [us] on high; [we] shalt triumph over all [our] foes," as was promised to Joseph Smith in Doctrine and Covenants 121:8.

This fantastic scripture, as well as the rest of the explanation of Lehi's dream in 1 Nephi 8, 1 Nephi 11, 1 Nephi 12, 1 Nephi 15, as well as many other chapters of the Book of Mormon, teach us how to endure these trials and temptations well, for they surely will come.