General Conference, ‘A Defense and a Refuge,’ October 2006; “Sometimes clergy, even ministerial organizations, oppose us. They do what we would never do. We do not attack or criticize or oppose others as they do us…
We speak of the Church as our refuge, our defense. There is safety and protection in the Church. It centers in the gospel of Jesus Christ. Latter-day Saints learn to look within themselves to see the redeeming power of the Savior of all mankind. The principles of the gospel taught in the Church and learned from the scriptures become a guide for each of us individually and for our families.” – Boyd K. Packer
Psalm 9:9-10; “The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. 10 And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.”
Psalm 18:6; “In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears.”
There are a couple of things to look at in today’s LDS reference so let’s get started!
1.LDS apostle Boyd Packer’s speech in 2006 tells us the Church was still talking trash about the body of Christ well into the 21st century. By this time Packer had been in the Church all his life (82+ years) and was well aware of the Church’s past and present state of affairs. He led by example and reinforced the lie that the Church never maligned the body of Christ.
2.The title of his speech would denote someone was going to exemplify how to find refuge in God by focusing on God, alas, this isn’t where Packer’s focus was rooted. His message came through loud and clear by reminding the Saints that refuge comes by looking within instead of to God.
3.The only refuge a building (church) can provide is of a temporal kind. It can shelter us from rain, wind, snow, heat, etc, and membership in an organization provides even less shelter than that of a building.
Even belonging to the body of Christ and being a Christian doesn’t afford shelter to our souls. It provides comfort in the mere fact other believers can pray for us or intervene in daily needs.
The type of refuge we truly need can only be provided by God and His supernatural powers that only He is in possession of. We don’t look within and we certainly don’t look to a group of people that can do what only God can.
People can’t save.
People can’t be with you 24/7.
People can’t offer assurance of salvation.
My Hope Is Built (also known as The Solid Rock)
1. My hope is built on nothing less Than Jesus’ blood and
righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame, But
wholly trust in Jesus’ Name. On Christ the solid Rock I
stand, All other ground is sinking sand.
2. When darkness veils His lovely face, I rest on His
unchanging grace. In every high and stormy gale, My
anchor holds within the veil. On Christ the solid Rock I
stand, All other ground is sinking sand.
3. His oath, His covenant, His blood, Support me in the
whelming flood. When all around my soul gives way, He
then is all my hope and stay. On Christ the solid Rock I
stand, All other ground is sinking sand.
4. When He shall come with trumpet sound, Oh may I then
in Him be found. Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne. On Christ the solid
Rock I stand, All other ground is sinking sand.
Words : Edward Mote, circa 1834.
Music : ‘Melita’ John Bacchus Dykes, 1861.
Setting : “Hymns Ancient and Modern”, 1869.
copyright : public domain. This score is a part of the Open
Hymnal Project, 2011 Revision.
Thanks so much for posting this Sue! This is one of my all time favorite songs! LOVE IT!!! 🙂