Stones are one of the most commonplace objects on the earth. If you’re like me, you’re probably often surrounded by stones without being all that aware of them. You walk on them. You take them for granted as part of your surroundings. Maybe you’ve even picked a few up and tossed them across the glassy surface of a still lake without giving the stones themselves much thought.
By themselves, stones don’t account for much. But combined with the power of the Lord, they are everything.
Think of the small, humble shepherd boy who stood with the Israelite army as they faced the daunting army of the Philistines. It was tradition that each army chose one man to represent it; the victor of the battle between these two delegates determined which army won the war. To read more, click the button below.
The Philistines sent Goliath, a towering, fierce, nine-foot-nine-inch giant whose armor alone outweighed David. He had been engaged in war since his youth. As you can imagine, no Israelite soldier wanted to go toe-to-toe with Goliath. Every morning and every night for forty days, Goliath walked down the slope into the valley and challenged the Israelite army on the other slope, bellowing, “I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together” (1 Samuel 17:10).
For their part, the Israelites stayed where they were. The scriptures called them “dismayed, and greatly afraid.” No wonder.
On the fortieth day, the young shepherd boy David went to the Israelite leader Saul and volunteered to face the giant. Saul protested—but after David explained that he had singlehandedly killed a lion and a bear that threatened his flock of sheep, Saul reluctantly agreed. Saul put his own armor on David, fitting him with a coat of mail and putting a brass helmet on his head. David refused them, took off all the armor, and approached the Philistine with nothing more than five smooth stones and a sling.
David was no stranger to slinging stones, and he had confidence in his ability. But his real confidence was in the power of the Lord.
Goliath started toward David, laughing derisively that the Israelites would appoint such a measly foe. And David? He ran to meet his formidable opponent on the field. He quickly placed a round, smooth stone in the sling and propelled it toward the giant. The stone sunk into Goliath’s forehead, and he fell face-first to the ground.
The victory went to the Israelites—but the victory was really the Lord’s. It belonged to He whose wondrous power raised up a humble, simple shepherd to accomplish a mighty work with five simple stones.
And what of the brother of Jared? Faced with finding a way to light the watertight barges, he presented the Lord with sixteen small stones. The Lord touched the stones with His finger, and the stones lighted the Jaredites’ way until they reached the promised land.
And what of Joseph Smith? He accomplished part of the translation of the plates with the use of a seer stone, provided by the Lord.
We might be compared to stones—ordinary on our own, but powerful beyond comprehension when we are touched and guided by the Lord.
Never faint at a challenge that faces you, even if it seems the greatest challenge imaginable. On your own, maybe you can’t rise to the occasion. But combined with the Lord, you—and I, and all of us who exercise faith—can accomplish anything placed before us.
