The Holy War

                                                  


       For those of you who don't know what this is, let me  explain:   The Holy war is an annual football game, played by the University of Utah Utes and the Brigham Young University Cougars.  It has been played since April 4, 1896.  The overall record for the teams is Utah 53 wins, Byu 34 wins, and 4 ties.  For those in Utah this is more than a game, there is much passion between the fans of both sides when this game played during the last week of November.  For me my allegiance is for the Utes!


         In the overall all series, Utah dominated the early seasons, giving them a huge margin in victories.  They then proceeded to split victories for many years.  Then BYU, narrowed the margin under the reign of legendary coach Lavell Edwards.  Utah in the early part of this decade though, picked back up the slack and won often.  Both teams in the past have had great players, with both sides having many great NFL recruits.  This is definitely a time of fun spirited rivalry between these two teams and their sets of die hard fans.  

           Now to relate this.  Today we are in a different kind of war, one that has been taking place for a much longer period of time, even before this earth was created.  It all started when our Father in Heaven gave unto us a plan. "Whom shall I send?" (Abr. 3:27)  Lucifer volunteered to lead out this plan for our Father in Heaven, he said "Behold, here am I, send me" (Moses 4:1).  He later said, "I will be thy son, and I will redeem all mankind, that one soul shall not be lost, and surely I will do it; wherefore give me thine honor" (Moses 4:1)  This was a defiance to our father in Heaven. 

      Jesus Christ, Father in Heaven's eldest son responded, "Here am I, send me" (Abr. 3:27). He also stated, "Father, thy will be done, and the glory be thine forever" (Moses 4:2). With this formal acceptance and selection of the future Messiah, the spirit children of God "shouted for joy" (Job 38:7). It was also a time to signify individual commitment to the Father's plan.

     A third of the host of heaven, used their agency and decided to follow Lucifer, this meant that they could not recieve bodies and they were cast out of the presence of our Father in Heaven forever.  All of us here on this earth chose to follow Jesus Christ, our chosen savior.  He is the one who will redeem us of the mistakes we make while going through this test of mortality. 

      Known on earth as Satan or the devil, Lucifer and his followers still continue the war against the work and the people of God, being permitted to do so to give people opportunity to exercise agency, being "enticed by the one or the other" (2 Ne. 2:16-25).   So now while we are here on this earth, we must chose christ.  For those of us who do, eternal glory and exaltation awaits.  Our Father in Heaven will prevail!!