Long ago when soldiers went into battle, they dressed in metal armor and carried swords and shields to protect themselves from the swords and arrows of their enemies.

President Gordon B. Hinckley has explained that the reason we have "The Family: A Proclamation to the World" now is because the family is under a kind of attack and needs to be strengthened (see Ensign, Aug. 1997, 5).

Today in the battle against evil, we can stand prepared by wearing a different kind of armor. It is called the armor of God. (See Ephesians 6:11–17.) Such armor is what we call spiritual strength. It helps us to withstand temptation and be strong in living the commandments.

Living My Gospel Standards (see pp. 24–25 of this issue) will help strengthen our armor.

Prepare case studies (see TNGC, pp. 161–62) that give children an opportunity to tell and/or show how they can live some of the standards.

Write "I will honor my parents and do my part to strengthen my family" on the board.

• Recite this standard by having each child repeat one word at a time.

• The child who says the last word (family) chooses a case study to answer.

• Repeat.

Learn the song "I Stand Prepared" (Friend, Jan. 1995, 12–13) by singing a line at a time and letting the children echo it back.

Bear testimony that when we clothe ourselves with spiritual strength, we can be an example of one who puts on the whole armor of God and is a source of strength for our families.