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Judah learns lesson of ageless value - heed Lord's prophet

"A season of terrible anxiety." This is how President Gordon B. Hinckley described the time when Jehoshaphat, the son of Asa, was king of Judah.

Speaking in the priesthood session of the April 1992 general conference, President Hinckley said of that era in biblical history: "The Ammonites and the Moabites had declared war on the people of Judah. Those of Judah were vastly outnumbered, and their cause appeared hopeless."Jehoshaphat gathered his people together to plead with the Lord for help. He cried out in prayer:

" `O our God, . . . we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee.' (2 Chron. 20:12.)

"Then Jahaziel, the Levite prophet, said to Jehoshaphat:

" `Thus saith the Lord unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's. . . .

" `Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the Lord with you . . . fear not, nor be dismayed. (Chron. 20:15, 17.)

"Then the king, relying upon the words of the prophet, said to the people, `Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.' (2 Chron. 20:20; italics added.)

"These are the words of my text," President Hinckley said. "I repeat them: `Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.' "

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