Looking Fierce!

One of my daughters is in her school's colorguard. The preparation for competition day usually starts early in the morning. She has to wear a uniform, fix her a hair a certain way, and apply a special makeup. There is a particular way of describing her appearance. She refers to it as "looking fierce." I think that's rather a cool way to think about it.


There were some pretty fierce looking characters in Japanese history too. Most people are familiar with the feudal samurai period of Japan. Those warriors not only looked fierce, they also fought that way. Part of their preparation for battle involved wearing some serious armor. Not only was it protective but it also had a formidable appearance.

Kikuchi Takemitsu (1319-1373), general during the Nanbokucho era, fought in the Kyushu region for the Emperor with his army of samurai warriors. This scene depicts a decisive battle in the Chikugo river. (Painted by Ebine Shundo)

It would have been really foolish for a warrior of that period to go out to battle without his sword or having forgotten his helmet or other important parts of his armor. The result would have been disastrous.


Well, we go out to battle every day too. When we step out the door, we are fighting to make the right choices and making sure that the adversary doesn't harm us with temptations, distractions, and sin. Do we go out with all of our armor, or do we leave some of it behind thinking we won't really need it? In other words, have we prayed for Heavenly Father's guidance and protection for the day ahead? Have we made the decision to be obedient to the commandments? Are we going to obey and respect parents, church leaders, teachers in school, and other people in authority? Have we read the scriptures and kept the words in our hearts and minds so that they can lift us up and help answer questions in times of need?

"Wherefore, lift up your hearts and rejoice, and gird up your loins, and take upon you my whole armor, that ye may be able to withstand the evil day, having done all, that ye may be able to stand."
(Doctrine and Covenants, Section 27:15)

Just as my daughter prepares herself to "look fierce" for colorguard competitions, likewise I think we could each prepare ourselves to "look fierce" on a daily basis in the struggle to maintain ourselves clean and righteous. I really believe it's important to do that if we're going to win this battle we call life. And, if we do our best every day, I know we will win.