“And it came to pass that the Lord commanded my father, even in a dream, that he should take his family and depart into the wilderness. And it came to pass that he was obedient unto the word of the Lord, wherefore he did as the Lord commanded him. And it came to pass that he departed into the wilderness. And he left his house, and the land of his inheritance, and his gold, and his silver, and his precious things, and took nothing with him, save it were his family, and provisions, and tents, and departed into the wilderness” (1 Nephi 2:2-4).
Throughout the scriptures, God repeatedly calls His people to leave their homes and belongings and escape into the wilderness. In the Book of Mormon, we have Lehi and his family. the Old Testament speaks of the children of Israel being led by Moses for 40 years in the wilderness. In more recent times we have the early saints being led by Brigham Young into the wilderness of territorial Utah. Something about the wild places in the world seems to be special to the Lord. I believe that it has to do with the fact that these places are virtually untouched by man, they are pure and clean. These are also the places where the Lord’s people are refined and taught. Many of the most profound messages, both in and out of scripture, are taught in the backcountry and the mountains. One thing that I have learned about being in the wilderness, in both spiritual and temporal terms, is that you have to be prepared. Being caught unprepared is one of the most humbling, and often most terrifying experiences one can go through.
In regard to preparation, there is another passage of scripture, this time from the New Testament, that comes to mind. “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” (Ephesians 6:11). The scriptures exhort us to prepare ourselves spiritually by putting on this armor and goes through what each piece represents. Imagine with me, however, if we were to replace this armor with something perhaps a little more relatable.
This is where I will, to use the language of Nephi, “liken [these] scriptures unto us, that it might be for our profit and learning” (1 Nephi 19:23) and bring these concepts that I have discussed so far into union. The wilderness, or backcountry as I like to call it, is how many would describe some of my favorite places in the world. But, as I mentioned earlier, it is critical to be prepared while out exploring the wild places in the world. With this in mind, here is my backcountry interpretation of the armor of God.
Wherefore take unto you all of the gear of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand and survive. Stand therefore, having buckled your fanny pack of truth, and having on the down vest of righteousness; and your feet shod with the Chacos of the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the bear spray of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to fend off all the attack from the wicked bears. And take the sun hat of salvation, and the trekking poles of the Spirit, which is the word of God: checking your map always in the Spirit and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all your group.
In order to best understand the parallels, let’s dive into each piece of gear and explore the reasoning behind each item.
The Fanny Pack of Truth
One of the most underrated and misjudged items, the fanny pack is something only the truly confident will wear into the backcountry. While this is certainly not the most flattering bag, it gets the job done and is actually better for your back than a traditional backpack. Sometimes, the truth can be hard to come to terms with, just like a fanny pack, but it is effective and timeless.
The Down Vest of Righteousness
A classic layering piece, the down vest is an excellent option for a warm midlayer. It is lightweight and packs down to a very small size. It may not be “cool” to wear a down vest by some people’s standards, but righteousness isn’t always considered “cool” either. That certainly doesn’t mean that you disregard it. In fact, I would argue that this means you should do just the opposite and embrace righteousness–and the down vest of course!
Chacos of the Preparation of the Gospel of Peace
In my opinion, Chacos are the best footwear for just about everything. I’ve worn mine backpacking, canyoneering, guiding whitewater, climbing approaches, and around town. They Chacos are great for just about every situation which is why they fit perfectly in the wilderness armor of God, especially as what will take you wherever the Gospel needs to be brought!
Bear Spray of Faith
If you’ve ever been hiking and seen a bear or even just heard about others seeing one nearby then you’ll know how comforting it is to have bear spray on you. Like a shield you hope you won’t have reason to need it, but bear spray is so important to have just in case.
Sun Hat of Salvation
Having spent many hours working or hiking in the sun I know how important a hat can be for protecting your skin from getting sunburned. I know this especially because of how many times I wished I had a hat because of how burnt I was afterward. Whether you’re more concerned about being saved from skin cancer or the embarrassing red hue you’ll be, a hat is such an essential piece of gear to have with you.
Trekking Poles of the Spirit
You can obviously go hiking without trekking poles or a walking stick, I’ve done it plenty of times. However, it can make a world of difference, especially on your knees, when you do use them. Similarly, it is possible to make it through life without the Spirit, but it sure does help to have that extra guidance and support.
Nathan is a student at BYU studying Environmental Science and Sustainability. His love for God and nature was kindled in his early years as he went on adventures with his family. As he has gone throughout his life experiencing the world on different expeditions, as well as being involved in the outdoor recreation industry as a guide for over five years, he has grown to understand the need for action in order to preserve the world as we know it. In order to accomplish this, he has written articles for his own blog, Backcountry Basics, with the aim of helping people grow to love the wild places just as much as he has. As more individuals are able to connect with the world, they are more willing to take action to protect it.
