As you may know, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have a proud history in the armed services, going back generations through wars and conflicts around the globe.

You are about to join the ranks of many honored servicemen and women who have gone before. Hello and welcome.

My name is Sister Elizabeth Bordeaux, second lieutenant in the United States Air Force, and I'm proud to be part of these ranks.

This is me during basic training in the Air Force.

It was difficult for me at first,

but with hard work and following the Spirit, I was able to graduate from the Air Force Academy and remained faithful in the gospel of Jesus Christ. If I can do it, so can you.

Regardless of where in the world you live or whether you are about to face the demands of initial or advanced training, lasting changes are coming to your life as you join a legacy of serving honorably for your country.

As you move on to your military specialty or deployment, your branch of the military will prepare you mentally and physically for your service ahead. Our purpose now is to help prepare you spiritually to go forward knowing that you are not alone.

We will give you the tools necessary to stay close to your Father in Heaven and your Savior, Jesus Christ.

This journey begins with the kind of mental and physical training that will require your greatest effort.

Being in the military will be a big change in your life.

You may be tested physically and spiritually more than you ever have in the past. And as you look forward to your new career in the military, you may have many unanswered questions.

The challenges you will face during your training are not directed at you personally, even though at times you might feel singled out.

Remember that basic training is a proving ground of character, focus, and determination, and it can lead to genuine development.

Basic training is really a school in leadership.

That’s why your faith and convictions will help strengthen your character as you take on the challenges of military life. As a latter-day saint, your beliefs always belong to you. Hold them close, And your faith in God will be a constant source of strength and courage in the face of difficulty, stress, or open opposition.

As we face conflict, temptation, and challenges in our life, we seek words of wisdom for our journey.

In the New Testament, we are counseled to put on the whole armor of God, to withstand the forces of our greatest adversary.

Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand, stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness, and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.

You are probably no stranger to lifestyles that aren't in keeping with our Heavenly Father’s commandments for His children.

Remember that you can always be in the world, but not of the world.

As you go forward in your military service,

be ready to stand up for what you believe.

Be ready to set an example for what you know is right. The physical and spiritual demands of military life are extreme.

Decide now that you will keep the Word of Wisdom and treat your body like you would any other tool in your armory with the greatest of care. You may often find yourself in situations where going against your standards appears to be a way to fit in, or go along with the crowd. Let decency and morality

be your compass and avoid places and even the appearance of evil.

As you keep the covenants you have made, you will have greater strength in living your values, maintaining your integrity, and increasing your faith in Jesus Christ.

I definitely face peer pressure in the military

to compromise my standards in various ways. There’s lots of temptations because not everyone shares the same standards. I also found a lot of strength in going to church on Sundays and also throughout boot camp, being a prayer leader, I was able to be able to meet in

a little group of latter-day Saints each night and and say a prayer together and read a little bit out of the Book of Mormon. And so little experiences like that along the way really strengthened me and helped me to withstand the various temptations and and peer pressures that a person faces in the military.

Military life is full of many challenges and opposition. Live righteously and be worthy of Heavenly Father's guidance and protection as you face these challenges.

Remember the spiritual tools that He has provided. Pray often. He wants to hear from you and has love and guidance for you.

Read the words of His prophets. There is wisdom and strength in the scriptures.

As you feast upon the words of Christ, they will tell you all things what you should do.

You may not be able to attend church every week, so find the time each week to worship wherever you are.

Read and study the scriptures or a conference talk for the weekly Sunday school lesson.

Because of your many distractions, you will need to be anxiously engaged in seeking to hear Him.

When we’re at cruise level, essentially, we take turns and rotate between pilots.

So when I go back and and rest, that's oftentimes I can shut the door to the bunk room. I can either get on my knees and say a prayer to find some comfort or some guidance with some of the issues that are going on there, and pray that everything’s going all right for Crystal and Seth.

Also, I can use my phone now that we have that technology, and I can just open up the LDS library and I can read from the Book of Mormon, I can read from the scriptures, occasionally, listen to a general conference talk.

Because of your Church membership, the way you act and what you say may be scrutinized.

Remember to do your best to follow the Spirit in these difficult situations.

You are not perfect and you may make mistakes. Be honest and humble and you will have the Spirit to guide you.

You have a unique opportunity serving and living with or near other military personnel.

Seek opportunities to make lasting friendships and when inspired, share the faith you have in the gospel of Jesus Christ with those close to you.

You will have many opportunities to be a great example of your Savior and also see His hand in your life.

Others may even need your help with their difficult challenges.

That was also one of my concerns as well, is the constant moving around, leaving my safe, secure family bubble. And I just remember pleading with Heavenly Father to help—

this might sound a little selfish— but not only help my children find friends, but I needed to be able to have those those sisters, those friends support as well. And it has been such a sweet reminder every time we've moved.

Within days of arriving, I have found that 1 or 2 special female friends that I've just bonded with and have been reminders that He’s listening to me and He’s taking care of our family. So yes, the constant moving has been our biggest challenge, but at the same time, it's been one of the easiest ways to see God's hand in our lives as He is preparing people at our new station to become our friends, to help us, and also for us to be able to help other people as well.

One of the facts of military life is that you do not control where you are assigned, or how long you might be there. Regardless of your home base,

often there are deployments or tours to all parts of the world.

You may have extended periods away from your immediate family or home congregation. No matter where you are stationed in the world, you can find a ward or branch to attend.

Attending your local ward or branch will allow you to partake of the sacrament, make new friendships in the Church, accept a calling, and receive spiritual, mental, and even physical support from your fellow saints.

Your home ward or branch will also be a support to your immediate family while you are deployed. To find a Church location, use the Church website. If you’re deployed or on a ship, ask your unit chaplain if there's a distinctive religious group leader or lay leader at your location.

If there isn't a leader at your location, you can contact military relations and chaplain services.

There was times where I felt lonely because I missed my family. But never totally alone because I was immersed within my Church community there in Iraq, a small group of of believers who would meet together at least weekly for worship, but also meet together to study the scriptures together or have lunch together in the cafeteria.

While serving in the military, support from and connection with friends, family, and other loved ones will be essential. During basic training, you may not have the opportunity to email or text, but you may be able to send and receive letters. Letters from my family back in Georgia were always so encouraging. They really strengthened me. My family told me they believed in me and that meant so much while I was away from them. And now that I am done with basic training, we keep in touch through text and social media.

So being away from my family, it's very hard. It's taken some getting used to, but as time has gone by, the ability to call home and talk to the kids has gotten a lot better and we've been able to really talk more.

This last appointment, we talked every day.

When you're enlisted and begin basic or advanced training, your membership records are kept in your home ward or branch until you’ve completed the training. When you are given your next assignment or long-term duty station, let your home ward clerk know where you will be stationed and your membership records will be forwarded to your new ward or branch.

Additional resources such as lessons, devotionals, and video content have been provided for you through a dedicated Church website.

Priesthood power is another important tool that can be used in times of need.

Priesthood blessings from a family member or ministering brother before deployment, or at any time of special need, can be a great source of spiritual guidance and comfort.

You know, when Robyn’s been deployed to be able to to stay close and to be able to hear Him, it can be difficult. It starts really pre-deployment.

You need to make sure that you’re spiritually set before the deployment, making sure that you're, you know,

doing things you’re supposed to: reading your scriptures, saying your prayers. We always make it a point that we go to the temple before her deployments. I always make sure to give her a blessing right before she goes. She’s gotten blessings from the bishop and from the stake president, also, before some of her deployments.

If you haven't received your patriarchal blessing, we encourage you to meet with your bishop or branch president and prepare yourself to receive your blessing.

As you study that personal blessing and follow its counsel, it will provide added guidance, comfort, and protection.

Making and keeping covenants is one important way we can show our love and commitment to our Father in Heaven.

If you haven't yet, prepare yourself to receive the blessings of the temple through study and faith.

By keeping the covenants you made at baptism, you are preparing yourself for further blessings in the temple.

Talk with your local priesthood leaders about any additional preparation that may be available in your area, such as temple preparation class or online resources. Your priesthood leaders will also help you arrange a temple recommend interview. There are over 150 temples around the world. Keep your recommend current and whenever possible, attend the temple regularly.

For latter-day saints who have been endowed in the temple, the General Handbook of the Church contains this guidance:

When possible, endowed members who are in the military should wear the garment the same as any other member of the Church.

However, members should avoid exposing the garment to the view of those who do not understand its significance.

When conditions make this unavoidable, members should seek the guidance of the Spirit and use tact, discretion, and wisdom.

As a member and representative of the Lord’s Church, you can be a great example of the Savior Jesus Christ as you serve. As a member of the military, you are representative of the country whose flag you wear. When you wear a uniform and conduct yourself with dignity, you bring credit and honor to yourself, your God, and your country.

President Thomas S. Monson served in the United States Navy during World War II.

His service to his country gave him a unique appreciation for all those who serve with honor.

Our men and women in uniform have influenced thousands for good. How do they accomplish this?

They live the commandments of God and teach to others His divine word. They are prepared to give a reason for the hope that is within them.

They are sufficiently acquainted with the doctrines of the Church so that they can touch the heart of an inquiring friend.

I pay tribute to them. I honor them. I salute them.

As you serve your country, know that your Heavenly Father is with you to help and guide you as you follow His counsel.

Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked,

and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God,

praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.

If I was able to just offer some advice to another, just to help them know where the source of my peace comes from, would just be to be able to bear pure testimony that it's real. Jesus Christ is real, and the peace that He can offer is real and it's tangible.

As you serve, remember Captain Moroni, who gloried not in the shedding of blood but in doing good, in preserving his people, yea, and keeping the commandments of God, yea, and resisting iniquity.

You can strive to exemplify those same qualities. As you do,

you can be a tremendous influence for good with those you meet.

May God be with you all, as He has been with so many others who have served as you dedicate your lives and defending freedoms so that others may be blessed. Thank you for your service.