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Armor Up!
“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.” —D&C 27:15
These words are as true today as they were back in 1830 when Joseph Smith received them in revelation — almost more so as today’s youth face the growing challenges of our society. But now in this compact yet powerful book, today’s most beloved youth speakers explain how wearing that spiritual armor can not only help youth face those difficult challenges in life, but also conquer them.
Contents •“Girt About with Truth” by Brad Wilcox
• “A Bulletproof Breastplate” by John Hilton III
• “Put on Your Gospel Shoes” by Anthony Sweat
• “Shields Up!” by John Bytheway
• “Buckle On Your Helmet” by Hank Smith
• “Your Spiritual Sword” by Laurel Christensen
These words are as true today as they were back in 1830 when Joseph Smith received them in revelation — almost more so as today’s youth face the growing challenges of our society. But now in this compact yet powerful book, today’s most beloved youth speakers explain how wearing that spiritual armor can not only help youth face those difficult challenges in life, but also conquer them.
Contents •“Girt About with Truth” by Brad Wilcox
• “A Bulletproof Breastplate” by John Hilton III
• “Put on Your Gospel Shoes” by Anthony Sweat
• “Shields Up!” by John Bytheway
• “Buckle On Your Helmet” by Hank Smith
• “Your Spiritual Sword” by Laurel Christensen
104 pages, Paperback
First published April 8, 2013
23 people are currently reading
177 people want to read
About the author
John Bytheway
110 books290 followersJohn Bytheway (born October 1962) is an American author and academic, who is well known as a comic motivational speaker for youth within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Born in Salt Lake City, Bytheway attended the University of Utah and Brigham Young University (BYU) in Provo, Utah, receiving a Master's Degree in Religious Education. He also served as a missionary for the LDS Church in the Philippines.
Bytheway is a religious studies instructor at BYU, currently focusing on the Book of Mormon. He also serves on the Aaronic Priesthood/Young Women Writing Committee for the LDS Church. Bytheway and his wife Kimberly have six children.
Bytheway is a religious studies instructor at BYU, currently focusing on the Book of Mormon. He also serves on the Aaronic Priesthood/Young Women Writing Committee for the LDS Church. Bytheway and his wife Kimberly have six children.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
April 10, 2022
The authors are excellent at presenting the ideas and concepts but I think this book would be best used as a basis for discussion, particularly between parents and their children. It is written to youth and I can see where parents could read a section with their youth and discuss it and then allow time to ponder and act on this concepts presented. The book gives ideas at the end of each chapter that could spur thought and discussion. This is a good read for adults and youth but the real value from the book would be through discussion and application in partnership between adults and youth.
December 14, 2016
I only wish I would have read it as a teenager. This is a short, inspiring book. Written to help youth strengthen their resolve to follow Christ and arm themselves against harmful sin. I borrowed this book from the library and will be buying this to have on the bookshelf for when my children are old enough to read it themselves. I look forward to discussing this with them and am grateful for the challenges and questions at the end of each chapter that help encourage further thoughts on how to strengthen each piece of armor.
January 9, 2018
I liked the idea of this book more than the actual book but it did serve its purpose as a great catalyst for other study and action. I especially enjoyed the other resources available in the form of group discussions by the authors on the Deseretbook website link that is available in the book. Great authors writing a great book for youth!
February 17, 2023
This book is a collection of essays from prominent writers/speakers for youth in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Each essay was well written and had humor and heart, with actionable items to empower youth to do what they can to have the protection that is available to them through the gospel of Jesus Christ.
December 31, 2023
Phenomenal! Not only is this book full of easy to understand doctrine and inspiring messages, it's broken down into easy goals and practical challenges that could really help any teens come closer to God and protect themselves from destroying influences! It's definitely worth teens (or anyone) reading and rereading!
March 2, 2022
I enjoyed this book, it has given me a lot to think about on how to approach some hard to talk about subjects with my kids as they grow older. Definitely a book I would suggest my kids to read as they become teenagers.
February 19, 2023
Some excellent material here for talks or lessons on any aspect of the armor of God. I enjoyed that each chapter was written by a different person. This would make a nice weekly devotional type of reading for any teen.
October 15, 2025
"Although Armor Up is directed at teens, I found it to be a very enjoyable book with principles that anyone can take into their lives to help them protect themselves from the many evil influences in the world. " --Customer Review
September 26, 2017
The best part was the bonus video discussions by the authors.
September 27, 2017
This book goes through all of the armor of God to put on.
December 10, 2017
This is a good little book that describes how to put on the armor of God.
July 15, 2019
It's geared toward teens, but I think it's solid advice, no matter your age!
April 5, 2021
Another book like Suit Up. I like having the different authors and taking one idea and spreading it around. I also liked the videos that were embedded. A great resource for youth.
February 9, 2025
I enjoyed this book. Some valuable lessons and I am excited to have my kids read it one day. I even found an answer to a prayer in it. I was very thankful.
February 9, 2025
I really enjoyed this book. I read a chapter once in a while and found a lot of helpful points
August 7, 2014
I actually would have given this book 5 stars if its ability to evoke my disgust, concern, anger, terror, and puntuated fits of hysterical laughter had been intentional...
Frankly, the only reason im writing a review of the book (something i almost never feel compelled to do) is that if i didnt, I would be very aggravated knowing that a solid two hours of my life had been stolen from me while my intelligence was given the finger to, without having received some kind of compensation...
The book - to put it as bluntly as possible - is intellectual child molestation (i only dont use the word RAPE, because technically a child can put the book down). It uses a metaphor of putting on a suit of armor, to convince mormon teenagers (or children) that adhering to the principles of mormonism is the greatest, most fulfilling thing a person can do in their life, and that alternative ideas are to be strongly distrusted (actually, i think this description pretty accurately describes the premise of 90% of the books published by deseret. Just swap the word teenagers with children, parents, etc.)...
Its 90 pages of fatuous arguments and falsely asserted premises, strung together with non-sequiturs, and flat out lies. It actually says there is a scientific study that proves that people who wait until they get married to have any kind of sexual relationship, have better sex lives than those of us who are well practiced. Its tone shifts from harmlessly stupid: 'The Best Kept Sex Secret In The World' Is... 'The Law of Chastity'... To the utterly disturbing (talking about the spread of mormonism): "The mormon moment will turn into the mormon minute, then into a mormon month, and eventually into the mormon millennium. The work will not be stopped. It will roll forward to the end of the earth..." Its chalk full of little goodies like these from start to finish, and as i said, it would be thoroughly entertaining if you didnt know that the writer (and apparently most of the readers, since this book has a higher rating than any written by Tolstoy, Dickens, or Shakespeare!) believed every word.
The metaphor of the suit of armor (something that mormons believe existed in north america 3000 years before anyone in the eastern hemisphere even knew there was a north america) is used to compare the foolishness of a knight going to battle without wearing it, with how foolish it would be to go through life without obeying god... Well gentle reader, i dont know about you (or perhaps i do), but i would much rather charge onto the battlefield of life stark naked as a free man, than to do so impenetrably armored as a slave
Frankly, the only reason im writing a review of the book (something i almost never feel compelled to do) is that if i didnt, I would be very aggravated knowing that a solid two hours of my life had been stolen from me while my intelligence was given the finger to, without having received some kind of compensation...
The book - to put it as bluntly as possible - is intellectual child molestation (i only dont use the word RAPE, because technically a child can put the book down). It uses a metaphor of putting on a suit of armor, to convince mormon teenagers (or children) that adhering to the principles of mormonism is the greatest, most fulfilling thing a person can do in their life, and that alternative ideas are to be strongly distrusted (actually, i think this description pretty accurately describes the premise of 90% of the books published by deseret. Just swap the word teenagers with children, parents, etc.)...
Its 90 pages of fatuous arguments and falsely asserted premises, strung together with non-sequiturs, and flat out lies. It actually says there is a scientific study that proves that people who wait until they get married to have any kind of sexual relationship, have better sex lives than those of us who are well practiced. Its tone shifts from harmlessly stupid: 'The Best Kept Sex Secret In The World' Is... 'The Law of Chastity'... To the utterly disturbing (talking about the spread of mormonism): "The mormon moment will turn into the mormon minute, then into a mormon month, and eventually into the mormon millennium. The work will not be stopped. It will roll forward to the end of the earth..." Its chalk full of little goodies like these from start to finish, and as i said, it would be thoroughly entertaining if you didnt know that the writer (and apparently most of the readers, since this book has a higher rating than any written by Tolstoy, Dickens, or Shakespeare!) believed every word.
The metaphor of the suit of armor (something that mormons believe existed in north america 3000 years before anyone in the eastern hemisphere even knew there was a north america) is used to compare the foolishness of a knight going to battle without wearing it, with how foolish it would be to go through life without obeying god... Well gentle reader, i dont know about you (or perhaps i do), but i would much rather charge onto the battlefield of life stark naked as a free man, than to do so impenetrably armored as a slave
May 30, 2013
My first thought was to say "Amen" and leave that as my review!
The book is short with six chapters. Each chapter was written by a different author and each deal with a different part of "the armor of God".
The author's don't sugar coat why you need all parts of the armor to have true happiness and freedom in life. They are direct. They tell it like it is. They have impressed me with their individual testimonies and writing styles.
My 18 year old son is leaving home for the first time to work at Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico. I decided to give him this book to read while he's away. I was surprised that he was already familiar with the title. His seminary teacher, Hank Smith, is one of the contributing author's. It makes it a little more personal for him and for that I am grateful.
I really couldn't recommend this book more highly. I do recommend youth and parents read it. It will open the doors for conversation.
The book is short with six chapters. Each chapter was written by a different author and each deal with a different part of "the armor of God".
The author's don't sugar coat why you need all parts of the armor to have true happiness and freedom in life. They are direct. They tell it like it is. They have impressed me with their individual testimonies and writing styles.
My 18 year old son is leaving home for the first time to work at Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico. I decided to give him this book to read while he's away. I was surprised that he was already familiar with the title. His seminary teacher, Hank Smith, is one of the contributing author's. It makes it a little more personal for him and for that I am grateful.
I really couldn't recommend this book more highly. I do recommend youth and parents read it. It will open the doors for conversation.
January 19, 2013
If you have a teen-ager in your life you will WANT them to READ this book :)
If you are a teen-ager at heart YOU will WANT to READ this book :)
Six POWERFUL authors have come together to talk about putting on the armor of God.
Each author takes a different part of the armor and elaborates on it.
The chapters are:
"The Loincloth that Counts" by Brad Wilcox
"A Bulletproof Breastplate" by John Hilton III
"Put On Your Gospel Shoes" by Anthony Sweat
"Shields Up!" by John Bytheway
"Strap On Your Helmet" by Hank Smith
"Your Spiritual Sword" by Laurel Christensen
And just like the knights of old these author have come together in a "video round table" to share with you even more.
The videos can be found at http://seek.deseretbook.com/john-byth...
This is a book you will not want to miss out on!
If you are a teen-ager at heart YOU will WANT to READ this book :)
Six POWERFUL authors have come together to talk about putting on the armor of God.
Each author takes a different part of the armor and elaborates on it.
The chapters are:
"The Loincloth that Counts" by Brad Wilcox
"A Bulletproof Breastplate" by John Hilton III
"Put On Your Gospel Shoes" by Anthony Sweat
"Shields Up!" by John Bytheway
"Strap On Your Helmet" by Hank Smith
"Your Spiritual Sword" by Laurel Christensen
And just like the knights of old these author have come together in a "video round table" to share with you even more.
The videos can be found at http://seek.deseretbook.com/john-byth...
This is a book you will not want to miss out on!
June 24, 2013
Although Armor Up is directed at teens, I found it to be a very enjoyable book with principles that anyone can take into their lives to help them protect themselves from the many evil influences in the world.
I would highly recommend this book to teens! Some of the authors have a humorous writing style that keeps a reader engaged, and all of the sections are also uplifting with great ideas that will help combat the daily battles.
Each author's chapter ends with a challenge that includes some different ways the principles discussed can be applied. I'm confident that if readers take on the challenges that their lives will be blessed and changed for the better!
I haven't used many QR codes, but found that interactive part of this book to be fun. The videos linked to the QR codes were a great addition to Armor Up.
I would highly recommend this book to teens! Some of the authors have a humorous writing style that keeps a reader engaged, and all of the sections are also uplifting with great ideas that will help combat the daily battles.
Each author's chapter ends with a challenge that includes some different ways the principles discussed can be applied. I'm confident that if readers take on the challenges that their lives will be blessed and changed for the better!
I haven't used many QR codes, but found that interactive part of this book to be fun. The videos linked to the QR codes were a great addition to Armor Up.
November 15, 2013
I started reading this in prepartion for my Sunday School lesson, "The Armor of God." At first I thought this was just teenager stuff, but I quickly repented. This is a great little gem that is going to make my lesson pop with fresh ideas and food for thought. Now, I can't wati to teach it. I think we will start to see a lot more little books like these.
January 22, 2013
A great little book from LDS finest inspirational writers! This book is geared towards teens but I took a lot from it! I really liked how they broke down each piece of the "armor of the Lord" and wrote about why each piece is important! Armor up and be happy!
April 8, 2013
This was an excellent little book on putting on the Armor of God. I love John Bytheway's suggestion of a "hope page". But the greatest part is the bonus material on the Deseret Book website listed in the book--6 roundtable discussions with all the authors about each chapter!!
January 6, 2014
Excellent! Six short chapters about different parts of the Armor of God by straight-talkin', truth-preaching, EFY speakers and the like. Directed at the youth, but valuable for anyone, especially people who work with youth, live near youth, or are related to "youth." So, like I said, anyone.
June 27, 2014
Definitely written to a teenage audience, but excellent insight into the different parts of the armor of God along with ideas of how to "armor up" in the real world. Fun writers for each section from popular youth speakers. I would definitely recommend this to my teenage children.
August 15, 2016
This book taught me some amazing new concepts. I loved it! It was definitely geared more towards teens but I still learned a lot. I liked how the ebook included some links to youtube videos that had to do with the concepts being taught. I also liked hearing from several different authors.
January 28, 2013
What a great book for teenagers. Put on the armor of God each day and take the challenges to be a better person.
March 6, 2013
This was a great book! Definitely aimed more at teens, but it still had some great thoughts and ideas that are applicable to everyone!
February 26, 2013
Great book for teens, their parents and every adult! All 6 authors are amazing in their own way but you put them together and it's so much more!
November 11, 2014
We're using this as our YW camp theme this year. It's full of good stuff for all of us.
April 6, 2013
Amazing book, must read for all teenagers, the in book QR codes annoyed me but amazing content! Great reading with great scriptural insight.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews