“Examine your armor. Is there an unguarded or unprotected place? Determine now to add whatever part is missing. No matter how antiquated or lacking in parts your armor may be, always remember that it is within your power to make the necessary adjustments to complete your armor.”
Elder N. Eldon Tanner, Put on the Whole Armor of God, General Conference, April 1979
I used to think putting on the armor of God was an all or nothing thing. I used to think of it terms that we, as humans, understand….that the armor parts are one solid piece each. For example, you either put on the helmet, or take it off. You either put on the breastplate or remove it.
Now, these days, my thinking has changed a bit. The various pieces of the armor of God are not one solid piece each at all. Rather, each piece is a continuously expanding (or retracting) plate of armor. I can’t think (or try not to) in terms of how humans understand based on our limited knowledge.
We add to each piece of armor as we repent, focus on the Savior, do our daily tasks of studying and praying, etc. As we do these things, the armor grows to cover our vulnerable and weaker spots, little by little. When we don’t do these things, the armor shrinks leaving us exposed, little by little.