I want to speak about the heart. The scriptures give special place to the heart. The word itself, in its several forms, is used 1611 times in our standard works. The only body part mentioned with more frequency is hand. Let me give a few positive examples of the use of this word from our Standard Works.
From the Old Testament:
Solomon prayed for an understanding heart (1 Kings 3:9); Ezra prepared his heart to seek the law, to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments (Ezra 7:10); the psalmist quarried, “who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who shall stand in his holy place? – then answered, “He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart” (Psalms 24:4). Malachi spoke of the return of Elijah and the turning of hearts: fathers to children and children to fathers (Malachi 4:6).
From the New Testament:
Jesus promised that the pure in heart would see God (Matthew 5:8). He declared: “Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not. . . For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Luke 12:33-34). Paul spoke of Christ dwelling in our hearts by faith (Ephesians 3:17); Peter encouraged the saints to “love one another with a pure heart” (1 Peter 1:22). John wrote: “Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God” (1 John 3:20).
From the Book of Mormon:
As a part of his last recorded teachings, Nephi spoke of following the Son, with “full purpose of heart” (2 Nephi 31:13). King Benjamin invited his people to open their hearts so that they might understand his words (Mosiah 2:9). Alma in his mission of reform asked the people in Zarahemla: “. . . have ye spiritually been born of God? Have ye received his image in your countenances? Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts?” (Alma 5:14). Before his appearance in the new world, the surviving Nephites heard the voice of the Redeemer declare: “And ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit” (3 Nephi 9:20). Moroni, writing to those who he knew would have his words, counseled: “Doubt not, but be believing, and begin as in times of old, and come unto the Lord with all your heart” (Mormon 9:27).
From the Doctrine and Covenants:
In our dispensation the Lord told Oliver Cowdery: “there is none else save God that knowest thy thoughts and the intents of thy heart” (D&C 6:16). He told Emma: “my soul delighteth in the song of the heart”(D&C 25:12). He warns his children of our day that many will "turn their hearts from me because of the precepts of men"(D&C 45:29). Repeating his New Testament command, the Lord declared in 1831, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart”(D&C 59:5). He revealed to Joseph: “I, the Lord, will judge all men according to their works, according to the desire of their hearts”(D&C 137:9). He also declares: “the Lord requireth the heart”(D&C 64:22).
In the scriptures the heart is the seat of emotion and feeling. In truly righteous men and women it is the center of allegiance, loyalty and love. In them this sacred citadel of the soul is the essence of their religious, domestic, and public life and the core of who they are. Little wonder, then, that the heart should be the primary target of the Adversary as he wages war against the children of God. It is his goal to drive from the heart every vestige of love and virtue, everything that is lovely or of good report or praiseworthy. And there is evidence in the scriptures that his assault has often been successful.
In the days of Noah we read that “the wickedness of men had become great in the earth; and every man was lifted up in the imagination of the thoughts of his heart, being only evil continually” (Moses 8:22). What a dark picture -- evil from the inside out! Jesus pointed out: “. . . from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, and evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man” (Mark 7:21-23). Furthermore Jesus declared: “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh” (Luke 6:45).
The book of Helaman describes a dark time in Nephite history. Oh, there are powerful prophets, and moments of religious triumph, but these moments are fleeting and quickly vanish as the people forget the lessons of the past and embrace the materialistic greed and corruption of a Gadianton society.
Mormon, our abridger observes that the Nephites “began to set their hearts upon their riches” (Helaman 6:17); and he tells us that “Satan did stir up the hearts of the more part of the Nephites, insomuch that they did unite with those bands of robbers and did enter into their covenants” (Helaman 6:21). And then this caveat: Satan “doth carry on his works of darkness and secret murder, and doth hand down their plots, and their oaths, and their covenants, and their plans of awful wickedness, from generation to generation according as he can get hold upon the hearts of the children of men. And now behold, he had got great hold upon the hearts of the Nephites” (Helaman 6:30-31). The word heart is used eight times in Helaman, chapter 6, and an additional six times in chapter 7!
Nephi, the son of Helaman, having been rejected in the land northward, returned to his home in Zarahemla where he discovers that the Gadianton robbers are filling the judgment seats “having usurped the power and authority of the land” (Helaman 7:4).
Nephi knows that this terrible state was not arrived at entirely on their own: they were aided and abetted by an unseen mentor who urged them on. Nephi announces to the mixed crowd at the base of his tower: “ye are given away that the devil has got so great hold upon your hearts. Yea, how could you have given way to the enticing of him who is seeking to hurl away your souls down to everlasting misery and endless wo? . . . It is because you have hardened your hearts. . . ye have set your hearts upon the riches and the vain things of this world, for the which ye do murder, and plunder, and steal, and bear false witness against your neighbor, and do all manner of iniquity” (Helaman 7:15-16, 18).
Notice the implication of these passages. While Satan wants to get a hold on our hearts Nephi tells his people that they have hardened their hearts – they are the ones who set their hearts on the riches and the vain things of the world. Now, there is little doubt that the moral environment at this time in Nephite history allowed Satan increased leverage to tempt and entice, but the tendrils of enslavement were tightened by personal choice.
Now, my young brothers and sisters, it is not my desire to dwell on the degradation and evil that can invade the heart when we succumb to the temptations of the adversary. Having repeated the warning, I would now like to suggest some things we can do to that will protect our hearts – soften them, enlarge their capacity for caring, increase their responsiveness to spiritual promptings, and, finally, surrender them to God.
We scarcely have to open the Book of Mormon to discover counsel in this regard. Nephi, recalling, his early days, remembers that he had a great desire to know the mysteries of God(1 Nephi 2:16). Desire plays an important motivational role especially since personal growth in spiritual matters of the heart flies in the face of the forces that invite us to be satisfied with our present state. We have to want it – want it badly enough to put forth sufficient effort to receive divine assistance, remembering that Jesus is the vine and we are the branches(John 15:5). Desire is awakened or intensified in many ways: association with good people, studying and pondering the pure, perfect word of God, tasting the fruits of the spirit, heart-felt prayer – to mention only a few. Desire lies at the root of our progress.
If a soft and faithful heart is our quest, we must exercise great care in what we allow to flourish there. The mind is continually bombarded by stimuli. Things we see, the lyrics to songs, books or articles we read, conversations with others, reflections, reminiscences, dreams, feelings, inclinations, impressions – all of these and more find their way into our conscious or sub-conscious thought. Some become lodged in the heart. Once there they are accorded special privilege: they influence the way we interpret experience and they provide motivation for our thoughts and deeds. If we want a heart like the Savior’s, we must be vigilant. Some thoughts have no business residing in our hearts.
One of the things we must surely do is rid our hearts of pride. Elder Christofferson defined pride as “the attitude that rejects the authority of God to rule in our lives.” What an insightful definition – especially in a culture that shows increasing resentment to any perceived personal infringement. Popular culture revels in “do your own thing.” Moral permissiveness continues to push against the border of what is now a greatly diminished “common good.” The Lord disclosed to Joseph: “They seek not the Lord to establish his righteousness, but every man walketh in his own way, and after the image of his own god” (D&C 1:16). Elder Christofferson has taught that such a position constitutes rebellion against God. Isaiah warned: “Behold all ye that kindle fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks, walk in the light of your fire and in the sparks which ye have kindled. This shall ye have of mine hand – ye shall lie down in sorrow” (2 Nephi 7:11). The proud walk by the sparks of their own fire, oblivious that Jesus is the light of the world? President Benson taught us that “pride is the great stumbling block to Zion,” and Zion is the “pure in heart” (D&C 97:21).
The precious principle of repentance is crucial in our quest for a soft and faithful heart. Early in this dispensation the Savior warned: “. . . The whole world lieth in sin, and groaneth under darkness and under the bondage of sin. And by this you may know they are under the bondage of sin, because they come not unto me. And whoso cometh not unto me is under the bondage of sin” (D&C 84:49-51). We sing:
"Come unto Jesus, ye heavy laden
Careworn and fainting, by sin oppressed."
This wonderful hymn is based on the Savior’s New Testament invitation which is still in force: “Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden. . . Take my yoke upon you and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart” (Matthew 11:28-29). Mormon taught: “the remission of sins bringeth meekness, and lowliness of heart” – thus creating a heart more like His(Moroni 8:26).
Prayer will help God create in us a new heart. Near the beginning of his spiritual journey Nephi tells us, “I did cry unto the Lord” (1 Nephi 2:16). He might just have said, “I prayed.” The verb he chooses gives added dimension to his expressions of gratitude and importuning – he “cried unto the Lord.” And what was the result? Nephi writes: “Behold he did visit me, and did soften my heart” (1 Nephi 2:16).
A knowledge of the redeeming power of the Savior will help in the creation of a heart like His. Enoch learned that the wickedness of those who would perish in the flood exceeded the wickedness of all other worlds. He was given a detailed explanation. Imagine how deeply he was touched when the Father explained: [He whom] “I have chosen hath pled before my face. Wherefore, he suffereth for their sins; inasmuch as they will repent in the day that my Chosen shall return unto me” (Moses 7:39). Having learned in this manner of Savior’s love and redemptive power, Enoch “looked upon their wickedness and their misery, and wept. . . He stretched forth his arms, and his heart swelled wide as eternity” (Moses 7:41). A heart stretched in this manner has a much greater capacity for charity and compassion.
One of the aspects of the heart frequently found in the scriptures is purity – purity of heart. I would like to say a bit more about this dimension, and I would like to approach this delicate subject by recalling the scriptures that are associated with the nativity of the Son of God.
The Angel Gabriel told Mary that she would conceive a son which would be called “the Son of the Highest” (Luke 1:32). “Conscious of her unmarried status, and sure of her virgin condition,” Mary inquired: “How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?” (Luke 1:34).
Gabriel explained: “The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy child which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God” (Luke 1:35).
In sublime submission Mary said: “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word” (Luke 1:38).
Following her conception, Mary journeyed south to the home of Elizabeth and Zacharias. Luke records a wonderful exchange between the two women. In such an intimate and tender matter it is best to let Mary speak for herself. She declares to her cousin and to the world: “For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and I will magnify His holy name” (JST Luke 1:49). I have long been grateful for her simple declaration.
God sent His Only Begotten in the flesh through conception and birth. For me this great truth is the most powerful testimony in the Standard Works of the sanctity of procreation. Little wonder that God places such high value on chastity. These teachings help us understand why these most intimate and tender expressions of love and passion are reserved for and protected by marriage vows. The pure in heart know that these expressions call for perfect fidelity in thought and action. In our dispensation God has commanded: “Thou shalt love thy wife with all thy heart, and shalt cleave unto her and none else” (D&C 42:22). Besides God Himself, to my recollection, there is no one else -- only our wives -- we are commanded to love with all our hearts. God’s law and the principles of his gospel serve as sentinels shielding this holy ground from desecration.
Satan would turn this ground into a sterile wasteland filled with heartache and pain and regret. The proliferation of sexually suggestive billboards, movies, advertisements, office jokes, salacious e-mail messages, and the growth of pornography are indicators of his advance onto the soil of collective decency and social restraint. His liberal spokesmen speed the advance by advocating increased acceptance of philosophies and practices inimical to the commandments of God. These crusades are convincingly promoted under the guise of freedom, equality under the law, tolerance, and justice. His spokesmen speak with passion and conviction. Their message is a lie! Following them will result in a desecrated heart.
So what are some of the things we can do to advance the cause of purity in the heart? The Lord revealed to Joseph: “And that thou mayest more fully keep thyself unspotted from the world, thou shalt go to the house of prayer and offer up thy sacraments upon my holy day” (D&C 59:9). Furthermore he said, “Let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly” (D&C 121:45). In addition the scriptures teach us that we are the “temple of God” (1 Corinthians 3:17). Prophetic voices give us clear messages – both spoken and written. There are hymns to sing in times of temptation. There are priesthood leaders and, hopefully, parents and friends who will motivate and sustain righteous choice. Patriarchal blessings give counsel and perspective. During a period of growing wickedness, Mormon, the abridger of the Nephite record, observed that faithful church members “. . . did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, even to the purifying and the sanctification of their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts unto God” (Helaman 3:35).
The scriptures not only give us clues as to the things we can do merit a divine touch in the creation of a soft and faithful heart, they also inform us that life experiences will provide an inside view of how we are doing. They disclose that there are things which “try” our hearts.
When the Lord commanded Ammon and his brethren to get their converts out of the land, the leader of the converted Lamanites has his people gather their flocks and herds and depart into the wilderness. When they come into the borders of the land of Zarahemla, Ammon says to the Anti-Nephi-Lehis, “Behold, I and my brethren will go forth into the land of Zarahemla, and ye shall remain here until we return; and we will try the hearts of our brethren, whether they will that ye shall come into their land” (Alma 27:15). I love that expression, “we will try the hearts of our brethren.” In this case, the people of Zarahemla weigh-in on the side of charity; they give up the land of Jershon and agree to protect the Lamanite converts and honor their covenant to not bear arms if the Anti-Nephi-Lehis will give a portion of their substance to assist in the maintenance of the Nephite Armies (See Alma 27:22-24).
The Lord knew that one of the surest ways to try our hearts would be to put us in close proximity to others – others who would be in need, be that need temporal, or emotional, or spiritual. It is clear that our Father cares deeply about our attitudes and behaviors toward his children. Perhaps a temporal example will illustrate.
In our day the Lord has stated: “. . . it is expedient that I, the Lord, should make every man accountable, as a steward over earthly blessings, which I have made and prepared for my creatures. I the Lord, stretched out the heavens, and built the earth, my very handiwork; and all things therein are mine. And it is my purpose to provide for my saints, for all things are mine. But it must needs be done in mine own way; and behold this is the way that I, the Lord, have decreed to provide for my saints, that the poor shall be exalted, in that the rich are made low. For the earth is full, and there is enough and to spare; yea, I prepared all things, and have given unto the children of men to be agents unto themselves.
Therefore, if any man shall take of the abundance which I have made, and impart not his portion, according to the law of my gospel, unto the poor and the needy, he shall, with the wicked, lift up his eyes in hell, being in torment” (D&C 104:13-18).
These words from the scriptures sound a solemn warning and invite us to examine our stewardship of earthly blessings. So what is it that prompts good men and women to reach out to those in need?
The more we yield our hearts unto God, the more we will love him and walk in the light of His Spirit. We will see individuals and the world around us differently. The narrow vision of the natural man gives way to a divine perspective. We have eyes that truly see. More importantly, we have a heart that truly feels. We begin to see those in need as God sees them. If we think about it, we will sense that our decisions regarding earthly blessings give us an opportunity to try our hearts.
One of my favorite stories illustrating our stewardship over earthly blessings comes from the experiences of Joseph B. Wirthlin. In the April Conference of 2001, he shared the following:
"How well I remember my father, the bishop of our ward, filling my small red wagon with food and clothing and then directing me—as a deacon in the Church—to pull the wagon behind me and visit the homes of the needy in our ward.
Often, when fast-offering funds were depleted, my father would take money from his own pocket to supply the needy in his flock with food that would keep them from going hungry. Those were the days of the Great Depression, and many families were suffering.
I remember visiting one family in particular: a sickly mother, an unemployed and discouraged father, and five children with pallid faces, all disheartened and hungry. I remember the gratitude that beamed in their faces when I walked up to their door with my wagon nearly spilling over with needed supplies. I remember how the children smiled. I remember how the mother wept. And I remember how the father stood, head bowed, unable to speak.
These impressions and many others forged within me a love for the poor, a love for my father who served as a shepherd to his flock, and a love for the faithful and generous members of the Church who sacrificed so much to help relieve the suffering of others.”
Of course it is also true that a lack of earthly blessings will try our hearts. Will the lack produce envy and covetousness? Will it produce resentment and anger? Alma warned the Zoramites poor: "do not revile against those who do cast you out because of your exceeding poverty, lest ye become sinners like unto them" (Alma 34:40). Will the charity of others or programs of redistribution rob our personal initiative to press on towards self-reliance and service to others?
For many years I have loved the words of Marion G. Romney: “Without self-reliance one cannot exercise these innate desires to serve. How can we give if there is nothing there? Food for the hungry cannot come from empty shelves. Money to assist the needy cannot come from an empty purse. Support and understanding cannot come from the emotionally starved. Teaching cannot come from the unlearned. And most important of all, spiritual guidance cannot come from the spiritually weak.” We speak in the church of “provident living.” We promote the virtues of saving and frugality. We are encouraged to store food and be prepared for emergencies. We are also commanded to care for the poor – to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and visit the widows and fatherless. Unless we are careful and seek the inspiration of the Lord, we may convince ourselves that our lack of preparation for life and its challenges mitigates our responsibility to reach out to the less fortunate. We may find ourselves justifying our decision to guard our earthly blessings – to “build bigger barns” – because we want to be prepared for any and all contingencies (Luke 12:18). Somewhere in all of this there is a line that separates life style from provident living – frugality from penury – self-reliance from stock-piling. The poor, whether in temporal or spiritual things, will always try our hearts. Indeed, any human relationship will try our hearts.
Moses reminded the children of Israel, “the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no” (Deuteronomy 8:2). It is my belief that the revelation manifested by their conduct was more for their benefit. The Lord already knows the thoughts and intents of our heart. Our obedience – especially our sustained obedience under duress – is a reflection of our hearts.
Let me end with a story from Hawaii as told by Elder John Groberg. Among other things, it is about the heart.
"In the early 1900s, a young father and his family joined the Church in Hawaii. He was enthused about his new-found religion, and after two years of membership both he and his eldest son held the priesthood. They prospered and enjoyed the fellowship of the little branch. They anxiously looked forward to being sealed as a family for eternity in the temple soon to be completed in Laie.
Then, as so often happens, a test crossed their path. One of their daughters became ill with an unknown disease and was taken away to a strange hospital. People in Hawaii were understandably wary of unknown diseases, as such diseases had wrought so much havoc there.
The concerned family went to church the next Sunday, looking forward to the strength and understanding they would receive from their fellow members. It was a small branch. This young father and his son very often took the responsibility for blessing and passing the sacrament. This was one such Sunday. They reverently broke the bread while the congregation sang the sacrament hymn. When the hymn was finished, the young father began to kneel to offer the sacrament prayer. Suddenly the branch president, realizing who was at the sacred table, sprang to his feet. He pointed his finger and cried, 'Stop. You can’t touch the sacrament. Your daughter has an unknown disease. Leave immediately while someone else fixes new sacrament bread. We can’t have you here. Go.'
How would you react? What would you do?
The stunned father slowly stood up. He searchingly looked at the branch president, then at the congregation. Then, sensing the depth of anxiety and embarrassment from all, he motioned to his family and they quietly filed out of the chapel.
Not a word was said as, with faces to the ground, they moved along the dusty trail to their small home. The young son noticed the firmness in his father’s clenched fists and the tenseness of his set jaw. When they entered their home they all sat in a circle, and the father said, 'We will be silent until I am ready to speak.' All sorts of thoughts went through the mind of this young boy. He envisioned his father coming up with many novel ways of getting revenge. Would they kill the branch president’s pigs, or burn his house, or join another church? He could hardly wait to see what would happen.
Five minutes, ten minutes, fifteen minutes—not a sound. He glanced at his father. His eyes were closed, his mouth was set, his fingers clenched, but no sound. Twenty minutes, twenty-five minutes—still nothing. Then he noticed a slight relaxing of his father’s hands, a small tremor on his father’s lips, then a barely perceptible sob. He looked at his father—tears were trickling down his cheeks from closed eyes. Soon he noticed his mother was crying also, then one child, then another, and soon the whole family.
Finally, the father opened his eyes, cleared his throat, and announced, 'I am now ready to speak. Listen carefully.' He slowly turned to his wife and said, meaningfully, 'I love you.' Then turning to each child, he told them individually, 'I love you. I love all of you and I want us to be together, forever, as a family. And the only way that can be is for all of us to be good members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and be sealed by his holy priesthood in the temple. This is not the branch president’s church. It is the Church of Jesus Christ. We will not let any man or any amount of hurt or embarrassment or pride keep us from being together forever. Next Sunday we will go back to church. We will stay by ourselves until our daughter’s sickness is known, but we will go back.'
The daughter’s health problem was resolved; the family did go to the temple when it was completed. The children did remain faithful and were likewise sealed to their own families in the temple as time went on. Today over 100 souls in this family are active members of the Church and call their father, grandfather, and great-grandfather blessed."
Hurt and embarrassment did not result in revenge or recrimination. God had his heart, and because of his faithfulness, his descendents also turned their hearts to God. Will we do the same?
President Lorenzo Snow endeavored to live so that this could always be his prayer: “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalms 139:23-24). Those who truly yield their hearts to God will invite that sort of divine scrutiny and direction. May it be increasingly so for all of us is my plea!
1. D. Todd Christofferson, “When Thou Art Converted,” Liahona, May 2004, 11–13
2. Ibid.
3 Ezra Taft Benson, “Beware of Pride,” Ensign, May 1989, 4.
4 Hymns,
5 Talmage, James E., Jesus the Christ, p.76
6 Wirthlin, Joseph B., “The Law of the Fast,” Ensign, May 2001, 73.
7 Romney, Marion G., “The Celestial Nature of Self-Reliance,” Ensign, November 1982, 91.
8 Groberg, John, “Writing Your Personal and Family History,” Ensign, May 1980, 48.