The Savior warned that in the last
days even those of the covenant, the very elect, could be deceived by the enemy
of truth. If we think of this as a form of spiritual destruction, it may cast
light on another latter-day prophecy. Think of the heart as the figurative
center of our faith. Then consider Jesus’s declaration that in the last
days “men’s hearts [shall fail] them.”
Hearts and Desire
We can change our behavior. Our
very desires can change. How? There is only one way. True change—permanent
change—can come only through the healing, cleansing, and enabling power of the
Atonement of Jesus Christ. He loves you—each of you! He allows you to access
His power as you keep His commandments, eagerly, earnestly, and exactly. It is
that simple and certain. The gospel of Jesus Christ is a gospel of change!
2 Nephi 16:10 Make the heart of this people fat, and make their
ears heavy, and shut their eyes—lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with
their heart, and be converted and be
healed.
Mosiah 5:2 And they all cried
with one voice, saying: Yea, we believe all the words which thou hast spoken
unto us; and also, we know of their surety and truth, because of the Spirit of
the Lord Omnipotent, which has wrought a mighty change in us, or in our hearts,
that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually.
Alma 5:14 And now
behold, I ask of you, my brethren of the church, have ye spiritually been born
of God? Have ye received his image in your countenances? Have ye experienced
this mighty change in your hearts?
3 Nephi 9:19-20 And ye shall offer up
unto me no more the shedding of blood; And ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto
me a broken heart and a contrite spirit. And whoso cometh unto me with a broken
heart and a contrite spirit, him will I baptize with
fire and with the Holy Ghost.
2 Nephi 2:7–8 Behold,
he offereth himself a sacrifice for sin, to answer
the ends of the law, unto all those who have a broken heart and a contrite
spirit; and unto none else can the ends of
the law be answered.
Mosiah 4:2 And they had viewed themselves in
their own carnal state, even less than the dust of the earth. And they all
cried aloud with one voice, saying: O have mercy, and apply the atoning blood
of Christ that we may receive forgiveness of our sins, and our hearts may be
purified; for we believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
Helaman 3:35 Nevertheless they 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.
Mosiah 13:11 And now I read unto you the
remainder of the commandments of God, for I perceive that they are not written
in your hearts; I perceive that ye have studied and taught iniquity the most
part of your lives.
Jeremiah 31:33 But this shall be the covenant that I
will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will
put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be
their God, and they shall be my people.
Hebrews 8:10 For this is the covenant that I will
make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my
laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a
God, and they shall be to me a people:
Hearing the Word
of the Lord in our Hearts
Addressing honest questions is an important part of
building faith, and we use both our intellect and our feelings. The Lord said,
“I will tell you in your mind and in your heart.” Not all answers will come
immediately, but most questions can be resolved through sincere study and
seeking answers from God. Using our mind without our heart will not bring
spiritual answers. “The things of God knoweth no man, but [through] the
Spirit of God.” And to help us, Jesus promised us “another Comforter” and
called Him “even the Spirit of truth.”
3 Nephi 11:3 And
notwithstanding it being a small voice it did pierce them that did hear to the
center, insomuch that there was no part of their frame that it did not cause to
quake; yea, it did pierce them to the very soul, and did cause their hearts to
burn.
Ezekiel 11:19 And I will give them one heart, and I
will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their
flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:
Helaman 6:30 And behold, it is he who is the
author of all sin. And behold, he doth carry on his works of darkness … from
generation to generation according as he can get hold upon the hearts of the
children of men.
1 Nephi 22:26 And because of
the righteousness of his
people, Satan has no power;
wherefore, he cannot be loosed for the space of many years; for he hath no power over the
hearts of the people, for they dwell in
righteousness, and the Holy One of Israel reigneth.
Mosiah 26:3 And
now because of their unbelief they
could not understand the word of
God; and their hearts were hardened.
Other Phrases
·
A Broken Heart and Contrite Spirit
·
A mighty change of heart
·
Yielding our Hearts
·
Full Purpose of Heart
·
Clean Hands and a Pure Heart
·
My heart pondereth
·
Prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord
·
A forgiving heart
·
Trust in the Lord with all your heart…
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