*Stake Presidency Message: March* The Key to Changing Our Hearts and Our Minds Someone once said that what we think about – that is, what we ponder and consider when not preoccupied with work or academics – has much to do with how we live our lives. Obviously, if mountain biking is central to our thoughts, it would come as no great surprise that we soon find ourselves testing our endurance riding trails up and down the mountains. The point is that our thoughts and feelings weigh heavily upon the decisions we make. Those decisions, in turn, hold sway in all aspects of our lives. Whether at work or play, we pretty much go through life “acting out” our thoughts through the decisions we make. So the question is: “Is there a way to develop self-discipline so that we can ‘act’ according to our own wishes, rather than being ‘acted upon’ by distractions that thwart our efforts in reaching the goals Heavenly Father has for us?” (Review your patriarchal blessing. You will be amazed at the blessings Father has stipulated just for you!) Let me tell you of an experience I had recently in the temple. A gentleman came up to me and told me he was going to “put me to work”! I looked at him surprisingly, wondering what he was talking about. But then I noticed his left arm and his left leg were completely paralyzed. He had no use of either of them. He told me precisely how to help him get dressed in his street clothes so he could leave the temple and go home. He had a brace on both his left leg and his left foot which enabled him to walk with a cane. I asked him if he had a ride to get home. He said “No, I can drive.” It was a humbling experience. It was a privilege to help him. Well, this man’s body was “acted upon.” But his mind and his heart were not. He was in charge of his thoughts, his goals, and his life. He “acted” according to his own wishes, his own desires. Those wishes and desires turned into decisions for him. He decided what was best, pursued his goals, and has never looked back! I must say, I was impressed with his demeanor, his happiness, and his outlook on life. Now back to the question above. Is it possible to change our hearts and minds so that we can develop self-discipline – so that we can stop yielding our attention to distractions that separate us from our goals? The answer is a resounding “Yes!” Here’s the key: The incredible, powerful word of God. The word of God changes hearts. Listen to the “mind of God” in the following five scriptures. (Incidentally, these words, penned by prophets, emanated from the mind of God. They are divine and powerful. If we heed their doctrinal insights, even with only a drop of sincerity, our hearts will begin to change – not by us, but by God, for they are His words. He gave them to us because we are his children and He loves us. His words, sentences, and phrases are expressly written to change our hearts so that our hearts become aligned with His. That is His purpose in providing them – to bring us closer to Him – to allow us to experience true happiness and joy. Scripture No. 1 – 1 Nephi 15:23-24 (emphasis added) And they said unto me: What meaneth the rod of iron which our father saw that led to the tree? 24 And I said unto them that it was the word of God; and whoso would hearken to the word of God, and would hold fast unto it, they would never perish; neither could the temptations and the fiery darts of the adversary overpower them unto blindness, to lead them away to destruction. Scripture No. 2 – 2 Nephi 31:20 (emphasis added) Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon on the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life. Scripture No. 3 – Jacob 2:8 (emphasis added) And it supposeth me that they have come up hither to hear the pleasing word of God, yea, the word which healeth the wounded soul. Scripture No. 4 – Jacob 3:2 (emphasis added) O all ye that are pure in heart, lift up your heads and receive the pleasing word of God, and feast upon his love; for ye may, if your minds are firm, forever. Scripture No. 5 – Alma 31:5 (emphasis added) And now as the preaching of the word had a great tendency to lead the people to do that which was just—yea, it had had more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the sword, or anything else, which had happened to them—therefore Alma thought it was expedient that they should try the virtue of the word of God. May I conclude with the hero of us all: Captain Moroni – Chief Commander of the Nephite armies. Mormon elaborates on the character of this great servant of the Lord with these inspiring words: “….Moroni was a strong and a mighty man….a man of a perfect understanding….a man whose soul did joy in the liberty and the freedom of his country….a man whose heart did swell with thanksgiving to his God, for the many privileges and blessings which he bestowed upon his people….a man who did labor exceedingly for the welfare and safety of his people….a man who was firm in the faith of Christ. (see Alma 48:11-13) And then Mormon eloquently expressed his feelings about Captain Moroni: “Yea, verily, verily I say unto you, if all men had been, and were, and ever would be, like unto Moroni, behold, the very powers of hell would have been shaken forever; yea, the devil would never have power over the hearts of the children of men.” (Alma 48:17) O that each of us could be “…like unto Moroni”! Well, we can! With patience and resolve, it can be done. Bear in mind that Moroni was not a stand-alone great man. “Behold, he was a man like unto Ammon…and even the other sons of Mosiah, yea, and also Alma and his sons, for they were all men of God.” (Alma 48:18-19) If they can do it, we can do it. If you doubt that, I have a question for you. Why did the Lord inspire Mormon to insert Moroni’s character traits into the Book of Mormon? He put them there so you and I can see that it’s possible to be a man, or a woman, of God with “perfect understanding.” All we have to do is put our faith and trust in the Lord, and “…try the virtue of the word of God.” This is the key to changing our hearts and minds, for “…the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do.” (2 Nephi 32:3) Like the man in the temple, we can be “acted upon” by distractions. But we can be firm in our minds and not let those distractions sidetrack us from our eternal goals. We can “act” according to our own wishes and desires. We can decide what is best for us, and we, too, can pursue our goals, and not look back. May the Lord bless each of us as we strive to become “like unto Moroni.” Brother Winings Stake Executive Secretary
Posted on: Wed, 05 Mar 2014 02:45:41 +0000
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