There are some things that we must learn with our head. There are other things that we can only learn through the heart. Spirituality is one of those things. Yes, there is an element of intellect involved. We have to study what we know about God, Jesus Christ, and the world in general and understand the beliefs of any religion we are a part of.
Still, what really holds us there has very little to do with logic or learning. It’s definitely a matter of the heart. That’s where a true testimony of our convictions comes from, that’s what holds us to a course as disciples of Christ; to be better and do better. It’s not easy, but we know it’s right. Our heart holds us to the course of happiness when our mind would have us believe a different path might be easier, or more rewarding, or what ever argument would pull us in another direction. Our heart, the feelings we have for the Savior, gives us a sense of greater purpose that is sometimes foreign to the world around us.
This point is illustrated over and over again in the scriptures.
Mormon 9:27 instructs us to come unto the Lord with all our heart.
Matthew 22:37 tells us to love the Lord with all our heart.
Proverbs 3:5 bids us to trust the Lord with all our heart.
Lastly, Matthew 6:21 cautions us that what our heart loves will be what we treasure above everything else.
A disciple’s heart will treasure the Lord. If it does not, we may not have the strength of conviction and love that will hold us to the course when the winds of the world try to lead us astray.
There is a specific example from the Book of Mormon that I’d like to share with you. It concerns a young man named Nephi and his two older brothers: Laman and Lemuel.
The Book of Mormon begins with Nephi’s words.
“I, Nephi, having been born of goodly parents, therefore I was taught somewhat in all the learning of my father; and having seen many afflictions in the course of my days, nevertheless, having been highly favored of the Lord in all my days; yea, having had a great knowledge of the goodness and the mysteries of God, therefore I make a record of my proceedings in my days.” 1 Nephi 1:1
Now, it is important to note that Laman and Lemuel grew up in this same household, but their perceptions of the Gospel were vastly different from Nephi’s. Though they would share many of the same spiritual experiences, including seeing angles and many miracles, Laman and Lemuel did not believe. They did not put their trust in the Lord and they often fell away from His paths. Why is that? Here is the main difference.
“Behold, my soul delighteth in the things of the Lord; and my heart pondereth continually upon the things which I have seen and heard.” 2 Nephi 4:16
Nephi’s heart was centered on the Gospel. In contrast, his brother’s closed their hearts.
“Ye are swift to do iniquity but slow to remember the Lord your God. Ye have seen an angel, and he spake unto you; yea, ye have heard his voice from time to time; and he hath spoken unto you in a still small voice, but ye were past feeling, that ye could not feel his words; wherefore, he has spoken unto you like unto the voice of thunder, which did cause the earth to shake as if it were to divide asunder.
And ye also know that by the power of his almighty word he can cause the earth that it shall pass away; yea, and ye know that by his word he can cause the rough places to be made smooth, and smooth places shall be broken up. O, then, why is it, that ye can be so hard in your hearts?” 1 Nephi 17:45-46
Faithfulness to the Lord Jesus Christ and His Gospel is focused on the condition of our hearts. My favorite description regarding the nature of a disciple’s heart is found in the Book of Alma.
“And according to his faith there was a mighty change wrought in his heart. Behold I say unto you that this is all true.
And behold, he preached the word unto your fathers, and a mighty change was also wrought in their hearts, and they humbled themselves and put their trust in the true and living God. And behold, they were faithful until the end; therefore they were saved.
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?
Do ye exercise faith in the redemption of him who created you? Do you look forward with an eye of faith, and view this mortal body raised in immortality, and this corruption braised in incorruption, to stand before God to be judged according to the deeds which have been done in the mortal body?
I say unto you, can you imagine to yourselves that ye hear the voice of the Lord, saying unto you, in that day: Come unto me ye blessed, for behold, your works have been the works of righteousness upon the face of the earth?” Alma 5:12-16
Take a moment today to ponder the feelings and emotions that drew you to Christ. What fueled your yearning to learn His word? Where was your heart that you wanted to be like Him? Write them down, remember them. Seek out those feelings again and again as you serve Him, and enjoy the strength and testimony that follows.
“And now behold, I say unto you, my brethren, if ye have experienced a change of heart, and if ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, I would ask, can ye feel so now?” Alma 5:26
