Brothers and sisters, what a privilege it is to be with you here today.
When I was young, my two older sisters faced some very serious heart challenges. Julie Ann inherited hers at birth. Kimberly's developed later in her childhood. Their conditions were unrelated to each other, but both impacted the heart. Here is a picture of these two angel sisters.
Neither of them won their battles--but what a legacy of love they both left behind. Before long, doctors became concerned that some genetic tendencies may have been passed down to me and my younger sisters.
They felt it would be wise to do some testing on the siblings. I recall being pulled out of school and taken to a children's hospital about an hour's drive away. They conducted a series of extensive and rigorous tests on my heart. I was fascinated with all the equipment and monitors. The burning question on my young boy's mind was, "Doctor, how's my heart?" Fortunately, they found all to be well.
I would like to fast-forward a number of years now to a time when my wife and I were awaiting the arrival of our first child. I'll never forget that first ultrasound appointment. Like any soon-to-be father, I was excited and anxious all at the same time. I wanted to know that all was well. Here is a picture of one of those ultrasounds.
To my untrained eye, I could not tell which end was up. For me, the question of that day was, "Doctor, where's the heart?"
The nurse kindly pointed out to me which little blip was the heart. "See, there's the heart," she exclaimed. I wasn't sure I did. She moved it again. "Can you see it now?" And then, to all of our surprise, she said, "Oh my, there are two hearts in there. You are having twins."
We gasped. My wife cried. I don't know if they were tears of joy or fear. Maybe a bit of both.
These two experiences highlight some questions I would like to explore with you today: "How's your heart?" and "Where's your heart?"
To begin, I would like to stress, The condition of our heart matters.
President Russell M. Nelson taught, "Just as a heart's physical integrity is essential to a person's physical well-being, spiritual integrity of heart is essential to a person's spiritual well-being."[1] The condition of our heart matters. In a gospel context, the heart can refer to our center; it can be the seat of our desires, a receptacle of revelation, or a motivator for action. When the physical heart is not functioning properly, it is unlikely that much else will. So it is with the condition of our spiritual heart.
Elder Marvin J. Ashton once asked, "Why the heart?" He then answered, "Because the heart is a synonym for one's entire makeup.... The measure of our hearts is the measure of our total performance."[2]
Notice in the following scriptures how the condition of our heart impacts blessings and opportunities not only in this life but also the next:
"Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart" (Psalm 24:3-4).
"Behold, there are many called, but few are chosen. And why are they not chosen? Because their hearts are set so much upon the things of this world, and aspire to the honors of men" (D&C 121:34-35).
"The Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7).
"For I, the Lord, will judge all men according to their works, according to the desire of their hearts" (D&C 137: 9).
The Lord looks on the heart. As fallen men and women, we sometimes neglect matters of the heart--for much less weighty matters. The external observables can easily dominate our attention. The functioning of the heart is often quiet and subtle, not drawing much attention to itself unless problems arise. President Nelson observed, "The heart's mitral valve opens and closes about 100,000 times a day--36 million times each year.... The work of the heart goes on day after day, year after year, with or without our awareness."[3] If or when problems surface, some do so gradually and almost without notice, and others will turn our world upside down in a moment.
This, therefore, begs the question, "How's my heart?" A follow-up question might be, "How do I know?" Finding such answers may not be as straightforward as is the case with our physical heart. We may not have expensive electrical equipment to assist us, but there certainly are some indicators we can pay attention to. There are meaningful measures that can help us to monitor our condition. Here are a few diagnostic questions: "What are the desires of my heart?"
After hearing King Benjamin's inspired address, his people described a mighty change of heart. "We have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually,"[4] they earnestly proclaimed. Their hearts were changed so completely they no longer desired sin. It became distasteful to them. Righteousness was the desire of their hearts. The desire of our hearts is also a great indicator of our spiritual wellness. Desire motivates behavior, unlocks blessings, and determines direction. Elder Neal A. Maxwell taught, "Our desires thus precede our deeds and lie at the very cores of our souls, tilting us toward or away from God."[5] In His marvelous sermon to the Nephites, the Savior promised, "And blessed are all they who do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled with the Holy Ghost."[6] Do we desire righteousness over worldliness? Do we desire holiness over prestige, pleasure, or praise? Such desires can be heart indicators.
Another diagnostic could be: "How do I react to the unexpected events of life?"
In James we read, "Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? Either a vine, figs? So can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh."[7] What does the fountain of our heart send forth? What flows freely from our mind and mouth? What unrehearsed acts play out in our lives? These all could be heart indicators.
C. S. Lewis shared a profound parable-like illustration. "Surely what a man does when he is taken off his guard is the best evidence for what sort of a man he is? Surely what pops out before the man has time to put on a disguise is the truth? If there are rats in a cellar you are most likely to see them if you go in very suddenly. But the suddenness does not create the rats: it only prevents them from hiding. In the same way the suddenness of the provocation does not make me an ill-tempered man: it only shows me what an ill-tempered man I am."[8] Such reactions can be heart indicators.
Yet another could be,"What do I do and think about when I don't have to do or think about anything?"
President Gordon B. Hinckley, quoting George Brimhall, summarized it this way: "You can't tell the character of an individual by the way he does his daily work. Watch him when his work is done. See where he goes. Note the companions he seeks, and the things he does when he may do as he pleases. Then you can tell his true character."[9] What direction do we drift when left to ourselves? Such tendencies can be heart indicators.
Careful and regular heart monitoring can be difficult. As we look inward, we may not like what we find. Sometimes we resist going to the doctor, because we know if a problem is discovered, there may be some painful and expensive treatment required. So it is with our heart--there may be some tough medicine ahead. Elder Maxwell taught, "The 'mighty change' required by discipleship may seem roller-coaster like, as soaring revelations bring the gravity of humbling perspective.... 'Mighty' changing, however, is mighty hard work."[10]
I believe Alma desired to assist us in this challenging process of heart assessing and adjusting. Studying Alma chapter five is a bit like attaching ourselves to a spiritual cardiogram. These verses are full of pointed and powerful questions which, when answered honestly, can be effective tools in aiding our spiritual growth. We find questions like "Have ye been spiritually born of God?"; "Have ye received his image in your countenances?"; "Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts?"; "Can ye look up to God at that day with a pure heart and clean hands?"; "Are ye stripped of pride?" Imagining the great day of judgment, he asks, "How will any of you feel?"[11] Questions like these invite us to look deep into our heart, and not just into what we are doing but what we are becoming. Refusing to honestly inquire of ourselves "Lord, is it I"[12] will not absolve us of sickness festering in the background. When our heart is in trouble, sooner or later it will demand attention. Elder Maxwell warned, "If we have grown soft, hard times may be necessary. If we are too contented, a dose of divine discontent may come. A relevant insight may be contained in reproof. A new calling beckons us away from comfortable routines wherein the needed competencies have already been developed. One may be stripped of accustomed luxury so that the malignant mole of materialism may be removed. One may be scorched by humiliation so pride can be melted away. Whatever we lack will get attention, one way or another.... If our hearts are set too much upon the things of this world, they may need to be wrenched, or broken, or undergo a mighty change."[13]
May I share one more question from Alma chapter five? "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?"[14] If, after undergoing careful introspection, you discover that feelings you once had have faded or that desires which once burned bright have dimmed or that your heart just isn't in it any more, you may be asking, "Can I get that feeling back?" My answer is a resounding yes!
This takes me to my next thought. We can rekindle, foster, and maintain a healthy, strong, and Christ-centered heart.
During my early years as a seminary teacher, I occasionally witnessed coworkers strive earnestly to cope with professional fatigue or with frustration in a particular assignment. For some, a natural response to such conditions was to request an environmental change, new surroundings, or a fresh assignment. Sometimes such requests were granted but sometimes not. In the case of the latter, I recall a wise supervisor often saying to a fatigued or frustrated employee, "Take a journey of the heart." To such counsel, a person could say "But this won't take me anywhere. Nothing will change; I'll still be in the same surroundings facing the same conditions." Over the years, as I have reflected on this simple but profound advice, I have come to realize that a journey of the heart is perhaps one of the most important journeys we can take. It is true that such a journey may not change the world around us, but it most definitely affects how we experience the world and how the world affects us. How can we embark on such a journey? How can we get our heart from where it is to where we want it to be?
This past Christmas, our youngest daughter, as one of her gifts to the family, made us a calendar. It was filled with colorful and creative artwork. For each month, she painted a picture to represent that season.
Here are a few samples of her calendar creations. Parents love to dote on their kids. This is way more fun than hanging them on the fridge.
May I spend a minute on this one--the heart?
Here is a little demonstration on how it was made. You may need an activity idea for your next family home evening. I think there is a point to be made with this picture. Notice how the hand and heart interconnect. When it comes to the condition and conditioning of our heart, the hands and heart are interrelated. In a physical sense, the health of a heart directly impacts a body's ability to operate. Conversely, operations of the body directly impact the wellness of the heart. President Henry B. Eyring described this relationship of heart and hands, of the inner and outer, from a spiritual perspective. "The things we do are the means, not the end we seek. What we do allows the Atonement of Jesus Christ to change us into what we must be. Our faith in Jesus Christ brings us to repentance and to keeping His commandments. We obey and we resist temptation by following the promptings of the Holy Ghost. In time our natures will change."[15] What, then, are some things we can do to help us become? Are there small and simple things that can help facilitate a mighty change of heart? Where our body is concerned, a healthy diet and exercise can go a long way. In other words, we want to watch carefully what we take in, and strive to keep ourselves active.
To the first, Let's watch carefully what we take into our lives.
If, hypothetically speaking, a doctor were to tell me that my cholesterol levels were a bit too high, I may need to make a few dietary adjustments. I would want to pay a little more attention to what I eat. This may not necessarily involve major changes. Sometimes small but consistent improvements can have profound and lasting impacts. I may choose, for example, not to cap off every night with a favorite cream-filled cookie and milk (perhaps just every other night).
Spiritually speaking, what we "take in" also has an impact on our heart. We must guard carefully what we look at, listen to, and even think about. All these activities plant seeds in our heart that eventually sink roots and yield fruit. Our time in front of the computer, on the TV, in our music, and with our thoughts will have effects on how we feel, what we desire, and ultimately what we become. If we can win the battle in our mind and related to that, in what we feed our senses, we have won so very much. President Ezra Taft Benson years ago reminded, "Think clean thoughts. Those who think clean thoughts do not do dirty deeds. You are not only responsible before God for your acts but also for controlling your thoughts."[16]
Are we getting our daily doses of that which edifies and uplifts? Are we feeding our souls with the bread of life and with living water?
Now, let's introduce a little exercise. We can engage in a variety of heart-healthy activities.
Such activities include regular time on our knees, careful reading of the scriptures, devoted worship in the temple, humble partaking of the sacrament, and willing service to others. These heart-healthy habits make it very difficult for the destructive buildup of pride and selfishness to accumulate.
Of course, there are some conditions of the heart that cannot be remedied without the skillful touch of a physician. I know in my heart there are corners I cannot reach or soften or mend without the help of the Great Physician. I need the Savior's healing touch. How can we access this healing and mending of the heart? We can begin by getting on our knees and praying for help.
In Psalms, chapter 51, we hear the heartfelt pleading of David: "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me."[17]
In 2 Nephi, chapter four, a humble Nephi cries, "O Lord, wilt thou redeem my soul? Wilt thou deliver me out of the hands of mine enemies? Wilt thou make me that I may shake at the appearance of sin? May the gates of hell be shut continually before me, because that my heart is broken and my spirit is contrite!"[18]
Thankfully, God can make of us, and of our hearts, that which we are unable to do on our own.
What now are we to do with this heart we are striving to carefully monitor and faithfully condition? We turn it over to God. With this, let's shift from "How's my heart?" to "Where's my heart?" As we turn our hearts over to God, clarity, peace, and strength will increase.
The Savior taught, "No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon."[19] If we try to lay our hearts at the feet of the world and simultaneously at the feet of the Lord, I am afraid we may not be received by either. Such a dualistic approach leads to weakness of resolve, inner turmoil, and frustration. When our eyes, on the other hand--and may I add our hearts--are "single to the glory of God,"[20] clarity and power flow into our lives. We find satisfaction in doing good, because we are good. We show charity because we are charitable. We extend mercy because we are merciful. We act like Christ because it is Him we face.
I love the phrase, in a favorite hymn of mine, "Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, Prone to leave the God I love; Here's my heart; O take and seal it; Seal it for thy courts above."[21] I believe of all the things the Lord asks of us, what He wants most is our heart--and not just half a heart but all of it. There is something special about whole-hearted devotion. Notice the emphasis in these scriptures,
- "Return unto the Lord with all your hearts" (1 Samuel 7:3)
- "Cleave unto me with all your heart" (D&C 11:19)
- "Serve him with all your heart" (D&C 4:2)
- "Come unto the Lord with all your heart" (Mormon 9:27), and
- "Love the Lord your God with all your heart" (Deuteronomy 13:3).
Half-hearted just doesn't seem to suffice.
Elder Maxwell taught, "If we desire fulness, we cannot hold back part! Having our wills increasingly swallowed up by the will of the Father actually means an enhanced individuality, stretched and more capable of receiving 'all that [God] hath' (D&C 84:38). Besides, how could we be entrusted with His 'all' until our wills are much more like His?"[22]
Here is a picture of my wallet.
It is not uncommon for it to look like this: bulging at the seams. Sadly, however, you will see it is packed primarily with receipts. Some have been in there so long they have been rubbed blank. In some cases, so much time has passed I no longer remember what they were even for. Now, this may seem like a trivial thing.
In fact, for some transactions, filing away a receipt is a wise practice. In my case, however, endlessly hanging on to a receipt is often an indication that I am not confident with my purchase. I am not quite sure I made the right choice, and I want a way out. On the other hand, if you see me throw away a receipt, you can know how I feel about my decision. I am staying with it. I am committed. Are we hanging on to spiritual receipts? Are we resisting full commitment? Are we waiting to get disappointed or expecting something to break? Do we want a foot in the Church but also a foot out in case we need an easy exit? Maybe we wonder if it is safe to trust God with our heart. I promise, you can. When it comes to the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, this is a receipt you can throw away. You can commit--whole-heartedly, no looking back, all in. President Eyring testified that we believe in a "perfectly loving, all-powerful, all-knowing Father in Heaven, whose whole purpose, as that of His Beloved Son, is to give us eternal life, to give us all that He has, and to bring us home again in families to the arms of His love."[23]
Go with me now to the Sea of Galilee following the Savior's resurrection.
As if to measure the depth of Peter's commitment, the Savior inquired of him carefully three times. Here we read, "Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep."[24]
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland offered a tender elaboration of this account in the October 2012 general conference.
"Jesus responded ... perhaps saying something like: 'Then Peter, why are you here? Why are we back on this same shore, by these same nets, having this same conversation? Wasn't it obvious then and isn't it obvious now that if I want fish, I can get fish? What I need, Peter, are disciples--and I need them forever. I need someone to feed my sheep and save my lambs. I need someone to preach my gospel and defend my faith. I need someone who loves me, truly, truly loves me, and loves what our Father in Heaven has commissioned me to do. Ours is not a feeble message. It is not a fleeting task. It is not hapless; it is not hopeless; it is not to be consigned to the ash heap of history. It is the work of Almighty God, and it is to change the world. So, Peter, for the second and presumably the last time, I am asking you to leave all this and to go teach and testify, labor and serve loyally until the day in which they will do to you exactly what they did to me.'"[25]
This is not a half-hearted commitment the Savior is seeking. This is whole "heart, might, mind and strength."[26] I know He wants us with Him not just for today or for tomorrow but for always.
Often opportunities to demonstrate our depth of commitment, our shore-of-Galilee-moments, come when disappointment and trials appear. When the floodwaters of heartache and sorrow flow, what rises to the surface? Will our hearts stay true? Elder Holland put it this way: "It is easy to be righteous when things are calm and life is good and everything is going smoothly. The test is when there is real trial or temptation, when there is pressure and fatigue, anger and fear, or the possibility of real transgression. Can we be faithful then?"[27] Such faithfulness, even in the midst of suffering and sorrow, was tenderly exemplified in an account told by Elder Maxwell: "Consider unselfish Melissa Howes, whose comparatively young father died of cancer several months ago. Just before, Melissa, who was then nine, was voice in family prayer, pleading, 'Heavenly Father, bless my daddy, and if you need him more than us, you can have him. We want him, but Thy will be done. And please help us not to be mad at you.'"[28]
The Savior gave us a perfect example of whole-hearted submission. From the Garden of Gethsemane, in agony beyond human comprehension, he cried, "O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt."[29]
We will have many opportunities throughout our lives to show where our heart is. In fact, every sacrifice, every act of kindness, every offering of time, talent, and means are small ways we show God where our heart truly lies. Such sacrifice, Elder Ballard taught, "provides an opportunity for us to prove to the Lord that we love him more than any other thing."[30]
Elder Michael Teh witnessed just such a demonstration. He recalled, "May I conclude with the story of a 73-year-old widow whom we met during our trip to the Philippines:
"When the earthquake struck the island of Bohol, the home that she and her late husband had worked so hard to build crumbled to the ground, killing her daughter and grandson. Now alone, she needs to work to support herself. She has started taking in laundry (which she does by hand) and has to go up and down a good-sized hill several times a day to fetch water.
Elder Teh continues, "When we visited her, she was still living in a tent. These are her words: 'Elder, I accept everything that the Lord has asked me to pass through. I have no hard feelings. I treasure my temple recommend and keep it under my pillow. Please know that I pay a full tithing on my meager income from doing laundry. No matter what happens, I will always pay tithing.'"[31]
Now, I do not know much about this sweet sister, but I do know something about her heart. By what she has and will yet sacrifice, I know what she loves, and I know where her heart is.
The Savior taught, "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."[32]
It is my hope that in all our comings and goings, in all our endeavors, we will pause from time to time and remember to ask ourselves, "How's my heart?" and "Where's my heart?" It is my prayer that we will all have the strength to make changes where needed and the faith to commit our lives to God--with all our hearts.
May I conclude with my testimony? It is simple but from my heart. I know Heavenly Father loves you. He sent His son. I know Jesus lives and loves you. He gave his life so we might live. I know Joseph Smith saw and experienced just what he said he did in that sacred grove. He gave his all so that we might enjoy all the blessings of the gospel in these the latter days. May we always be true to these great legacies of love is my prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Notes
[1] Russell M. Nelson, "Integrity of Heart", Ensign, August 1995
[2] Marvin J. Ashton, "The Measure of Our Hearts," Ensign, Nov. 1988
[3] Russell M. Nelson, "Integrity of Heart," Ensign, August 1995
[4] Mosiah 5:2
[5] Neal A. Maxwell, "Swallowed Up in the Will of the Father," Ensign, Nov. 1995
[6] 3 Nephi 12:6
[7] James 3:11-12
[8] C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity: A Revised and Enlarged Edition, With a New Introduction of the Three Books, The Case for Christianity, Christian Behaviour, and Beyond Personality, 2001, 192
[9] Gordon B. Hinckley, "Don't Drop the Ball," Ensign, Nov. 1994
[10] Neal A. Maxwell, "Encircled in the Arms of His Love," Ensign, Nov. 2002
[11] Alma 5:14, 19, 28, 22
[12] Matthew 26:22
[13] Neal A. Maxwell, "Swallowed Up in the Will of the Father," Ensign, Nov. 1995
[14] Alma 5:26
[15] Henry B. Eyring, "As a Child," Ensign, May 2006
[16] Ezra Taft Benson, Conference Report, Oct. 1964, 60
[17] Psalms 51:10-11
[18] 2 Nephi 4:31-32
[19] Matthew 6:24
[20] Doctrine and Covenants 4:5
[21] Robert Robinson, "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing."
[22] Neal A. Maxwell, "Consecrate Thy Performance," Ensign, May 2002
[23] Henry B. Eyring, "Finding Safety in Counsel," Ensign, May 1997
[24] John 21:17
[25] Jeffrey R. Holland, "The First Great Commandment," Ensign, Nov. 2012
[26] Doctrine and Covenants 4:2
[27] Jeffrey R. Holland, "Israel, Israel, God is Calling," CES Devotional, Sept. 2012
[28] Neal A. Maxwell, "Repent of [Our] Selfishness," Ensign, May 1999, 23
[29] Matthew 26:39
[30] M. Russell Ballard, New Testament Symposium, Oct.13, 1996
[31] Michael John U. Teh, "Where Your Treasure Is," Ensign, May 2014
[32] Matthew 6:21