Apply Your Heart to Understanding

Mosiah 12:27-28 is a powerful scripture with a significant teaching. Abinadi is meeting with King Noah and his priests and makes a comment and then poses a question. He says to them, "Ye have not applied your hearts to understanding; therefore, ye have not been wise. Therefore, what teach ye this people?" The Priests responded, "We teach the law of Moses."

There are two significant portions of the body mentioned over and over in scripture, the heart and mind - both are important!

1) The Mind: Each person has the commandment to study and learn. However, each person is cautioned in the Book of Nephi, "O that cunning plan of the evil one! O the vainness, and the frailties, and the foolishness of men! When they are learned they think they are wise, and they hearken not unto the counsel of God, for they set it aside, supposing they know of themselves, wherefore, their wisdom is foolishness and it profiteth them not. And they shall perish. But to be learned is good if they hearken unto the counsels of God." (2 Nephi 9:28-29).

2) The Heart: Search for the word "soft" or "soften" in the scriptures and look at the numerous references to the heart. One example is D&C 121:4, the Lord commands you and I to "let thine heart be softened." What does that mean?

Now, the response of the Priests in Abinadi's example becomes important. Those Priests supposedly taught the Law of Moses, a law of outward ordinances and rites designed to point people to Christ and his Atonement. Similarly, we have the sacrament, temple rites, baptism, etc. which are all designed to point our hearts to Christ. Joseph Smith said those who dwell with God must have the character of God. It's when we allow these rites and ordinances to point our HEARTS to Christ, that a true conversion begins, otherwise many of us can be like the priests of Noah or a Pharisee. Those Priests of Noah said they taught those rites, but they certainly hadn't applied their HEARTS to understanding because they persecuted the people and didn't let those rites and ordinances draw them to the Lord.

I want to share a personal story, but I'll try to be vague in the details so as not to reveal the people in the example, but it is someone close to our family:

There's a man who serves in a Stake calling and has always been engaged in the activities of the Church - at least participates in the outward "rites". He puts on his suit and tie and he's there every Sunday. Yet, at home he rules with unrighteous dominion and has created enemies in his children because of the way he rules his home. His Wife has recently left the house and they're in the middle of this terrible mess.  I'm certainly not the Lord and can't pass final judgment on this man, but this is EXACTLY what the Pharisees did. They put on their priestly robes and would adhere strictly to the rites, yet they didn't recognize their Lord and they crucified him - in other words, they never applied their HEARTS to understanding. They only used their mind.

What a great lesson! Each of these rites which we participate in are crucial (temple, sacrament, etc.), but we MUST apply our HEARTS to understanding and let those point us to Christ. Those rites should soften our hearts and we should learn to treat those around us as the Master would treat them. If there's any question on how to treat people, Moroni 7 and D&C 121 describes it quite clearly.

I ask myself the same questions I pose here:

- Do you take the learning you've received and apply your heart to understanding?

- What are your actions towards others, especially when the other party seemingly has nothing to offer you?

- When you participate in the sacrament or temple rites, are you going through the motions or letting it drive you to repentance and a renewed conviction to serve the Lord?

- The Lord lifted people wherever he went. Do you do the same?  How?

When are hearts understand, we're filled with charity. Moroni said it well, "Charity is the greatest of all and it never faileth."

May we renew our commitment to apply our HEARTS to understanding and become more like Christ in our homes, workplace, and wherever we find ourselves!