Jacob 3:1-2 But behold, I, Jacob, would speak unto you that are pure in heart. Look unto God with firmness of mind, and pray unto him with exceeding faith, and he will console you in your afflictions, and he will plead your cause, and send down justice upon those who seek your destruction. 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.
As we commit/covenant to follow Christ—and as we choose to do those things that will strengthen our foundation, giving us greater hope and increased faith, we will have a burning desire to help others find Christ and build their sure foundation. “Wherefore, we knew of Christ and his kingdom, which should come. Wherefore we labored diligently among our people, that we might persuade them to come unto Christ, and partake of the goodness of God, that they might enter into his rest.” (Jacob 1:6-7) The gathering of Israel is “the greatest challenge, the greatest cause, and the greatest work on earth today”(President Russell M. Nelson)—this will be made possible as we put every effort to help “All men …believe in Christ.” (Jacob 1:8) We will “magnify our office unto the Lord,” as we “teach them the word of God with all diligence; wherefore, by laboring with our might.” (Jacob 1:19) The gospel “healeth the wounded soul.” (Jacob 2:8) for all those who have been victim to Satan’s lies and tactics, so that Christ can gather them together, in Zion. “Creating Zion “commences in the heart of each person.” (Journal of Discourses, 9:283.)
“Only by voluntarily giving out of an abundant love for our neighbors can we develop that charity characterized by Mormon as ‘the pure love of Christ.” -Spencer W. Kimball
In order to do the Lord’s work through ministering and missionary work, we must “hearken unto my words; arouse the faculties of your souls; shake yourselves that ye may awake from the slumber of death; and loose yourselves.” (Jacob 3:11) “Labor diligently…hoping that our beloved brethren and our children will receive them with thankful hearts, and look upon them that they may learn with joy and not with sorrow, neither with contempt.” (Jacob 4:3) As we do these things in a spirit that invites the Holy Ghost, those we love will recognize truth, “the Spirit speaketh the truth and lieth not. Wherefore, it speaketh of things as they really are, and of things as they really will be; wherefore, these things are manifested unto us plainly, for the salvation of our souls.” (Jacob 4:13) Through the Holy Ghost spiritual “blindness” will be removed and we and those we love will be able to avoid “looking beyond the mark, but focus on the “power of His word.” (Jacobs 4:13, 9) This will build that foundation built on Christ, “But behold, according to the scriptures, this stone shall become the great, and the last, and the only sure foundation, upon which the Jews can build.” (Jacob 4:16)
“Doesn’t it motivate you to lengthen your stride and quicken your pace as you do your part in the great sanctifying work of the kingdom?” -Spencer W. Kimball
In this whole process of becoming Pure in Heart, the Lord is the ultimate teacher, we just need a soft, humble heart, open ears, and eyes to see. “Seek not to counsel the Lord, but to take counsel from his hand. For behold, ye yourselves know that he counseleth in wisdom, and in justice, and in great mercy, over all his works.” (Jacob 4:10) “Wherefore, we search the prophets, and we have many revelations and the spirit of prophecy; and having all these witnesses we obtain a hope, and our faith becometh unshaken, insomuch that we truly can command in the name of Jesus and the very trees obey us, or the mountains, or the waves of the sea. Nevertheless, the Lord God showeth us our weakness that we may know that it is by his grace, and his great condescensions unto the children of men, that we have power to do these things.” (Jacob 4:6-7) “Great and marvelous are the works of the Lord. How unsearchable are the depths of the mysteries of him; and it is impossible that man should find out all his ways. And no man knoweth of his ways save it be revealed unto him; wherefore, brethren, despise not the revelations of God.” (Jacob 4:8) “Be reconciled unto him through the atonement of Christ, his Only Begotten Son.” (Jacob 4:11)
Moroni 7:47 But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.
During these unsettling moments of life, as the Coronaviris spreads through the world, we can find peace as we come closer to Christ, He will strengthen us, as we seek His council. This is a great time, to be pure in heart, and reach out to others with the love of Christ in ministering as well as missionary work, so that everyone can have that same peace in heart.
-Written by Sherri Jorgensen
Recent Comments