This upcoming weekend is stake conference for our stake. Instead of my regular lesson-oriented scripture study, I’m hitting the topical guide for phrases that have peaked my interest.
Every once in awhile, a phrase catches my heart and leads me to the scriptures. Today, I heard the phrase “a true and honest heart.” The Spirit pricked my heart, and I decided to find out what the Lord might mean when He referred to this. There are so many scriptures that refer to an honest heart, however, that I am focusing today only on the first part.
The word ‘true’ has more than one meaning. We usually think of something true as not being a lie; in short, it is not false. Elaborating on that definition leads us to a heart that is not deceitful but is honest, straightforward, and sincere. The word also makes me think of a similar word – valiant – because it can be defined as ‘firm’ or ‘steadfast’.
In Hebrews 10:22, we are told to draw near the Lord “with a true heart in full assurance of faith.” The footnote there leads us to http://scriptures.lds.org/en/search?search=Hebrews+6%3A12 , which tells us not to be slothful, but that we will inherit the promises (one assumes the promises of God) through faith and patience. From the combination of these two scriptures, I came to the belief that one with a true heart is not slothful, but works hard to keep the Lord’s commandments, that he may thus receive the promised blessings of the Lord.
A search of ‘valiant’ leads me to a similar conclusion. In D&C 76:79, those who are not valiant in their testimonies of the Savior will not obtain “the crown over the kingdom of our God.” Logically, we can reverse the argument; those who are valiant shall receive the crown. At the same time, D&C 121:29 tells us that those who “have endured valiantly for the gospel of Jesus Christ” will have many things revealed to them. Thus, those who endure to the end receive a multitude of blessings, most especially eternal life.
I would like to have a true and valiant heart, a heart that focuses on the Lord and puts Him first. I was hoping in some way to learn more about how to have such a heart, rather than what would result from it, and I plan to spend more time in study. Since we are supposed to apply the scriptures to ourselves, I then began to ponder how we can tell when our hearts are true. After all, we can act out of habit or just because we think that keeping the commandments is a good thing; this does not constitute a heart that is true to the Lord. I believe that I am on the right path because I do try to commit myself to the Savior. About the closest indicator I could determine as to whether or not my heart was truly ‘true’ was the fact that I was trying to find out if it was.
Perhaps my readers can do a better job of learning how to determine if your heart is ‘true’. Does anyone have any suggestions?
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