Mind and Heart

I believe there is an order specifically given to the process of receiving revelation. It is outlined beautifully in Section 8 of the Doctrine and Covenants where it is explained that we will be told in our mind and in our heart by the Holy Ghost. First our mind is given the impression or the seed of thought then, when planted in our heart, we feel the process of growth as our heart begins to swell or become enlarged.

Even the law of witnesses, which is the testimony of two or more, is fulfilled by this process. The mind is one witness and the heart another.

The reconciliation of these two parts, the mind and heart, is the process of becoming a Zion person. Though this process we have one heart and one mind. The blessing of becoming a Zion person is that of the continual presence of the Lord, or continual revelation.

In my study of our prophetic instruction during General Conference I have found many incidences where we have been instructed on this process of revelation. Elder Boyd K. Packer gave instruction in his talk called, Prayer and Promptings. I have only taken a few of his statements to illustrate the importance of the order of the mind and heart.

Look for all the references he gives to the mind and the heart in the following excerpt of that talk:

The Lord has many ways of pouring knowledge into our minds to prompt us, to guide us, to teach us, to correct us, to warn us. The Lord said, “I will tell you in your mind and in your heart, by the Holy Ghost, which shall come upon you and which shall dwell in your heart” (D&C 8:2).

And Enos recorded, “While I was thus struggling in the spirit, behold, the voice of the Lord came into my mind again” (Enos 1:10).

You can know the things you need to know. Pray that you will learn to receive that inspiration and remain worthy to receive it. Keep that channel—your mind—clean and free from the clutter of the world.

When temptation comes, you can invent a delete key in your mind—perhaps the words from a favorite hymn. Your mind is in charge; your body is the instrument of your mind. When some unworthy thought pushes into your mind, replace it with your delete key. Worthy music is powerful and can help you control your thoughts.

When Oliver Cowdery failed in an attempt to translate, the Lord told him:
“Behold, you have not understood; you have supposed that I would give it unto you, when you took no thought save it was to ask me. But, behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right. But if it be not right you shall have no such feelings” (D&C 9:7–9).

Learn to pray. Pray often. Pray in your mind, in your heart. Pray on your knees. Prayer is your personal key to heaven. The lock is on your side of the veil. And I have learned to conclude all my prayers with “Thy will be done” (Matthew 6:10; see also Luke 11:2; 3 Nephi 13:10).

The Savior said, “Draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you; seek me diligently and ye shall find me; ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you” (D&C 88:63).

The reconciliation of the Spirit and the Body are done though this process of revelation as the Lord speaks to our mind and heart. I know it in my mind and feel it in my heart.

Have you felt this process for yourself?

Seeking To Know

I love General Conference. It seems to me that many of the talks this past conference centered on gaining a personal knowledge of our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. In fact, Elder Robert D. Hales gave a beautiful description of the process in his talk titled just that. The following is a brief excerpt from that talk....

Look for the action words he uses to help us understand the pattern of progressing from believing, which is a light that all are born with, to knowing.

"Seeking to Know God, Our Heavenly Father, and His Son, Jesus Christ"

"Brothers and sisters, you may already know, deep in your soul, that God lives. You may not know all about Him yet and do not understand all His ways, but the light of belief is within you, waiting to be awakened and intensified by the Spirit of God and the Light of Christ, which you are born with.

So come. Believe the testimonies of the prophets. Learn of God and Christ. The pattern to do so is clearly taught by prophets of old and prophets today.

Cultivate a diligent desire to know that God lives.

This desire leads us to ponder on the things of heaven—to let the evidence of God all around us touch our hearts.

With softened hearts we are prepared to heed the Savior’s call to “search the scriptures” and to humbly learn from them.

We are then ready to ask our Heavenly Father sincerely, in the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ, if the things we have learned are true. Most of us will not see God, as the prophets have, but the still, small promptings of the Spirit—the thoughts and feelings that the Holy Ghost brings into our minds and hearts—will give us an undeniable knowledge that He lives and that He loves us.

Gaining this knowledge is ultimately the quest of all God’s children on the earth."

Once again we are taught, that revelation will come to our minds and hearts and we can KNOW for ourselves of these truths.

I love the simplicity of this pattern, don't you?

Believe Versus Know

While listening to a recent speaker in our Young Adult Sacrament Meeting I was touched by the spirit to understand more fully the process of “knowing” truth. I had read the passage the speaker referred to many times before, but for some reason this time the clarity of the meaning simply rang loudly in my mind, and my heart became enlarged.

The discourse given in the Book of Mormon by the prophet Alma which compares faith to a seed is one that most are probably familiar with. The scripture that jumped out at me that day is contained in that lesson in Alma 32.

33 And now, behold, because ye have tried the experiment, and planted the seed, and it swelleth and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow, ye must needs know that the seed is good.

The words that caught my attention were “beginneth” and “ye must needs know”. I guess for some reason I always thought you had to SEE the whole plant to really know, but the process of feeling that enlargement of your heart is simply enough.

FOR EXAMPLE:

In the process of creation a “seed is planted” ... if it connects with the cultivated soil, or the egg... then it begins to grow. As I mother I can testify, that when you feel that swelling of the “seed” in your stomach, you KNOW it is a baby. You can know without seeing. When the baby is finally born...you then have a FULNESS of knowledge or PERFECT knowledge, but before that process is revealed, you can still KNOW it is a baby.

It may sound simple, but for me... I can know without seeing, that Jesus is the Christ.

And I do...