Bringeth a Change of Heart

Elder Arnulfo Valenzuela said this in the most recent general conference: “While serving a mission as a young man, I observed that by our teaching with the scriptures, the lives of many people were transformed. I became aware of the power in them and how they can change our lives. Each person to whom we taught the restored gospel was a unique individual with different needs. The holy scriptures—yes, the prophecies written by the holy prophets—brought them to a faith in the Lord and to repentance and changed their hearts.” He was perhaps making reference to this statement of Samuel the Lamanite as that prophet described the conversion of some of the Lamanites: “[They] are led to believe the holy scriptures, yea, the prophecies of the holy prophets, which are written, which leadeth them to faith on the Lord, and unto repentance, which faith and repentance bringeth a change of heart unto them” (Helaman 15:7). The word of God, given to us in ancient and modern scriptures and through the teachings of living prophets, have the power to lead us to faith in Jesus Christ and to change our hearts.

                Alma similarly suggested the connection between a change of heart and the word of God. He described his fathers this way: “[The Lord] changed their hearts; yea, he awakened them out of a deep sleep, and they awoke unto God. Behold, they were in the midst of darkness; nevertheless, their souls were illuminated by the light of the everlasting word” (Alma 5:7). Here he was referring to those who had been changed by the words of Abinadi as delivered through Alma. That led many of the people of King Noah to repent and change their ways, and it was the light of the everlasting word that gave illuminated their souls. I often struggle to change my own heart or to help my children soften their hearts towards each other. Perhaps I focus too little on the one thing that is most powerful in helping us change: “the holy scriptures” and “the prophecies of the holy prophets.” For the words of the Lord to have an impact on our hearts, though, they must come inside our hearts as the Lord declared to the ancient Israelites: “And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart” (Deuteronomy 6:6). He said again, “Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes.” Through study and pondering and prayer we must seek to get his words into our hearts, and then they can soften and heal and change our souls as we are led to more faith on the Son. As we do so we will be brought to ponder and teach and speak of His words often: “And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up” (Deuteronomy 11:18-19). No matter what the challenges we face, surely the power of the word of God to inspire and change and soften is at least part of the help we need. For as we take His words into our hearts, we will Hear Him who has power to help us overcome all our mortal challenges. As Elder Valenzuela cited, the Lord said this of His words in this dispensation: “These words are not of men nor of man, but of me; … For it is my voice which speaketh them unto you; for they are given by my Spirit unto you … ; Wherefore, you can testify that you have heard my voice, and know my words” (Doctrine and Covenants 18:34–36).