All The Thoughts and Intents of the Heart

To my daughter,

                When Ammon was teaching King Lamoni, the Lamanite king asked if God dwells above the earth. Ammon replied, “Yea, and he looketh down upon all the children of men; and he knows all the thoughts and intents of the heart; for by his hand were they all created from the beginning” (Alma 18:32). In other words, the Lord knows even the thoughts that we have and the secret intents of our heart—there is nothing that we can hide from Him. Other scriptures affirm the same truth. For example, the Lord told Ezekiel, “I know the things that come into your mind, every one of them” (Ezekiel 11:5). To Solomon the Lord also said, “The Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts” (1 Chronicles 28:9). To Oliver Cowdery the Savior said this in our dispensation: “Yea, I tell thee, that thou mayest know that there is none else save God that knowest thy thoughts and the intents of thy heart” (Doctrine and Covenants 6:16). He also declared that He “knoweth all things, for all things are present before mine eyes” (Doctrine and Covenants 38:2). Alma warned his son Corianton who had made some serious mistakes: “Ye cannot hide your crimes from God; and except ye repent they will stand as a testimony against you at the last day” (Alma 39:8). Mormon also warned us about our sins that we might try to hide in these words, “I, knowing that these things must surely be made known, and that all things which are hid must be revealed upon the house-tops” (Mormon 5:8). There is nothing we can do that God doesn’t see; there is nothing we can say that He doesn’t hear; there is nothing we can think that He doesn’t know. He sees past, present, and future, and He knows far more about us than we do about ourselves.

                Understanding this omniscience of God can encourage us to be honest with ourselves and others and to strive diligently to do our best to make righteous choices. Not only should the knowledge that He sees all that we do discourage us from making wrong choices, it should encourage us that He is there to help and strengthen us as we strive to follow Him. He repeated numerous times in modern scripture that He will be there among us. He said in one revelation: “But behold, verily, verily, I say unto you that mine eyes are upon you. I am in your midst and ye cannot see me” (Doctrine and Covenants 38:7). He said as well, “Lift up your hearts and be glad, for I am in your midst, and am your advocate with the Father; and it is his good will to give you the kingdom” (Doctrine and Covenants 29:5). In another powerful declaration He said this: “Wherefore, I am in your midst, and I am the good shepherd, and the stone of Israel. He that buildeth upon this rock shall never fall” (Doctrine and Covenants 50:44). He has promised to be with us and instead of being afraid that He knows our thoughts, we should be encouraged that He is always there in our lives to help and strengthen us. When you were baptized you covenanted to always remember Him, and as you do this He will be there to help you overcome sin and weakness and become the person He wants you to become. I hope that you will turn to the Lord for help as you face challenges and strive to always do those things that would be pleasing to Him. And when you make mistakes, be quick to repent and bring your actions in line with His teachings. Never stop reading the Book of Mormon, and He will always guide you in the right way throughout your life. 

Love,

Dad