The Silent Chambers of Your Own Soul

In the most recent general conference, Elder Andersen spoke about this verse from Alma the Younger: “Now, as my mind caught hold upon this thought, I cried within my heart: O Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy on me, who am in the gall of bitterness, and am encircled about by the everlasting chains of death” (Alma 36:18). Alma was wracked with emotional and spiritual torment because of his sins, but he found relief as he focused his mind on Jesus Christ. As we hold on firmly to thoughts focused on Jesus Christ, we too can find strength and help to face the challenges of our lives. Elder Andersen encouraged us in these words, “My prayer at this Easter season is that we will more consciously shape, strengthen, and secure this preeminent thought of Jesus Christ in the chambers of our soul, allowing it to eagerly flow into our mind, guide us in what we think and do, and continually bring the sweet joy of the Savior’s love.” This is surely part of what the Savior meant when He taught that the first and great commandment is to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind. Part of how we show our love to Him is to give Him time in our thoughts, for as King Benjamin taught, “For how knoweth a man the master whom he has not served, and who is a stranger unto him, and is far from the thoughts and intents of his heart?” (Mosiah 5:13) The Savior should be near to us in our thoughts and the intents of our heart.

In this footnote to the above paragraph from Elder Andersen, he quoted this statement from President Davd O. McKay: “The greatest battle of life is fought within the silent chambers of your own soul.” This is a quote that I’m very familiar with and one that I have thought about a lot over the years. I don’t know, though, if I’d ever really considered what President McKay meant by the word “chambers” in this quote. But today I looked up the various definitions, and I believe that this one is what he was intending to portray: “A hall for the meetings of a deliberative, legislative, or judicial body.” We speak of the Senate chamber or the judge’s chambers. Both of these indicate places where important matters are discussed, reviewed, debated, and ultimately decided upon. I believe what President McKay was saying is that it is in our minds—where we deliberate on right and wrong, on what decisions to make, on our beliefs, and on the things of God—the most important things happen. We are judges and legislators for ourselves in the silent chambers of our minds. Ultimately what comes out of those deliberations guides our words and actions and the course we will take in life. That is what happened to Joseph Smith who set the example for us at a very young age. He described the deliberations of his mind in these words: “In the midst of this war of words and tumult of opinions, I often said to myself: What is to be done? Who of all these parties are right?” After searching the scriptures and reading James 1:5, he recounted, “Never did any passage of scripture come with more power to the heart of man than this did at this time to mine. It seemed to enter with great force into every feeling of my heart. I reflected on it again and again, knowing that if any person needed wisdom from God, I did” (JSH 1:10, 12). It was all of his intense reflection and seeing within his own mind that led him to search out God in prayer, and our own thoughts should likewise lead us to Him. Elder Andersen made us this promise: “I witness the complete and absolute truth of the Savior’s incomparable atoning sacrifice and of His glorious Resurrection. As your mind remains firmly and forever upon the thought of Jesus Christ, and as you continue to focus your life more fully on the Savior, I promise you that you will feel His hope, His peace, and His love.”