"Integrity of Heart"

I listened to Russell M. Nelson yesterday and this morning. It reminded me of my post yesterday. He suggested some questions you can use to prompt introspection.

What do you do when you make a mistake? (If you don't make mistakes, you must have died long ago.) Do you admit your error and apologize? Or do you deny it? Or do you blame others?

Like the experienced fisherman we must promptly repair our nets of integrity or the "sequential stress" will cause more and more tears. "If you tolerate a little sin today, you tolerate a little more tomorrow, and before long, a cord of integrity is broken."

Now please don't be discouraged or depressed by your shortcomings. No one is without weakness. That's part of the divine plan--to determine if you will master that weakness or let that weakness master you. Proper diagnosis is essential to proper treatment. The Lord gave us this remarkable assurance: "Because thou hast seen thy weakness, thou shalt be made strong" (D&C 135:5). But wishing for strength won't make it so. It takes faith and work to shore up a weakened cord of integrity.

He quoted Orson Pratt, "when the Lord saw the integrity of my heart and the anxiety of my mind--when He saw that I was willing to travel hundreds of miles for the sake of learning the principles of the truth, He gave me a testimony for myself". The Lord blesses me based on the manifestations of my faith. By what I do. It proves to Him that He can trust me with what He blesses me with. What am I willing to do to get the blessings the Lord is waiting to give me?

What are the blessings of integrity? "Integrity safeguards family love, and love makes family life rich and zestful--now and forever".

“Stubbornness is as … idolatry”

Last night I was stubborn with my wife. I held on to my hostile feelings. Unyielding, willful and stony heart are some of the phrases that came to my mind this morning as I considered my behavior last night.

This quote from an Old Testament Gospel Doctrine Teacher’s Manual opened my eyes to what I was choosing with my behavior,

When reprimanding Saul for being stubborn and rejecting the word of the Lord, Samuel told him, “Stubbornness is as … idolatry” (1 Samuel 15:23). How is stubbornness like idolatry? What was the result of Saul’s becoming stubborn and rebellious? (See 1 Samuel 15:23, 26, 28.) How are we sometimes stubborn and rebellious? What are the results of our being stubborn and rebellious? How can we recognize and overcome these attitudes?

How can I overcome this attitude I take sometimes? Immediately the phrase “[yield] to the enticings of the Holy Spirit” Mosiah 3:19 came to my mind. Then can this promise come into my life.

"A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh." Ezekiel 36:26

My nature will be changed. I will let go of my stubbornness and enjoy the relief the Lord offers me.

Let your soul delight in fatness

"For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." Matthew 6:21

This is the scripture of the month for our stake in August. It dovetails well with last months,

"If ye love me, keep my commandments." John 14:15

I am happiest when I am focused on doing the right thing. Sometimes that may be work, exercise, rest, play, connecting, etc. Lehoniti was "fixed in [his mind] with a determined resolution" to do the right thing. Yet he allowed himself to be diverted. Life is much easier as I do the right thing at the appropriate time. Alma 47:6

"50 Come, my brethren, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters; and he that hath no money, come buy and eat; yea, come buy wine and milk without money and without price.
51 Wherefore, do not spend money for that which is of no worth, nor your labor for that which cannot satisfy. Hearken diligently unto me, and remember the words which I have spoken; and come unto the Holy One of Israel, and feast upon that which perisheth not, neither can be corrupted, and let your soul delight in fatness." 2 Nephi 9:50-51

I feel complete as I point my labor in that which satisfies.