Thoughtful Thursday

I was reading scriptures with the kids a couple days ago and I had a brief flash of "insight." We were reading Matthew 5, the beatitudes. Verse 8 reads,

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God."

I have read this verse many, many times in my life, and have always read it as - "Blessed are the pure in heart, for (when they die) they shall see God.

This time when I read it, it occurred to me that those who are truly pure in heart, see God everyday - for they are able to see God, and the power of God in everything around them. The pure in heart love freely, for they can see the divine in every person they meet. They live in a state of gratitude for they continually recognize the hand of God in all things.


As a follow up to this thought, I spent a little time reading about being "pure in heart." In the November 1988 Ensign, Elder Marvin J Ashton has a fantastic talk titled "The Measure of our Hearts." In it, he suggests 4 questions to ask ourselves to determine how we (our hearts) are "measuring up." I quote from the talk:

"First Question: How honest in heart am I?

What does it mean to be honest in heart? It describes an individual who is open to truth, who will evaluate information or people without prejudice. Honest-hearted persons are individuals without pretense, without hypocrisy. They are reliable in word and action. They have no “hidden agendas” to deceive others or to misrepresent facts.

Second Question: Do I have a willing heart?

A willing heart describes one who desires to please the Lord and to serve His cause first. He serves the Lord on the Lord’s terms, not his own. There are no restrictions to where or how he will serve.

Third Question: Do I have an understanding, loving heart?

An understanding, loving heart is the pinnacle of all human emotions. We come closest to becoming Christlike when we are charitable and understanding of others.

One may have many talents and knowledge but never acquire wisdom because he does not learn to be compassionate with his fellow man.

We will never approach godliness until we learn to love and lift. Indifference to others and their plight denies us life’s sweetest moments of joy and service.

Last Question (this taken directly from the Book of Mormon): “If ye have experienced a change of heart, and if ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, … can ye feel so now?” (Alma 5:26; italics added).

Having a “change of heart” at one time in our lives is insufficient to give us an understanding heart today. Helping and understanding a person years ago do not fill us with the love of God today.

Christlike love must be continuous and contemporary.

One night a young idealist had a dream. He dreamed there was a new store in a nearby shopping mall. He went in and saw an angel behind a counter. Nervously, he asked what the shop sold.

“Everything your heart desires,” replied the angel.

“Then I want peace on earth,” exclaimed the idealist. “I want an end to famine, sorrow, and disease.”

“Just a moment,” replied the angel. “You haven’t understood. We don’t sell fruit here—only seeds.”

I pray that God will give each of us the courage and desire to strive for a pure heart, a willing heart, an understanding and loving heart. May we take the seeds offered to all of us, plant them, and nourish them that we may help harvest the matured fruit of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

If we can do this, when the final judgment is made and our hearts are measured by the Lord, our measurements will not be found deficient."

What else is there to say to that, except maybe - AMEN.