Write at the Heart

Let’s talk about hearts! One of my favorite topics! Pride was creeping “into the hearts of the people who professed to belong to the church of God” Hel 3:33 They began persecuting other members of the church. “Nevertheless,” those being persecuted “did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, even to the purifying and the sanctification of their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts unto God.” Isn’t that so beautiful? They were sanctified, or made sacred, through “yielding their hearts unto God.” Like, take my heart! It is in your hands! I will do your will! I know you can make more out of me than I can. I trust you! I’m ready. He has given us so much. What can we give in return other than our hearts? In Helaman 5 it says Nephi “yielded up the judgment seat.” Why would he do that? HUGE fights have erupted over the ...

Moroni had EVERY reason to be upset at the lack of governmental support for the Nephite armies. And he took it all out on Pahoran in a scathing letter! Pahoran had EVERY reason to be upset with Moroni after being falsely accused of “neglect," "slothfulness," "idleness," being a "traitor," and “transgress[ing] the laws of God." He was innocent! He'd done NONE of the things Moroni thought he'd done! Moroni had jumped to conclusions, unfairly judged him, and attacked his very character. And yet, Pahoran is NOT upset. WHAT. He doesn't focus on Moroni's huge mistake! He focuses on Moroni's HEART. "Now, in your epistle you have censured me, but it mattereth not; I am not angry, but do rejoice in the greatness of your heart." Alma 61:9 The greatness of his heart! ❤️ It brings me to tears. Instead of bitterness, resentment, and division, Pahoran chooses understanding, forgiveness, and unity. "My beloved brother, Moroni,...

I made peach freezer jam yesterday, and I gotta say, I am feeling pret-ty darn proud of myself! It turned out amazing! Just call me Suzy Homemaker! While I know freezer jam is actually kinda easy, it IS time consuming. The peeling, pitting, lots and lots of stirring, waiting, more stirring, more waiting. My 8-year-old was super excited to help me, and she did some great stirring in the beginning, but after so much she got bored and gave up. But then came the reward for my efforts- delicious jam! I think about the process it took for those peaches to become jam, and I think about Alma the Younger’s amazing conversion. His story is one of my favorites!! I love any story where someone chooses to completely change for the better. “And oh, what joy, and what marvelous light I did behold; yea, my soul was filled with joy as exceeding as was my pain! Yea, I say unto you, my son, that there could be nothing so exquisite and so bitter as were my pains. Yea, and again I say unto you, my son, tha...