It’s a wonderful thing to discipline ourselves to do what we know we should do. That self-discipline provides a great sense of satisfaction and fulfillment. But God has promised something even better. He has promised to change our hearts, so that we no longer want to do wrong.
Nephi pleaded for this blessing: “Wilt thou make me that I may shake at the appearance of sin?” he prayed (2 Nephi 4:31).
After the people of King Benjamin prayed to have their sins forgiven, they testified, “the Spirit of the Lord…has wrought a mighty change in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually” (Mosiah 5:2).
In the city of Ammonihah, Alma described people who repented and entered the holy order of God in a similar way:
Now they, after being sanctified by the Holy Ghost, having their garments made white, being pure and spotless before God, could not look upon sin save it were with abhorrence; and there were many, exceedingly great many, who were made pure and entered into the rest of the Lord their God.
Alma 13:12
Part of that “rest” was not having to worry about the internal conflict between desire and conscience. Their heart was aligned with God’s will, and they were at peace.
President Russell M. Nelson has promised that as we turn our homes into centers of gospel learning, “the influence of the adversary in your life and in your home will decrease” (“Becoming Exemplary Latter-day Saints,” General Conference, October 2018). Why is that? Elder Milton Carmago explained, “Because the more we focus on Jesus Christ, the more sin loses its appeal. As our homes are filled with the Savior’s light, there is less and less room for the darkness of the adversary” (“Focus on Jesus Christ,” General Conference, April 2023).
Steven R. Covey wrote, “It’s easy to say ‘no!’ when there’s a deeper ‘yes!’ burning inside” (First Things First, p. 104). Perhaps, instead of focusing on the desires we want to eliminate, we should focus on the desires we want to cultivate. As we draw closer to the Savior and pattern our lives after Him, we may find that inappropriate desires simply fade away, overshadowed by the joy of following Him.
Today, I will invite the Savior into my life, trusting that his sanctifying influence will drive away temptation and motivate me to choose the right.
This thought reminded me of the scripture:
“…even to the purifying and the sanctification of their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts unto God.” Helaman 3:35
That’s a great connection! Thanks for pointing that scripture out.