In August 1833, the Lord assured His people that if their hearts were honest, broken, and contrite, they would be accepted of Him. He compared them to a “very fruitful tree which is planted in a goodly land, by a pure stream, that yieldeth much precious fruit” (Doctrine and Covenants 97:8-9).
Later in the revelation, He promised that “all the pure in heart” who enter the temple “shall see God,” echoing the words of a beatitude and a psalm (Doctrine and Covenants 97:16; compare Matthew 5:8; 3 Nephi 12:8; Psalm 24:3-4).
He then defined Zion not as a place, but as a condition:
Verily, thus saith the Lord, let Zion rejoice, for this is Zion—THE PURE IN HEART.
Doctrine and Covenants 97:21 (all caps in original)
Alma organized the church in a place where there was “a fountain of pure water” (Mosiah 18:5). Later, when his people had to escape from the armies of King Noah, they traveled until they came to “a very beautiful and pleasant land, a land of pure water” (Mosiah 23:4). Obviously, clean water is a physical necessity, but this was also symbolic of a former priest of King Noah who was now determined to act in accordance with God’s commandments and to organize a group of people who would love and serve one another.
Many things can contaminate our hearts. Alma’s son asked the people of Zarahemla if they were stripped of pride and of envy. He warned them that if they were not, they were not prepared to meet God. (See Alma 5:28-29.)
Jacob testified of the blessings that come to those who become and remain pure in heart:
I, Jacob, would speak unto you that are pure in heart. Look unto God with firmness of mind, and pray unto him with exceeding faith, and he will console you in your afflictions, and he will plead your cause, and send down justice upon those who seek your destruction.
O all ye that are pure in heart, lift up your heads and receive the pleasing word of God, and feast upon his love; for ye may, if your minds are firm, forever.
Jacob 3:1-2
Today, I will strive for greater purity of heart. I will work to eliminate impurities like pride and envy so that I can receive God’s love and be prepared to meet Him.
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