Only by educating and training our desires can they become our allies instead of our enemies!Neal A. Maxwell, "According to the Desire of [Our] Hearts," General Conference, October 1996 To the ancient prophet Jeremiah, God said, "I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways" (Jeremiah 17:10). Alma reaffirmed this principle: "I know... Continue Reading →
“According to His Desires” – Alma 41:5-6
Ammon told King Lamoni that God "knows all the thoughts and intents of the heart" (Alma 18:32). Alma explained to his son Corianton that we will be judged not only according to our works, but also according to our desires: The one raised to happiness according to his desires of happiness, or good according to... Continue Reading →
“Ask with a Firmness Unshaken, that Ye Will Yield to No Temptation” – Mormon 9:28
God will judge us in the end "according to the desire of [our] hearts" (Doctrine and Covenants 137:9). But our desires are not static and unchanging. They are affected over time by the decisions we make. As Elder Ulisses Soares recently taught, we are like a metal object, and temptation is like a magnet. The... Continue Reading →
“Suffer None of These Things to Enter into Your Heart” – 3 Nephi 12:29
Near the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount, after sharing the Beatitudes and encouraging His disciples to let their light shine, Jesus gave six examples of commandments or traditions which the people had interpreted too narrowly. In all six cases, He encouraged them to expand their perspective and live according to a higher law.... Continue Reading →
What Is It That Ye Desire? – 3 Nephi 28:1-7
1 And it came to pass when Jesus had said these words, he spake unto his disciples, one by one, saying unto them: What is it that ye desire of me, after that I am gone to the Father? 2 And they all spake, save it were three, saying: We desire that after we have... Continue Reading →
Alma Desires to Speak with the Voice of an Angel – Alma 29
Setting Alma the Younger was overjoyed to be reunited with the sons of Mosiah, who he hadn't seen for fourteen years (Alma 17:1-4, Alma 27:16-19). These four friends had been with Alma when an angel appeared and called him to repentance (Mosiah 27:8-12). All five of them had changed their lives as a result of... Continue Reading →
Their Hearts Had Been Changed – Alma 19:33
33 And it came to pass that when Ammon arose he also administered unto them, and also did all the servants of Lamoni; and they did all declare unto the people the selfsame thing—that their hearts had been changed; that they had no more desire to do evil. (Alma 19:33) When Alma the Younger recovered... Continue Reading →
I Desire… I Believe… – 1 Nephi 11:1-6
1 For it came to pass after I had desired to know the things that my father had seen, and believing that the Lord was able to make them known unto me, as I sat pondering in mine heart I was caught away in the Spirit of the Lord, yea, into an exceedingly high mountain,... Continue Reading →
My Soul Hungered – Enos 1:3-4
3 Behold, I went to hunt beasts in the forests; and the words which I had often heard my father speak concerning eternal life, and the joy of the saints, sunk deep into my heart. 4 And my soul hungered; and I kneeled down before my Maker, and I cried unto him in mighty prayer... Continue Reading →
No More Disposition to Do Evil – Mosiah 5:2
2 And they all cried with one voice, saying: Yea, we believe all the words which thou hast spoken unto us; and also, we know of their surety and truth, because of the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent, which has wrought a mighty change in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more... Continue Reading →
Book of Mormon Study Notes 