For a self-described slow speaker, Enoch became an extraordinary orator. He prophesied, and he performed miracles by commanding the elements. Words externalize our thoughts, representing commitment and therefore evidencing our faith. Maybe that's why Jesus promised that if we have faith, we can move mountains with our words.
“He Did Loose Their Tongues”
During the Savior's ministry in the Americas, one of His miracles was to "loose [the] tongues" of children, so that they spoke "marvelous things." Sometimes we're hesitant to speak up. The Savior can loose our tongues and help us share uplifting messages.
Unclean Lips
When Isaiah saw God, he felt out of place because he was "a man of unclean lips" who lived among "people of unclean lips. We should strive to communicate in a way that invites the Spirit of the Lord to be with us. When we fall short, God can purify us.
Bridling My Tongue
James warns us to watch our words. They can be surprisingly harmful if we're not careful. We can govern our tongues by (1) managing our thoughts, (2) pausing before speaking, and (3) looking for encouraging and uplifting things to say.
He Answered Them Nothing
Sometimes, the best answer is no answer at all. As Jesus endured unjust trials, He responded to some questions with silence. Alma and Amulek did the same in the prison in Ammonihah. Sometimes, disciples of Christ must resist the impulse to respond.
Raca
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus urges us not to call each other names. Researchers have found that verbal abuse has long-term consequences. Not all scars are visible, and we would be wise to be more aware of the damage caused by harmful words.
Out of the Dust
What do you do when you feel like you're not being heard or understood? In the middle of a prophecy about the restoration of the gospel, just before introducing the symbolism of a sealed book, the prophet Isaiah shared an image which became meaningful to the writers of the Book of Mormon: Thou shalt be... Continue Reading →
Edifying
It's a lot easier to destroy things than to build them. That imbalance creates one of the conundrums of life: you can spend an awfully lot of time and energy creating something which can be demolished with very little effort. "Destroy this temple," said Jesus, "and in three days I will raise it up" (John... Continue Reading →
Confounded
After prophesying of difficult days ahead, the prophet Isaiah foretold a time of prosperity and peace, when the children of Israel would be protected from both physical and verbal abuse: No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of... Continue Reading →
“Spoken with Care”
Jesus said, "Every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment." (Matthew 12:36). The word "idle" in this passage suggests carelessness or thoughtlessness. The speakers may not have intended to cause harm, but should have known better than to say what they did. A little more caution and restraint could have prevented the damage.... Continue Reading →