Harden Not Your Heart
Christopher H. Kim, of the Seventy
Elder Kim counsels on avoiding a hardened heart through repentance, humility, and trust in Christ.
Open talk in Gospel LibraryContents
Topics
Understanding Hardness of Heart
Elder Kim examines the concept of hardness of heart, using the example of Laman and Lemuel from the Book of Mormon, and contrasts it with Nephi's soft heart.
When we harden our hearts, we are blinded, and good things cannot come into our hearts or our minds.
Alma taught the people in Ammonihah that some "would reject the Spirit of God on account of the hardness of their hearts."Key Points:
- Hardness of heart leads to spiritual blindness and resistance to the Holy Ghost.
- Laman and Lemuel's hardened hearts led them to reject eternal truths.
- Nephi's soft heart allowed him to receive and understand the mysteries of God.
- Reflect on a time when you felt resistant to spiritual promptings. What changed your perspective?
- Consider a moment when you recognized the influence of the Holy Ghost in softening your heart.
- Think of an instance where you witnessed someone else's heart soften towards the gospel.
Practicing Daily Repentance
Elder Kim emphasizes the importance of daily repentance as a means to soften our hearts and progress spiritually.
Repenting is the key to progress. Pure faith keeps us moving forward on the covenant path.
The Savior loves us always but especially when we repent.Key Points:
- Daily repentance is essential for softening our hearts.
- Repentance leads to spiritual growth and joy.
- The Savior's love is especially felt when we repent.
- Share a personal experience where repentance brought peace or change in your life.
- Describe a time when you felt the Savior's love during or after repentance.
- Consider how daily repentance has influenced your relationship with the Lord.
Embracing Humility
Elder Kim discusses the role of humility in softening our hearts and aligning ourselves with God's will.
After reading these verses, she realized what she needed to do. She thought that she had understood the meaning of being meek and humble.
She started to humble herself through sincere repentance.Key Points:
- Humility allows us to receive the Spirit and understand God's words.
- Being humble like a child opens us to divine guidance.
- Humility is closely linked to repentance and spiritual growth.
- Reflect on a time when humility helped you overcome a challenge.
- Think about how humility has improved your relationships with others.
- Share how practicing humility has strengthened your faith.
Trusting in the Lord
Elder Kim highlights the importance of trusting and relying on the Lord to keep our hearts soft and receptive.
I have trusted in thee, and I will trust in thee forever. I will not put my trust in the arm of flesh.
Put your trust in that Spirit which leadeth to do good—yea, to do justly, to walk humbly.Key Points:
- Trusting in the Lord helps us face trials with a softened heart.
- Relying on the Spirit leads us to do good and walk humbly.
- Faith in the Lord's guidance ensures spiritual support and growth.
- Recall a time when trusting in the Lord helped you through a difficult situation.
- Describe how relying on the Spirit has influenced your decisions.
- Think about how your faith in the Lord has grown over time.
Following the Savior's Example
Elder Kim encourages us to follow Jesus Christ's example of meekness and obedience to soften our hearts.
But notwithstanding he being holy, he showeth unto the children of men that, according to the flesh he humbleth himself before the Father.
Nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and [He] partook and finished [His] preparations unto the children of men.Key Points:
- Jesus Christ exemplified meekness and obedience.
- Following Christ's example helps us to soften our hearts.
- Christ's submission to the Father is a model for our own humility and obedience.
- Reflect on how following Christ's example has impacted your life.
- Share a time when you felt inspired by the Savior's humility.
- Consider how striving to be like Christ has softened your heart.
