Daily

Book of Mormon: Day 242: Yielding Our Hearts Unto God

by Desirae Ogden |

Today’s Reading:  Helaman 3:18-37

29 Yea, we see that whosoever will may lay hold upon the word of God, which is quick and powerful, which shall divide asunder all the cunning and the snares and the wiles of the devil, and lead the man of Christ in a strait and narrow course across that everlasting gulf of misery which is prepared to engulf the wicked—

35 Nevertheless they did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, even to the purifying and the sanctification of their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts unto God.

yield·ing
ˈyēldiNG
adjective
 1.  (of a substance or object) giving way under pressure; not hard or rigid.
How is your heart these days?  Is it hard and rigid or is it able to give way under pressure?  And if it is giving way under pressure, is it the right kind of pressure?  Just some questions to think about.
I have always loved the phrase “yielding our hearts unto God”, but I loved it even more when I heard this talk by Sister Marriott in October 2015.  In her gentle Southern drawl, she taught us what it means to yield your heart unto God and I soaked in every single word.  More on that talk later.  Right now, let’s look at what this section of scriptures can teach us.
We learn that the Nephites have been very industrious; building houses of cement and keeping records, among other things.  They have also been “laying hold upon the word of God [v. 29].  Because of their choice to pay close attention to the word of God, they are being led “across the everlasting gulf of misery” [v.29].  I find it very interesting that the word of God is meant to lead us across the everlasting gulf of misery, not around it.  This means that we get to do hard things, right?  And that is good!  If we didn’t do those hard things, then we wouldn’t be able to appreciate the good things that come into our lives.
Along with “laying hold upon the word of God”, the Nephites have also been spending time fasting and praying.  This pattern of righteousness has created a domino effect of spirituality and happiness.  Because of their time spent in prayer and fasting, they have grown stronger in their humility and firmer in their faith in Christ.  Their hearts became pure and sanctified through the process of yielding their hearts to God.
As I have pondered the questions that I asked at the beginning of this post, and as I have pondered on Sister Marriott’s talk for almost a year now, I have spend A LOT of time thinking about the condition of my heart.  I have tried to make my heart yielded and still, as suggested by Sister Marriott, so that I can learn the ways in which my Father in Heaven needs me to learn and grow.  Through this process I have come to see a lot of things that I can improve upon, but I have also seen a lot of things that I am doing right.
“When we open ourselves to the Spirit, we learn God’s way and feel His will.” -Neill F. Marriott
I love learning God’s way for me, and I love feeling His will for my life even more.  Often times His will makes me squirm and feel uncomfortable, but “yielding to the Lord’s way is the only way to lasting happiness”  [ii].
feel his will

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  • Loved this! I’m going to have to go and study sister Marriott’s talk some more. Also, I find your insight into going across the gulf of misery instead of around it brilliant!! I love learning from you Desirae!!

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