This week in class we have been studying Mosiah 27 through Alma 7. One of the things I have learned from studying these chapters is taught in Alma Chapter 5. In this chapter, Alma teaches us the things we must do in order to gain eternal salvation.
One thing he teaches us is that we need to have a change of heart. He testifies in these scriptures that his father obtained a mighty change in his heart according to his faith.
As I read through this part in the scriptures, I am reminded of a video I watched as part of last week’s lesson with Elder Bednar titled, “Clean Hands and a Pure Heart”. I would strongly recommend watching this video. In it, Elder Bednar teaches that it is not enough to not sin, but that we need to obtain the desire to sin no more. In doing this, we obtain a true change of heart in our lives.
For our class this year, we have been working on a project where we choose a Christ like attribute that we want to try and develop for ourselves. At this point in the semester, watching this video and reading through these scriptures, I have started to really understand this change of heart that Alma speaks of. It truly is not enough for us to just be “good” and to not sin. We truly have to become more like Christ and have a change in our hearts so that we will no longer have a desire to sin anymore. We need to have the desire to do good continually. One thing Elder Bednar says is that it is possible to have clean hands and not have a pure heart. Searching to have this change of heart in our lives enables us to have both clean hands and a pure heart.
Alma teaches us that we cannot obtain salvation without repenting of our sins. I know that we need to truly repent of the things we do wrong and we need to continually strive to be like Christ and obtain a change in our hearts so that we may stand before Him one day knowing that we have clean hands and a pure heart. I am grateful for these scriptures and for the words of our leaders in these latter days. I know them to be true and I am grateful for the opportunity to able to share my feelings regarding these teachings.