Pure Thoughts, Part 7

The Savior explained in the Sermon on the Mount a blessing that comes from purity: "Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God" (Matt. 5:8). But what does having a pure heart have to do with having purity of mind? There are many references in the scriptures to thoughts residing in the heart. For example, "My days are past, my purposes are broken off, even the thoughts of my heart" (Job 17:11) and "For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies" (Matt. 15:19). Our thoughts and our desires are inseparable. We can thus take the words "thoughts" and "heart" as nearly synonymous. This belief is why the ancient Egyptians considered the heart to be where the soul and mind resided. In their mummification process they thus removed and discarded the brain and preserved the heart. So if we replace "heart" with "mind", the beatitude will read "Blessed are the pure in mind: for they will see God!"

There are other blessings that stem from being pure in heart. This state brings citizenship in the Lord's society. Elder Cullimore said:

"Zion is defined by the Lord as the 'pure in heart.' The Lord said, '… let Zion rejoice, for this is Zion—THE PURE IN HEART; therefore, let Zion rejoice, while all the wicked shall mourn.' (D&C 97:21).

"Since Zion is defined as the 'pure in heart,' those who make up Zion must be free from worldly practices and indulgences.

"President Lee said to us…that 'The rule by which the people of God must live in order to be worthy of acceptance in the sight of God' is indicated in this scripture: 'For Zion must increase in beauty, and in holiness; her borders must be enlarged; her stakes must be strengthened; yea, verily I say unto you, Zion must arise and put on her beautiful garments.' (D&C 82:14.) ("Strengthen the Stakes of Zion," Harold B. Lee, Ensign, July 1973, p.3.)

"President McKay referred to Zion as the pure in heart and said: '… the strength of this Church lies in the purity of the thoughts and lives of its members, then the testimony of Jesus abides in the soul, and strength comes to each individual to withstand the evils of the world.' (Conference Report, October 1911, p. 58.)" (James A. Cullimore, "To Be in the World but Not of the World," Ensign, Jan. 1974, 119).

President McKay's statement is profound: "The strength of this Church lies in the purity of the thoughts and lives of its members." That places a large responsibility upon each of us. We just learned what Enoch and his people accomplished! They were all pure in thought and thus one with each other and the Lord. Because of this they were taken into Heaven. If we are pure in thought and heart, we may be received, sooner or later, into Heaven.