Can’t Light the Fire Until You Break the Heart

          Judicial systems throughout the world frequently display the image of Lady Justice. She is blindfolded symbolically portraying objectivity, impartiality, and fair treatment of all. Her clothing is a toga representing the “mantle of responsibility and high-level philosophy that accompanies those who practice the law and enforce justice.” The double-edged sword she wields “symbolizes authority, respect, transparency and a ruling that could go either way.” Finally, she holds scales symbolizing “a thorough weighing of the evidence and claims presented before her.”[1] Lady Justice is a symbol of justice throughout modern society in most countries.

          Due to our immersion in modern “Babylon,” we find ourselves conflicted between the traditional system of justice and demands of Christianity. Traditional justice systems seek balance between right and wrong, fairness verses unfairness. In contrast, Christianity declares all are guilty, save one man. Unlike the scales of justice held by Lady Justice, the scales in Christianity are tipped exclusively in one direction. The Savior’s innocence places Him in a unique position of being the only one free from sin, able to meet the demands of justice.

“Now let me testify and confirm to you I know this is true. I assure you I know Christ will come among mankind to take upon Himself the transgressions of His people, and He will atone for the sins of the world, because the Lord God has promised it. An atonement must be made because the great plans of the Eternal God require it; otherwise all mankind would be unavoidably lost. Everyone has gone astray; all are fallen and lost and would certainly perish without the atonement — therefore it’s necessary for it to happen. Indeed, it’s fitting for there to be a great and last sacrifice — not a sacrifice of a man or woman, nor of animals, nor of any kind of bird — because it can’t be a mortal sacrifice, but it requires an infinite and eternal sacrifice. Now there isn’t anyone who can sacrifice their own blood and atone for the sins of someone else. If a person murders, will our law, which is equitable, execute a family member? I tell you: No. But the law demands the execution of the one who has murdered. Therefore nothing short of an infinite atonement would be adequate for the sins of the world. Therefore it’s essential for there to be a great and last sacrifice. And then there will be an altogether appropriate end to the shedding of blood; because the Law of Moses will be fulfilled. Indeed, it will all be fulfilled, every single requirement, and none of it will remain incomplete. The whole purpose of the law, every part of it, was designed to point to that great and last sacrifice; and that great and last sacrifice will be of the Son of God, infinite and eternal. And so He’ll bring salvation to all those who believe in His name, since this is what the last sacrifice accomplishes. Through it God can provide mercy, because every requirement of justice is satisfied and nothing more can be demanded by justice, and it makes a way for mankind to have faith that leads to repentance. And so mercy can satisfy the demands of justice and embrace the penitent with arms of safety, while those who don’t exercise any faith followed by repentance are exposed to all the punishment justice requires under the law. So the great and eternal plan of redemption only works for those who have faith followed by repentance.

Therefore may God grant you, my friends, that you begin to exercise faith followed by repentance, so you begin to call on His holy name so He can give mercy to you . . . ” (CofC Alma 16:34-35, emphasis added).

Under the law of Christ, we stand condemned if we reject the terms required for our salvation. These terms are merciful because the Savior suffers for every sin to appease justice and her demands. Those demands are not exclusively payment for our sins, though those are satisfied. Demands of justice include the cost of restoring mankind to God’s presence. They are enabled to survive in God’s presence confidently.[2]

          Confidence in God’s presence requires us to be made clean as are all who dwell in the Heavens.

“ . .  . I told them it represented both physical and spiritual things; that the time would come when they would be judged for what they did, for the things they did while on earth during their days of mortal life. Therefore if they were to die in their wickedness, they would have to be outcast from spiritual things involving righteousness. They would certainly be brought to stand before God to be judged for what they did, and if the things they did involved filthy thoughts and behavior, they’ll certainly be filthy. And if they’re filthy, it’s impossible for them to live in God’s kingdom; if they did, God’s kingdom would have to be filthy as well. But I tell you God’s kingdom isn’t filthy, and no unclean thing can enter God’s kingdom . . . “ (CofC 1 Nephi 4:6. Emphasis added).

Just as the concept of Lady Justice clouds and confuses the nature of God’s system of justice, mainstream Christianity does the same with the concept of God’s mercy and grace. The Savior established the terms by which our Lord satisfies the demands of justice on us if we comply with His terms. Conventional Christianity suggests the grace of Christ is available to all if they confess their sins and attempt to fulfill the Savior’s requirements.  Partial compliance with the Lord’s terms are sufficient because the grace of Christ makes up for any short fall in our attempt.

          This approach to grace falls short of fulfilling the Lord’s requirement to qualify for His mercy. He paid the “utmost farthing.”[3] To fulfill the demands of justice, Christ was required to suffer the full weight. The burden of that weight is lifted from us when we comply with the terms set by Him who paid the price. Those terms may not be glossed over or pursued casually. His terms do not require our perfection, however they cannot be overlooked and must be fulfilled. They must be met with exactness because in addition to delivering us from the consequences of death and sin they set us on a transformative path to exaltation. The transformation involves changing our hearts to receive the “mind of the Father.” When the Savior appears in mortality or immortality, we will be on the path leading to our transformation to be like Him and the Father.[4]

We can only be like God when we obey His commandments as they are laid out to us. The path is both straight and narrow without deviation.

“The commandments are intended to move our lives into harmony with a higher intelligence. We cannot be in tune with that higher intelligence without bringing our own lives into conformity with something higher. Commandments are the guide, and the scriptures are where we learn the commandments” (Jr. Snuffer, Denver C.. The Second Comforter: Conversing With the Lord Through the Veil (p. 53, emphasis added). Mill Creek Press. Kindle Edition).

“We cannot be in tune with higher intelligence without bringing our own lives into conformity with something higher.” The scriptures provide clarity if we resist the urge to contort their meaning to simplify our compliance. The first required steps to initiate this process are simple, if you follow it mechanically. When a person believes the acts of faith, repentance, and baptism are all that is required everything appears simple. One, two, three, done deal. The problem arises when our expectations meet with disappointment and the desired outcome falls short in establishing a connection with God. Mormon explains the expectation when the process is followed correctly.

“My son, this thing shouldn’t be. Because repentance is for those who are under condemnation and the curse of a broken law. The beginning step following repentance is baptism. And baptism comes through faith in order to fulfill the commandments; and fulfilling the commandments brings remission of sins; and the remission of sins brings meekness and a humble heart. And because of meekness and a humble heart comes the presence and gift of the Holy Ghost, and this Comforter fills with hope and perfect love, and this love endures by being diligent in prayer until the end comes, when all the holy ones will live with God” (CofC Moroni 8:5, emphasis added).

The beginning of the verse should not be passed over as a statement of the obvious. We think of repentance as a departure from prior sinful acts, and it is. More importantly it is a revelation of how vastly different we are in contrast to Heavenly beings. Especially the Father and Son. We gain a glimpse into our deficiency when we approach God without pretense in frank honesty. The instant He reveals the distance between what He is in relation to where we are, the reality of our complete reliance upon God and His goodness breaks our hearts.

“Repentance is accompanied by a broken heart and contrite spirit. “When you turn to Him and see clearly for the first time how dark your ways have been, it should break your heart. You should realize how desperately you stand in need of His grace to cover you, lift you, and heal you. You can then appreciate the great gulf between you and Him (Genesis 1:2). If you had to bear your sins into His presence it would make you burn with regret and fear (Mormon 4:6). Your own heart must break. When you behold how little you have to offer Him, your spirit becomes contrite. He offers everything. And we can contribute nothing but our cooperation . . .” (A Glossary of Gospel Terms, Broken Heart-Contrite Spirit, second edition, pp.41-43, emphasis added).

Feelings of remorse for sin is the consequence for our sins. In effect, it is both chastening[5] and a manifestation of God’s love.[6] He stands ready to correct us and alter our course, realigning our conduct with His will, in pursuit of a higher order.  

          Remorse may be regret for sin or regret for being caught in sin. Remorse alone should not be mistaken for a broken heart and contrite spirit. A broken heart and contrite spirit is more than regret for past sins. It is both feeling and knowledge based. I suspect it is both the realization of how impossible the task ahead is for us alone and a longing to return to a cherished home immersed in the care of loving parents.

“And as I [Alma the Younger] was tortured like this, while I was pained by the memory of my many sins, I also remembered hearing my father prophesy to the people about the coming of one Jesus Christ, a Son of God, to atone for the world’s sins. Now as my mind took ahold of this thought, I cried out within my heart: O Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me — I bitterly regret my life and I feel doomed to everlasting death. Now when I prayed this, I was released from my pains [broken heart and contrite spirit]; indeed, I was no longer tormented by the memory of my sins. But then, I felt such joy, and I saw such light! My soul was filled with joy as great as had been my pains. Indeed, I tell you, my son, nothing is as intense and bitter as were my pains.

But my son, on the other hand, from my experience there’s nothing as intense and sweet as was my joy. And then I thought I saw — just like our forefather Lehi saw — God sitting on His throne, surrounded by numberless rings of angels engaged in singing and praising Him. And my soul longed to be there. Then I recovered and my limbs got their strength back, and I stood on my feet and declared to the people that I had been born of God. And from then on I’ve worked nonstop[7] to bring souls to repentance, to bring them to taste the great joy I tasted, so they can also be born of God and be filled with the Holy Ghost” (CofC Alma 17:4-5, emphasis added).

Following Alma the Younger’s repentance and suffering, the law of opposition was enacted and Alma’s suffering [swinging of the consequence pendulum] went to the opposite direction. His suffering withdrew to become replaced with an equal degree of joy [“My soul was filled with joy as great as had been my pains . . . from my experience there’s nothing as intense and sweet as was my joy”]. Accompanying Alma’s great joy was his introduction to God on His throne accompanied by “numberless rings of angels” singing and praising Him. Alma longed to join them in both body and spirit. This experience represents the fullness of the Savior’s Atonement, returning mankind to God’s presence. Not only to God’s presence, but a reunion with his Heavenly Family.

          When Alma returned to consciousness in mortality, he stood upon his feet and declared, “I had been born of God,” having received the Holy Ghost. What evidence do we have Alma received the Holy Ghost? Recall in the Fifth Lecture on Faith the Holy Ghost is described as the “mind of the Father.”[8] If Alma the Younger received the Father’s mind, the evidence would appear in the works of Alma the Younger following his spiritual rebirth. Having obtained the mind of the Father, Alma would do what his Father in Heaven does:

“ . . . And the Lord God spoke unto Moses of the heavens, saying, These are many and they cannot be numbered unto man, but they are numbered unto me for they are mine. And as one earth shall pass away, and the heavens thereof, even so shall another come. And there is no end to my works, neither my words. For behold, this is my work and my glory: to bring to pass the immortality and the eternal life of man . . .” (RE Genesis 1:7, emphasis added). 

Being born of God and receiving the “mind of the Father” leads a person to follow the same pursuits as the Father. When Alma the Younger obtained a remission of his sins, his heart was broken and contrite. The Holy Ghost is drawn to those possessing those traits. The things of mortality are of less interest to them because they have revealed what is veiled within them or their “Record of Heaven.”[9] The revelation of God restores to their memory their progression in prior cycles to this one.

          Evidence supporting Alma’s claim of being born of God and receiving the Holy Ghost is present in his actions. His desire to “to bring souls to repentance, to bring them to taste the great joy I tasted, so they can also be born of God and be filled with the Holy Ghost” is reflective of the Father’s work and glory. Alma exemplified what it means to act with “alacrity” when called as a servant of God.[10] His immediate response to his spiritual rebirth is a testament to his realignment with the Father’s work and glory.

          Most people who have faith, repent, and are baptized do not experience a dramatic change of heart immediately. For most it may come before or after. The Lamanites experienced it prior to the being baptized, possibly in response to blessings pronounced upon them by Lehi. Some follow the pattern outlined repeatedly in the scriptures with exactness but no obvious response. Reasons for these varied outcomes may be many.

          There are different levels of spiritual progression and the level we are on may require additional preparation. Perhaps it is a matter of timing. Many reasons may be put forth for a delayed response to faith, repentance, and baptism. Reasons that in the wisdom of God are withheld from us. Whatever the reason may be, there are actions we can consciously take to make us more receptive to the Spirit of God.

Immerse Ourselves in the Scriptures

          Near the end of Nephi’s life, he offered wise counsel to Lehi’s descendants and the Gentiles reading his record. Among his writings he wrote:

“Now, my dear people, I believe you’re wondering a little in your hearts about what you should do after you’ve entered through the way. But why do you wonder over these things in your hearts? Don’t you remember I told you that after you had received the Holy Ghost, you could speak the words of angels? Now, how could you speak the message of the angels unless you did it by the Holy Ghost? Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; as a result, they speak Christ’s words. Therefore I told you: Feast on Christ’s words — because the words of Christ will tell you everything that you should do. After I’ve said these words, if you can’t understand them, it will be because you don’t ask or knock. Consequently, you aren’t brought into the light but are certain to perish in the dark. I tell you again, if you will enter through the way and receive the Holy Ghost, it will show you everything you should do. This is Christ’s doctrine. No more doctrine will be given until after He visits you here on earth. Once He shows Himself to you here on earth, you must obey what He tells you” (CofC 2 Nephi 14:1, emphasis added).

This verse contains steps in ascension in reverse order. Nephi provides  instructions in what we should do once we’ve “entered through the way.” The way is where we find ourselves after we’ve passed through the gate.

“Therefore do the things I’ve told you that I saw your Lord and Redeemer will do. They’ve been shown to me for this purpose, so you’ll know the gate through which you’re to enter. And the gate you’re to enter is repentance and baptism by water, and then a remission of your sins comes by fire and by the Holy Ghost. Then you’re on the straightforward and narrow path that leads to eternal life — indeed, you’ve entered through the gate. You’ve acted in accordance with the commandments of the Father and the Son, and you’ve received the Holy Ghost promised to you once you entered through the way, which testifies of the Father and Son.

Now, my dear people, after you’ve made your way onto this straightforward and narrow path, I want to ask if everything is done? I tell you: No. Because you’ve only come to this point by Christ’s word, with unshaken faith in Him, relying exclusively on the merits of Him who’s powerful to save. Therefore you must press on resolutely with constancy, purpose, and a firm belief in Christ, having a complete brightness of hope and a love for God and for all mankind. This is what the Father has said: If you press forward, feasting on Christ’s word, and persevere to the end, you will have eternal life” (CofC 2 Nephi 13:3-4, emphasis added).

Presuming our repentance is sincere and we have faith and desire to proceed, we are baptized and receive a remission of our sins. This removes the consequences of our sins and allows us to move forward. All that’s been accomplished has been done by the mercy and grace of Christ. In the eyes of justice we return to innocence. Moving forward is an exercise of faith and agency. What we do and how we conduct ourselves become a testament to God of our devotion to Him. It is a witness and acknowledgement of our understanding of the price He paid to deliver us from death and hell. If our hearts are truly broken and spirits contrite, we press forward “resolutely with constancy, purpose, and a firm belief in Christ, having a complete brightness of hope and a love of God and for all mankind.” How actively we pursue this effort in this manner determines our level of “alacrity.”

          We acknowledge our belief in a loving, merciful God but He is on occasion offended by our actions. The Lord’s sacrifice does the heavy lifting to wipe away our sins. It is solely His sacrifice that allows us to pass through the gate to enter the path. What we do thereafter is a reflection of our understanding and appreciation for His suffering. When we consider His gift a milestone on the way to somewhere without reflecting on His price, we offend Him.

“And in nothing does man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things, and obey not his commandments . . . ” (RE T&C 46:5, emphasis added).

A broken heart and contrite spirit is a product of genuine gratitude and understanding of what our Lord suffered in the consummate act of love. His words and example guide us back to God’s presence. Feasting upon His words is the act of someone starved for greater truth and light.

          Alma the Younger, the sons of Mosiah, and the Lamanites are examples of perpetrators of serious sins. It would be a mistake to believe only sinners guilty of serious sin only find broken hearts and contrite spirits after their suffering. This is only the first of two categories of sinners for whom the Lord suffered.

“He [the Lord] made known unto him that the waves of torment suffered by the Lord came in pairs which mirrored each other. The first of each wave poured upon the Lord those feelings, regrets, recriminations, and pains felt by those who injured their fellow man . . . This is because the one doing evil knows he has done wrong and feels a natural regret when he sees himself aright” (RE T&C 161:17 & 19, emphasis added).

The Savior’s suffering came in waves, the first for those committing sin against others. These experienced pain and remorse until they see themselves “aright.” Their suffering ends when they confess their sins and their suffering is quenched in the Atonement of the Savior.

          The second wave of suffering was for the victims of those who committed the sins. Although their pain and anguish was caused by others, the residual bitterness from what they suffered is sustained by their self-justification. Their victimhood and desire to receive gratification by exacting revenge or witnessing just punishment against the perpetrator is just and fair. That right belongs to the Savior and the Savior alone.

“Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath; for it is written: Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord . . .” (RE Romans 1:62, emphasis added).

Convincing the victim to forgive the sinner is a more difficult proposition because they believe their claims are just.

“Then followed a second wave, which mirrored the first, but imposed the pains suffered by the victims of the acts committed by those in the first wave. Instead of the pains of those who inflict hurt or harm, it was now the anger, bitterness, and resentments felt by those who suffered these wrongs . . . This was why, in the vision of the suffering of the Lord, it was in the second waves that there appeared oftentimes to be injuries to His body.

The greater difficulty in these paired waves of torment was always overcoming the suffering of the victim. With these waves the Lord learned to overcome the victims’ resentments, to forgive, and to heal both body and spirit. This was more difficult than overcoming the struggles arising from the one who committed the evil . . . The victim, however, always feels it is their right to hold resentment, to judge their persecutor, and to withhold peace and love for their fellow men. The Lord was required to overcome both so that He could succor both.

In the pairing of the waves, the first torment was of the mind and spirit, and the second was torment of mind, spirit, and body” (RE T&C 161:17-20, emphasis added).

In the context of Gethsemane, it is convenient to condense everyone into two categories, but that would be an oversimplification. We have all qualified for both categories and “fall short of the glory of God.”

“ . . . for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, therefore being justified only by his grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God has set forth to be a propitiation, through faith in his blood . . .” (RE Romans 1:16, emphasis added).

Not everyone commits murder and other heinous crimes. There are those guilty of less grievous sins and the Lord uses a contrary approach to breaking their hearts and bringing about contrite spirits. Enos explains how he was born of God on a hunting trip.

“And I will tell you of the wrestle which I had before God before I received a remission of my sins. Behold, I went to hunt beasts in the forest, and the words which I had often heard my father speak concerning eternal life and the joy of the saints sunk deep into my heart; and my soul hungered, and I kneeled down before my Maker, and I cried unto him in mighty prayer and supplication for mine own soul. And all the day long did I cry unto him; yea, and when the night came, I did still raise my voice high, that it reached the heavens. And there came a voice unto me, saying, Enos, thy sins are forgiven thee and thou shalt be Blessed. And I, Enos, knew that God could not lie; wherefore, my guilt was swept away. And I said, Lord, how is it done? And he said unto me, Because of thy faith in Christ, whom thou hast never before heard nor seen. And many years pass away before he shall manifest himself in the flesh. Wherefore, go to, thy faith hath made thee whole” (RE Enos 1:1, emphasis added).

This was the first phase of a three phase progression for Enos. In contrast to Alma, Enos pondered upon the words of his father, who taught him in “the nurture and the admonition of the Lord.”[11] As Enos contemplated his father’s teachings about eternal life and the joy of the saints, his soul hungered to share those feelings. Longing to obtain a remission of sins and share in the joy of the saints, Enos knelt and addressed the Lord in “mighty prayer and supplication for my own soul.” Crying to the Lord all day and into the night, the Lord spoke to Enos saying, “thy sins are forgiven thee”  and his guilt was swept away.

          Enos asked the Lord how his sins were forgiven and the Lord said it was because of his faith in Christ. The Lord then commissioned Enos saying, “Wherefore, go to, thy faith hath made thee whole.” Once Enos gained a remission of sins, his prayers turned to the welfare of his brethren. The Lord responded with an explanation on how He would deal with the people of Enos. The next step in Enos progression was for him to pray for his enemies, the Lamanites. Each step was a progression away from Enos personally, then to his family, friends, and associates. Finally, offering prayers on behalf of his enemies. Each progressive step moved Enos closer to gaining the “mind of the Father.”

          For Enos to achieve a broken heart and contrite spirit, three days and nights of suffering the pains of damned soul was not required. A righteous father teaching a faithful son about the nurture and admonition of the Lord kindle within him a longing in his soul to share in the blessings of the faithful. The longing led to a “wrestle” in spirit with the Lord. It is another way of describing a “broken heart and contrite spirit.”

          Nephi, the son of Lehi initiated a connection with God through a similar process.

“After I had asked to personally experience the things my father had seen, and believing the Lord could reveal them to me, as I sat pondering in my heart, I was carried away in the Spirit of the Lord to a very high mountain, one I had never seen or set foot on before. The Spirit asked me: What do you want? I replied: I want to see what my father saw. The Spirit asked me: Do you believe your father saw the tree he has talked about? I replied: Yes, you know that I believe all my father’s words . . .” (RE 1 Nephi 3:6, emphasis added).

Thereafter Nephi was shown Lehi’s vision of the Tree of Life. But not before Nephi affirmed his belief in the words of his father. Nephi, desiring to be the kind  of father to his children Lehi was to him, immersed himself in the scriptures. He studied them and wrote them for his children’s benefit.[12]

          Nephi and Enos displayed “broken hearts and contrite spirits” when they “longed” for their soul to be spiritually fed. They felt sufficiently guilty as to “hunger and thirst after righteousness,” which brings the Holy Ghost.

          In the beginning of this paper Lady Justice was described as holding the scales of justice, each dish basically equal to the other in weight. In Christianity, there is no balance between the two sides. Christ tips the scale all the way down when He suffers for our sins. When we understand somewhat the incomprehensible suffering He experienced and why He did so, our hearts can only feel broken and contrite. Saint or sinner, we all are in need of His Atonement. Receiving forgiveness through His blood and suffering can only be attained if we relinquish all rights to judge those who offend and afflict us. Not only forgive, but have charity for them. Charity is what is extended to us and charity is what we are required to share. The sinners salvation should matter to us, if only because the Lord loves them as He does us. That should be sufficient justification to offer charity and grace to those who offend. After all, that is what He did, and don’t we desire to be like Him?

“From each wave of suffering, whether as the one afflicting or as the victim of those wrongs, the Lord would overcome the evil feelings associated with these wrongs, and find His heart again filled with peace. This was why, in the vision of the suffering of the Lord, it was in the second waves that there appeared oftentimes to be injuries to His body . . . The Lord experienced all the horror and regret wicked men feel for their crimes when they finally see the truth. He experienced the suffering of their victims whose righteous anger and natural resentment and disappointment must also be shed, and forgiveness given, in order for them to find peace. He overcame them all. He descended below them all. He comprehends it all. And He knows how to bring peace to them all. He knows how to love others whether they are the one who has given offense or the one who is a victim of the offense” (RE T&C 161:18 & 21, emphasis added).

[1] Lady Justice-Symbolism and Meaning, symbolsage.com

[2] “ . . . your bowels also being full of charity toward all men, and to the household of faith; and virtue garnish your thoughts unceasingly. Then shall your confidence wax strong in the presence of God, and the doctrines of the Priesthood shall distill upon your soul as the dews from heaven. The holy ghost shall be your constant companion [mind of the Father], and your scepter [symbol of kingship] an unchanging scepter of righteousness and truth, and your dominion shall be an everlasting dominion, and without compulsory means it shall flow unto you for ever and ever” RE T&C 139:6, emphasis added).

“If a person is meek and humble in heart and confesses by the power of the Holy Ghost that Jesus is the Christ, they must have charity. Because if they don’t have charity, they’re nothing; so they must have charity. Charity is long-suffering and kind; it doesn’t envy or brag; it doesn’t insist on its own way; it isn’t easily angered; it doesn’t keep track of wrongs; it takes no pleasure in evil, but rejoices in the truth; it patiently bears all things, always believes, always hopes, and always endures. So, my dear people, if you don’t have charity, you’re nothing, since charity never fails. Therefore hold firmly to charity, which is the greatest of all. Because everything will pass away; but charity is Christ’s pure love, and it endures forever. Those who are found to possess it on the last day, it will go well with them. So, my dear people, pray earnestly to the Father so you can be filled with this love that He’s freely given to all who are true followers of His Son Jesus Christ, so you can become the sons and daughters of God, so when He appears, we’ll be like Him and we’ll see and comprehend Him, so we can have this hope, so we can be purified, just as He is pure. Amen” (CofC, Moroni 7:9, emphasis added).

[3] “Agree with your adversary quickly while you are in the way with him, lest at any time your adversary deliver you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the officer, and you should be cast into prison. Truly I say unto you, you shall by no means come out from there until you have paid the utmost farthing. (RE Matthew 3:20, emphasis added).

[4] “And these three constitute the Godhead and are one: the Father and the Son possessing the same mind, the same wisdom, glory, power, and fullness, filling all in all — the Son being filled with the fullness of the mind, glory, and power, or in other words, the spirit, glory, and power of the Father — possessing all knowledge and glory, and the same kingdom: sitting at the right hand of power, in the express image and likeness of the Father — a mediator for man — being filled with the fullness of the mind of the Father, or in other words, the spirit of the Father, which spirit is shed forth upon all who believe on his name and keep his commandments. And all those who keep his commandments shall grow up from grace to grace and become heirs of the Heavenly kingdom and joint-heirs with Jesus Christ, possessing the same mind, being transformed into the same image or likeness, even the express image of him who fills all in all: being filled with the fullness of his glory, and become one in him, even as the Father, Son, and holy spirit are one” (RE T&C 110, Lectures on Faith, Lecture fifth, 5:2, emphasis added).

[5] “Now repentance couldn’t come to people unless punishment as eternal as the life of man’s soul, was imposed opposite to the plan of happiness, also as eternal as the life of man’s soul, in balance. Now how could a person repent unless they committed sin? How could they commit sin if there wasn’t any law? How could there be a law unless there was a punishment? Now a punishment was affixed and a just law was established, which brought remorse of conscience to mankind . . . “

[6] “My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when you are rebuked of him, for whom the Lord loves he chastens, and scourges every son whom he receives. If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chastens not? But if you are without chastisement whereof all are partakers, then are you bastards and not sons. Furthermore, we have had fathers of our flesh who corrected us and we gave them reverence. Shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits and live? For they truly for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure, but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness . . . ” (RE Hebrews 1:52, emphasis added).

[7] “He honors us if He permits us to assist. We should proceed with alacrity [“brisk and cheerful readiness”] when given the chance to serve [note Alma the Younger’s response: “I’ve worked nonstop to bring souls to repentance, to bring them to taste the great joy I tasted, so they can also be born of God and be filled with the Holy Ghost”]. How patiently He has proceeded with teaching us all. We have the law, we have the commandments. Still we hesitate. Still He invites and reminds us: Repent. Come to Him. Do what was commanded. The law is fulfilled, and He is its fulfillment. Look to Him and be saved. The heart that will not break does not understand the predicament we live in. The proud spirit is foolish and blind [lacks knowledge]. Our perilous state is such that we can forfeit all that we have ever been [including pre-mortality] by refusing Christ’s invitation to repent and turn again to Him.” If man will finally surrender his pride and come forward with a broken heart and real intent, returning to his Father, He will joyfully receive him (see Luke 9:13–14). There is joy in Heaven over everyone who awakens. Weakness is nothing, for all are weak. It is a gift, given to break one’s heart. A broken heart qualifies man for His company. Whether a leper, an adulteress, a tax collector, or a blind man, He can heal it all. But what He cannot do — and man must alone bring to Him — is that broken heart required for salvation. The purpose of putting a man in such a dependent state before God is not to find out whether God can take care of him. God already knows what a man needs before he should even ask. But the man will, by becoming so dependent upon God, acquire a broken heart and a contrite spirit, always quick to ask, quick to listen, quick to do [childlike]. Vulnerability makes a man strong in spirit. Security and wealth make a man incorrectly believe in his independence from God. He wants His disciples to be dependent upon Him. He wants them praying and grateful to Him for what He provides. He wants them, in a word, to become holy . . .” (A Glossary of Gospel Terms, Broken Heart-Contrite Spirit, second edition, p.42, emphasis added).

[8] “ . . . And he being the Only Begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth, and having overcome, received a fullness of the glory of the Father — possessing the same mind with the Father, which mind is the holy spirit that bears record of the Father and the Son, and these three are one, or in other words, these three constitute the great matchless, governing, and supreme power over all things, by whom all things were created and made that were created and made.  . . . being filled with the fullness of the mind of the Father, or in other words, the spirit of the Father, which spirit is shed forth upon all who believe on his name and keep his commandments. And all those who keep his commandments shall grow up from grace to grace and become heirs of the Heavenly kingdom and joint-heirs with Jesus Christ, possessing the same mind, being transformed into the same image or likeness, even the express image of him who fills all in all: being filled with the fullness of his glory, and become one in him, even as the Father, Son, and holy spirit are one” (RE T&C 110, Lectures on Faith 5:2, emphasis added).

[9] “ . . . And inasmuch as you were born into the world by water, and blood, and the spirit whom I have made, and so became of dust a living soul, even so, you must be born again into the kingdom of Heaven of water, and of the spirit, and be cleansed by blood, even the blood of my Only Begotten, that you may be sanctified from all sin and enjoy the words of eternal life in this world, and eternal life in the world to come, even immortal glory. For by the water you keep the commandment, by the spirit you are justified, and by the blood you are sanctified. Therefore, it is given to abide in you: the Record of Heaven, the Comforter, the keys of the kingdom of Heaven, the truth of all things, that which quickens all things — which makes alive all things, that which knows all things, and has all power according to Wisdom, mercy, truth, justice, and judgment. And now behold, I say unto you, this is the plan of salvation unto all men through the blood of my Only Begotten who shall come in the meridian of time . . .” (RE Genesis 4:9, emphasis added).

[10] “After Mosiah’s sons had done all this, they took a small number with them and went to their father the king and asked him to allow them to go up to the land of Nephi with those they had chosen, in order to preach what they had heard and share God’s word with their Lamanite brothers and sisters, so they could perhaps bring them to know the Lord who is God and convince them of their forefathers’ iniquity. Perhaps to cure them of their hatred of the Nephites, and so they could also be brought to rejoice in the Lord who is God and be friendly to each other, and so there wouldn’t be any more wars in the whole land that the Lord their God had given them. Now they wanted salvation to be explained to every creature, because they couldn’t stand for any human soul to perish. Indeed, the very thought that any soul might endure endless torment made them shake and tremble. This is how the Spirit of the Lord acted upon them. They were once the vilest of sinners, but the Lord saw fit in His infinite mercy to spare them. Nevertheless, they suffered great anguish of soul because of their iniquities, experiencing terrible dread that they could be rejected forever” (CofC Alma 12:1, emphasis added).

[11] “I, Enos, knowing my father, that he was a just man, for he taught me in his language, and also in the nurture and admonition of the Lord; and blessed be the name of my God for it . . . ” (RE Enos 1:1).

[12] “ . . . But on these plates I only write the things within my soul and quotes of the scriptures from the brass plates. My soul delights in the scriptures, and I ponder upon them and write them for my children’s instruction and benefit. My soul rejoices in the things of the Lord, and I continually ponder in my heart what God has shown and told me” (RE 2 Nephi 3:6, emphasis added).

Scott Roderick

5/26/2025

Can't Light the Fire Until You Break the Heart.pdf

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