When I lived in Lancaster-- a city most would consider a desert city, there were many times I packed water in my bag-- even if I only thought I was going to be gone for 15 minutes. As anyone who has visited or lived in the desert knows, water is the most important thing to bring with-- no matter how long you think you are going to be.
One hot July day, after drinking my water, there was a long space of time before I could get more. With the desert heat surrounding me, I could feel myself drying out. I knew that if I ignored the situation, I would become seriously dehydrated, and in danger of heat stroke. I decided to leave what I was doing and drive to the nearest store and grab more water. I drove to the local grocery store, pulled a couple of chilled water bottles out of the mini fridge, and paid the requested amount. As soon as I had paid for the water, I twisted a cap off, and drank.
The tingling that came about was marvelous. It was a physical hydration reaction.
A Change of Heart can be the same thing-- but what is a 'change of heart'?
In his talk, 'Putting off the Natural Man' David Hellem stated:
"Spiritual rebirth as a separate experience
that does not necessarily occur at the time of water baptism or the laying on the hands, the changes that occur when this rebirth takes place, and the necessary conditions that bring about this transformation.
We recall that Nicodemus approached the Savior inquiring how one might enter the kingdom of God. Although the Apostle John did not record Nicodemus’s specific questions, he did record the Savior’s response: “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3.)Moments later, the Savior clarified what he meant: “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” (John 3:5; italics added.) After Alma had been“born of the Spirit,” he announced that all mankind must be similarly “born again” or they can “in nowise inherit the kingdom of God.” (Mosiah 27:24–26.) Clearly, the rebirth experience is a necessary prerequisite to enter the kingdom of God."
There are many times where we 'dry out'. One of the most recognizable is when we sin.
As humans, we all sin. We learn, we grow, but the process can be messy. And-- as humans-- we are bound to make mistakes along the way.
In President Benson's talk, ' A Mighty Change of Heart', given in 1989, we can learn some enduring principles.
"Violation
of the laws of God brings only misery,bondage, and darkness."
Or, in other words, we 'dry out' when we don't obey God's commandments.
If we would be true members of the Church is that repentance involves not just a change of actions, but a change of heart.
President Benson states: "When King Benjamin finished his remarkable address in the land of Zarahemla, the people all cried with one voice that they believed his words. They knew of a surety that his promises of redemption were true, because, said they, “the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent … has wrought a mighty change in us, or in our hearts, [and note this] that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually.” (Mosiah 5:2.)
"When we have undergone this mighty change, which is brought about only through faith in Jesus Christ and through the operation of the Spirit upon us, it is as though we have become a new person. Thus, the change is likened to a new birth.Thousands of you have experienced this change. You have forsaken lives of sin, sometimes deep and offensive sin, and through applying the blood of Christ in your lives, have become clean. You have no more disposition to return to your old ways.You are in reality a new person. This is what is meant by a change of heart."
Sometimes, if we are careful, we can 'stay hydrated', but it is a challenge.
Elder Wilford W. Andersen stated:
"Those who exercise faith in Christ by obeying His commandments, repenting of their sins, earnestly entering into the covenant of baptism, and then renewing that covenant weekly will experience the purifying power of the Holy Ghost unto the remission of their sins. They will receive and retain a mighty change of heart....
Alma taught that God grants unto men according to their desires, whether they be good or evil see Alma 29:4).Our hope,then is not just to refrain from sinning but also to turn to the Lord, who has the power to grant a remission of our sins, to purify our desires, and to change our very natures (see Mosiah 5:2)."
There is an additional step, however, in the miraculous process of the remission of sins. Nephi taught that after we receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, we must endure to the end. When we exercise our faith unto repentance, are baptized, and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, the miracle begins. But the cleansing power and reassuring influence of the Holy Ghost will remain with us only if we “press forward with a steadfastness in Christ”(see 2 Nephi 31:19–20).
"Alma understood this principle, asking his people, “And now behold, I say unto you, my brethren, if ye have experienced a change of heart, and if ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, I would ask, can ye feel so now?” (Alma 5:26)."
"If after baptism we commit sin and lose the Spirit’s influence,what are we to do? The Savior has provided the answer. He has given us the sacred ordinance of the sacrament."
The sacrament-- a time of bread and water. Hydration-- but for the spirit. As we strive for that mighty change of heart, and to keep it, and endure to the end, we are not alone. We can work towards this mighty change with the partnership of our Savior.
In Helamen 15:7, it states: And behold, ye do know of yourselves, for ye have witnessed it, that as many of them as are brought to the knowledge of the truth...and are led to believe the holy scriptures, yea, the prophecies of the hol prophets, which are written, which leadeth them to faith on the Lord, and unto repentance, which faith and repentance bringeth a change of heart unto them---
I know that change is possible. I believe that this can be ours-- a new birth, a new heart. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
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