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I will share a simple pattern which, if applied, can help every one of us find ultimate acceptance. This pattern was given by the Lord through the Prophet Joseph Smith: "Verily I say unto you, all among them who know their hearts are honest, and are broken, and their spirits contrite, and are willing to observe their covenants by sacrifice-yea, every sacrifice which I, the Lord, shall command-they are accepted of me."2 Doctrine and Covenants 97:8
This pattern consists of three simple steps:
Know that our hearts are honest and broken,
Know that our spirits are contrite, and
Be willing to observe our covenants by sacrifice, as commanded by the Lord.
First, we need to know that our hearts are honest and broken. How do we know that? We begin by engaging in sincere self-reflection. The heart is the center of our feelings. As we look into our hearts, we screen ourselves. What no one around us knows, we surely know. We know our motives and desires. When we engage in sincere, honest reflection, we do not rationalize or deceive ourselves.
There is also a way to judge if our hearts are broken. A broken heart is a soft, an open, and a receptive heart. When I hear the Savior say, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock,"3 Revelation 3:20 I hear Him knocking at the door of my heart. If I open this door to Him, I am more responsive to the invitations of the Spirit, and I am more accepting of God's will.
Second, we have to know that our spirit is contrite. The word contrite in the Oxford dictionary is defined as 'feeling or expressing remorse at the recognition that one has done wrong.'4 [Oxford Dictionaries Online, contrite, oxforddictionaries.com.] If we have a contrite spirit, we acknowledge our sins and shortcomings. We are teachable 'concerning [all] things pertaining to righteousness.'5 Alma 21:23 We feel godly sorrow and are willing to repent. A contrite spirit is willing to listen 'to the enticings of the Holy Spirit.'6 Mosiah 3:19
The third step to being accepted by the Lord is a conscious decision to observe our covenants through sacrifice, 'yea, every sacrifice which I, the Lord, shall command.'8 Doctrine and Covenants 97:8 Too often we think that the word sacrifice refers to something big or hard for us to do. In certain situations this may be true, but mostly it refers to living day-to-day as a true disciple of Christ.Share
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