Monthly Message, March 2021
I believe the greatest thing any human being can accomplish is to attain “clean hands and a pure heart, not lifting one’s soul up to vanity nor swearing deceitfully.” (Paraphrase on Psalms 24:4)
Noteworthy: No human can do this on their own. Attaining this is possible for any mortal only through Jesus Christ. That is why the laws and covenants of the Gospel of Jesus Christ are given to us.
Clean Hands: I believe this means to have our sins all forgiven. For we who are accountable have all sinned, and if it were not for the atoning forgiveness possible through Christ, we would be shut out of the celestial kingdom forever. But through real faith in Christ unto real repentance, each of us can come to have clean hands.
Pure heart: I believe this means to have plead with the Savior unto actually gaining a new heart, desires that only include the blessing of others, never wanting to take advantage of others unto breaking the commandments of God. Then every temptation of our satanic adversary would be forcefully rejected, even as our Savior does. Then our hearts could fully yearn for and our actions help to bring about the full opportunity for happiness and righteous achievement for everyone whose lives we touch.
Not lifting our souls to vanity: Vanity is pride, that great slayer of righteousness. Pride is supposing that we are better than we really are and that what we want is what we deserve. Pride is selfishness, which is the antithesis of faith in Christ. Christ is the sole fountain of righteousness, and those smitten with vanity, pride, cannot come unto Christ and be saved from themselves until they come down into the depths of humility and strip themselves of pride in becoming as little children before our Savior.
Nor sworn deceitfully: I believe this means to take our promises to the Lord very seriously, especially the promises of the covenant of baptism, the covenant of the holy priesthood, and the covenant of the endowment. To receive baptism, the priesthood and the endowment and not to keep the promises we make is to swear deceitfully. Only a return to genuine repentance of this deceit through great faith in Christ makes it possible for a human being to be forgiven and then to assume their God-given opportunity to bless the lives of others in the works of righteousness.
Becoming the world’s greatest technician, scientist, artist, athlete or other does not hold a candle to gaining clean hands, a pure heart, being truly humble and keeping our promises. May each of us be wise in the days of our probation and gain that which is of utmost worth before the night comes.