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This is a collection of thoughts, talks and other writings delving into the doctrines of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. A note for non Latter-day Saints; all Bible quotations are from the Authorized King James Version, which forms part of our canon of Scriptures.

Wednesday 10 June 2009

Sacrament Talk - May 2009 - Gravesend Ward - "He That Hath Clean Hands and a Pure Heart"


The above quote comes from Psalm 24:3-5, which reads:

"Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation."

There are three distinct parts to this scripture; first comes a question, followed by an answer and a promise is then given if we fulfill the conditions laid out.

The Prophet Joseph Smith once said that the key to understanding any scripture was first to consider the question that prompted it in the first place, and it is also vitally important that we understand the promise also given in this scripture to improve our understanding.

Elder Groberg of the Seventy once related an experience he had as a missionary that has bearing on this subject:

"My first assignment was to a small island hundreds of miles from headquarters, where no one spoke English, and I was the only white man. I was given a local companion named Feki who was then serving a building mission and was a priest in the Aaronic Priesthood.

After eight seasick days and nights on a small, smelly boat, we arrived at Niuatoputapu. I struggled with the heat, the mosquitoes, the strange food, culture, and language, as well as homesickness. One afternoon we heard cries of anguish and saw a family bringing the limp, seemingly lifeless body of their eight-year-old son to us. They wailed out that he had fallen from a mango tree and would not respond to anything. The faithful father and mother put him in my arms and said, “You have the Melchizedek Priesthood; bring him back to us whole and well.”

Though my knowledge of the language was still limited, I understood what they wanted, and I was scared. I wanted to run away, but the expressions of love and faith that shone from the eyes of the parents and brothers and sisters kept me glued to the spot.

I looked expectantly at my companion. He shrugged and said, “I don’t have the proper authority. You and the branch president hold the Melchizedek Priesthood.” Grasping at that straw, I said, “Then this is the duty of the branch president.”

No sooner had I said this than the branch president walked up. He had heard the commotion and returned from his garden. He was sweaty and covered with dirt and mud. I turned and explained what had happened and tried to give the young boy to him. He stepped back and said, “I will go and wash and put on clean clothes; then we will bless him and see what God has to say.”

In near panic, I cried, “Can’t you see? He needs help now!”

He calmly replied: “I know he needs a blessing. When I have washed myself and put on clean clothes, I will bring consecrated oil, and we will approach God and see what His will is. I cannot—I will not—approach God with dirty hands and muddy clothes.” He turned and left me holding the boy. I was speechless.

Finally he returned, clean in body and dress and, I sensed, in heart as well. “Now,” he said, “I am clean, so we will approach the throne of God.”

That marvelous Tongan branch president, with clean hands and a pure heart, gave a beautiful and powerful priesthood blessing. I felt more like a witness than a participant. The words of the Psalmist came to my mind: “Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? …

“He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart.” On that tiny island a worthy priesthood holder ascended into the hill of the Lord, and the power of the priesthood came down from heaven and authorized a young boy’s life to continue.

With the fire of faith glowing from his eyes, the branch president told me what to do. Much additional faith and effort was required, but on the third day that little eight-year-old boy, full of life, was reunited with his family.

I hope you understand and feel these truths. This was a tiny island in the midst of a huge ocean—with no electricity, no hospital, no doctors—but none of that mattered. For in addition to great love and faith, there was a branch president who held the Melchizedek Priesthood, who understood the importance of cleanliness of hand and heart and its outward expression in cleanliness of body and dress, who exercised the priesthood in righteousness and purity according to the will of God. That day his individual power in the priesthood was sufficient to connect with the unlimited power of the priesthood over earthly life.

When I look into the heavens at night and contemplate the endless galaxies therein, I am amazed at what a tiny dot our little earth is and how infinitesimally small I am. Yet I do not feel afraid, alone, insignificant, or distant from God. For I have witnessed His priesthood power connecting with clean hands and pure hearts on a tiny island in a vast ocean." (Elder John H. Groberg - 'Priesthood Power' - 171st Annual General Conference)

We can here note several things that relate to Psalms 24:3-5. The Tongan Branch President did not consider it fitting to "approach the throne of God" as he was. Perhaps we all feel the same in some degree, especially the brethren of the priesthood. Note, however, that preparation is the key. Had the need been less urgent perhaps the Branch President would have fasted as well, such was his attitude to being prepared. He approached the Lord with clean hands and a pure heart, right in body and spirit before the Lord, which enabled him, as the Psalmist promises, to receive a blessing for the boy. This was a miracle; but indicative of the far greater miracle that accompanies approaching the Lord or ascending into the hill of the Lord with clean hands and a pure heart. From this we can catch a glimpse of what other promises may be in store.

Note the wording used in verse 3 of the Psalm; referring to the hill of the Lord, being on higher ground or closer to God. We have had to ascend to get there, make a climb - possibly a long and difficult one, one that has required determination and effort on our part. There is a connection with the Temple with reference to the Lord's Holy Place, and to get there we have had to prepare through faith and our efforts. David, the Psalmist in question here wanted nothing more in his later years than to build a Temple and stand in that Holy Place, but that would be left for future generations.

The experience of Elder Groberg as related before was an example of the utilization of the Priesthood, which is at the heart of ordinances, both within and outside the Temple. Through this we can also establish our homes as holy places and ultimately ourselves as fitting vessels of the Holy Ghost which sanctifies us, giving us 'clean hands', and helps us to prepare, degree by degree to re-enter the presence of God and be as close to Him as we were in the pre-existence. In fact we shall be closer, because we shall be like Him, and not servants, but friends.

Two scriptures offer more light on this subject:

"Therefore, in the ordinances thereof, the power of godliness is manifest. And without the ordinances thereof, and the authority of the priesthood, the power of godliness is not manifest unto men in the flesh; For without this no man can see the face of God, even the Father, and live." (Doctrine & Covenants 84:20-2)

"We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel." (3rd Article of Faith)

What do we learn here? The Atonement of Christ has made it possible to approach God in ordinances, such as healing of the sick as in the related story, along with every other essential ordinance, so we may be sanctified, enjoy God's presence and protection or the Spirit in our earthly probation, his blessings and hopefully remain in that state. Surely once we have ascended into the hill of the Lord we would wish to stay? It is fitting though that the term hill is used; denoting higher ground, from which we are inevitably prone to falling from or rolling back down from time to time.

The warnings in verse 4 of the Psalm are a clear part of the requirement for ascending into the hill of the Lord:

"...who hath not lifted his soul unto vanity..."

Pride, a great sin in our age where the things of God are being made to look increasingly foolish in the eyes of the world and many are left ashamed, falling away as in Lehi's vision of the tree of life:

"And after they had tasted of the fruit they were ashamed, because of those that were scoffing at them; and they fell away into forbidden paths and were lost." (1 Nephi 8:28)

Vanity can also be seen as desiring the praise and things of the world too much. Worshipping such false gods is as much a part of modern life as it was anciently, it just takes on different forms.

"...nor sworn deceitfully..."

Again we must examine ourselves; this is more that just dishonesty. We are invited to consider if we have perhaps committed or even covenanted in Holy places with no intention of keeping our word, or going back on it.

Those who heed these warning in verse 3 in full will not have unclean hands and will have proved themselves pure of heart.

This bring us to examine the meaning of having clean hands and a pure heart. Like the humble Tongan Branch President in the story our hands are soiled and stained, not by toiling in a garden but through sin. The good news is that can be cleaned. Are we pure in heart though; what is our heart really set on? Only the Lord knows, for He looks on the heart and can read it and our true intent as plainly as we read words on a page.

There is great encouragement to be found in the message of the Psalm. Despite the great chasm that lies between us and God it has been made possible to approach 'the throne of God', to ascend the hill of the Lord and be clean in His presence, even as Isaiah promises those who are willing to take the necessary steps:

"Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:" (Isaiah 1:16-19)

And as the Psalmist promises, receive the blessing from the Lord, whether it be the healing of one sick child, the answer to a humble prayer or even receiving eternal life; the greatest of all blessings, along with "righteousness from the God of his salvation."

We see then that such blessings require preparation, work and effort on our part so we may have clean hands and a pure heart and stand confident in the presence of the Lord whether in this life or the world to come. Our Heavenly Father desires everyone to receive His blessings, no-one is exempt; we only exclude ourselves from such things. May we all have that desire working as deep within us as deeply as the Father wishes us to ascend and rise above every mean and lowly pursuit of the wicked world and see the things of a far greater world, even the Kingdom of God. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

1 comment:

  1. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS! I WAS ASKED TO GIVE A TALK ON THIS EXACT SCRIPTURE AND TOPIC, AND THIS HAS HELPED ME SO MUCH I CANNOT NOT EVEN BEGIN TO EXPLAIN HOW MUCH. THANK YOU SO MUCH

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