How often do we worry that our thoughts will condemn us?
In the Book of Mormon, the prophet Alma taught that “… our words will condemn us, yea, all our works will condemn us; we shall not be found spotless; and our thoughts will also condemn us; and in this awful state we shall not dare to look up to our God; and we would fain be glad if we could command the rocks and the mountains to fall upon us to hide us from his presence.” (Alma 12:14)
We are constantly bombarded by thoughts coming to us from outside sources: social media, advertisements, TV, news, books, movies, etc. etc. Some thoughts we generate, some are inspiration from the Lord, some come from the adversary. I would suggest that when we entertain the thoughts, when we hold them and keep them and make them part of us, then we are at risk of being condemned.
President Boyd K. Packer (1924-2015) taught “Probably the greatest challenge and the most difficult thing you will face in mortal life is to learn to control your thoughts. In the Bible it says, as a man “thinketh in his heart, so is he” (Proverbs 23:7). Those who can control their thoughts have conquered themselves.”
President Packer continued: “The mind is like a stage. Except when we are asleep the curtain is always up. There is always some act being performed on that stage. It may be a comedy, a tragedy, interesting or dull, good or bad; but always there is some act playing on the stage of the mind.” (Packer, Boyd K., Worthy Music—Worthy Thoughts, General Conference, April 2008, October 1973)
President Packer encouraged us to think of worthy, uplifting music to challenge and change negative thoughts. As we imagine worthy music or scriptures or pictures or mental images, then the negative thoughts are pushed off the stage. While counseling men in prison, they were taught “thought-stopping, thought-switching” so they would “Stop!” looking at another person as an object to be used or manipulated, but to “switch” the perspective and see them as a person who has thoughts and feelings, hopes and fears, dreams and goals. Mental health counseling helps us to change our thinking in order to change our lives.
When we become disappointed, frustrated, discouraged, or depressed, we can ask ourselves, “What does the Lord want me to learn from this experience?” When we feel alone, hopeless, and helpless, we can move those thoughts off the stage and realize that we are never alone, there is always hope through Jesus Christ, and we are surrounded by those who can help. That is reminiscent of the experience of Elisha’s servant who despaired when surrounded by the Syrian army. Elisha prayed that the Lord would open the eyes of his servant. “And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.” (2 Kings 6:17)
May the Lord bless us to open our eyes and to keep our stage/our minds full of thoughts that are good and uplifting and inspiring as we strive to become like Him.
Sally SmothMarch 5, 2025
This has been very difficult for me to do. I think of hymns, tell my mind to stop, etc. But they are temporary fixes. What has worked for me is allowing the thought to come saying " saying you may talk, but I will not listen.And most of the time it leaves."