In his General Epistle in the new testament, the Apostle James wrote (emphasis added):
My bretheren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. For in many things we offend
all.
If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. Behold, we
put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. Behold also the ships, which
though they be so great and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the
governor listeth. Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire
kindleth! (
James 3:1-5)
James recognizes something in this chapter of which all of us should take notice: Words have power. Power to
heal or hurt. Power to help or hinder. Power to encourage or dismay. To build up or to destroy. The words we choose
are entirely up to us, but the moment a word escapes our lips it goes forth into the world and is no longer ours to control.
It becomes what it will, and we, like hopeful parents, are left to watch the effects our words will yield in the
world, for good or evil.
It may be that our words are taken by others and turned to a different meaning, or remembered and used
against us later. It may be that our words are placed upon a placard somewhere because of the profound impact they have
yielded in someone's life. Whatever their effects, our words will follow us wherever we go. They are the expressions
of our hearts, the fruits of our thoughts, and at times if we are not careful, the dregs of our baser impulses.
A careless word spoken in haste can have devastating repercussions that last for years and estrange parties that
ought not to be estranged.
A careful word spoken in love can have incredible reverberations that continue from generation to generation,
bringing blessing, healing and hope.
For this reason James holds the governing of one's own words in such lofty esteem. He understands the impacts
one word can have; for good or for evil.
The terrible atrocities committed in World War II by the Nazi regime were precipitated by words. Words were
the force by which Hitler rose to power and communicated his evil agenda. Words were used by Nazi propagandists to intimidate,
cajole, demoralize and threaten.
By contrast, the words used by Martin Luther King Jr. during the Civil Rights movement in America
have influenced countless thousands over the decades since he first delivered them. These words were the vehicle
by which Dr. King delivered his inspiring and motivating sense of the dignity and worth of every human soul in the
sight of God, regardless of race, creed or ethnicity.
The Lord Jesus Christ couldn't have been plainer about the importance of choosing carefully the language that
we use when he declared: "But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof
in the day of judgement."(
Matthew 12:36)
Our words are an expression of our hearts. If our hearts are cluttered with the baser things of the world, our
words will be likewise filled with spiritual clutter. They will be an obstacle to those seeking the truth. If our hearts are
filled with truth and light on the other hand, our words will be a beacon of light to those around us. Our words will express
our desire to uplift and strengthen, to guide and direct, and to bring the glory of the Gospel of Jesus Christ into the lives
of his children on the Earth.
If we truly desire to help someone overcome a difficulty, our words will reflect that, but if we are speaking
just to demonstrate our acumen with helping people overcome obstacles (or for any other selfish reason), and we do not
genuinely love those to whom we are ministering, then our words will lack the power necessary to effect real change
in their lives. Selfless words are only efficacious when they spring from a selfless heart. They must also be accompanied
by selfless action and service. Otherwise they are dead wood.
Our words must emanate from the fountain of sincerity within us. If we bear witness of a spiritual truth, that
witness we bear must have it's roots in true personal experience of the Divine and be full of genuine love. If not, our words
will fall short and be nothing more than "sounding brass or a tinkling cymball" (
1 Corinthians 13:1).
The Lord cautioned us:
And again, verily I say unto you, those who desire in their hearts, in meekness to warn sinners to repentance,
let them be ordained unto this power.
For this is a day of warning and not a day of many words. For I, the Lord, am not to be mocked in the last days.
Behold, I am Alpha and Omega, even Jesus Christ.
Wherefore let all men beware how they take my name in their lips-
For behold, verily I say, that many there be who are under this condemnation, who use the name of the Lord, and
use it in vain, having not authority.
Wherefore, let the church repent of their sins, and I, the Lord will own them; otherwise they shall be cut off.
Remember that that which cometh from above is sacred and must be spoken with care, and by constraint of the Spirit;
and in this there is no condemnation, and ye receive the Spirit through prayer; wherefore without this there remaineth condemnation.
It is our personal relationship with the Lord through His Spirit that brings the ability to testify
with power and conviction. It is the Priesthood restored throught the Prophet Joseph Smith that conveys the power,
delegated from God to man, to speak in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ with authority. We are reminded here to consider
seriously the manner in which we invoke the name of Jesus Christ in our lives, and our own worthiness to bear such a name.
He is our Savior, our God, our Friend and our Redeemer. To speak lightly of such a name or to take it in vain is a serious
offense in the sight of God. The way we speak about Him and the manner in which we invoke His name will either draw him nearer
or drive Him away.
In the hospital one day I was wheeled out of the operating room by an attendant who stumbled, and there issued
from his angry lips vicious cursing with a combination of the names of the Savior. Even half-conscious, I recoiled and implored:
“Please! Please! That is my Lord whose names you revile.”
There was a deathly silence; then a subdued voice whispered, “I am sorry.” He had forgotten for the moment that
the Lord had forcefully commanded all his people, “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord
will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain” (Ex. 20:7).
Many people would excuse themselves for cursing by saying that the Ten Commandments were given millennia ago to
a faraway people, but it must be remembered that he not only gave them with power to the Israelites but he also reiterated
them with emphasis to the Jews in the meridian of time and even in our own dispensation has repeated them for our own benefit
and guidance.
~Spencer W. Kimball, “President Kimball Speaks Out on Profanity,” New Era, Jan 1981, 4
I had a Bishop once when I was serving as a missionary in South America who related to me that at certain times
he literaly bit his tongue to keep himself from uttering a thoughtless or ill advised comment. He was living the principle
taught in Ecclesiastes 5:1, "Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for
God is in heaven, and thou upon the earth: therefore let thy words be few." How much trouble we would avoid in this life if
we would take this simple counsel to heart! God's perspective is truly far above our own and we would often do well to let our
words be few in many circumstances. There have been many times when I wished I held my tongue a little longer after letting
a careless remark escape my lips.
It is my testimony that the day will come when we will each stand before our Savior to give an accounting
of the words we have spoken and the things we have done in this life. If our hearts are right with God we can be assured that
our words and actions will naturally follow the right course. If our hearts are not right with God, we ought to repent
and set them right with him; and be assured that we are right with him by our own personal spiritual witness
of that fact.
Then our words will have true power to influence others for good in this life. Our words will be pure.
To be certain none of us is perfect yet, and we will have our moments of failure in this life. But as we strive to purify
our hearts and our language, and to use our words to build up rather than tear down, we will find strength to repent and improve. Joy
will come into our lives as we learn to govern our tongues and use our words for the purpose that God intended.
