"Wherefore, the prophets, and the priests, and the teachers, did labor diligently, exhorting with all long-suffering the people to diligence; teaching the law of Moses, and the intent for which it was given; persuading them to look forward unto the Messiah, and believe in him to come as though he already was. And after this manner did they teach them.
And it came to pass that by so doing they kept them from being destroyed upon the face of the land; for they did prick their hearts with the word, continually stirring them up unto repentance."
Jarom 1:11-12
The idea of pricking the heart... which sounds painful, but which is of course symbolic, is an important one here I think because it is so easy to remove our hearts from the equation and distance ourselves from the gospel, thinking about it as a great plan, but not feeling it. The prophets, priests, and teachers were intentionally trying for that emotional reaction, because that is where they were connecting with the Spirit and not only teaching the mind, but awakening the heart.
Today, let's not only read of the love of God, but apply it to our lives and feel it. Let's let the truth of the gospel into our innermost selves, living and breathing and feeling the gospel, not just thinking it. God is here, asking to be let in. Let's open our hearts and allow him to reach us, and reach out to him in turn, not just intellectually but spiritually and emotionally as well, taking action in our lives and feeling his love as we reach out in prayer.
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