Spiritual Sunday- LANGUAGE!

The words we communicate through
writing, speaking, texting or messaging
can have a long lasting impact on the people
on the other end.

I am interested how experiences in the past can shape the person we are in the present. Examples: a eureka moment in high school can determine the kind of career you want to achieve, a business card can change the kind of people that we associate with, and the words we say to someone can have a lasting impact.

I remember meeting a guy once on my mission. He was another missionary and was wronged by a member in the ward where he was serving. This member said very hateful things about this missionary and even tried to get the missionary transferred out of the area early. This missionary took this pretty hard. He didn’t know who the member was at the time so he had a hard time looking anyone in the eye.

have you learned to control your
tongue?

Although the missionary had moved on to several other great and important experiences, his trust in people had been severely hurt. The place he thought was safe had now become a hard spot for him to feel comfortable in. this kind of fear followed this missionary well beyond his missionary service, making it hard to meet people because he was always concerned on what his appearance or other people’s opinions would do to him later. This all came from one guy having a problem and not telling the correct people.

As a writer, I can appreciate the way that language can change a person. A writing can change the public opinion and show a different point of view. Words can build bridges that bring people together, or it can build a wall that keeps them apart. In the third chapter of the book of James in the Bible, we are told how the tongue is a “Little Member” that can “setteth on fire the course of nature” and that “if a man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man”. If we are trying to be perfect, I’d imagine one of the first things we should do is learn to control our language.

In the “For The Strength of Youth” pamphlet, the Church is urged to “Speak kindly and positively about others. Choose not to insult others or put them down, even in joking. Avoid gossip of any kind, and avoid speaking in anger. When you are tempted to say harsh or hurtful things, leave them unsaid.”

This upcoming week, let’s remember that the words that we say have the capability to have a lasting impact on the people we talk to. If we have a problem with someone, remember to follow the counsel of the lord to “Reprov[e] betimes with sharpness, when moved upon by the Holy Ghost; and then showing forth afterwards an increase of love toward him whom thou hast reproved, lest he esteem thee to be his enemy; That he may know that thy faithfulness is stronger than the cords of death. (D&C 121:43-44)

Thank you and have a great Sunday and a great week.