Behold, he that hath eternal life is rich. Seek not for riches but for wisdom and, behold, the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto you, and then shall you be made rich. I stumbled upon a scripture this week that also taught this principle, Doctrine & Covenants 11:5-11, "Now, as you have asked, behold, I say unto you, keep my commandments, and seek to bring forth and establish the cause of Zion. This book helped me see how important it is that we focus on the most important things in life-those of eternal significance. Humility is key to spirituality and having a pure heart. We should not compare ourselves to others or think that we know better than Him or anyone else, for that matter. We must be humble and know that He knows best. We must have no other Gods before our Heavenly Father. We must avoid materialism and pride in all forms. The best reason to serve is out of pure love and charity for our fellowmen. We must have real intent in following God and His will for us.as we serve and worship Him and our fellowmen. God knows our thoughts and will judge us by them as well. We must honestly consider our motives, priorities and attitudes. He reminds us that actions are easy to change, while the more important focus should be on purifying our thoughts and desires. Wonderful book! Elder Oaks talks about the importance of "clean hands" and a "pure heart" as taught in Psalms, signifying actions and thoughts and desires that are pure and holy and that we are looking to God in all things. Pure in Heart is a clear, forthright book that offers authoritative penetrating commentary on this prerequisite to eternal life and helpful guidelines on how to attain it. His final chapter focuses on what we must do to become pure in heart- to "cleanse the inner vessel," as President Ezra Taft Benson put it. In the same vein Elder Oaks searchingly describes the mental attitude necessary to true worship of God. And what we are is the sum total of our good and our evil actions and desires." Materialism, pride and spirituality- all formed from attitudes- are examined in a discussion that strongly emphasizes the need to place spiritual considerations above temporal ones. We must act for the right reasons." Why? Because "we will ultimately be judged and rewarded for what we are. Stimulating chapters on motives and desires stress that "we must not only do what is right. Emphasizing the significance of thoughts rather than of actions alone, the author examines the interdependent mental processes that make up the inner motives, desires, and attitudes. Oaks, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, addresses these paramount questions, sharing insight and enrichment from the scriptures, from modern prophets, and from personal experiences.
But what does it really mean to be pure in heart, and how does one attain such a state of righteousness? In this book Elder Dallin H. "Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God." This simple statement comprehends the ultimate reward God offers us- the gift of eternal life.