What do we mean by a new spirit? Or maybe a new heart? If we are embodied spirits, doesn’t giving us a new spirit mean that someone else gets our body?

Of course that’s wrong — and we mean something different by “spirit” in this case — more like the attitude or outlook we use to approach life. In that way it is very similar to getting a new heart. The scriptures frequently talk about us getting a new heart in the sense of a change in outlook and understanding of the world.

Then how does this spirit or heart go wrong in the first place? Often we assume that each individual person makes bad choices, decisions that seem innocent or unimportant, but that change the person’s worldview.But there is another way that things go wrong — the entire society becomes corrupt and influences each member of society, Short of a true Zion society, I don’t think it is possible to escape this problem. And I believe these two ways things go wrong — each of us making poor choices and our society influencing us are a kind of negative feedback loop, reinforcing each other.

So we need a new spirit, a change of heart, and one that fights against negative influences from society. We need a spirit focused on righteousness, on following the gospel of Jesus Christ.

 

The Lord invites me to feed His sheep.

All the above focuses on us, instead of on others. The Lord then asks us to focus on others, such as suggesting that we feed His sheep. When we try to do something to help others, and even more so when it combats the ideas embedded in society that are contrary to the gospel, we are changing our spirits to something more compatible with our Heavenly Father’s plan.

In the following poem, Ruth M. Fox suggests that even a boy can help feed the Lord’s sheep. Like the boy, if we bring the “pearl of great price”, we bring something that will “soften your hearts, and cleanse you from sin. / And lead you to Jesus, whose blessings you’ll win.”

 

I’m only a boy, but my heart leaps with pride

As over the mountains and rivers I ride.

My horse is of iron my chariot of steel,

We dash ’round a curve and the hills seem to reel.

Yes, only a boy, but I’m leaving my home

In a far distant land a stranger to roam,

And sometimes I strive with a sigh and a tear.

But the faith of my fathers’ withstands every fear.

Although but a boy, with their faith in my breast,

I can brave ev’ry summit, or skim the wave’s crest.

With a purpose that’s true, and a trust that is sure.

To carry salvation to the humble and pure.

Then speed thee, O speed thee, my swift flying steed.

To city or hamlet, on highland or mead;

Lest my heart break its bounds with gladness and joy

For the message I bear; though I’m but a boy.

I’m only a boy, with a charge—not of men,

But of God, to deliver the costliest gem

That ever was delved from mountain or mine.

That the hearts of mankind with its beauty may shine.

The pearl of great price, O ye people, I bring!

Lift up your hearts in thanksgiving and sing!

Receive it, and wear it, ’tis no bauble or toy.

But a gift from Almighty— brought you by a boy.

I’m only a boy, but I promise you much;

If you will but wear it, its magical touch

Will soften your hearts, and cleanse you from sin.

And lead you to Jesus, whose blessings you’ll win.

The price of this jewel you wish to behold?

It cannot be purchased with silver or gold.

«My sheep know my voice,” the Savior hath said,

For them and them only its lustre is shed.

O do not reject it; the Lord hath decreed

That the world from oppression and guilt shall be freed;

And He would enfold you in the arms of His love

While the fire of His vengeance sweeps earth from above.

You spurn it, this jewel? Then woe, woe to you,

You will not forget it, my message is true;

When disasters o’ertake you, your house to destroy.

You’ll remember the warning I brought when a boy.

I deserve not your harshness, your jeers or disdain;

Without money or price in meeknesss I came,

With the love of a brother your love to employ.

And God will protect me, though only a boy.

1900

 

The Lord wants to forgive.

Between the sins we commit because we want to, and the sins that our earthly society influences us to commit, we are going to make mistakes, injuring others and ourselves. To help us get to where we are free from the desire to err, the Lord is anxious to forgive and in the process help us change our hearts so that we no longer make such mistakes.

This forgiveness makes each of us a “returning sinner”, like those described in the following poem. Here the poet not only sees each of us as returning sinners, but also reminds us of our duty to welcome and include them in our lives, for they are us.

 

Angels rejoice, and tune their golden lyres

When man repents, and to his sin expires!

And while these glorious beings, free from guile,

Bend o’er the sinner with angelic smile,

Shall we withhold the warm and friendly hand

When he repents, and craves once more to stand

Among God’s people, as of yore he stood,

And yearns to join the faithful and the good?

When God himself forgives repentant man,

Let us forgive, and aid him all we can

To gain once more the place from whence he fell,

And by our faith and prayers his soul propel

Onward, and strive with all our might to place

The Prodigal returning, near the Throne of Grace.

This is our duty, but with truth I say

My heart’s warm promptings only I obey,

And ’tis my pleasure to extend my hand

To hail a brother to our little band;

Once more to see him join the ranks of those

Who dare to stand, though scorn’d by friends and foes—

Yea, firm and faithful to the cause of God,

Defy the world, its scorn, its sword, and rod,

Because they know ’tis Truth for which they stand;

Because they will obey their God’s command.

And hence the world, its wealth, its pomp, and show,

They only look on as their deadliest foe;

At once they cast all these behind their back,

And press on boldly in their Saviour’s track.

Like well-trained soldiers, close in rank and file,

None can break in, their footsteps to beguile;

But on they march in one unbroken line,

Because they know their Captain is Divine!

At thought of this my full soul reels with joy,

Inebriate! dazzled!-—bliss without alloy!

Come joy; come sorrow, weal, or woe, or death,

May I stand faithful to my latest breath,

And on the promise fix this eye of mine;

“To death be faithful, and the crown is thine.”

Brother! I wish thee well; accept my hand;

Welcome again among our noble band.

And if my feeble efforts can avail

To aid, assist, or shield when foes assail,

Tho’ small my power, you shall not ask in vain,

If you but faithful to God’s cause remain.

Oh! I would ask my God on bended knee,

That henceforth firm and faithful you may be,

Nor once look back, nor turn to right or left

But onward-—onward be you ever kept.

1852

 

The Lord is gathering His people and giving them new life.

The process of also changing our society, so that its influence on us is aligned with the gospel, requires building a new society, the communal equivalent of giving us a new spirit. The Lord is therefore gathering us — in groups where we can put the gospel in practice and learn to live in a Zion society.

The English poet E. L. Sloane here connects our salvation with living in a Zion society, where we will “Join with the Saints who now homewards are pressing, / “ and we will “Leave Babylonish confusion and sin.”

Sinners, awaken! the Gospel is calling,

Salvation is come to the children of men,

The gifts of the Spirit in showers are falling,

The voice of Jehovah is sounding again.

For ages with darkness the world lay o’erclouded,

The Church overwhelmed was hid from our sight:

No longer in mitts shall her glories be shrouded.

For Truth’s broken forth like an ocean of light.

 

Sinners, awaken! the last dispensation

Is come in its noontide of fulness and power;

The voice shall re-echo from nation to nation,

Dispelling the clouds of delusion that lour;

The icy-bound poles at the sound shall be shaken,

Their children skin-clad shall come forth at the word;

While those in the sun-scorching torrid awaken,

And haste to obey the commands of the Lord.

 

Sinners, awaken! the Saints are preparing

A place in Mount Zion for Jesus to reign;

Gather home with the chosen, the Lord is declaring

He comes to reside with His people again;

The voice of the angel is sounding like thunder––

Come out from old Bab’lon my people to me,

The isles of the sea and the nations shall wonder

Her ruin and sweeping destruction to see.

 

Sinners, awaken! the Saviour anointed

Offers new life and salvation to yon;

Haste then, and flee to the ransom appointed,

Nor linger, lest God should award you your due;

Join with the Saints who now homewards are pressing,

Leave Babylonish confusion and sin,

That the wrath of the Lord may be turned to a blessing.

When Jesus triumphant His reign shall begin.

1853

 

I can find spiritual healing in the house of the Lord.

Spiritual Healing is nothing less than the process of changing our spirits and hearts so that they lead us in righteousness. The temple is a part of this change. When we are instructed there, we are taken out of the cares and motivations of this world and introduced to an eternal perspective—something that changes our vision of what both we, and our society, should be. The temple also allows us to grow closer to the Lord, and helps us to receive His word and spirit, healing us from our earthly concerns.

Prolific 19th century LDS poet Joel H. Johnson here explains the role of the Temple. He says that in the Temple, the Lord gives us His spirit, to “Fill ev’ry waiting heart.” May our hearts be among them.

 

Within thy house, on Zion’s hill

Thy Saints, O Lord, appear,

To sing thy praise, and learn thy ways,

And worship in thy fear.

 

While in thy temple thus we meet,

Thy Spirit , Lord, impart;

And from above, let faith and love,

Fill ev’ry waiting heart.

 

There may the sick, by faith, be healed,

The blind their sight obtain;

And great increase of joy and peace,

In ev’ry bosom reign.

 

There, may the songs of sacred praise

And humble prayer arise;

Till each obtain a mansion fair,

And reign within the skies.

1882