Hearts that know and feel

In the Book of Mormon, Amulek testifies to the people who gathered to hear that he had a hard heart that prevented him from knowing the things of God: "I did harden my heart, for I was called many times and I would not hear; therefore I knew concerning these things, yet I would not know; therefore I went on rebelling against God, in the wickedness of my heart..." (Alma 10:6) It seems that the knowledge of the mind is not what allows people to come to know God, but rather the knowledge from the heart.

Joseph Smith explained that the early Saints had the sure witness in their hearts that allowed them to withstand all of the persecutions heaped upon them. I have often wondered how one would have such knowledge, and such a heart.

Artificial hearts
Because I have always been an intellectual person I have sought knowledge in my mind. This caused me to have a heart that doesn't know and feel. Even though I have tried very hard to do all of the things that would constitute a heart that knows and feels, but I now realize that what I had was a hard heart that was pretending to be real by going through the motions. The biggest difference is the motivation, I could not act out of love so I would act to appear to care, giving birthday cards, greeting with a kiss, asking, "how are you?" and other such formalities.

A hardened heart is not real because there is no love in it. Those who do not know the Lord but still desire a heart give themselves an artificial heart. An artificial heart is hard, has no feeling, doesn't listen, doesn't care, and functions well only as a pump. In the common vernacular they're called "bleeding hearts." The bleeding heart belongs to one who would take away all pain, problems, hardships and suffering. They want a large entity, such as a government to provide for the "poor," prevent single parenthood, stop animal abuse, take children away from ignorant parents, and generally make laws preventing mistakes, ignorance, and hardship. This is exactly the plan that Satan presented to God's children. It prevents growth, understanding, compassion, and love. At it's very core an artificial heart is selfish, wanting to prevent evil instead of growing up to resist it.

A hard heart does not have knowledge because it is not obedient to truth, "And therefore, he that will harden his heart, the same receiveth the lesser portion of the word; (Alma 12:10) Thus, the artificial heart has neither knowledge nor compassion.

Real hearts
On the other hand, the heart of God is love. Love is a gift from God to those who have soft hearts. Love is sacrificing for the growth of others. It is giving of yourself, you time, talents, means, and energy to help others to learn, grow, and improve. People need to be taught. We start out completely ignorant and selfish, which cause pain and suffering to ourselves and others. Moreover, we are born deaf, dumb, and blind so we cannot learn anything on our own. Where there is no teacher who knows, there is no growth, because it is just as Jesus said, "And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch." (Matthew 15:14) A real heart has compassion for the suffering of others because of shared experience. The real heart knows.

Hearts that know
Hearts that know are those who have grown enough to make a connection with God. They are educated hearts that know when something is important to experience, even if it's hardship, pain, and suffering -- and when suffering can be prevented and relieved. They know that sorrow is essential for knowledge, as Eve told Adam, "Were it not for our transgression we never should have had seed, and never should have known good and evil, and the joy of our redemption, and the eternal life which God giveth unto all the obedient." (Moses 5:11)

This kind of heart comes from a desire to know God, and requires a soft heart, as explained by Nephi: "I, Nephi... having great desires to know of the mysteries of God, wherefore, I did cry unto the Lord; and behold he did visit me, and did soften my heart that I did believe..." (1 Nephi 2:16)

Obedience is the essential ingredient to having a knowing heart. Hearts that know have a connection to holy things. They understand the language of the Spirit and listen to every word. When they hear the word of God, they immediately obey. This is a soft heart. "He that will not harden his heart, to him is given the greater portion of the word, until it is given unto him to know the mysteries of God until he know them in full." (Alma 12:10) A soft heart brings more and more knowledge.

Hearts that feel
They also feel all of the spectrum of feelings from the lowest depression to the highest joy. Because their hearts are soft, meaning they are "willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him..." (Mosiah 3:19) Because they are willing to suffer pain, they are also eligible to feel the height of joy. The contrast is essential because "there is an opposition in all things. (2 Nephi 2:11) Without accepting suffering, we cannot experience happiness.

Hearts that feel have been through suffering, and come out on the other side with understanding. The soft heart is one that will allow suffering in order to have compassion -- to "suffer with" others and connect with them. They love. They understand the feelings of others because they have been there. Then on the other side, because they experience joy they can help others to feel the same. The hearts that feel can lift the wounded and weary soul because they know both. They can teach others to feel joy in sorrow, patience in suffering, and happiness in hardship.

Gifted hearts
Hearts that know and feel are gifts given from God to those who prepare themselves to receive it. As Nephi prayed and was visited of the Lord, prayer is an essential element. Another is not to murmur, complain, or resist hardship, pain and suffering. We must be "willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon [us]." (Mosiah 3:19) A third is obedience. Once we have the heart of Nephi who said, "I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded..." (1 Nephi 3:7) then we know we are on the path to receiving the gift of a knowing and feeling heart.