The Tongue, The Heart, and the Power of Our Words

Sometimes, the hardest battles we face aren't fought in the field or in a formal missionary discussion; they are fought right here, in the quiet moments, in the words we choose to speak—or even the words we choose *not* to speak.

As we continue on this journey together—as fellow rogue disciples, learning to be internet missionaries wherever we are—it's easy to get caught up in the noise. The anxiety of the week, the worry about the next assignment, the fear of what others might think. These worries bubble up, and often, our words are the first thing to spill out, reflecting that internal turmoil.

But the Savior taught us something profound that cuts right to the core of discipleship: our words are tethered directly to our hearts.

The Power of Our Words

The scriptures are clear on this. Proverbs 18:21 reminds us that "Death and life are in the power of the tongue; who love it shall eat the fruits thereof." Think about that for a moment. Our speech isn't just sound; it's a manifestation of what's truly going on inside us.

When our conversations are filled with genuine hope, encouragement, and the Spirit, we walk through the day with an optimism that feels almost miraculous. But when our conversations are steeped in stress, complaint, or fear, it's like trying to build a house on shifting sand. We approach everything with a heavy cloud of worry, and our faith seems to diminish right alongside it.

This isn't just theory for a Book Club discussion; this is daily life. We need to learn to manage the outflow from our inner selves.

From the Heart Springs the Word

And where do these words come from? The Savior taught us, "For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh" (Luke 6:45). It’s a powerful, humbling truth. If our heart is anxious, our words will echo that anxiety. If our heart is doubtful, our words will sound doubtful.

This is where the work becomes intensely personal. We can't just *will* ourselves to speak kindly; we have to tend to the garden of our hearts first. We have to actively give those worries, that stress, that lingering fear, over to the Lord.

It reminds me of the profound counsel found in the Book of Job. When we are gripped by fear, that fear has a way of overwhelming us, paralyzing us, and stealing the peace the Spirit tries to whisper into our souls. It’s a real danger zone for any disciple, whether we are preparing for the MTC, serving in the field, or just trying to keep up with our family life.

But here’s the encouraging part, the part that keeps us going when the going gets tough: the word of God is overflowing with counsel!

A Shift in Focus

What if we consciously decided to change the narrative? What if we started treating our conversations—our internal monologues—as acts of discipleship? Instead of dwelling on what *could* go wrong, what if we focused on what the Lord *has* done, and what He *is* doing?

This isn't about perfection; it's about persistent effort. It’s about making the choice, moment by moment, to ask Heavenly Father to fill us with His peace, His comfort, and His perseverance. It's about choosing to proclaim the truth of His word, even when our circumstances scream the opposite.

Fellow disciples, remember that every member can be an internet missionary. We can practice this principle right now, in our own homes, in our own comments sections, in our own quiet moments of study. Let's commit to guarding our tongues by first guarding our hearts.

If this resonated with you, I encourage you to take this principle into your own study. Check out the Bible Study Groups in HolyPlaces, or perhaps dive into some deep thoughts on the nature of faith in the Social Scripture Study layer of LivingBook. It’s a wonderful place to wrestle with these concepts.

For those who want to deepen their understanding of how to approach difficult conversations, I highly recommend checking out Davee. He’s ready to walk you through some tough questions an investigator might ask about the source of our anxieties!

What are your thoughts? How do you guard your heart when the world tries to fill it with worry? Share your insights below, and let’s keep lifting one another up in the Spirit.