Elder Dale G. Renlund: 'Preserving the Heart's Mighty Change' requires constant care, obedience

Just as recipients of heart transplants must take daily medications to ensure their bodies do not reject their new hearts, members must use great care with spiritually changed hearts to ensure they do not become hardened, said Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Seventy during his Sunday afternoon conference address.

"Through the Atonement of Christ and by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel, we undergo this ultimate operation, this spiritual change of heart," Elder Renlund said. "Just as with heart transplant patients, however, this mighty change of our spiritual hearts is just the beginning. …

"Indeed, equal, if not greater, care must be taken with a spiritually changed heart than with a physically transplanted heart if we are to endure to the end. Only by doing so can we be held guiltless at the time of judgment."

Elder Renlund said enduring to the end can be challenging because the natural man has a tendency "reject the spiritually changed heart and allow it to harden."

The people converted to the gospel by the sons of Mosiah displayed several ways in which individuals might avoid rejecting their spiritually changed hearts, he said. In Alma 23:6 and 27:7 are recorded several ways to maintain a changed heart.

"Their zeal towards God likely reflects an eagerness to please God and worship Him with fervor and passion. ... We further know that they taught their children the gospel in their homes," Elder Renlund said.

"And, we know that the people buried their weapons of war, distancing themselves from temptations."

He said these saints must have frequently checked the condition of their spiritually changed hearts. He suggested asking the questions posed by Alma the Younger in Alma 5 to figuratively biopsy one's changed spiritual heart; Alma asked if they had been sufficiently humble, free of pride and envy, and kind toward their fellowmen.

"To endure to the end, we need to be eager to please God and worship Him with fervor and passion," Elder Renlund said.

"Please consider the state of your changed heart. … Remember, more than mortal years on this earth are at stake."

Watch video of this talk and other conference talks at ksl.com