Mosiah 4:30 THOUGHTS, WORDS, DEEDS

King Benjamin teaches us a lot about how to repent and retain a remission of our sins. In the scripture mastery verse in Mosiah chapter 4 verse 30, we learn that if we do not continually watch our thoughts, words, and deeds, and work hard to obey the commandments of God, and continue in faith to the end of our lives we are in peril and could perish.

 President Ezra Taft Benson:

“Think clean thoughts. Those who think clean thoughts do not do dirty deeds. You are not only responsible before God for your acts but also for controlling your thoughts. So live that you would not blush with shame if your thoughts and acts could be flashed on a screen in your church. The old adage is still true that you sow thoughts and you reap acts, you sow acts and you reap habits, you sow habits and you reap a character, and your character determines your eternal destiny. ‘As a man thinketh, so is he’” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1964, 60; quoting Proverbs 23:7).

 

President Boyd K. Packer of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles:
 

“As you learn to control your thoughts, you can overcome habits, even degrading personal habits. You can gain courage, conquer fear, and have a happy life. I had been told … as I grew up that thoughts must be controlled, but no one told me how. I’ve thought about this over the years and have decided that the mind is like a stage. During every waking moment the curtain is up. There is always some act being performed on that stage. It may be a comedy, a tragedy, interesting or dull, good or bad; but always there is some act playing on the stage of your mind.

“Have you noticed that shady little thoughts may creep in from the wings and attract your attention in the middle of almost any performance and without any real intent on your part? … If you permit them to go on, all thoughts of any virtue will leave the stage. … What do you do at a time like that, when the stage of your mind is commandeered by the imps of unclean thinking … ? If you can fill your mind with clean and constructive thoughts, then there will be no room for these persistent imps, and they will leave.”

“Choose a favorite hymn or song, … one with words that are uplifting and music that is reverent, one that makes you feel something akin to inspiration. There are many beautiful songs to choose from. Seek the guidance of the Spirit in making your selection. Go over the song in your mind carefully. Memorize it. Even though you have had no musical training, you can think through a simple song. Now use this as the course for your thoughts to follow. Make it your emergency channel.

“Whenever you find shady actors slipping from the sidelines of your thinking onto the stage of your mind, put on this CD, as it were. It will change your whole mood.

“Because the music is uplifting and clean, the baser thoughts will slip shamefully away. For while virtue, by choice, will not associate with filth, evil cannot tolerate the presence of light. In due time you will find yourself humming the music inwardly, almost automatically, to drive out unworthy thoughts” (“Worthy Music, Worthy Thoughts,” New Era, Apr. 2008, 7–8, 11).

Light and darkness cannot occupy the same space at the same time. Light dispels darkness. For example, appropriate music, uplifting visual images, wholesome activities, and clean thoughts and words will invite the Spirit into our lives and push unworthy thoughts out of our minds. You can combat darkness by filling your life with light. Watch the following message to find out the greatest, most reliable source of light.