“The Lord Looketh on the Heart”

MICHAEL D. BROWN

A s an anatomy and neuroscience teacher,

I have the great privilege to study and
teach about one of God’s greatest creations:
pumping every day roughly 2,000 gallons of
blood through the 60,000 miles of blood vessels
in the body. The heart’s valves open and close
the human body. I marvel every time I listen with perfect timing to ensure that blood moves
to a beating heart or watch an electrocardio- the correct direction through the various heart
gram measure a heart’s electrical activity. It is chambers and blood vessels. The heart is a
remarkable to me to watch skin slowly repair marvelous creation!
itself following a scratch or to think about In addition to our physical heart, each of us
where and how memories are stored in the has a spiritual heart. Just as a reliable physi-
brain. cal heart is needed to provide nourishment to
When I was a graduate student, one of my our physical bodies, a reliable spiritual heart is
research projects was to study the proteins needed to provide nourishment to our spir-
involved in cell division. I would often watch its. Our spiritual heart draws us closer to our
a set of recently fertilized frog eggs split from Heavenly Father. It prompts us to serve and
a single cell into two, then into four, and then to love each other as family members, friends,
into eight. It all happened before my eyes, in a and neighbors. It burns with faith and testi-
dish, and without the need for a microscope. mony, protects against sin, and gives strength
It was beautiful to watch! and hope in times of trial.
Life truly is a miracle. I feel the Spirit often It is the importance of our spiritual hearts
as I learn and teach about the human body. As I that I wish to discuss today.
discover more about how the body works, I see In the Old Testament, following the spiritual
the hand of God more clearly in its workings. fall of King Saul, Samuel the prophet was led
Consider, for example, the beauty and to the house of Jesse in his search for Israel’s
complexity of the human heart. The heart beats new king. As he looked over each of Jesse’s
on average seventy-five times each minute,
100,000 times each day, 40 million times each Michael D. Brown was a BYU associate professor
year. It tirelessly beats every second of every of physiology and developmental biology and
hour of every day that we live. The heart is ­director of the BYU Neuroscience Center when
the most heavily worked muscle in the body, this ­devotional was given on 31 March 2015.

© BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY. speeches.byu.edu1

2   Brigham Young University 2014–2015 Speeches

sons, the Lord taught Samuel, “Look not on his It is not easy to keep our hands clean and
countenance, or on the height of his s­ tature . . . : our hearts pure. The sins of the world are
for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man numerous and ever present. It takes vigilance.
looketh on the outward appearance, but the It takes foresight. It takes courage.
Lord looketh on the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). Elder Dallin H. Oaks taught:
Young David, although not as physically
impressive or accomplished as his older broth- Consider the tragic example of King David.
ers, was chosen by the Lord to be king because Though a spiritual giant in Israel, he allowed
of the state of his heart. The scriptures explain himself to look upon something he should not have
that David had “a beautiful countenance” and viewed (see 2 Samuel 11). Tempted by what he
that “the Spirit of the Lord came upon [him]” saw, he violated two of the Ten Commandments,
(1 Samuel 16:12, 13). beginning with “Thou shalt not commit adultery”
In the Book of Mormon we read of a great (Exodus 20:14). In this way a prophet-king fell from
missionary named Ammon. As Ammon taught his exaltation (see D&C 132:39).
the Lamanite king Lamoni about the nature
and character of God, he explained that God Elder Oaks continued:
“looketh down upon all the children of men;
and he knows all the thoughts and intents of Do all that you can to avoid pornography. If you
the heart” (Alma 18:32). ever find yourself in its presence—which can hap-
I have come to know that this is true. God, pen to anyone in the world in which we live—follow
our Heavenly Father, knows what is in our the example of Joseph of Egypt. When temptation
hearts. He knows our thoughts, feelings, and caught him in her grip, he left temptation and “got
desires. He understands our struggles and our him out” (Genesis 39:12). [“Pornography,” Ensign,
strivings. May 2005]
Because Heavenly Father knows my heart
and He knows your heart, it is beneficial for There are countless blessings promised to
each of us to take a close, honest look at our those who keep their hearts pure. In Doctrine
hearts. How is your heart doing? Spiritually and Covenants 121 we are taught:
speaking, is it beating regularly or is it skip-
ping beats? Is it beating strongly or is it weak Let thy bowels also be full of charity towards all
and thready? men, and to the household of faith, and let virtue
What can we do to strengthen our spiritual garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy
hearts? I would like to propose five questions confidence wax strong in the presence of God; and
for each of us to consider as we assess the the doctrine of the priesthood shall distil upon thy
health of our spiritual hearts. soul as the dews from heaven.
The Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion.
A Pure Heart [D&C 121:45–46]
First, we can ask ourselves, “Is my heart
pure?” Modern-day prophets further explain:
In Psalms we read:
When you are sexually pure, you prepare
Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or yourself to make and keep sacred covenants in
who shall stand in his holy place? the temple. You prepare yourself to build a strong
He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart. marriage and to bring children into the world as
[Psalm 24:3–4] part of an eternal and loving family. . . . Remaining
 Michael D. Brown   3

sexually pure helps you to be confident and truly the hard-hearted Laman and Lemuel com-
happy and improves your ability to make good plained against their father, saying he had led
decisions now and in the future. [For the Strength them out of Jerusalem “because of the fool-
of Youth (Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus ish imaginations of his heart” (1 Nephi 2:11).
Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2011), 35] Nephi’s response was to pray and ask the Lord
what His will was.
Brothers and sisters, is your heart pure?
Sexual sin, including the sin of pornography, I did cry unto the Lord; and behold he did visit
quickly leads to spiritual “heart failure.” If me, and did soften my heart that I did believe all
needed, please repent and become pure. There the words which had been spoken by my father;
is no feeling as deeply satisfying as the feel- wherefore, I did not rebel against him like unto
ing that comes with complete and honest my ­brothers. [1 Nephi 2:16]
repentance.
In the Book of Mormon Alma the Younger A beloved Primary song reminds us of
taught his sons this truth as he testified of the another example that shows the condition of
power of repentance. Speaking of the pains of Nephi’s heart:
sin and the joys that accompany repentance, he
recalled: The Lord commanded Nephi to go and build a boat.
Nephi’s older brothers believed it would not float.
I say unto you, my son, that there could be nothing Laughing and mocking, they said he should not try.
so exquisite and so bitter as were my pains. Yea, Nephi was courageous. This was his reply:
and again I say unto you, my son, that on the other
hand, there can be nothing so exquisite and sweet “I will go; I will do the thing the Lord commands.
as was my joy. [Alma 36:21] I know the Lord provides a way; he wants me
to obey.”
A Soft Heart [“Nephi’s Courage,” Children’s Songbook, 120]
A second question to ask ourselves during
our heart checkup could be “Is my heart soft?” Nephi was submissive, meek, humble, and
King Benjamin, one of the great prophet- patient. He was willing to submit to all things
kings of the Book of Mormon, taught his the Lord saw fit to inflict upon him. He had
people to “becometh as a child, submissive, a soft heart. Because of this the Lord praised
meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to and greatly blessed Nephi: “The Lord spake
submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to unto [Nephi], saying: Blessed art thou, Nephi,
inflict upon him” (Mosiah 3:19). In essence, he because of thy faith, for thou hast sought me
emphasized the importance of having a soft diligently, with lowliness of heart” (1 Nephi
heart. 2:19).
The Book of Mormon provides countless One measure of the softness of our heart is
examples of the blessings that accompany to look at the extent to which we obey BYU’s
having a soft heart and the negative conse- honor code. Soft-hearted individuals are will-
quences that result from hard-heartedness. We ing to submit themselves to all aspects of the
can learn much from the differences between Honor Code—even those portions that they
Nephi’s soft heart and Laman’s and Lemuel’s do not agree with or understand. Those who
hard hearts. choose to reject portions of an honor code that
When the Lord asked Lehi to take his family they previously agreed to observe might be
and leave Jerusalem to go into the wilderness, demonstrating symptoms of a hard heart.
4   Brigham Young University 2014–2015 Speeches

The Lord will bless each of us as we keep During the drive down my mouth watered
our hearts soft. He will strengthen us as we at the thought of having a full-blown
choose to be meek, humble, patient, and full Thanksgiving dinner with turkey, stuffing,
of love. He will lead us and guide us as we potatoes, candied yams, freshly baked rolls,
show our willingness to submit to the will and homemade pies! To top it off, the sister
and ­timing of the Lord in all things. we were visiting was an excellent cook. At the
time of our visit, she was also very pregnant
A Grateful Heart with her sixth child and due any day.
Next, as we evaluate our hearts, we can ask On Thanksgiving day Laurie’s baby decided
ourselves, “Do I have a grateful heart?” it was time to enter the world. I spent all day
Joseph Smith, in summarizing the very watching Laurie labor at home. I helped count
essence of our faith, taught, “If there is any- the time between her contractions, and my
thing virtuous, lovely, or of good report or wife and I did what we could to assist her
praiseworthy, we seek after these things” (Articles and her family. When she was whisked away
of Faith 1:13; emphasis added). It is easier to to the hospital by her husband to deliver the
feel the Spirit of the Lord, easier to feel close to baby, I knew that my hope of having a good
our Heavenly Father, easier to want to be good, Thanksgiving dinner was gone. With little
and easier to be happy when we look for the time to make dinner, those of us still at home
good in life and nurture thoughts and feelings pulled out the grill and made French toast.
of gratitude. Feeling sorry for myself, I hopped in my
I am grateful for President Gordon B. car and drove for twenty minutes through the
Hinckley’s example of finding the good and his barren New Mexico landscape to the nearest
encouragement for us to do the same. He said: town that was large enough to have restaurants.
I was determined to eat something good on
I [ask] that we stop seeking out the storms Thanksgiving. Upon entering town it quickly
and enjoy more fully the sunlight. I am suggest- became apparent that none of the restaurants
ing that as we go through life we “accentuate the were open. Every single one was closed. I drove
positive.” I [ask] that we look a little deeper for back and forth through town looking for any
the good. [“Words of the Prophet: The Spirit place that could feed such a desperate soul. The
of Optimism,” New Era, July 2001] only place I found open was an Arby’s fast-food
restaurant. As I walked into Arby’s I realized
During the fall of 1992 I was an under­ that it was completely empty. The only people
graduate student at BYU. I had been married present were the workers, and they looked at
to my wife, Daphne, for a little over a year me as if to say, “Poor you—all alone and no
when we learned she was expecting our first place to go for Thanksgiving.”
child. I was going to school year-round, slowly During the drive back to Laurie’s house
working through the challenging course work I continued to feel sorry for myself. I had no
required of a major in microbiology. Life as a money. I had no time. I had no hope of gradu-
student was difficult. There was never enough ating quickly. I was driving through the New
time and never enough money. I am sure that Mexico desert alone. And I had had a lousy
many of you can relate. Thanksgiving rolled Thanksgiving dinner.
around, and Daphne and I were excited to As I turned the car around a bend to the
have a short break. We decided to leave town south, I suddenly became aware that the colors
and travel to Fruitland, New Mexico, to visit of the landscape were changing because the
Daphne’s sister Laurie and her family. sun was setting. What I previously saw as a
 Michael D. Brown   5

barren desert I began to see as a land filled these scientists and gather ideas and tech-
with beautiful buttes, bluffs, and valleys. niques to help me in my own research.
Suddenly and unexpectedly I became filled One evening, after a long day at the confer-
and overwhelmed with the spirit of gratitude. ence, my wife and I were relaxing in an open
The Spirit washed through and over my soul area of our hotel. To my surprise, seated a few
like a warm blanket. The Holy Ghost wit- feet away was one of my favorite BYU profes-
nessed to me how incredibly blessed I really sors. Several years previously I had taken
was. I felt Him so intensely that I nearly had two classes from him. I loved this particular
to stop the car. On that lonely New Mexico professor not only because he had been an
highway I felt more powerfully than I had ever excellent teacher of microbiology but because I
previously felt the Lord’s mercy, awareness, had felt the Spirit strongly in his classes. There
and love. in the hotel I reached out to him, not expecting
As I look back on this experience, I am him to remember or recognize me.
embarrassed by my previous self-pity. I didn’t Also to my surprise, he not only recognized
deserve the incredible spiritual feelings that me but knew exactly which seat I had sat in
I felt on that day, yet the Lord in His mercy when I had been his student. I had always sat
saw fit to fill me with His love, light, and in the very back corner of the classroom. After
understanding. introducing my wife and updating him about
On that day I learned to “stop seeking out our family, I began to share my concerns about
the storms and enjoy more fully the sun- the slow progress of my research and the non-
light.” I learned to accentuate the positive and existent job market. With great anxiety in my
look more deeply for the good. I learned the voice, I asked him for advice.
importance of having a grateful heart in any He looked at me straight in the eyes and
circumstance. said, “Mike, the best way to prepare for your
future is to live by your covenants.”
An Obedient Heart As he said those words I experienced a great
Another question to ask as we appraise our moment of clarity. He was right! The best way
hearts is “Do I have an obedient heart?” to prepare for my future was to live by my
After graduating from BYU I entered covenants. Daphne and I had a great feeling of
­graduate school to study neuroscience. The first peace. We were living our covenants. We were
few years of graduate school were d ­ ifficult. I striving to be obedient in every way we knew
worked very hard in the research lab but had how. We were trying our best to be a loving
little to show for it. Results of lab experiments husband or wife. We were striving to be the
were inconsistent and progress was slow. best parents we could be to our four young
Because graduating was dependent on research children. We were serving diligently in our
productivity, I was worried that I might never church callings. We were keeping the com-
graduate. What was even more discouraging mandments, attending the temple, and living
was the job outlook at the time. Getting a job the gospel. We knew we could count on the
in my field was highly competitive, and many Lord’s blessings.
graduating PhDs couldn’t find jobs. Since that enlightening day in San Francisco,
A few years into my graduate program I have often reflected on my BYU professor’s
I attended an international scientific confer- counsel. My journal is filled with experiences
ence in San Francisco. Several thousand cell and blessings that are directly linked to my
biologists had gathered to share their research wife’s and my obedience to the covenants we
results and methods. I hoped to network with have made with the Lord.
6   Brigham Young University 2014–2015 Speeches

One of the major lessons of the Book of roommates, or with ward members? Or do we
Mormon is summarized by the Lord in the allow contention to be in our hearts? Do we
following way: “Inasmuch as ye shall keep seek to serve others while tempering our own
my commandments ye shall prosper in the needs and wants? Remember, selfishness has
land; but inasmuch as ye will not keep my no place in a Zion-like people.
commandments ye shall be cut off from my President Hinckley taught:
­presence” (2 Nephi 1:20).
I offer you the same advice I received but If we are to build that Zion of which the
with my own witness: The best way to prepare ­prophets have spoken and of which the Lord has
for your future is to live by your covenants! The given mighty promise, we must set aside our con-
Lord promises to support, guide, and direct suming selfishness. We must rise above our love for
those who follow Him. An obedient heart comfort and ease, and in the very process of effort
tethers our will to the Lord’s and allows us to and struggle, even in our extremity, we shall become
draw upon the powers of heaven as we walk better acquainted with our God. [“Our Mission of
through life. Saving,” Ensign, November 1991]

Of One Heart As we strive to be Saints of God and choose

A final question to raise as we consider our to follow our Savior Jesus Christ, let us reach
hearts is “Are we as individuals, families, and out in love and service to one another. May we
neighbors of one heart?” notice and nurture the good in each other. As
When the prophet Enoch lived on the earth, we do so, we will become of one heart.
“the Lord called his people Zion, because they
were of one heart and one mind” (Moses 7:18). An Honest Assessment
Remember what happened in the Americas Let us review the central questions to ask
following the Savior’s visit: ourselves as we perform an honest assessment
of our hearts:
And it came to pass that there was no contention
in the land, because of the love of God which did • Is my heart pure?
dwell in the hearts of the people. • Is my heart soft?
And there were no envyings, nor strifes, nor • Do I have a grateful heart?
tumults, nor whoredoms, nor lyings, nor murders, • Do I have an obedient heart?
nor any manner of lasciviousness; and surely there • Are we of one heart?
could not be a happier people among all the people
who had been created by the hand of God. As we consider the answers to these ques-
There were no robbers, nor murderers, neither tions, the Lord will prompt each of us through
were there Lamanites, nor any manner of -ites; but His Spirit. We will recognize more fully and
they were in one, the children of Christ, and heirs more completely our talents and strengths. We
to the kingdom of God. [4 Nephi 1:15–17; empha- may be prompted to make specific changes.
sis added] Submissively making these changes will bring
us closer to the Lord.
Brothers and sisters, we are a blessed I testify of the importance and power of the
­ eople. It is a wonderful privilege to have
p Lord’s Atonement and of His ability to change
the Light of Christ and the restored gospel hearts. I am grateful for His love, patience, and
in our lives. Are we seeking to live with one mercy. I love Him and know He is my Savior.
heart in our marriages and families, with our
 Michael D. Brown   7

With all my heart I desire to do His will and to sees. I pray that He will pour out His blessings
be more like Him. upon us as we strive to become more like Him
As the Lord looks on each of our hearts, in thought, word, and deed. In the name of
I pray that He will be pleased with what He Jesus Christ, amen.