A Glimpse Into A Pure Heart

Have you ever thought about what would happen if suddenly there were thousands of refugees seeking help in your neighborhood? Would you open your door? Better still would you open your pantry? I’ve thought about it a lot and hoped I would, but reading Mosiah 25 showed me what a group of righteous people did.

The people were living in Zarahemla about four years after the famous speech by King Benjamin when the people repented to the point that they experienced the mighty change of heart. At this time the people from Helam who were led by Alma and the people from Lehi-Nephi who were led by Limhi escaped captivity by sneaking past sleeping guards and made their way to Zarahemla. We don’t know how many people there were but between the two groups it would be safe to estimate they numbered in the thousands. So we have thousands of people converging on a city needing food, homes, land to grow crops, and many other things. But instead of complaining or selfishly sending them away the people of Zarahemla opened their homes and hearts to the refugees.

In Mosiah 25:8-11 we discover that upon the arrival of the strangers, “they were filled with exceedingly great joy.” When they heard the story of the adversity the newcomers had suffered they were “filled with sorrow, and even shed many tears of sorrow,” for those who had lost their lives. But the amazing thing is that they “raised their voices and gave thanks to God” for helping their brethren. How many times have we given thanks for the good fortune that befalls someone else?

This is a beautiful insight into the hearts and behavior of a righteous people. I love reading it and coming to understand more what the Lord means when He encourages us to be a Zion people.