James 1:5. “If any of you lack wisdom”
Elder Bruce R. McConkie of the
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles described the unique significance of James 1:5
for Latter-day Saints:
“This single verse of scripture has
had a greater impact and a more far reaching effect upon mankind than any other
single sentence ever recorded by any prophet in any age. It might well be said
that the crowning act of the ministry of James was not his martyrdom for the
testimony of Jesus, but his recitation, as guided by the Holy Ghost,
of these simple words which led to the opening of the heavens in modern times.
“And it might well be added that
every investigator of revealed truth stands, at some time in the course of his
search, in the place where Joseph Smith
stood. He must turn to the Almighty and gain wisdom from God by revelation if
he is to gain a place on that strait and narrow path which leads to eternal
life” (Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 3 vols. [1965–73], 3:246–47).
Elder M. Russell Ballard of the
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles emphasized the importance of asking of God in our
day:
“Today we live in a world in which
people don’t ask of God—they seem to want to ask of Google. Even when it comes
to questions of faith, there are many who trust the Internet to provide
accurate, fair, and balanced answers to their questions more than they trust
the ultimate source of truth, our Heavenly Father. …
“… Today the Internet is full
of those lying in wait to deceive the uninformed and inexperienced.
“In our search for gospel truth, we
not only need to find reliable sources but we also need to give the Lord equal
time in our daily pursuits. We need to study the scriptures and the words of
the Lord’s servants. We need to be living right before God—we need to be doing
His will [see John
7:16–17]. And we can never overstate the importance of taking our
spiritual concerns directly to God and trusting His inspiration and guidance”
(“Women of Dedication, Faith, Determination, and Action” [address given at
Brigham Young University Women’s Conference, May 1, 2015], ce.byu.edu/cw/womensconference).
James 1:6. “Ask in faith”
Elder David A. Bednar of the
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained what it means to ask in faith:
“The classic example of asking in
faith is Joseph Smith and the First Vision. As young Joseph was seeking to know
the truth about religion, he read [James 1:5–6]. …
“Please notice the requirement to
ask in faith, which I understand to mean the necessity to not only express but
to do, the dual obligation to both plead and to perform, the requirement to
communicate and to act” (“Ask in Faith,”
Ensign or Liahona, May 2008, 94).
James 1:14; 4:7–8. Resisting temptation
Elder Richard G. Scott of the
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:
“When you have taken a determined
stand for right, when you have established personal standards and made
covenants to keep them, when temptations come and you act according to your
standards, you will be reinforced and given strength beyond your own capacity
if that is needed. Difficulty comes when you enter the battle of temptation
without a fixed plan” (“Do What Is Right,”
Ensign, June 1997, 53).
President Boyd K. Packer of the
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said:
“If you can control your thoughts,
you can overcome habits, even degrading personal habits. If you can learn to
master them you will have a happy life. …
“Once you learn to clear the stage
of your mind from unworthy thoughts, keep it busy with learning worthwhile
things. Change your environment so that you have things about you that will
inspire good and uplifting thoughts. Keep busy with things that are righteous”
(“Inspiring
Music—Worthy Thoughts,” Ensign, Jan. 1974, 28).
James 2:19-20. True faith
Elder David A. Bednar of the
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles:
“True faith is focused in and on the
Lord Jesus Christ and always leads to righteous action. … Action alone is not
faith in the Savior, but acting in accordance with correct principles is a
central component of faith” (“Ask in Faith,”
Ensign or Liahona, May 2008, 95).
James 3:2. Offend not in word
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles warned of the dangers of speaking negatively and
spoke of the need to be more positive in our speech:
“I suppose it goes without saying
that negative speaking so often flows from negative thinking, including
negative thinking about ourselves. We see our own faults, we speak—or at least
think—critically of ourselves, and before long that is how we see everyone and
everything. No sunshine, no roses, no promise of hope or happiness. Before long
we and everybody around us are miserable.
“… We should honor the Savior’s
declaration to ‘be of good cheer’ [Matthew 14:27;
Mark
6:50; John 16:33].
(Indeed, it seems to me we may be more guilty of breaking that commandment than
almost any other!) Speak hopefully. Speak encouragingly, including about
yourself. Try not to complain and moan incessantly” (“The Tongue of
Angels,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2007, 17–18).
James 3:7-12. Tongue of Angels
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles:
“Obviously, James doesn’t mean our
tongues are always iniquitous, nor that everything we say is ‘full of deadly
poison.’ But he clearly means that at least some things we say can be
destructive, even venomous—and that is a chilling indictment for a Latter-day
Saint! The voice that bears profound testimony, utters fervent prayer, and sings
the hymns of Zion can be the same voice that berates and criticizes,
embarrasses and demeans, inflicts pain and destroys the spirit of oneself and
of others in the process. …
“… May we try to be ‘perfect’
men and women in at least this one way now—by offending not in word, or more
positively put, by speaking with a new tongue, the tongue of angels. Our words,
like our deeds, should be filled with faith and hope and charity, the three
great Christian imperatives so desperately needed in the world today. With such
words, spoken under the influence of the Spirit, tears can be dried, hearts can
be healed, lives can be elevated, hope can return, confidence can prevail” (“The
Tongue of Angels,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2007, 16, 18).
James 4:8. “Cleanse your hands … and purify your hearts”
Elder David A. Bednar of the
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained how we can have clean hands and a pure
heart:
“Hands are made clean through the
process of putting off the natural man and by overcoming sin and the evil
influences in our lives through the Savior’s Atonement. Hearts are purified as
we receive His strengthening power to do good and become better” (“Clean Hands
and a Pure Heart,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2007, 82).
James 5:15. The prayer of faith
Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles:
“As we exercise the undoubted power
of the priesthood of God and as we treasure His promise that He will hear and
answer the prayer of faith, we must always remember that faith and the healing
power of the priesthood cannot produce a result contrary to the will of Him
whose priesthood it is. …
“… Even the servants of the
Lord, exercising His divine power in a circumstance where there is sufficient
faith to be healed, cannot give a priesthood blessing that will cause a person
to be healed if that healing is not the will of the Lord.
“As children of God, knowing of His
great love and His ultimate knowledge of what is best for our eternal welfare,
we trust in Him. The first principle of the gospel is faith in the Lord Jesus
Christ, and faith means trust. … I felt that same trust in the words of the
father of [a] choice girl whose life was taken by cancer in her teen years. He
declared, ‘Our family’s faith is in Jesus Christ and is not dependent on
outcomes.’ Those teachings ring true to me. We do all that we can for the
healing of a loved one, and then we trust in the Lord for the outcome” (“Healing
the Sick,” 50).
James 5:15. “If he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him”
Elder Bruce R. McConkie of the
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained the connection between the healing of
the sick and the forgiveness of sin:
“The person who by faith, devotion,
righteousness, and personal worthiness, is in a position to be healed, is also
in a position to have the justifying approval of the Spirit for his course of
life, and his sins are forgiven him, as witnessed by the fact that he receives
the companionship of the Spirit, which he could not have if he were unworthy” (Mormon
Doctrine, 2nd ed. [1966], 297–98).
James 5:20. “Hide a multitude of sins”
“James taught that when a sinner is
converted and receives the ordinances of salvation, his sins are
‘hidden’—covered or forgiven—through the Atonement of Jesus Christ and he is
saved from spiritual death” (New Testament Student Manual [Church Educational
System manual, 2014], 499).
Likewise, the one who helps another
person become converted to the gospel of Jesus Christ also receives great
blessings. President Spencer W. Kimball taught the following:
“Through this missionary work of
saving souls of others, one comes to the point of bringing salvation and
sanctification to himself. …
“The proper motivation for
missionary work of any kind, as for all Church service, is of course love for
fellowmen, but always such work has its by-product effect on one’s own life.
Thus, as we become instruments in God’s hands in changing the lives of others
our own lives cannot help being lifted. One can hardly help another to the top
of the hill without climbing there himself” (The Miracle of Forgiveness
[1969], 205).
