The Importance of Words

This is a subject about which I have a constantly running inner monologue.

That is, the importance of words in our development as human and spiritual beings. Words seem insignificant-- we use them all day, every day. We use them to describe everything, from the most mundane aspects of life to the most sublime. And often when it comes to those most sublime moments, we lack the words to describe our feelings about them. However, under the surface of that, it is (at least for most of us) through words that we come to understand and experience the world. It is no coincidence in my view that God said that he created the world by issuing forth his word. And it is also no coincidence that one of the names God gives himself is "The Word." It is through words that we can draw near unto Him when we pray, and it is through words that we make sacred covenants together with God. He defines our relationship with him through the words Father, Son, Child, Holy, Divine, Brother, and Savior.

From the time we are tiny infants, we have a strong need to develop language skills to help us to gain more information about our environments. We use words to name things, to label them, to give them a story that matches our understanding. Through language we can express our wants and our needs. We also come to understand ourselves through a narrative. At least in my own experience, I have a need to have a life's story. I need to understand myself and I can only do so by examining my past narratives. What do I choose to retain? How do I choose to define myself in the words that my language and culture gives me? What stories about myself do I hold on to as being my stories? Are these the right things for me to hold on to?

We do the same with others, assuming that the words that we use to describe them (even to ourselves) are true, often without even questioning the veracity or charity of the words we select to describe them and the narratives that we place on people's lives. And then we sort ourselves in relation to others based on these words and narratives.

My challenge to myself is to examine this part of my mind and heart and think about the "self-talk" I have going on constantly. I desire to recognize the need to be charitable and to see myself and others the way God does. If only we could believe in the vision and perception God has of us as individuals and families, how different would we be? What language would we use if we truly viewed each other as "Beloved spirit sons or daughters of heavenly parents...each [with] a divine nature and destiny?" (From the Proclamation on the Family)

I have thought lately that while there is much to be learned from the Book of Mormon, and it is possible that the most important lesson that the Book of Mormon has to teach us is that perfect charity is possible. After the time when Christ visited the Nephites, Mormon recorded,

"And it came to pass that there was no contention in the land, because of the love of God which did dwell in the hearts of the people...and surely there could not be a happier people among all the people who had been created by the hand of God." 4 Nephi 1: 15-16

The love of God dwelt in the hearts of the people because they came to understand themselves through Christ's teachings. Note throughout 3rd Nephi how often the references are made to "words."

In the April 2007 conference, Apostle Jeffrey R. Holland spoke on this subject with much eloquence. He stated, "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."