Stand for the And

“Stand for the AND”

This statement is often heard within the personal develop world concerning the power of the mind, believing you can receive both items (things, service, place, etc.) you desire rather than one or the other. I’d like to look at this statement in a scriptural context.

When Oliver Cowdery asked the Lord if he could have help “concerning the engravings of old records” the Lord answered, “I will tell you in your mind and in your heart, by the Holy Ghost.” (D&C 8:2, emphasis added) Christ asked him to feel the answer in his “mind” AND his “heart.”

“Mind” can be substituted for anything found on the head, for example, “My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.” (Psalm 49:3, emphasis added) or “The multitude did hear and do bear record; and their hearts were open and they did understand in their hearts the words which he prayed” (3 Nephi 19:33, emphasis added) The mind is associated with seeing, hearing and speaking and also with reason, intellect and knowledge.

When speaking of understanding you’ll often find the word “heart” as in this proverb, “So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding” (Proverbs 2:2, emphasis added)

David Bednar said, “When the Holy Ghost confirms in our hearts as true what we know in our minds, understanding occurs…A confirming spiritual witness in our hearts concerning the truth of what we have come to know in our minds is obtained through the process of revelation.”

When Nephi was commanded to build a ship his brothers lacked the faith necessary to do the task and began to murmur. Nephi talked to them about the importance of reason (mind) and revelation (heart.)

“Ye are swift to do iniquity but slow to remember the Lord your God. Ye have seen an angel, and he spake unto you; yea, ye have heard his voice from time to time; and hath spoken unto you in a still small voice, but ye were past feeling, that ye could not feel his words.” (1 Nephi 17:45) Laman and Lemuel had received the knowledge but had not “applied their hearts to understanding” (Mosiah 12:27.) They were blessed with knowledge, but had not allowed their feelings to penetrate their hearts. They did not “Stand for the And” and allow God to reveal a spiritual witness into their minds and their hearts with understanding.

The Holy Ghost speaks to us in our minds and hearts. Satan can mimic the feelings of the mind and of the heart, but he can not do them at the same time. Only the Holy Ghost can bring a witness to both the heart and the mind. So “Stand for the And” and receive the revelation God is waiting to give you in your mind and in your heart.