The Power of Words

When I was in college, a friend of mine told me (as a compliment), “If you had a superpower it would be that you can mock anyone into submission.” I remember that compliment stinging me then, it continues to stand as a reminder to me today. 

I was reminded of this not-so-pleasant memory as I read Mosiah 27 this week. Unlike Alma the younger, I don’t know that I ever mastered flattery, but I know that I caused anguish and contention, “giving a chance for the enemy of God to exercise his power over them.” (Mosiah 27:9) 

As I’ve grown older, I’ve come to recognize not only the pain that words can bring, but that the pain is usually being piled on top of other pains individuals are trying to endure and work through. I consider the words of Elder Eyring, “When you meet someone, treat them as if they were in serious trouble, and you will be right more than half the time.”

This was a hard lesson to learn and I want to believe it helped me improve, however, what I know changed me was learning that Jesus Christ is my Savior. I empathize with Alma the younger as I consider Mosiah 27:19, right after an angel of the Lord appeared to Alma. This angel not only brings Alma to an awareness of his sins but to an awareness of Jesus Christ as his Savior.

“And now the astonishment of Alma was so great that he became dumb, that he could not open his mouth.”

Alma’s powers came from his mouth, leading away the hearts of the people. I don’t believe it’s coincidental that he’s made dumb. I don’t know if it was God’s power that made Alma dumb, or as I’ve found in my life, my own awareness that stopped me from speaking. The question is, why would knowledge of Jesus Christ change the way we speak?

When I started truly feeling the effects of the atonement, I found increased peace and joy in my life. Repentance brings peace and joy. The atonement of Jesus Christ brings peace and joy. The savior endured unimaginable pain to give us this gift. When I use this gift, I feel loved, I feel peace, I feel joy, and I have an increased desire for others to feel the same feelings. 

As I begin considering my desire to help others, I’m reminded of the words in James 3:10-13:

10 - Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

11 - Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?

12 - Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.

13 - Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.”

In order to act with meekness, you must first look to God for understanding. That is why I became dumb after learning about Jesus Christ, I had relied on my own intellect for so long, that I had no words to speak. I didn’t yet possess the words which were founded in the meekness of wisdom, words founded in Jesus Christ. 

I continue to seek to understand this, but I feel like God is providing me greater insight as I continue to try. Some of this insight is a greater understanding of the power of words. I was brought to an awareness that I have had prayers answered. I have given blessings that have healed, comforted, and brought understanding. Words have changed my life, especially the words of God. 

Elder Holland has helped shape the goal for me, 

“In his deeply moving final testimony, Nephi calls us to “follow the Son [of God], with full purpose of heart,” promising that “after ye have … received the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost, [ye] can speak with a new tongue, yea, even with the tongue of angels. … And … how could ye speak with the tongue of angels save it were by the Holy Ghost? Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ.” Indeed, Christ was and is “the Word,” according to John the Beloved,11 full of grace and truth, full of mercy and compassion.”

As a parent, these lessons are manifest daily. I recognize that when I speak with love and gentleness toward my wife and my sons, our home contains greater peace. When I am sarcastic or critical, our home isn’t as peaceful. What’s more troubling and exciting is that I’ve started realizing that when I show love and gentleness my boys follow, when I am sarcastic and critical my boys follow. 

If Jesus Christ was full of grace and truth, full of mercy and compassion, that is my goal. I’m striving for my words to be words of grace and truth, words of mercy and compassion.