“They Brought Upon Themselves the Curse”

Just as obedience and righteousness bring blessings, so wickedness and rebellion result in cursings. . . . Cursings are the opposite of blessings, and the greater the opportunity given a people to earn blessings, the more severe will be the cursings heaped upon them, if they do not measure up and gain the proffered rewards. (Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, p. 175.) Essentially we bring the cursings of God upon ourselves whenever we fail to qualify for the blessings- the protecting power of the Almighty and the guidance and direction of his Spirit.

“A Pure Heart and Clean Hands”

Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place? the ancient psalmist asked. And in response he wrote: “He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul onto vanity nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.” (Psalms 24:3-5.) Elder Dallin H. Oaks has written: “If we do righteous acts and refrain from evil acts, we have clean hands. If we act for the right motives and if we refrain from forbidden desires and attitudes, we have pure hearts.” (Pure in Heart, p. 1.)

Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon, Vol. 3

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