They Did Humble Themselves Before the Lord and Did Shed Tears of Joy

Bryan Richards
"Recognizing the blessings of the Lord in one's life brings a sense of gratitude and humility. As a person ponders the workings of the Lord in his life, he may be filled with a sense of awe and wonder and a feeling of overwhelming love for the Lord. When the heart is softened by gratitude and humility and the mind is quickened by a recognition of God's hand, the Spirit of the Lord fills the soul with joy even to tears. President Ezra Taft Benson declared: 'Spiritual promptings move us on occasion to great joy, sometimes to tears.... The Holy Ghost causes our feelings to be more tender. We feel more charitable and compassionate. We are calmer. We have a greater capacity to love.' (Come Unto Christ, p. 20.) The 'tender mercies of the Lord' are manifested in our lives both in temporal and spiritual ways. We experience his tender mercy through his forgiveness of our sins and the transformation of our lives through his grace. We are protected and blessed in temporal ways by his ever-watchful loving-kindness and care. When we recognize and experience these temporal spiritual mercies of the Lord we are indeed filled with joy-a joy that, as Ammon declared, borders on 'boasting' or 'glorying' in the goodness of God (see Alma 26:12-16)." (McConkie, Millet, and Top, Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon, vol. 4, p. 287)

GospelDoctrine.Com

References