THINK AS CHRIST
What kinds of thoughts do you feel the Savior thought? Do your thoughts
affect your attitude? What can you do to improve your thoughts?
Isaiah 55:8-9
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Christ thinks at a
higher, more spiritual level than we tend to. His thoughts are pure and
unselfish. He thinks like God, the Father.
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Acts 8:22
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We can be forgiven even
for the thoughts we think
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2 Corinthians 10:5
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Put aside pride and think
obedient thoughts
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Mosiah 4:30
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Watch even your thoughts,
that they are pure
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Alma 37:36
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Even our thoughts will
condemn us.
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D&C 6:36
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Every thought should be
of Christ – then we will not doubt or fear.
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1 Chronicles 28:9,
Psalms 139:2
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The Lord understands all
our thoughts.
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Job 42:2
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No thought we think can
be withheld from the Lord
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D&C 121:45
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Virtue must garnish our
thoughts
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D&C 88:69
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Cast away your idle
(unproductive) thoughts
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THINK AS CHRIST QUOTES
ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURES
Proverbs 12:5; 15:26
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Righteous thoughts and words
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James 1:12–27
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God does not tempt us to do evil
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Jacob 3:1–2
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Purity of heart and firmness of mind
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D&C 6:16
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God knows thoughts and intents of the
heart
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D&C 6:36
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Direct thoughts to God
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Proverbs 23:7
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As a man thinketh-so is he
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Alma 12:14
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Even our thoughts will condemn us
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Philippians 4:8
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These are the things we should think
about
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THOUGHT AND CHARACTER
“If our thoughts make us what we are, and we are to be like Christ,
then we must think Christlike thoughts… We are accountable for our thoughts and
what we think about. Our thoughts should be on the Lord. We should think on
Christ… Walking in His way is the greatest achievement of life. That man or
woman is most truly successful whose life most closely parallels that of the
Master. ”[1]
“Act is the blossom of thought, and joy and suffering are its fruits;
thus does a woman garner in the sweet and bitter fruitage of her own
husbandry.”[2]
“Thoughts are the tools with which we shape our character, just as
truly as a great sculptor with chisel and mallet chips and chips on the rough marble
until it’s shaped … into … a splendid and perfect work of art. Just so every
thought is shaping our character and, consequently, shaping our destiny and our
lives. Therefore the result is, in all our thoughts, the creation of a
character”[3]
“A noble and God-like character is not a thing of favor or chance, but
is the natural result of continued effort in right thinking, the effect of
long-cherished association with God-like thought… A woman is made or unmade by
herself; … she… fashions the tools with which she builds for herself heavenly
mansions of joy and strength and peace. By the right choice and true
application of thought, a woman ascends to the Divine Perfection…”[4]
“…a woman is the master of her thought, the moulder of her character,
and the maker and shaper of her condition, environment and destiny. As a being
of Power, Intelligence, and Love, and the lord of her own thoughts, woman holds
the key to every situation, and contains within herself that transforming and
regenerative agency by which she may make herself what she wills.”[5]
“‘Tell me what you think about when you do not have to think, and I
will tell you what you are.’ Latter-day Saints have the responsibility of
thinking pure thoughts, of cherishing high ideals. As long as they do, their
actions will be in accordance with those ideals”[6]
“Sow a thought, reap an act, Sow an act, reap a habit, Sow a habit,
reap a character, Sow a character, reap an eternal destiny”[7]
“Dr. Karl G. Maeser one day stood up and said, ‘Not only will you be
held accountable for the things you do, but you will be held responsible for
the very thoughts you think… You will be what you think about—what you
consistently allow to occupy the stage of your mind.”[8]
“Ideas, concepts, and images in a person’s mind. The power to think is
a gift from God, and we are free to choose how we use our power to think. The
way we think greatly affects attitudes and behavior, as well as our standing
after this life. Righteous thoughts lead to salvation; wicked thoughts lead to
damnation.”[9]
THOUGHT
AND CIRCUMSTANCES
TYPES OF THOUGHTS } HABIT } CIRCUMSTANCE
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THOUGHT
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BEAUTIFUL
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PURE
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COURAGE,
SELF-RELIANCE, DECISION
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ENERGETIC
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GENTLE,
FORGIVING
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LOVING,
UNSELFISH
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HABIT
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Grace & kindliness
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Temperance & self-control
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Womanly habits
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Cleanliness & Industry
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Gentleness
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Self-forgetfulness for others
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CIRCUMSTANCE
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Genial &
sunny
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Repose &
Peace
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Success, plenty,
freedom
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Pleasantness
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Protective &
preservative
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Sure and abiding prosperity and true
riches[10]
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“Just as a
gardener cultivates her plot, keeping it free from weeds, and growing the
flowers and fruits which she requires, so may a woman tend the garden of her
mind, weeding out all the wrong, useless, and impure thoughts, and cultivating
toward perfection the flowers and fruits of right, useful, and pure thoughts.
By pursuing this process, a woman sooner or later discovers that she is the
master gardener of her soul, the director of her life.” [11]
TYPES OF THOUGHTS } HABIT } CIRCUMSTANCE
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THOUGHT
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Bestial
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Impure
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Fear,
doubt & indecision
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Lazy
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Hateful
& condemnatory
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Selfish
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HABIT
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Drunkenness & sensuality
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Enervating & confusing habits
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Weak, unwomanly, irresolute habits
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Uncleanliness & dishonesty
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Accusation and violence
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Self-seeking
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CIRCUMSTANCE
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Destitution & disease
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Distracting & adverse
circumstances
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Failure, indigence, slavish dependence
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Foulness & beggary
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Injury and persecution
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Distressing[12]
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“Circumstance does not make the
woman; it reveals her to herself… ”[13]
“Women imagine that thought can
be kept secret, but it cannot; it rapidly crystallized into habit, and habit
solidifies into circumstances. …
“Women do not attract that which
they want, but that which they are. Their whims, fancies, and ambitions
are thwarted at every step, but their inmost thoughts and desires are fed with
their own food, be it foul or clean. The “divinity that shapes our ends” is in
ourselves; it is our very self. Woman is manacled only by herself: thought and
action are the gaolers of Fate – they imprison, being base; they are also the
angels of Freedom – they liberate, being noble. Not what she wishes and prays
for does a woman get, but what she justly earns. Her wishes and prayers are
only gratified and answered when they harmonize with her thoughts and actions.”[14]
“Good thoughts and actions can
never produce bad results; bad thoughts and actions can never produce good
results…. Suffering is always the
effect of wrong though in some direction. It is an indication that the
individual is out of harmony with herself, with the Law of her being. The sole
and supreme use of suffering is to purify, to burn out all that is useless and
impure. Suffering ceases for the one who is pure. There could be no object in
burning gold after the dross had been removed, and a perfectly pure and
enlightened being could not suffer.”[15]
“A woman only begins to be a
woman when she ceases to whine and revile, and commences to search for the
hidden justice which regulates her life. And as she adapts her mind to that
regulating factor, she ceases to accuse others as the cause of her condition,
and builds herself up in strong and noble thoughts; ceases to kick against
circumstances, but begins to use them as aids to her more rapid progress, and
as a means of discovering the hidden powers and possibilities within herself.”[16]
“Clean thoughts, high ideals, thinking of love in the true sense,
temperance, helpfulness, cheerfulness, all are principles that will contribute
to development of character. Thinking of self, harboring ill will against a
neighbor, thinking of some opportunity to gratify appetite by smoking or
drinking, will lead the individual to commit those things”[17]
THOUGHT
AND PURPOSE
“A woman should conceive of a legitimate purpose in her heart, and set out
to accomplish it. She should make this purpose the centralizing point of her
thoughts. It may take the form of a spiritual ideal, or it may be a worldly
object according to her nature at the time being; but whichever it is, she
should steadily focus her thought- forces upon the object which she has set
before her. She should make this purpose her supreme duty, and should devote
herself to its attainment, not allowing her thoughts to wander away into
ephemeral fancies, longings, and imaginings. This is the royal road to
self-control and true concentration of thought. …the strength of character
gained will be the measure of her true success, and this will form a new
starting-point for future power and triumph.”[18]
“Our thoughts influence our actions. Pure thoughts and desires lead to
righteous living. Evil thoughts cause us to lose the Spirit of the Lord and can
lead us to do evil. To keep our minds clean, we should always strive to think
about the things of God. We should ponder the truths of the gospel and pray
constantly. As we do these things, we are promised great blessings. The Lord
has promised: “Let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy
confidence wax strong in the presence of God. … The Holy Ghost shall be thy
constant companion””[19]
Clean
Thoughts
Our thoughts, even fleeting ones, can seem
an insignificant part of our day. But, in reality, our thoughts eventually
determine our characters. Proverbs 23:7 [Prov. 23:7] says, “For as [a man]
thinketh in his heart, so is he.” And, for those who are striving to be like
the Savior, being pure in heart and mind is a must. Here are some helpful tips
from the New Era and New Era readers on how to keep your thoughts pure:
• Indulging in
impure thoughts can lead to hard-to-break thought patterns. Reject a bad
thought as soon as it comes into your mind, and it will be easier to do so the
next time.
• “Let virtue
garnish [your] thoughts unceasingly” (D&C 121:45). Think good thoughts to
crowd out the impure ones.
• Avoid watching,
listening to, or reading any material that contains profanity, swearing, pornography,
or other improper content.
• Make sure you
choose your surroundings carefully and that your activities inspire good
thoughts.
• Surround yourself
with good friends who uphold Church standards.
• Pray. The Lord can
help you overcome any problem you have, including unclean thoughts.
• Singing a hymn
will elevate your thoughts. You could memorize a hymn you can turn to when you
need to get rid of a bad thought.
• Your speech
reflects your thoughts, so a pure mind will also help you to keep your language
clean. Remove yourself from situations where people are gossiping or using
profane or vulgar language.
• If you’re having
trouble controlling your thoughts, imagine that the stage of your mind is
always on a movie screen that everyone can see. Don’t think anything that might
make you blush.
• Keep your thoughts
clean to help you stay morally clean. Unclean thoughts make giving in to
temptation much easier.
• Live so that you
can be in tune with the Spirit. To receive the guidance of the Holy Ghost, our
minds need to be pure and ready to accept Him.30
THOUGHT
AND ACHIEVEMENT
“She who has conquered weakness, and has put away all selfish thoughts,
belongs neither to oppressor nor oppressed. She is free.”[20]
“There can be no progress, no achievement without sacrifice, and a
woman’s worldly success will be in the measure that she sacrifices her confused
animal thoughts, and fixes her mind on the development of her plans, and the
strengthening of her resolution and self-reliance. And the higher she lifts her
thoughts, the more womanly, upright, and righteous she becomes, the greater
will be her success, the more blessed and enduring will be her achievements.”[21]
“Spiritual achievements are the consummation of holy aspirations. She
who lives constantly in the conception of noble and lofty thoughts, who dwells
upon all that is pure and unselfish, will, as surely as the sun reaches its
zenith and the moon its full, become wise and noble in character, as rise into
a position of influence and blessedness.”[22]
“We should treat our minds like a storehouse of good things, and we
will find no room for anything else. Look for good thoughts in the scriptures.
They offer peace, knowledge, warning, advice, history, poetry, and other things
to enrich the mind. The Church magazines offer uplifting articles and stories
for our enjoyment and learning. A healthy mind is always working. We need to
keep our minds busy planning and thinking. We should try to focus on positive
ideas. When we are motivated by good thoughts, there is no limit to the success
we may achieve in this life and the world hereafter. The Holy Ghost can help us
control our thoughts. When we listen to His promptings, we can control our
thoughts, words, and actions. We should pray for the help of the Holy Ghost.”[23]
“She who would accomplish
little must sacrifice little; she who would achieve much must sacrifice much;
she who would attain highly must sacrifice greatly.”[24]
“If we are pondering in our hearts the things of righteousness, we
shall become righteous”[25]
"Our motives and thoughts ultimately influence our actions. Jesus
repeatedly emphasized the power of good thoughts and proper motives: 'Look unto
me in every thought; doubt not, fear not' (D&C 6:36).”[26]
THOUGHT
AND INTEGRITY
“Integrity
means thinking and doing what is right at all times, no matter what the
consequences. When you have integrity, you are willing to live by your
standards and beliefs even when no one is watching. Choose to live so that your
thoughts and behavior are always in harmony with the gospel.”[27]
“I now turn to
mastery of our own private thoughts. In this realm, conscience is the only
referee that can blow the whistle when we get out of control. If not bridled,
our thoughts can run wild. Our minds are a part of us that really require
discipline and control. I believe reading the scriptures is the best washing
machine for unclean or uncontrolled thoughts. For those who are eligible and
worthy, the sanctity of the holy temple can lift our thoughts above the earthy.”[28]
“I have come
to know that thoughts, like water, will stay on course if we make a place for
them to go. Otherwise our thoughts follow the course of least resistance,
always seeking the lower levels.”[29]
THINK AS CHRIST - ADDITIONAL NOTES
[1] Ezra Taft Benson, Ensign, March 1989, Think on Christ
[2] “As a Woman Thinketh” based on James Allen’s Classic
‘As a Man Thinketh’ Transcribed for women by Dorothy J Hulst, 5
[3] George Q. Morris, The Importance of Habits, Brigham
Young University Speeches of the Year [20 May 1953], 2
[4] “As a Woman Thinketh” based on James Allen’s Classic
‘As a Man Thinketh’ Transcribed for women by Dorothy J Hulst, 6
[5] “As a Woman Thinketh” based on James Allen’s Classic
‘As a Man Thinketh’ Transcribed for women by Dorothy J Hulst, 7
[6] David O McKay“Cleanliness Is Next to Godliness,”
Instructor, Mar. 1965, 86
[7] William Makepeace Thackeray, quoted by David O. McKay
in Treasures of Life [1962], 418
[8] Ezra Taft Benson, Ensign, March 1989, Think on Christ
[9] Guide to the Scriptures ‘Thoughts’
[10] “As a Woman Thinketh” based on James Allen’s Classic
‘As a Man Thinketh’ Transcribed for women by Dorothy J Hulst, 30
[11] “As a Woman Thinketh” based on James Allen’s Classic
‘As a Man Thinketh’ Transcribed for women by Dorothy J Hulst, 10-11
[12] “As a Woman Thinketh” based on James Allen’s Classic
‘As a Man Thinketh’ Transcribed for women by Dorothy J Hulst, 28-29
[13] “As a Woman Thinketh” based on James Allen’s Classic
‘As a Man Thinketh’ Transcribed for women by Dorothy J Hulst, 16
[14] “As a Woman Thinketh” based on James Allen’s Classic
‘As a Man Thinketh’ Transcribed for women by Dorothy J Hulst, 17
[15] “As a Woman Thinketh” based on James Allen’s Classic
‘As a Man Thinketh’ Transcribed for women by Dorothy J Hulst, 24-25
[16] “As a Woman Thinketh” based on James Allen’s Classic
‘As a Man Thinketh’ Transcribed for women by Dorothy J Hulst, 26-27
[17] David O McKay“Cleanliness Is Next to Godliness,”
Instructor, Mar. 1965, 86
[18] “As a Woman Thinketh” based on James Allen’s Classic
‘As a Man Thinketh’ Transcribed for women by Dorothy J Hulst, 39-40
[19] Duties and Blessings of the Priesthood Basic Manual,
Part B, Lesson 32: Purity of Thought
[20] “As a Woman Thinketh” based on James Allen’s Classic
‘As a Man Thinketh’ Transcribed for women by Dorothy J Hulst, 46
[21] “As a Woman Thinketh” based on James Allen’s Classic
‘As a Man Thinketh’ Transcribed for women by Dorothy J Hulst, 47-48
[22] “As a Woman Thinketh” based on James Allen’s Classic
‘As a Man Thinketh’ Transcribed for women by Dorothy J Hulst, 49
[23] The Latter-day Saint Woman Basic Manual for Women,
Part B, Lesson 9: Purity of Thought
[24] “As a Woman Thinketh” based on James Allen’s Classic
‘As a Man Thinketh’ Transcribed for women by Dorothy J Hulst, 51
[26] Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Your Right to Choose the
Right," New Era, Aug. 2005, 6
[27] For the Strength of Youth, 19
[29] Boyd K Packer, “Inspiring Music – Worthy Thoughts”,
Ensign, Jan 1974
30 “Idea List: Clean Thoughts” New Era, Feb 2001
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