The Lord Looketh on the Heart

The message by Elder Ronald M. Barcellos, titled The Lord Looketh on the Heart, was a message I needed. I feel like it was similar in tone to other messages in recent years that the Spirit has really been trying to teach me. He talked about the heart – specifically about the condition of our hearts and how we can improve their strength.

The more I have dived into this in recent years, the more it has become apparent to me that I have treated, at times, gospel living as somewhat “mechanical” (to use a term that Elder Barcellos shared). I am a natural rule-keeper. I don’t ask why. I trust that rules are there for a reason. So obedience has come easy to me in many ways, especially gospel obedience. I trust that the Lord has His reasons for asking us what He does. But sometimes, I think I have fallen into a “gospel living in motion only” setting. Where I am doing the things, but not with relationship as the focus.

So with that in mind, the last several years I have tried to make a personal focus on my why. I know I have shared about this before. But it has been powerful for me. It has made my relationship with my Father in Heaven and my Savior more personal and with such greater depth. Gospel living should never feel like a check-list. Just like my earthly relationships should not feel that way. Relationships that matter are naturally going to draw us in, but they also take intention.

The very personal question of “where is my heart” is an important one. I feel like I am always speaking on it, to myself and my family, but we are in a world FULL of distractions. It is annoyingly hard to put our time and energy into what matters most when so much is clambering for our attention. But I appreciated the practical advice and guidance that Elder Barcellos gave.

Invitation

Give your whole heart to the Savior today.

Promptings

I want to give my whole heart to the Savior. I want to be sincere and intentional in my relationship with Him. I want to let go of what the world says I need to be and do (and even what I sometimes think I need to be and do) and focus on what He needs of me. Because He can make more or me than I ever could. I know my life is filled with greater peace and joy when it is focused on my Savior, so regular “heart checks” need to be occuring.

My Favorite Takeaways

“All God needs to accomplish His purposes and to help us become who He wants us to become is for each of us to turn our hearts fully to Him.

The Savior taught that if our hearts are fully turned to Him, because of His atoning sacrifice we can be blessed with the strength and spiritual gifts we need to overcome our mortal challenges, resist temptation, receive direction and understanding, and feel joy and peace in our lives.

It is not just about what we do – our words and actions – but also why we do what Jesus Christ has asked us to do – our desires and motives…Our Heavenly Father desires more than mechanical acts of obedience and service from His children. He wants us to do those things with real intent because we love Him with all our hearts. He wants us to desire to become like Him.

The Savior has…provided us with a set of spiritual tests we can use to assess our hearts’ spiritual condition.

Where we choose to spend our time and focus our attention, as well as what motivates us to do what we do, says a lot about our hearts.

While the Savior does not expect perfection in keeping His commandments, He does ask that we dseire and strive to keep them with all our hearts.

We’re invited to search the scriptures diligently and, through the power of the Holy Ghost, seek to obtain understanding and a witness of the truthfulness of the gospel in our hearts.

The quality of our thoughts and words is a good indicator of the purity of our hearts.

Here are some actions that can improve your heart’s spiritual strength.

As we dedicate time daily to come closer to Christ, our hearts are changed. Daily study of the scriptures, accompanied by sincere prayer and regular fasting, will increase your love for the Savior and strengthen your faith and desire to repent and humbly yield your heart to God.

[The Savior] invites us to demonstrate our love by making and keeping covenants with Him. As we strive daily to keep His commandments, sincerely repent from our sins, and persevere in taking His name upon us and aligning our will with His will, we can be blessed with the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost.

The Holy Ghost will guide you and help you know the will of the Lord and make good choices.

When we choose to do each thing the Lord has asked us to do – such as keeping the commandments, partaking of the sacrament, worshipping in the temple, and serving others – with a sincere heart and with real intent, each act of service and worship becomes a powerful spiritual experience that strengthens our faith and testimony and fills our hearts with joy and love for God and our fellow man.

Brothers and sisters, I invite you to give your whole heart to the Savior today. Let each act of worship and service be sincere and intentional. Set aside the distractions of the world and strive to have meaningful time for the Lord every day of your lives. Repent and return to Him with all your heart, and He will forgive you and encircle you in the arms of His love. Seek not the things of this world, but choose to have your eye single to His glory and seek the things of a better one. He knows your thoughts and the desires of your heart, and as you come unto Him, He will bless you with strength, confidence, peace, and joy in this life and a place in His celestial kingdom for all eternity.”

FULL text and video of Elder Ronald M. Barcellos’ message can be found HERE.

Other messages from the October 2025 General Conference that I found particularly impactful: