Personal Purity through Self-Discipline - Language

This week I am teaching Personal Purity through Self-Discipline to my Young Women class so I thought I'd spend a few of my scriptures studies on it.

James 3:2-13
2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.


Elder Holland gave an unbelievably powerful talk in Conference a couple of years ago called, "The Tongue of Angels". He uses this scripture passage as the basis for his talk. How marvelous to be able to control our tongue to the point of not offending, and therefore, being perfect. James says that if we are able to control our tongue, we will be able to bridle our whole body. This is most certainly an area that I need work in. When I am angry, words come out of my mouth like fire. When I'm hurt, I throw out daggers to retaliate. When I am frustrated or stressed, I often yell. I need to concentrate on bridling my tongue and the rest of it should fall into place.

3 Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.
4 Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.
5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things...

Our words really have such an enormous impact on those around us- especially those we love. The imagery here of the small, and seemingly insignificant part being such a key regulator is the perfect description of the power of our tongue- the power that our words have.

...Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

People have left the church over something as insignificant as a few offensive words. Wars have been waged over poorly chosen words. When we allow our tongue to control us instead of us controlling our tongue, we allow the natural man to take over and lead us down a path we would never consciously choose.

7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:
8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

As humans, we are capable of many great and marvelous works. We can tame animals to do our bidding and yet we have such a difficult time taming our own tongue. It takes a great deal of self-discipline.

9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
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.

I love how James points out that with our mouth we praise Heavenly Father. But out of the very same mouth we curse, or defile our brother, who is the son of God, made by His hands. We are either godly or we are not. We can't be both.