5 For I remember the word of God which saith by their works ye shall know them; for if their works be good, then they are good also.
6 For behold, God hath said a man being evil cannot do that which is good; for if he offereth a gift, or prayeth unto God, except he shall do it with real intent it profiteth him nothing.
7 For behold, it is not counted unto him for righteousness.
8 For behold, if a man being evil giveth a gift, he doeth it grudgingly; wherefore it is counted unto him the same as if he had retained the gift; wherefore he is counted evil before God.
9 And likewise also is it counted evil unto a man, if he shall pray and not with areal intent of heart; yea, and it profiteth him nothing, for God receiveth none such.
10 Wherefore, a man being evil cannot do that which is good; neither will he give a good gift.
11 For behold, a bitter fountain cannot bring forth good water; neither can a good fountain bring forth bitter water; wherefore, a man being a servant of the devil cannot follow Christ; and if he follow Christ he cannot be a servant of the devil.
There is a difference in the way we keep the commandments to gain a testimony. One way is trying the Lord and the other is tempting the Lord. Can you see the difference of perspective? Trying the Lord is how you know the Lord, letting Him in your heart and life. The other way is almost like inviting the Lord into your life but locking the door and then getting mad when He doesn't open the door. He won't break down the door, He will just knock and you have to let Him in. One way brings forth a testimony and the other an indictment of the Lord. If your heart is disbelieving, prideful, and without love of God then you'll not receive a testimony by your obedience. Your indictment against God will grow.
If you obey the commandments with real intent then you're offering a true gift to God, your heart. If you obey without offering your heart then you will get back what you offer, which is nothing but more darkness and confusion. No obedience will yield a testimony unless it is complete with the real intent of your heart. Just as a life is incomplete living alone.
Notice in verse 7 of Moroni 7, it says that an offering won't be counted as righteousness if offered without real intent. This means that no matter how obedient someone is, if they don't do it with their heart then it profiteth them nothing! Real intent means love for God, faith in God and humility towards God. As it says later in Moroni 7, in verse 44-
For none is acceptable before God, save the meek and lowly in heart; and if a man be meek and lowly in heart, and confesses by the power of the Holy Ghost that Jesus is the Christ, he must needs have charity; for if he have not charity he is nothing; wherefore he must needs have charity.
There isn't a scoreboard of all the righteous things you've done, but there is a scale of how loving and true you are to God and His children, how much faith, love and humility you have. Mormon the author of Moroni also says in 7:47 that Charity is "the pure love of Christ."
The things God asks us to do are to help our hearts grow in faith, humility and love for God, not just to have some task accomplished. He wants us to keep the commandments so we can receive blessings and we can only receive a blessing after our heart is ready for it. He wants all to receive blessings and will bless us either in this life or the next, that is His promise. There is only one way we can receive all that Heavenly Father has, through His son Jesus Christ. Living a life based on His teachings and love as much as possible. He taught us to lift others up by service, by charity, by love for God.
Through our growing faith, humility and love for God are more people blessed. He told Peter repeatedly to feed His sheep right after asking Peter "Do you love me?" This leaves me to conclude that when Christ knocks on the door He isn't alone. He has many poor, lost, and hungry souls with Him that need your warmth and love. You cannot let Christ in without letting in His sheep. We must feed them. It is our duty to the God we love. We will truly see them at our door as we would Christ, with unconditional love and support. The Lord said "If ye have done it onto the least of these, ye have done it unto me." He also said "The fields are white and already to harvest." Bring them into your home. Feed His sheep. They are hungry, cold, and scattered. By doing this, it yields the fruits of life and gives blessings "as it is written, eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him." 1 Corinthians 2:9
All the prophets that were truly converted and had testimonies of Jesus Christ "count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ." Phillip 3:8. These were true testimonies that weren't hinged on fragile inclinations of selfish desires wanting to be fulfilled, they were losing their lives for God. They as the Lord says, are like the man finding the "pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it." Matt 13:46. Those that receive this pearl of great price find everything else of no value. The pride, the lofty desires, the vanity of life all lose their appeal and the work of the Lord takes center stage. The prophets served others and counted His sheep as the most important task at hand because that is what the Lord was primarily concerned with.
The purpose of a testimony of Jesus Christ is to feed His sheep. Keep your heart open by faith, humility and love so that you can accomplish this and the Lord will bless you, raise you up and make you like Him, full of love, light, truth and grace.
I'd like to testify of the truthfulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He lives. He is full of mercy and answers our prayers. He's the great Master of the vineyard that works daily in our lives to help us grow good fruit. He wants us to be happy, healthy, and pure so that we can have all that God offers us, His kingdom, His joy, His love. We are His and its an amazing experience to gain a testimony of Jesus Christ's divinity and love. Its such a simple concept that its often missed but there is no fulfillment or happiness in disobeying the Lord and when we give of ourselves to God we receive great things. The Gospel is designed to be Win Win because God doesn't just help them that help themselves but He helps them that help others. Our lives are supposed to be the building up of others and in that process building up of ourselves. We cannot serve others and lose, we can only gain from giving and serving others. Love is eternal and there is no shortage of supply and if you give more love then you'll have more love and that is the greatest test of God that you have to try. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
