The Necessity of a Change of Heart

THE NECESSITY OF A CHANGE OF HEART. BY A. WOOTTON.

It seems difficult for many who embrace the Gospel in these -days to overcome the traditions under which they and their forefathers have been schooled for so many generations, but in order to fully understand the Gospel in its purity, it is necessary that men should cast all former ideas of religion aside and begin again to learn as little children, because we have the words of the Savior that "Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little •child, he shall not enter therein."

The conditions that prevail today are very similar to those that prevailed in the days of Christ and the apostles; in those former days men had been so imbued with false ideas that it required a superhuman effort to divest their minds of the false doctrines and traditions that had prevailed for hundreds of years. No wonder the Savior said, "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." St. Paul was under the necessity of frequently admonishing the Saints in his day of the great change of heart and course of life that was expected of them. He says "Even we also should walk in newness of life" (Rom. 6: 4.). Then again he said, "Lie not one to another, seeing that you have put off the old man with his deeds;and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him" (Col. 3: 9, 10.). Then again to the Ephesians: "That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

528 IMPROVEMENT ERA.

and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness" (Eph. 4: 22-24.). This putting off the old man with all his preconceived ideas is necessary that men may become as little children and therefore fit subjects for the kingdom of God. Under no other conditions can the minds of men be sufficiently pure to be taught as little children the pure principles of the Gospel as taught by Jesus Christ and his apostles in days of old, and as revealed again in this last dispensation. If men will so prepare themselves the Holy Ghost will be their constant companion and will guide them into all truth, that they may not be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ nor in the * things pertaining to their own eternal welfare.