Thinking Celestial - A ”Follow The Prophet” Series Podcast · SLCC Institute of Religion

Ep 185 S7 Aidan Davis ‘The Lord Looketh on the Heart’ Ronald M. Barcellos

·30 min·2 clips

Elder Barcellos's Alma 5 questions ask whether someone has been "born of God" and received a "mighty change" in the heart.

1. "Thinking Celestial - A Follow The Prophet Series Podcast" centers on Elder Ronald M. Barcellos's talk "The Lord Looketh on the Heart." 2. Host Ronald M. Barcellos? No, the host introduces Aidan Davis, the LDSSA president, as the guest because he can speak from campus leadership and recent mission experience. 3. The episode asks how to examine the heart and know whether it is right in the sight of God. 4. The discussion opens with Aidan's campus update, including midterms, a blood drive, and an activity with the Muslim club to break the fast for Ramadan. 5. The host describes Institute and LDSSA as places for service, friendship, and "a place to be" for students ages 18 to 35. 6. Aidan says Institute has been "an anchor point" for him and that his closest friends are people he met there. 7. The talk's first major theme is sacrament meeting, which Aidan describes as a time to "be there for the sacrament" rather than merely go through motions. 8. He says mission life made sacrament meeting feel like a weekly refuge because "nobody expected anything of you" and he could just sit and feel the Spirit. 9. The conversation links that idea to Elder Barcellos's contrast between outward appearance and inward intent, especially the story of Samuel, Eliab, and David. 10. The host points to scriptures about people drawing near with their lips while their hearts are far from God, then asks how to keep church attendance purposeful. 11. Aidan says a practical answer is arriving early, listening to the music, and mentally preparing before the sacrament is passed. 12. The host adds President Nelson's line that "the joy we feel has little to do with the circumstances of our lives and everything to do with the focus of our lives." 13. Another major section covers the talk's four "assessing your heart and spiritual tests": focus and motives, obedience to commandments, scripture study and revelation, and thoughts and words. 14. Aidan says reading the Book of Mormon consistently is hard for him, so he uses a self-care app and sets a goal of one section a day or even two verses. 15. The host recalls President Holland's advice to "make everything count" when discussing ministering, and applies that idea to small scripture-reading efforts. 16. The episode then turns to "improving your heart's spiritual health," especially strengthening a relationship with Christ through actions, prayer, fasting, and repentance. 17. The host compares that relationship to closeness and time, using his construction materials testing work to illustrate that proximity and duration affect the outcome. 18. Near the end, the host highlights Alma 5 questions about being "born of God," receiving his image in one's countenance, and experiencing a "mighty change" in the heart. 19. The tone is conversational, campus-specific, and reflective, with the host prompting Aidan to connect talk themes to ordinary student life. 20. People who like Latter-day Saint scripture study and campus ministry talk should listen; people wanting a short, nonreligious conversation probably should skip it.

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