When we set our hearts upon the things of this world and fail to

Hear, O children of faith, the words of Heber J. Grant, a leader of the saints and a voice of solemn counsel: “When we set our hearts upon the things of this world and fail to be strictly honest with the Lord, we do not grow in the light and power and strength of the gospel as we otherwise would do.” These words, spoken in an age of trial and prosperity alike, are not only for his people but for all who wrestle between the call of heaven and the temptations of earth. For they reveal a truth eternal: that no soul can drink deeply from the fountain of divine power while clinging too tightly to the fleeting treasures of this mortal life.

The things of this world—wealth, position, praise, pleasure—glitter like gold in the sun, yet they are but dust in the wind. To set the heart upon them is to build one’s house upon shifting sand. Grant warns that when men and women place these above the eternal, they exchange the light of the gospel for shadows, and their souls grow dim. The heart divided between heaven and earth cannot know the full joy of either. The Lord asks for honesty, not in word alone, but in the devotion of the soul, that our offerings be without guile and our service untainted by selfishness.

The strength of the gospel lies not in outward ritual alone, but in the inward purity of devotion. To be strictly honest with the Lord is to place Him first in thought, in desire, and in action. It is to confess that all earthly gain is but stewardship, and that true riches are measured in character, service, and faith. When this honesty is lacking, the power of the gospel is weakened in us—not because heaven has withheld its blessing, but because our hearts have closed themselves off from receiving it.

History bears witness to this truth. Recall the story of the rich young ruler who came unto Christ, desiring eternal life. He had kept the commandments, yet when asked to sell all he had and give to the poor, his heart faltered, for his treasure was too deeply rooted in the world. He left sorrowful, not because the Lord rejected him, but because he could not be fully honest with God about where his heart truly lay. His story is a mirror to all who value the world above the eternal.

By contrast, remember the life of Francis of Assisi, born to wealth and privilege. When his heart was stirred by the gospel, he cast aside the riches of his father’s house and clothed himself in poverty. In surrendering the things of the world, he gained immeasurable strength of spirit, becoming a beacon of love and service. Where others saw loss, heaven saw devotion; and through his honesty with God, he became a vessel of divine light that has inspired generations.

O listeners, the lesson is clear: the measure of our growth in the gospel is not how much we own, but how much of our heart we yield to God. To seek the treasures of this world above the treasures of heaven is to trade eternal strength for fleeting gain. But to be honest with the Lord—to live with integrity, humility, and trust—is to open oneself to the full power and light that the gospel offers.

Practical is this counsel: each day, examine where your heart rests. Ask yourself: Am I clinging to the dust of this world, or am I lifting my eyes to heaven? Am I honest with the Lord in my offerings, my prayers, my service? Let your heart be undivided. Place God first, and all else will find its place in due time. For when we are strictly honest with Him, He fills us with strength greater than our own, and we grow not only in faith but in light and power eternal.

Thus remember the words of Heber J. Grant: “We do not grow in the light and power and strength of the gospel as we otherwise would do.” They are both a warning and a promise. Beware the lure of the world, for it withers the soul. Embrace honesty with God, for it awakens the divine within you. And in this honesty, you will find the strength to endure, the light to guide, and the power to transform both your life and the lives of those around you.