D&C 64: The Heart, the Willing Mind, and the Law of Sacrifice
I was reading D&C 64 this morning, and I kept thinking about the word "willing." The Lord says He requires the heart and a willing mind. Not a perfect mind or a mind that has everything figured out. Just willing.
That is a lower bar than most of us set for ourselves.
What Does D&C 64 Teach About Forgiveness
The chapter opens with the Lord forgiving the Saints their sins. Then He turns around and tells them to forgive each other. It is not because the other person deserves it. It is because holding onto it hurts the one holding it more than the one it is held against.
Verse 10 is direct: "Ye ought to forgive one another; for he that forgiveth not his brother his trespasses standeth condemned before the Lord; for there remaineth in him the greater sin."
I have thought about that verse a lot. The greater sin is not the original offense but the refusal to let it go. That is a hard thing to sit with. It means the grudge I carry is not a response to someone else's failure. It is my own failure, happening in real time, every time I rehearse it.
The Lord connects this to judgment in verse 15. He says we should not judge. It is not because judgment is always wrong. It is because we are not in a position to do it fairly. We see the surface. He sees the whole thing.
Meaning of a Broken Heart and Contrite Spirit in D&C 64
Verse 16 says the Lord requires a broken heart and a contrite spirit. I used to think that meant being sad about your mistakes. But the more I read it, the more I think it means something else.
A broken heart is one that has stopped pretending. It is not defending itself or making excuses. It is just open. A contrite spirit is the same thing in a different register. It is the part of you that knows you need help and is willing to ask for it.
Nevertheless, he that repents and does the commandments of the Lord shall be forgiven. (D&C 64:16)
That is the featured verse for this chapter. It is not complicated. Repent and do what He says, and you will be forgiven. The hard part is not understanding it but doing it.
Why Is Tithing Considered a Sacrifice in LDS Faith
The second half of the chapter shifts to sacrifice and tithing. Verse 22 says the Lord requires the heart and a willing mind. Then verse 23 says, "Behold, now it is called today until the coming of the Son of Man, and verily it is a day of sacrifice, and a day for the tithing of my people."
I have always found that sequence interesting. The heart and the willing mind come first, then the sacrifice. The order matters. You do not give in order to become willing. You become willing first, and then the giving follows naturally.
Tithing is a specific kind of sacrifice. It is not about the money but about what the money represents. It represents your labor, your time, your attention. Giving a tenth of it back is a way of saying, "This is not mine. It was never mine. I am just the steward."
I know people who struggle with that. I have struggled with it myself. There is a moment when you write the check or transfer the funds where something in you resists. That resistance is the whole point. If it did not cost anything, it would not be a sacrifice.
How to Deal with Judging Others According to D&C 64
Verse 15 says we should consider our brethren as ourselves instead of judging them. That is a specific instruction, not a suggestion to try harder or judge less. The command is straightforward.
I fail at this regularly. It is easy to look at someone else's choices and think you would have done better. But the chapter makes it clear that judgment is a spiritual liability. When you judge, you put yourself in a position you are not qualified to hold.
This connects to what we saw in Acts 23, where Paul stood before the Sanhedrin and the judgment of men who had already decided against him. The same principle runs through both chapters: human judgment is unreliable. Only God sees the whole picture.
Importance of a Willing Mind in Spiritual Growth
The phrase "willing mind" appears in verse 34. The Lord says He has seen the willing mind of the Saints and has accepted their offerings. That is a remarkable thing. He does not say He has seen their perfect obedience or their flawless execution. He says He has seen their willingness.
I think about that when I am working in the shop. A tool that is forced into place fights you. It binds, it skips, it leaves marks. A tool that is properly aligned moves through the wood like it belongs there. The wood does not resist it, and the tool does not fight the grain. It just works, and a willing mind is like that. It is not about effort but about alignment with something larger than yourself. When your will is aligned with His, things that used to be hard start to feel natural. Not easy, though natural.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the Lord emphasize a willing mind and heart over outward obedience in D&C 64?
Because outward obedience without internal alignment is just performance. The Lord wants a transformation of the will, where you choose to follow God because you want to, not because you have to. A willing mind changes the nature of every act of obedience.
What is the spiritual relationship between forgiving others and being forgiven by God?
Unforgiveness creates a blockage. When you refuse to let go of a grievance, you close your own heart to mercy. The capacity to forgive is a prerequisite for receiving and understanding divine forgiveness. It is not that God withholds forgiveness until you earn it. An unforgiving heart simply cannot receive it.
How is the law of sacrifice intended to help a person spiritually?
Sacrifice breaks the hold of materialism and selfishness. By giving up something of value intentionally, you practice detachment from the world and develop trust in God's ability to provide. The thing you give is less important than the act of giving it.
What does it mean to have a broken heart and contrite spirit?
It means you have stopped pretending you have it all together. A broken heart is not a damaged heart but an open one. A contrite spirit is one that knows it needs help and is willing to ask. Together they are the starting point for real change.
Why is tithing described as a day of sacrifice in D&C 64?
Because tithing is not just a financial transaction. It is a test of trust. The Lord calls it a day of sacrifice because giving up something of value requires faith. It is a way of saying, "I trust You more than I trust my own ability to provide for myself."
I keep coming back to verse 22. "The Lord requireth the heart and a willing mind." He does not ask for a perfect record or an impressive resume. He asks for the heart and the willingness.
That is a lower bar than I usually set for myself. And somehow, it is also the harder one.
-- D.