Post 18: Master Your Tongue—The Journey to Emulating Christ

Mastering the tongue initiates the journey of emulating Christ by aligning heart, mind, and body with divine order and eternal law.

The Power of Words: Aligning Speech With God’s Will

Have you ever spoken in frustration, regret, or unkindness—only to wish you could take the words back? Do your words sometimes reflect the natural man more than the disciple of Christ?

This is the challenge of the tongue—a small but powerful force capable of shaping your soul and influencing the lives of others. Learning to master the tongue is not easy, but it is the first step in the journey of emulating Christ.

Words Shape Eternity

Words are seeds of power. They are the means by which faith’s mightiest works are accomplished—the bridge between thought and action, spirit and creation. To master the tongue is to begin true discipleship, for the tongue reflects the state of the heart and directs the course of the soul.

For some, the journey begins by restraining foul or careless speech. For others, it involves learning to speak with intention—shaping words into instruments of truth and light. Wherever one begins, diligence is required. Words are not mere sounds; they are echoes of eternity, recorded in the fabric of your being.

Steps to Mastering Your Tongue

1. Bridle the Tongue
The first lesson is restraint. To bridle the tongue is to take control of the natural man, whose impulses speak in haste or in reaction to pleasure and pain. It is not enough to substitute harmless words for harmful ones; the tongue must be stilled, and the heart turned to Christ.

In moments of frustration or anger, pause. Hold your tongue. Let your thoughts rise to holier things. Turn inward and call upon His name. In the stillness, power is found to subdue unworthy impulses and speak with purpose.

This discipline is demanding. The natural man resists correction, excusing habits through culture or upbringing. Yet discipleship leaves no room for excuses. Whether learned in a farmhouse or a boardroom, unholy speech must be set aside. As the tongue is bridled, mastery over the body begins, and the temple enlarges to receive more of the Spirit—unto being filled and always rejoicing (Mosiah 4:12).

2. Speak With the Tongue of Angels
When bridled, the tongue becomes an instrument of righteousness. Each word then creates, edifies, and uplifts. This is the tongue of angels, flowing from a heart filled with light.

As heart and mind align with God’s will, words naturally follow. When the eye is single to His glory, the body fills with light and darkness retreats. The Spirit guides speech with precision, clarity, and love.

In this state, words become more than communication—they are faith in action. Indeed, faith’s mightiest works are worked by words, even the same power by which God creates and the elements obey. Therefore, be wise in the use of your tongue. Here lies the power to inspire, comfort, organize, and heal.

The Eternal Significance of the Tongue and the Body

Mastering the tongue is not merely a temporal effort—it is preparation for eternity. The body, a sacred temple, records every impulse, word, and thought. In the resurrection, it is restored according to how it was treated in life.

To bridle the tongue is to bridle the whole body, preparing it as a receptacle of increasing light and intelligence. As speech and action align with divine law, the body itself becomes a witness of Christ’s redeeming power.

This is not a distant hope. Today is the day to learn mastery—so that in the resurrection, you may rise with a refined and perfected temple, prepared to receive eternal glory.

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Originally published December 10, 2024.