3 Nephi 12

Returning to the beattitudes given by the Savior to the people in the Americas, I wanted to comment on two. First -

"And again, blessed are all they that mourn, for they shall be comforted." (Book of Mormon | 3 Nephi 12:4)

As mentioned in a previous scripture blog, these that mourn are they that are poor in spirit and come unto him. While thoses that mourn would include those that lost love ones, which I believe are those that are typically considered referred to, my thoughts are those that humble themselves and come to the Savior mournful and pleading for mercies from their transgression. Paul wrote to the Corinthians -

"...I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season.
9 Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.
10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
11 For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter." (New Testament | 2 Corinthians 7:8 - 11)

It is these that humbly come unto the Savior, that mourn, experience Godly sorrow, that repent, are they that will be comforted by the Holy Ghost.

The second beattitude that I wanted to comment on was -

"...blessed are all the pure in heart, for they shall see God." (Book of Mormon | 3 Nephi 12:8)

The word "heart" in my mind would suggest our innermost desires and conditions. Then those that are pure in heart would be those that have not only received a remission of sins but also has experienced a change of heart or maby better said, a change in the desires of the heart. Pure in heart then would be those that upon doing everything they can, and then with the power of the atonement actually overcome the natural man and their desires also become pure. These are they that shall see God.

I am reminded of the converted Lamanites that did everything they could to do to not allow wordly desires to again enter into their hearts, for the Lamanites had previously plundered, robbed, and even murdered. Thus -

"...they took their swords, and all the weapons which were used for the shedding of man's blood, and they did bury them up deep in the earth.
18 And this they did, it being in their view a testimony to God, and also to men, that they never would use weapons again for the shedding of man's blood; and this they did, vouching and covenanting with God, that rather than shed the blood of their brethren they would give up their own lives; and rather than take away from a brother they would give unto him; and rather than spend their days in idleness they would labor abundantly with their hands." (Book of Mormon | Alma 24:17 - 18)

To be pure in heart, not only must we pray for a change of heart, but even remove those things that may tempt us to return to that previously or naturally desired.