Words have power to trigger emotions, stimulate thoughts, and stir us to action. They can elicit joy, soothe a troubled mind, bring relief to the suffering and engender gratitude.
Words can have a devastating effect. Words said to or about someone can ruin a reputation, crush hopes, inflict pain or bring tears of despair.
Elder Jeffry R. Holland quoted in a recent General Conference, “The stroke of the whip maketh marks in the flesh: but the stroke of the tongue breaketh the bones”.
Words, written or spoken, can linger with us for years, bringing back thoughts or feelings to cheer or discourage, to remind or to counsel.
In a sobering statement about our use of words with regards to other people, the Lord taught in the Sermon on the Mount and reiterated to the Nephites: “And whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council and whosoever shall say, thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire” (Matthew 5:22 & 3 Nephi 12:22).
The Savior underscored the care we should take in choosing our words when he warned, “I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment” (Matthew 12:36). As the Savior explained: “…those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart…” (Matthew 15:18).
We all have page after page of idle, and not so idle, words perhaps spoken thoughtlessly or carelessly that we would like erased before that day of judgment.
Elder Jeffry R. Holland taught:
“It is with this realization of the power and sanctity of words that I wish to caution us, if caution is needed, regarding how we speak to each other and how we speak of ourselves.”
“Paul put it candidly, but very hopefully. He said to all of us: ‘Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but [only] that which is good … [and] edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.’
“Our words, like our deeds, should be filled with faith and hope and charity…With such words, spoken under the influence of the Spirit, tears can be dried, hearts can be healed, lives can be elevated, hope can return, confidence can prevail.
“Like all gifts ‘which cometh from above’ words are ‘sacred, and must be spoken with care, and by constraint of the Spirit’” (“The Tongue of Angels,” Ensign, May 2007).
If we compare the words we give to others and the words we receive from them to gifts we soon realize that they come in a variety of wrappings. Some words are wrapped in love or encouragement; some are wrapped in ridicule, some in impatience or anger.
Words wrapped in love can be unwrapped with hope and joy. Those wrapped in anger, impatience or ridicule, when opened, can inflict pain, humiliation, or spark a desire for retaliation. We would be wise to pause from time to time and weigh our words carefully, reflecting on the impact they may have on others. What is their effect when unwrapped in the mind and in the heart? Do they edify or build spiritually? Or do they tear down and destroy? Do they hurt? Or heal?
Besides the words we say or write there are other words we should consider for a moment; these are the words that should have been spoken or written; words we thought of saying, planned to say, perhaps were even prompted or inspired to say but that remained stillborn.
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