- For many in our day, the profane has become commonplace and the vulgar has become acceptable.
He speaks about the sacred names of God and Jesus Christ. He gives multiple scriptural references that speak about not using the sacred names of deity in vein.
- The names of the Father and the Son are used with authority when we reverently teach and testify of them, when we pray, and when we perform the sacred ordinances of the priesthood.
- When the names of God the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ, are used with reverence and authority, they invoke a power beyond what mortal man can comprehend.
President Oaks talks about the need to speak honorably about God and Jesus Christ and that when we don't, we offend the Holy Ghost. Offending the Holy Ghost will cause the Spirit to withdraw and not allow us the constant companionship of His spirit.
- The Spirit of the Lord, the Holy Ghost, testifies of God the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ. When those names are dishonored, that Spirit, which “doth not dwell in unholy temples,” is offended and withdraws. For this reason, those who profane the name of God inevitably relinquish the companionship of his Spirit.
He speaks about the need to good language in our everyday lives. He makes several references about the lack of maturity and growth in a persons speech when they can only speak about sacred things with vulgar and disrespectful language.
- Profane and vulgar expressions are public evidence of a speaker’s ignorance, inadequacy, or immaturity.
Profanity tells others a little about who we are on the inside. We should demonstrate our discipleship of the Savior through the language that we use.
- Members of the Church, young or old, should never allow profane or vulgar words to pass their lips. The language we use projects the images of our hearts, and our hearts should be pure.
President Oaks concludes with wisdom about how we should express ourselves and what we should teach our children.
- Let us recognize profanity and vulgarity for what they are. They are sins that separate us from God and cripple our spiritual defenses by causing the Holy Ghost to withdraw from us.
- We should abstain and we should teach our children to abstain from all such expressions.
We can show our love for God and the Savior through the language that we use. Others can see our discipleship in the way that we speak and the way that we talk to others. The lack of respect for deity is found all around us but that doesn't mean we have to participate or that we have to be accepting of this filthy language. I would encourage all of us to look at the things we talk about and clean up our language. Try to show your respect and love for God by the way you speak about Him. When we do, the Spirit will have a place to dwell in our hearts and we will enjoy more of the companionship of the Spirit in our daily lives.