Do we know our Hearts?

"Verily I say unto you, all among them who know their hearts are honest, and are broken, and their spirits contrite, and are willing to observe their covenants by sacrifice - yea, every sacrifice which I, the Lord, shall command - they are accepted of me." D & C 97:8

Honest and broken hearts, contrite spirits, willing to observe our covenants by sacrificing, all these are required by the Lord. As I am honest with myself and approach the Lord with a broken heart and contrite spirit, bending my will to the Lord's, keeping my covenants at the cost of sacrificing other good things, my sacrifices will be accepted of the Lord. I believe as I make covenants with the Lord part of my keeping these covenants will in turn require sacrifice. The sacrifice may be of time, things, or even desires.

Song of the Heart

"For my soul delighteth in the song of the heart; yea, the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me, and it shall be answered with a blessing upon their heads. Wherefore, lift up thy heart and rejoice, and cleave unto the covenants which thou hast made." D & C 25:12-13

The song of the heart seems to be a rejoicing heart. A rejoicing heart could also be a heart filled with graditude and this kind of heart is a prayer that is answered with blessings. In order to ensure blessings our heart must be rejoicing or grateful. What causes me to rejoice? I rejoice in my family! Which exists eternally through temple covenants I have made. Other things that cause me to rejoice: sunrise, watching snow fall, kindness shown by one family member to another, and of course every time I recognize that my Heavenly Father is specifically mindful of me. I am most grateful when I look for His hand daily in my life.