James 3

I love these verses. I heard them first in a talk given by Elder Holland, but had forgotten about them until yesterday. I was so excited to find them again that I couldn't help but share it w/ you guys. Every time I read it, the idea of the power for good or evil our tongues have hits me so strongly! Especially the last verse. It makes me want to be so much more careful in the things I say!

For in many things we ^aoffend all. If any man ^boffend not in ^cword, the same is a ^dperfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.

3 Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.

4 Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the ^agovernor listeth.

5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and ^aboasteth great things. Behold, how great a ^bmatter a little fire kindleth!

6 And the ^atongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:

8 But the ^atongue can no man tame; it is an ^bunruly evil, full of deadly poison.

9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith ^acurse we men, which are made after the ^bsimilitude of God.

10 Out of the same ^amouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.