School Thy Feelings

Often the Spirit whispers to me through hymns. One day last week, I woke up with these words running through my mind:

1. School thy feelings, O my brother; Train thy warm, impulsive soul.
Do not its emotions smother, But let wisdom's voice control.
School thy feelings; there is power In the cool, collected mind.
Passion shatters reason's tower, Makes the clearest vision blind.
School thy feelings, O my brother; Train thy warm, impulsive soul.
Do not its emotions smother, But let wisdom's voice control.

It's not a hymn we sing very often, so I spent some time pondering what these words meant to me. Isn't it interesting how much our emotions affect us and those around us? In one of the courses I took from BYU last year, I learned that we control our emotions through our thoughts. This concept continues to be life changing for me. I'm convinced that learning to manage our emotions is one of the most powerful tools we have in becoming happy and useful to God and to our fellowman.

Here are the words from the rest of the verses, just so we have something to think about:

2. School thy feelings; condemnation Never pass on friend or foe,
Though the tide of accusation Like a flood of truth may flow.
Hear defense before deciding, And a ray of light may gleam,
Showing thee what filth is hiding Underneath the shallow stream.
School thy feelings, O my brother; Train thy warm, impulsive soul.
Do not its emotions smother, But let wisdom's voice control.

3. Should affliction's acrid vial Burst o'er thy unsheltered head,
School thy feelings to the trial; Half its bitterness hath fled.
Art thou falsely, basely, slandered? Does the world begin to frown?
Gauge thy wrath by wisdom's standard; Keep thy rising anger down.
School thy feelings, O my brother; Train thy warm, impulsive soul.
Do not its emotions smother, But let wisdom's voice control.

4. Rest thyself on this assurance: Time's a friend to innocence,
And the patient, calm endurance Wins respect and aids defense.
Noblest minds have finest feelings; Quiv'ring strings a breath can move;
And the gospel's sweet revealings Tune them with the key of love.
School thy feelings, O my brother; Train thy warm, impulsive soul.
Do not its emotions smother, But let wisdom's voice control.

5. Hearts so sensitively molded Strongly fortified should be,
Trained to firmness and enfolded In a calm tranquility.
Wound not willfully another; Conquer haste with reason's might;
School thy feelings, sister, brother; Train them in the path of right.
School thy feelings, O my brother; Train thy warm, impulsive soul.
Do not its emotions smother, But let wisdom's voice control.