“As children of God, we are His greatest creation. ‘Anyone who studies the workings of the human body has surely seen God moving in His majesty and power.’ -Elder Russell M. Nelson”
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has a series of videos called “Mormon Messages”. These videos explain different points of doctrine or beliefs held by members of the church. I love these videos because they bring such a spirit of peace into my life. Sometimes, if I am having a bad day, I will just watch one of these videos to let myself stop thinking about my stressors and focus on the bigger picture.
Science helps us see the existence of God
Elder Nelson is an accomplished surgeon and medical researcher. His extensive knowledge and understanding of the human body is evident when he speaks of it. He states with all conviction that, “Anyone who studies the workings of the human body has surely seen God moving in His majesty and power.” Science only scratches the surface of the miracle that is our body. Our bodies are amazing edifices with the capability to sustain life and heal itself. There are so many intricacies that it is absurd (in my opinion) to claim that this happened by chance. There must be some great organizer. I know that to be our Heavenly Father.
A House for Our Spirits
1 Corinthians 3:16 says:
“Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and the the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?”
What did Paul mean when he said that our bodies are temples of God? Well, it is first important to know the definition of a temple. The Bible Dictionary says:
“A temple is literally a house of the Lord, a holy sanctuary . . . A place where the Lord may come, it is the most holy of any place of worship on the earth.”
This definition gives illumination to Paul’s statement. We are to treat our bodies as holy sanctuaries. They are a place where the Lord (in this case, His Spirit) can come. They are a place of worship. Our physical bodies are inseparably tied to our spirits, and those spirits comes directly from God.
What is the Holy Ghost or Spirit? What does keeping our bodies clean have to do with this Spirit?
The Holy Ghost is the third member of the Godhead and does not have a physical body. He is a personage of spirit. The Holy Ghost communicates to us through thoughts and feelings. In Galatians 5:22 it says:
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith”
Then, in Doctrine & Convenants 8:2 it states:
“Yea, behold, I will tell you in your mind and in your heart, by the Holy Ghost, which shall come upon you and which shall dwell in your heart.”
If we defile our bodies with inappropriate outside influences, it is much more difficult to feel or notice those subtle communications. It is easier to be led in the wrong direction.
Alma 7:21 says:
“And he doth not dwell in unholy temples; neither can filthiness or anything which is unclean be received into the kingdom of God . . .”
If we do not keep our bodies clean and pure, the Spirit of the Lord cannot dwell within us. We loose the blessing of that guidance.
One thing that I love about the gospel of Christ is that it is a gospel of hope and second chances. It is never too late to begin on your path to/back to your Heavenly Father. We have been given a wonderful gift known as the atonement that allows us to repent (change) and get back to our Heavenly Father.
The Book of Mormon tell us Christ went forth “suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and sicknesses of his people.” (Alma 7:11)
I Stand Firm in the Faith 