Using our English version of Be Still time each day to care for our physical bodies is important! It can decrease our susceptibility to Satan’s buffetings. “The restored gospel teaches that there is an intimate link between body, mind, and spirit...the spiritual and physical are intertwined… The spiritual and physical truly are linked” (Susan Tanner). President Benson also said, “There is no question that the health of the body affects the spirit, or the Lord would never have revealed the Word of Wisdom. God has never given any temporal commandments—that which affects our stature affects our soul.”
As we care for our physical bodies in individually tailored ways, we can be better prepared to face the demands of mortality and have increased clarity to see the eternal challenges before us. In terms of ministering, it is part of the path to becoming a better disciple of Jesus Christ. As we become aware of, make observations and discoveries about, and understand our bodies, it opens the door to deeper awareness, observation, discoveries and understanding mentally and spiritually. Our body is where most of us start in this journey.
Taking the time to become aware of ourselves is the first step to change. We must become aware of Satan’s attempts directed at us personally. How can we expect to know how to fight if we don’t know what we are fighting against? Satan seeks to “[lead your soul]” carefully down to hell” (2 Nephi 28:21). It may only seem like a flaxen cord, or something that really isn’t a big deal, but that is all he needs to “[bind you] with his strong cords forever.” (2 Nephi 26:22).
If that makes you feel a bit uneasy, good! Let the full effect of this aspect of the Fall really sink in without padding or softening the blow. Being mortal not only means we will physically die one day, that we can get sick, or our bodies are prone to disease, fatigue, or just not working properly. Physical death also leaves a big, gaping hole in the ways Satan can target us. We MUST recognize that. But hold tight, we will keep digging deeper. We will discuss a perfect plan that is more than sheer grit or will power, but we need to establish a few other things first.
Our bodies being mortal is only one aspect of how the Fall affects us personally. Let’s keep pressing forward as we examine the other effects, as well as how to address them in the way that will allow us to come to know God. As we know God then we can hear Him and act as He speaks to us on the behalf of others.
I gave you so much in this chapter to consider on and try on for size. I talked quite a bit about addiction in this chapter. Here are several resources related to addiction for you to consider in your additional study:
1. LDS ARP (addition recovery program) 12-step program
2. LDS ARP to supporting spouses or family members with addiction
3. LDS church's beta website for pornography. This one addressed it all: as individuals struggling with pornography, parents supporting a child or preventing pornography addiction, spouses (and even a specific page for those who recently found out about the addiction). (Just FYI to help you---what a spouses goes through is called betrayal trauma. The most up-to-date and helpful information will be referred to as betrayal trauma as you search for resources).
Your challenge is to begin generating a list of what your personal fallen man tendencies are. Maybe also consider looking into the details of some out-of-the box experiences for your body that you have either been unaware of or unwilling to try before. If you have poked around my blog very much yet, you probably have picked up that yoga, EMDR, and QNRT have all been part of my healing journey. These have been the means that my Savior has reached me. These will not be everyone's "cup of tea." But what could you explore?
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