The Natural Man


In this light of obedience, can you see that the knowledge of what is good and what is evil is what introduced the natural man? “Which [Fall] was the cause of all mankind becoming carnal, sensual, devilish, knowing evil from good, subjecting themselves to the devil.  Thus all mankind were lost; and behold, they would have been endless lost were it not that God redeemed his people from their lost and fallen state” (Mosiah 16:3-4, emphasis added).

Some people use “fallen man” and “natural man” interchangeably.  It is my thought that there is a subtle difference.  Thanks to my dear friend, JoAnn Sevy, for the lively and insightful discussions back and forth on this!  Understanding this difference can expand our understanding of the Fall, and therefore, the Atonement. “...to be a fallen being is not necessarily to be a carnal, sensual, and devilish being.  One becomes fallen by coming into mortality; a fallen person becomes carnal, sensual, and devilish by defying the truth and sinning against it.

Robert L. Millet said, “...Conception, which clothes us in the flesh, is the mechanism of transmission, the means by which Adam and Eve’s fallen nature (both physical and spiritual death) is transferred from generation to generation. The propensity for and susceptibility to sin are implanted in our nature at conception, just as death is. Both death and sin are present only as potentialities at conception, and therefore neither is fully evident at birth. Death and sin do, however, become actual parts of our nature as we grow up. Sin comes spontaneously, just as death does. In the case of little children, the results of this fallen nature (sinful actions and dispositions) are held in abeyance by virtue of the Atonement until they reach the age of accountability. When children reach the time of accountability, however, they become subject to spiritual death and must thereafter repent and come unto Christ by covenant and through the ordinances of the gospel.” (Millet).

Because of the change in their bodies, Adam and Eve could now bring mortal children into this world. This is the “fallen man” that we previously addressed. A fallen man isn’t automatically a “natural man” though, yet it is anticipated by our loving Father that we “become carnal, sensual, and devilish” (Moses 6:49, emphasis added) as part of our time here on the earth.

Mosiah 3:19 offers what is most likely a familiar definition of the natural man, “For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father.”

This verse is bursting with information and instruction.  We will need to come back to parts of it in a minute.  First, King Benjamin gives us a hint to the natural man.  To overcome it, one must “[yield] to the enticings of the Holy Spirit.”  We will come back and talk more in depth about what yielding to those enticings means. Now before you find yourself rolling your eyes at me in boredom because this is a really, really familiar scripture that you have already memorized forever ago in seminary, consider the definition given by King Benjamin in this light as Robert L. Millet continues.

“Simply stated, natural men and women are unregenerated beings who remain in their fallen condition, living without God and godliness in the world. They are unredeemed creatures without comfort, beings who live by their own light. On the one hand, natural men and women may be people bent on lechery and lasciviousness; they may love Satan more than God, and therefore they are ‘carnal, sensual, and devilish’ (Moses 5:13)...Now note how such persons are enemies to God: ‘They are without God in the world, and they have gone contrary to the nature of God; therefore, they are in a state contrary to the nature of happiness’ (Alma 41:10–11).

“On the other hand, natural men and women need not be what we would call degenerate. They may well be moral and upright men and women, bent upon goodness and benevolence. However, they operate in and are acclimated to the present fallen world. Such persons do not enjoy the enlivening powers of the Holy Ghost: they have not received the revealed witness of the truth, and they have not enjoyed the sanctifying powers of the blood of Christ. Although their behavior is proper and appropriate according to societal standards, these natural men and women have not hearkened sufficiently to the Light of Christ to be led to the covenant gospel (Mosiah 16:2; see also D&C 84:45–48). ‘The whole world lieth in sin,’ the Savior declared in a modern revelation, ‘and groaneth under darkness and under the bondage of sin. And by this you may know they are under the bondage of sin, because they come not unto me’ (D&C 84:49–50). More specifically, with regard to those outside the restored gospel, the Lord states: ‘There are none that doeth good except those who are ready to receive the fullness of my gospel, which I have sent forth unto this generation’ (D&C 35:12).

“And what of the members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? Are any of us natural men or women? We certainly qualify for that title if we are guilty of gross wickedness, if we have sinned against gospel light and have not thoroughly repented. And yes, we are relatively guilty, too, if we persist in a nature which leads us to exist in twilight when we might bask in the light of the Son.

“... Members of the Church who refuse to climb toward greater spiritual heights, who have no inclination to further anchor themselves in the truth, who have become satisfied with their present spiritual state-these are they who are natural men and women, persons generally of good will who do not understand that through their smugness and complacency they are aiding and abetting the cause of the enemy of all righteousness. ‘Fallen man,’ C. S. Lewis perceptively observed, ‘is not simply an imperfect creature who needs improvement: he is a rebel who must lay down his arms’ (59).”

Wow!  Did you catch how Millet described the natural man?  The natural man “on the one hand” was very obvious to me.  Just like the fallen man tendencies we described before to smoke or behave immorally were easier for me to pick out.  But did you catch that the “degenerate” is only one way the natural man can look?  We can be “bent upon goodness and benevolence” and still be a natural man or woman.  Our contentment with our “present spiritual state” is indicative as well. It is expressed in our comfort in staying where we already are without reaching for more light and knowledge, and, ultimately, the fullness of what God and Christ are offering us. It doesn’t matter which "end of the spectrum" we are on if we are still in an unredeemed and unregenerated state.

Just like with our fallen man tendencies, it doesn’t matter what it is that is separating us from God. It doesn’t matter why we are still a natural man or women.  It simply matters that we aren’t one, not why we still are one!:) I know this can come across as harsh, but we must understand the reality of it in order to “[put] off the natural man and [become] a saint” (Mosiah 3:19). Robert L. Millet continues, “The doctrine of the natural man is a hard doctrine, one which is not only misunderstood but also frequently denied. Reactions to the idea that the natural man is an enemy to God are numerous” (Source).

This is from President Benson’s talk, “Beware of Pride.” I am guessing it is probably a familiar talk, but if it isn’t or it’s been a while, it may be a great time to review it.  “The central feature of pride is enmity—enmity toward God and enmity toward our fellowmen. Enmity means ‘hatred toward, hostility to, or a state of opposition.’ It is the power by which Satan wishes to reign over us.
“Pride is essentially competitive in nature. We pit our will against God’s. When we direct our pride toward God, it is in the spirit of ‘my will and not thine be done.’”

Can you hear the natural man in this?  The natural man is an enemy to fellowmen and to God.  Can you see any features of this in yourself?  I had heard this talk quite a bit and the enmity toward fellow man has usually been my take-away from this talk.  It was almost annoying for me to hear over and over that comparison as I looked over at my neighbor was pride.  I thought I got it. It wasn’t until the enmity towards God hit uncomfortably close to home that these words really sunk in.

I was sitting in a 12-step meeting.  I had begun to work my recovery and if I recall correctly it may have even been a year or so since I started attending meetings.  As we read this exact same quote in the manual, it was as if those words struck me to the very core.  I had “pit [my] will against God’s.”  When my life began falling apart, I kicked and screamed!  I dug my heels into the ground.  I listed over and over in my prayers why I should somehow be exempt from having to go through what I was facing because of how faithful and diligent I had been.

I had been completely unwilling to pass through these difficulties before me.  In my mind there was no possible way!  It just couldn’t be happening! Not in my life.  I wouldn’t let it happen.  Although it was a process, there was one night in particular where I believe I handed my will over and began to align it with God’s will for me in this.  Reading these words about a year after that moment of surrender helped me see that it truly had been pride.  And until I humbled myself by submitting to God’s will, He was limited in the ways He could work in my life.

Why do we need the promptings from the Holy Ghost?  Although we will explore more about the Holy Ghost later, can you see how vital these promptings are?  He will whisper step-by-step what we need to know to progress on our journey. Why would we turn our backs so easily to these “enticings of the Spirit?” These next two scriptures I am about to share may seem a bit harsh.  These verses may apply to more of a collective sum of the individuals’ lives. But I want you to considered more seriously the ways you are turning from what you know to be true or ignoring the whisperings of the Spirit in moments of temptation. Those moments may come in many different forms. What are the ramifications for turning away?

“...after ye have known and have been taught all these things, if ye should transgress and go contrary to that which has been spoken, that ye do withdraw yourselves from the Spirit of the Lord, that it may have no place in you to guide you in wisdom’s paths that ye may be blessed, prospered, and preserved---I say unto you, that the man that does this, the same cometh out in open rebellion against God; therefore he listeth to obey the evil spirit, and becometh an enemy to all righteousness; therefore, the Lord has no place in him, for he dwelleth not in unholy temples” (Mosiah 2:36-37).

“Now they did not sin ignorantly, for they knew the will of God concerning them, for it had been taught unto them; therefore they did wilfully rebel against God” (3 Nephi 6:18).

When we come out in “open rebellion” and we “wilfully rebel,” is it a wonder why we are considered “an enemy to God” (“and will be, forever, and ever” until we change our tune)?! This feels a little relatable as a parent and I consider on times I was only trying to help my child and their reaction has been retaliated with defiance. I had one child in particular, who as a toddler, would predictably NOT do things simply because they were asked to do it.

As we cross our arms and dig in our heels, as we pit our will against God’s will, as we turn from the gentle promptings that would help us to draw closer to our Savior, become better people, and develop God-like attributes, what better words are there to describe us than “rebellious” and “enemy?” There is good news coming up ahead, but these things must sink it before the good news can be meaningful and take effect.

If you are feeling a little unsettled about all of this, then just like before, I say, “Good!”  Maybe my just saying good again doesn’t make you feel any better.:) Continue to observe yourself. I know it can be a lot to take in and it can also be uncomfortable as we allow it to pierce our hearts. I promise we won’t leave you hanging!  I promise it will all come together as we press forward. Take note in the space provided below of how you feel, especially anything that feels uncomfortable, any questions you may now have, the things that hit really close to home, or anything that has come to mind after reading this chapter.

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We will talk more about the natural man and hopefully bring your personal natural man tendencies to your awareness, but for right now, let’s establish why the natural man is actually part of God’s plan.

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