What are we becoming? That is the great question. Several weeks ago when we attended Kasoa ward our gospel doctrine lesson was on Alma 40-42. We spoke of resurrection and restoration. It has been on my mind ever since.
All of us will be resurrected with a perfect body. “Every limb and joint shall be restored to its body; yea even a hair of the head shall not be lost; but all things shall be restore to their proper and perfect frame.” Alma 40:23
The world around us teaches so much about the body: build up muscles, be a size 8, dress in style, get a facelift, a tummy tuck, a nose job. And yet in the resurrection our bodies will be restored in perfect form. Is this focus on the body a distraction Satan himself is the author of? To get us to focus on the body rather than the spirit?
I am not saying exercise of the body is not important. It is important. An unhealthy body affects our spirits. We must care for our bodies through exercise and nutrition. But is there an unhealthy focus on exercise and the body? The need of developing muscles that sculpt our body? The use of diets that starve our bodies of nutrition to become a size 8?
On the other hand, the spirit that will be restored to the body is made of our everyday choices. Choices of obeying God’s commandments, repenting, living by the guidance of the Holy Ghost, serving others, developing our ability to love others, living to bless other lives, filling our minds with uplifting thoughts and images, all help our spirit to develop to the goodness of Christ’s spirit. Disobeying God’s commandments, being self centered, focusing on acquiring the world’s possessions to define our importance, seeking for power, abusing others, immersing our minds with demeaning thoughts, and images, lying to get ahead, all bring our spirits in control of Satan.
Our spirits will be RESTORED to our perfect bodies. “The meaning of the restoration is to bring back again evil for evil or carnal for carnal or devilish for devilish---good for that which is good; righteous for that which is righteous, just for that which is just; merciful for that which is merciful. For that which ye do send out shall return unto you again, and be restored; therefore the word restoration more fully condemneth the sinner, and justifieth him not at all.” Alma 41:13,15
Alma's prophetic words on the resurrection are worth reading and rereading.
We need ever more to listen to our prophets. Most often in conference they encourage us to refine our spirits: Be kinder, reach out to others, pray, exercise faith, teach your children. I loved President Hinckley' B's: Be Smart, Be Clean, Be Grateful, Be Humble, Be Prayful, Be True. His focus was on developing the Spirit. It is the “Becoming” that is important.
I cannot get out of my mind: What kind of spirit do I want restored to my perfect body in the resurrection?
Become
8 years ago
2 comments:
Then here is a question--what is a "perfect body" in the resurrection. I mean, I really don't see everyone as exactly the same size and shape anyhow. If we put all our focus on the physical here in this life, will we be disappointed that our "6 pack" abs is not God's idea of perfect. . .
Just more food for thought. I, of course, think it is about balance. Take care of our "temples" as best we can, but don't neglect our spiritual growth either.
Read "The Last Battle" in C.S. Lewis' Narnia series to get some perspective from an amazing person who never was in the Church. I'd like that 'perfect body' to be more perfect that this earthly body.
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