Are you hungry?

There is a passage in a chapter of the Book of Mormon that says "Remember to be carnally-minded is death, to be spiritually-minded is life eternal." Carnal, (as defined by something smarter than me) is something pertaining to or characterized by the flesh or the body, its passions and appetites.

Carnally-minded therefore would be focussed on a need of the body. Many of those needs we have every day. We need to eat, need to drink water, we need to sleep. Every desire we have from a simple desire to sleep in longer, to other more serious desires, like desiring intimacy, are carnal. These desires in of themselves are not bad. We have those desires for a reason.

When we are controlled by our desires, our passions, our lusts. That is when we are carnally-minded, that is when we have lost control of ourselves. Many people find themselves in those situations, controlled by addictions of various things that "satisfy" their hungers. This is why the Lord gives us certain commandments, to keep us Spiritually-minded. (For those of who who currently are suffering from the clutches of addictions there is hope! Just start to make steps to become more spiritually minded.)

Commandments like Fasting help us overcome our desires for food and drink. The Law of Chastity helps us to know when our desires for intimacy are appropriate and beautiful. The Law of Tithing helps us overcome our need for money and put our trust in God. The Sabath helps us give up our desire to do other things recreational or otherwise, and focus on eternal things like families, and the Gospel. There are many other commandments that our Heavenly Father has given us, to help us become the most spiritual that we can be.

I am grateful for these commandments, and as I try hard to obey them, Heavenly Father gives me strength. I know that He love us, and that you too can have that strength. Just ask for it!