When we are born into this world, we have very little thought or understanding to the world we have been born into. We don’t know one thing about what’s going on beyond those hospital walls. We don’t have a clue about there being such a thing as good and evil; we don’t know anything about right from wrong; we don’t even know that there is such a thing as a sun that rises in the east and sets in the west.
When we are born into this world we are innocent, in nature, because you have yet to be taught anything about the world. We don’t know about the workings of the world until we are taught, and made aware of the workings. As we grow older we become more and more mindful to the workings of the world so that we can go out and accomplish all of our goals and become “successful”. There is nothing wrong with being successful in the world, but we must also understand that there is a greater success, a greater reward, available to us and we must be mindful to this.
As faithful members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we have a distinctive way of looking at life. We view our experiences in terms of eternity. As we draw farther from worldliness, we feel closer to our Father in Heaven and are more able to be guided by His Spirit. We call this quality of life spirituality.
President Dallin H. Oaks has taught, “To the faithful, spirituality is a lens through which we view life and a gauge by which we evaluate it. The Apostle Paul expressed this thought in two of his letters:
“We look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” (2 Cor. 4:18)
“For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
“For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” (Rom. 8:5–6)
To be spiritually minded is to view and evaluate our experiences in terms of the enlarged perspective of eternity.
President Dallin H. Oaks continues, “Each of us has a personal lens through which we view the world. Our lens gives its special tint to all we see. It can suppress some features and emphasize others. It can also reveal things otherwise invisible. Through the lens of spirituality, we can know “the things of God” by “the Spirit of God.” (1 Cor. 2:11.) As the Apostle Paul taught, such things are “foolishness” to the “natural man.” He cannot see them “because they are spiritually discerned.” (1 Cor. 2:14.)
“How we interpret our experiences is also a function of our degree of spirituality. Some interpret mortality solely in terms of worldly accomplishments and possessions. In contrast, we who have a testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ should interpret our experiences in terms of our knowledge of the purpose of life, the mission of our Savior, and the eternal destiny of the children of God.”
In Romans 8:1-12, specifically verses 5 and 6, we find that the Apostle Paul is writing to the Romans about being carnally minded verses being spiritually minded. Jesus brought this same message to the world in His three years of ministering. The world was asleep (and you could say still is in many respects), but Jesus came into this world and quickened the world (woke up the world) with the message of God’s gospel and thankfully has restored His Gospel back on the earth again never to be taken away.
Jesus came into the world teaching that all transgressions, however big or small, would be forgiven if we were to repent and follow His way. Jesus made the world mindful of the spiritual consequences of living in sin. The world did not know that there was a guilty verdict given to those that lived in sin. Jesus came to this world, woke the world up, and let the world know that if you don’t become mindful of the spirit and accept and use daily the Atonement of Jesus Christ, you will have to eventually pay for your sins.
There are two types of minds in this world today. The two that we find are those that are carnally minded and those that are spiritually minded. Those that are carnally minded are described as people living according to the flesh, and have their minds set on things of the flesh. Those that are spiritually minded are described as people living according to the Spirit, and minds set on the Spirit.
There are so many people running around today, especially our generation, saying that they are “woke”. If you have never heard that phrase, it simply means, that you are aware – you have knowledge or understanding about a certain subject. We live in a world that is supposedly “woke”, but what are they really woke too?
We live in a world where we are constantly praising and worshiping ‘self’. We live in a world where we are constantly worshiping and praising money and self success.
The world is full of carnally minded people chasing after things of a carnal world. When the Bible tells us, “to be carnal minded is to live according to the flesh,” we instantly think of living for what the body craves. When you live according to the flesh you are actually living according to the world, and living according to the nature of sin. When you live carnally, you are living with, and are happy to live in sin. This reminds me of what is shown in 2 Nephi Chapter 28 Verse 8 in the Book of Mormon; “And there shall also be many which shall say: Eat, drink, and be merry; nevertheless, fear God—he will justify in committing a little sin; yea, lie a little, take the advantage of one because of his words, dig a pit for thy neighbor; there is no harm in this; and do all these things, for tomorrow we die; and if it so be that we are guilty, God will beat us with a few stripes, and at last we shall be saved in the kingdom of God.” To be carnal minded means you are focused on this world as if it is the biggest treasure chest you will ever come across. When you are carnally minded your heart’s desire (your soul) is the world, and all the riches therein of this world. Our soul needs nourishment, and there are many people who try to provide their soul with the artificial of this world, but there’s a major problem with thinking that this world can actually provide nourishment for your soul – it can’t.
When your stomach growls, it’s letting you know that it is hungry, right? You can’t provide your stomach with what it needs by ignoring those growls. You can temporarily quench the hunger of your stomach when you fill it up with some food, but hours later you know what happens? Your stomach goes back to growling again.
Those that are carnally minded in this world are so dead set on thinking that this world can quench its soul’s desire, but fail to realize that the nourishment of the world is only temporary and does not last, leaving you wanting more. This is a foolish act that Jesus asked man to turn away from, remember that Jesus said He was the bread of life. Solomon wrote in Proverbs 3:35, that the wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the legacy of fools.
Turn your mind away from being carnally minded, and turn your mind to focusing on things of the Spirit. Please remember though that when you are spiritually minded, that does not mean you are above all others and can look down on them because you have accepted Jesus Christ. There is no arrogance, boasting, or bragging when you are spiritually minded. The nature of arrogance, boasting, bragging, and the like are attitudes of the natural man who is carnal in all respects.
When you become and are spiritually minded, your focus turns away from the things that used to bring about temporary happiness when you were carnally minded.
To be spiritually minded means you are now after the things of the Spirit and understand that the blessings of the Spirit bring about eternal nourishment. Our concern for the world, and worldly matters will certainly remain but those matters become smaller as our concern for those of the Spirit grow larger.
When you are spiritually minded, you dwell on the Spirit and you look to follow in Jesus’ way; you’re no longer interested in following in the ways of the world and others who choose to live according to the flesh. Those that are spiritually minded are focused on living like Jesus and walking like Jesus – who desire to be humble, grateful, forgiving, and full of peace and love.
The spiritual minded understands that the real treasure is living the Gospel of Jesus Christ and returning to Heaven, where Jesus has prepared a place just for you!
When you become spiritually minded, you must put off the natural self and its carnal ways.
We, those of the spirit, who have been baptized and have received the Holy Ghost, know that there is no reward in being carnally minded. We know that we cannot have our soul quenched by the workings of the flesh. Why? Because we have our eyes on Heaven and our Savior Jesus Christ. We are mindful of the Spirit, following the Spirit, listening to the Spirit – spiritually minded. We know that it is the Holy Ghost, that guides and lifts us up in this life; it is the Holy Spirit that keeps us mindful. When we are spiritually minded, love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control begin to shine through us; these are not characteristics of the flesh but are characteristics of God – we are not living after the flesh but living for God!
President Russell M. Nelson has taught, “In coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost.” How do we achieve being spiritually minded? How do we attain that degree of holiness where we can have the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost? How do we come to view and evaluate the things of this world with the perspective of eternity?
"Elder Rasband recently, powerfully taught; “Brothers and sisters, we are at war with Satan for the souls of men. The battle lines were drawn in our pre-earth life. Satan and a third of our Father in Heaven’s children turned away from His promises of exaltation. Since that time, the adversary’s minions have been fighting the faithful who choose the Father’s plan."
"Satan knows his days are numbered and that time is growing shorter. As crafty and cunning as he is, he will not win. However, his battle for each one of our souls rages on."
"For our safety, we must build a fortress of spirituality and protection for our very souls, a fortress that will not be penetrated by the evil one."
"Satan is a subtle snake, sneaking into our minds and hearts when we have let our guard down, faced a disappointment, or lost hope. He entices us with flattery, a promise of ease, comfort, or a temporary high when we are low. He justifies pride, unkindness, dishonesty, discontent, and immorality, and in time we can be “past feeling.”7 The Spirit can leave us. “And thus the devil cheateth their souls, and leadeth them away carefully down to hell.”
So, how do we build a fortress of spirituality?
We seek spirituality through faith. But like President Henry B. Eyring recently taught, “But like a new plant, such faith in Jesus Christ will wither unless you find continued resolve to ponder and pray to increase it (daily).” We also seek spirituality through daily repentance; through forgiveness of one another; through fasting; through righteous desires and pure thoughts and actions. We seek spirituality through ministering; through worship on Sunday and attending the Houses of the Lord as often as we can; through feasting on the word of God, in the new curriculum Come Follow Me, in the scriptures and the teachings of the living prophets. We attain spirituality through ordinances and making and keeping covenants, through conscientiously trying to keep all the commandments of God. Spirituality is not acquired suddenly. It is the consequence of a progression of right choices. It is the harvest of a righteous life.
President Dallin H. Oaks teaches, “Through the lens of spirituality, we see all the commandments of God as invitations to blessings. Obedience and sacrifice, loyalty and love, fidelity and family all appear in eternal perspective. The words of the Savior, given to the world in the Prophet Joseph Smith’s inspired translation of the Bible, have renewed significance:
“And whosoever will lose his life in this world, for my sake, shall find it in the world to come.
“Therefore, forsake the world, and save your souls; for what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (JST, Matt. 16:28–29.)
The fruits of spirituality were revealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith in the eighty-eighth section of the Doctrine and Covenants:
“And if your eye be single to my glory, your whole bodies shall be filled with light, and there shall be no darkness in you; and that body which is filled with light comprehendeth all things.
“Therefore, sanctify yourselves that your minds become single to God.” (D&C 88:67–68)
Becoming spiritually minded is not a one and done thing. It is a constant daily effort to align our will with God’s and that is only fully accomplished by living the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ and following the direction and guidance of our Lord’s Prophets and Apostles. I testify that as we continually strive to live more spiritually minded our Heavenly Father will bless us and in the end we will be all the more grateful we exercised our agency wisely while on this mortal journey.
“My dear brothers and sisters, I leave you with my blessing to go forth with confidence in the Lord and in His gospel. Put your arms around those who stumble and, with the strength of the Spirit within you, lead them lovingly back to the fortress of spirituality and protection. Seek “to be like Jesus”32 in all that you do; shun evil and temptations; repent, as we were admonished yesterday by our dear prophet; be honest in heart; be upright and pure; show compassion and charity; and love the Lord your God with the devotion of a true disciple.” - Elder Rasband
Joshua 1:9; Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
