“3: My Foundation: Our Bodies Are a Gift from God,” Finding Strength in the Lord: Emotional Resilience (2020)
“3: My Foundation: Our Bodies Are a Gift from God,” Finding Strength in the Lord: Emotional Resilience
My Foundation: Our Bodies Are a Gift from God—Maximum Time: 20 Minutes
Discuss:
How does having a physical body prepare us to become like our Heavenly Father?
Read:
The following statements by Church leaders:
“Because a physical body is so central to the Father’s plan of happiness and our spiritual development, Lucifer seeks to frustrate our progression by tempting us to use our bodies improperly” (David A. Bednar, “Watchful unto Prayer Continually,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2019, 34).
“Your ultimate safety in this life lies in never taking the first enticing step toward going where you should not go and doing what you should not do. … [As human beings we have physical appetites necessary for our survival.] These appetites are absolutely essential for the perpetuation of life. So, what does the adversary do? … He attacks us through our appetites. He tempts us to eat things we should not eat, to drink things we should not drink, and to love as we should not love!” (Russell M. Nelson, in “Advice from the Prophet of the Church to Millennials Living in a Hectic World,” Feb. 18, 2018, newsroom.ChurchofJesusChrist.org).
Discuss:
How can mistreating our body affect our emotional resilience?
Read:
The scripture passages:
“The soul shall be restored to the body, and the body to the soul; yea, and 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 restored to their proper and perfect frame” (Alma 40:23).
“And [Jesus Christ] shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people. … And he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities” (Alma 7:11–12).
Discuss:
How can Jesus Christ strengthen us to endure well or even overcome any physical limitation we may have?
Commit:
I will choose one way I will better treat my body like a temple.