YOUR BODY IS A TEMPLE, PROTECT IT

(This article was inspired by a talk of Elder Boyd K. Packer of the Council of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints)

Before we came to this earth as a spirit, to enter into our small bodies, we made a decision, freely of our own choice, to follow the Eternal Laws that our Savior, Jesus Christ, had explained to each of us.

We would experience the Earth Life Test in this body and eventually, after we die and are resurrected, it would be permanently ours.

We would have to learn how to take care of it, honor it and protect it as it grows up into the full likeness of our full grown spirit being.  We were all full grown before coming here.

We were to protect it so the parts of the body would not be damaged physically, and if they were, we would try to have that problem repaired. 

We would need to keep our mind and heart clean from many of the bad and impure things we see around us, and to learn good and righteous things. 

The mind and heart control our character and who we would eventually become from the experiences we would endure or go through.

We will eventually have to present our bodies to God. 

We want it clean and pure and ready to be fit to enter the Celestial Kingdom of God.  He said that no unclean thing can come into His presence.

A revelation from God, given as a Word of Wisdom, and later made as a commandment, told us not to take habit-forming things like tobacco, drugs, liquor, coffee and tea because these things cause a craving and then relieve them for a small time each time we take some more of them.  To investigate more on this revelation from God, go to Doctrine and Covenants Section 89.

We are blessed to come here and get a body and this is because of our obedience in pre-earth life. 

While in this earth test, our memory of our pre-earth life is blocked off while here on earth, to show to God what we learned in the pre-earth training we had.  We learned in our minds and in our Hearts.  Since the mind is blocked off, He wants to know what we retained in our hearts.  This is where you really learn. 

This life is like a final test at a University, closed book except for the Scriptures and living Apostles and Prophets He would send us. 

We are His spirit sons and daughters and He wants us to gain the experience of this earth test and pass this test so we can come home to Him.

He knows that many will not listen to or believe in Him, but with our Free Agency to choose, it is all up to us.  He will NOT force us.

Satan, also known as the Devil, Lucifer here on earth, was known as the Son of the Morning in the spirit world. 

Because of his rebellion against the Father's Plan of Salvation, One Third of our brothers and sisters there, followed him. 

They were cast out of Heaven during that War there, down to the earth, to be used to tempt us to choose between good and evil. 

I'm sad to say that Many are failing to make the right choices.

Those who were cast out were not allowed to gain a body of flesh and blood like us.  This is their punishment. 

You can read in the New Testament that those spirits would prefer a Swine's body than not having any.

MATTHEW 8: 29-32

29 And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?

30 And there was a good way off from them an herd of many swine feeding.

 

31 So the devils besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine.

 

32 And he said unto them, Go. And when they were come out, they went into the herd of swine: and, behold, the whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea, and perished in the waters.

 

Verse 29 "they" are part of those spirits that were cast out of Heaven.

They knew who Jesus was. 

 

Also, "before the time" means they know their final punishment. 

 

They asked that they could inhabit any kind of body, but the swine, being possessed, ran wild and into the sea. 

 

Those with bodies have power over those who do not have one.  If we do something wrong or make a wrong choice, WE MADE THAT CHOICE. 

The Devil DOES NOT have the power to force anyone. 

WE ALONE make that Final Decision in choosing. 

The body is a temple to house your spirit. 

The Prophet Gordon B. Hinckley, our former prophet, was inspired by the Lord to tell us NOT to disfigure our bodies with piercings, except women with ONE set of earrings, and never men.  He also said not to have tattoos, pictures or symbols put on the body. 

1 COR. 3: 16-17

16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 

17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

 

There is Gender in Heaven. 

Man and Woman were each created in the image of God.  Head, arms, legs, eyes, ears etc.  

We, Male and Female are in His image, but certain parts are Gender different. 

Yes, we DO HAVE A MOTHER IN HEAVEN. 

We come here as brothers and sisters, meet each other, get married and have a family by making bodies for our other brothers and sisters who need to come to this Earth Test. 

But, by doing so, we create a family, with Love and Joy.  We learn how to be a family and teach these NEW SPIRITS how to take care of their bodies. 

And if we are married in a Temple of God, we can be a family FOREVER, not just until DEATH DO US PART.

To watch, hear or read what this Apostle said in more details, go to Elder Boyd K. Packer.

More investigation about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, go to www.lds.org.

Please pass this blog on to everyone you know.