It's A New Year. Take Care Of Your Body

In the New Testament the apostle Paul taught "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?" (1 Corinthians 3:16). God has blessed you with a physical body and expects you to take care of it.

Elder Jörg Klebingat taught that you should "[t]ake responsibility for your own physical well-being. Your soul consists of your body and spirit (see D&C 88:15). Feeding the spirit while neglecting the body, which is a temple, usually leads to spiritual dissonance and lowered self-esteem."

Avoiding harmful substances such as alcohol, tobacco, and addictive substances has blessed my life immeasurably. They have helped me follow the counsel of the apostle Paul to not defile my own personal temple. As I have taken care to put only good wholesome things into my body, I have been able to feel God's love abound in my life. Using Paul's analogy, I have become closer to God because my spirit is able to comfortably dwell within my 'temple'. I feel more able to listen to the Spirit of God and hear God's answers to my prayers.

 My goal this year is to try to take care of my body by exercising consistently. As each of us set goals this new year, I invite you to consider how you can make your body a better place for the spirit of God to dwell. It can be challenging but I promise that it will be worth it! I know it has been for me. Follow the counsel of Paul and keep your temple clean!

Submitted by: Elder Crook