Temple Bodies--by Emily Culp

Section 89 of the Doctrine and Covenants and its prolific revelation of the Word of Wisdom is one of the most important aspects of the restored gospel. Given just a few years after the church was organized in 1830, this “principle with promise” as it says, was given to direct the saints on how to better protect the most important part of our mortal existence. Our bodies.

As latter-day saints we know that our bodies are more than just temporary holding cells for our spirits. As Doctrine and Covenants 88:15 states, “The spirit and the body are the soul of man.” The bodies we have been given on earth are divinely connected to our salvation. They will stay with us until we become exalted and they are perfected.

Our bodies are also referred to as temples, which makes a lot of sense when considering the parallel to physical temples that we attend. Just like the temples on earth, our bodies are capable of holding a member of the Godhead within them. Christ dwells in his temple on earth just as he dwells in us by virtue of the Holy Ghost.

With all of this in consideration, the Word of Wisdom becomes more than just a handful of do’s and don’ts. It gives us guidelines by which we can ensure that we make it back to Heavenly Father having honored the temples he has given us.

Elder Bednar gave a wonderful talk at a CES fireside in 2009 titled “Things as They Really Are” in which he discusses this importance of having a physical body and how Satan feels about the subject. He talks about how Satan’s eternal progression has been halted because he doesn’t have a body, and consequently attempts to coerce us into misusing ours. The Word of Wisdom provides a foundation for us to understand that we must respect our bodies. Physically we should take care of them by eating right, exercising, and not getting tattoos, piercings, or disfiguring them in other ways. But we should also remember to love ourselves enough to be able to accept our bodies as temples and not feel pressure to look any certain way.

Elder Bednar points out that, “Our physical bodies make possible a breadth, a depth, and an intensity of experience that simply could not be obtained in our premortal estate.” These temples we reside in are essential for our salvation. So we’d better treat them accordingly.

In section 88 of the Doctrine and Covenants, details of the resurrection are revealed. Verse 28 states, “They who are of a celestial spirit shall receive the same body which was a natural body; even ye shall receive your bodies, and your glory shall be that glory by which your bodies are quickened.” We thus understand that we must be stewards of the bodies we’ve been given as they will be with us in the next life.
Another verse in section 84 parallel to New Testament teaching, points out how important our bodies are to the savior. Verse 80 reads:

“And any man that shall go and preach this gospel of the kingdom, and fail not to continue faithful in all things, shall not be weary in mind, neither darkened, neither in body, limb, nor joint; and a hair of his head shall not fall to the ground unnoticed. And they shall not go hungry, neither athirst.”

Heavenly Father knows every hair on our heads. Often people become defensive about keeping the Word of Wisdom with the statement, “It’s MY body. I’m not hurting anyone.” When in fact, our bodies are bought with a price by the savior, and we are in fact hurting him when we misuse them. Sins involving the body can be some of the most rationalized, but are also the most serious (see; murder, premarital sex).

Often I’ve thought to myself, I’d really like a coffee. Just one. It’s delicious, and will give me the energy I need to get through this day, and no one will know. Immediately after running through this thought process I realize the error in it. If I would’ve taken care of myself in the first place and adapted a healthy sleeping schedule/eaten the right foods, I’d have the energy I need, and of course the Savior would know. Who is the most important person who could find out. Even more important than your mom.

It’s a simple principle, but keeping the Word of Wisdom truly can make us feel better in every way. By not abusing substances we have a clear mind and avoid health problems, and by following healthy guidelines we have increased stamina as well as an increased ability to feel the spirit.

It might be difficult at times to eat all of the right foods and exercise 3 times a week (especially as a busy college student) but I know that if I’m trying my best to live the Word of Wisdom I will be blessed and will be worthy to be filled with the spirit in my daily life.