Sunday, February 22, 2004

Religious insight.

We had an interesting discussion in Sunday school today while studying 2 Nephi Chapters 6-10 with more focus on chapter 9. Our discussion led us to a cross-reference in Alma 34.

32 For behold, this life is the time for
men to prepare to meet God; yea,
behold the day of this life is the day
for men to perform their labors.

33 And now, as I said unto you before,
as ye have had so many witnesses,
therefore, I beseech of you that ye do
not procrastinate the day of your
repentance until the end; for after this
day of life, which is given us to prepare
for eternity, behold if we do not improve
our time while in this life, then cometh
the night of darkness wherein thee can
be no labor performed.

34 Ye cannot say, when ye are brought to
that awful crisis, that I will repent, that I
will return to my God. Nay, ye cannot say
this; for that same spirit which doth possess
your bodies at the time that ye go out of this
life, that same spirit will have power to
possess your body in that eternal world.



Sister Andrews brought up a book someone wrote (non-church publication) about his near-death experience. This person apparently found himself looking desperately for his body while in that state. What struck me was how he noticed other spirits desperately looking for a cigarette or a drink etc.

I used to think that if we didn’t have our bodies, we would no longer be subject to physical temptations and such. What I forgot was how our addictions are always mostly psychological.

That makes me have to think twice about the person I’m becoming. I will be like this even after I die and will falter to the same physical weaknesses: and it will be even more frustrating without a body to succumb to.

An interesting thought: serious sex offenders are sometimes chemically castrated. (Am I right or is this just too much Law & Order SVU talking?) The result is the inability to feel these urges physically – much less act on them. I doubt that the desire to is any less though. I can only imagine their frustration.
If all computers and men were removed from me, as much as I would not be able to act on my urges, I would still long for them. If I were put back into a situation where I had access to them again, I would go crazy.

Imagine what we would choose to do with our bodies after we are finally resurrected.

I think the first thing I will do is find a Taco Bell.

SOMEBODY BRING TACO BELL TO MALAYSIA!!!