In keeping with the idea of putting our houses, or the corner/room we’re in charge of, in order, I want to talk about a house many of us tend to ignore: the house where our spirit’s reside.
In John chapter 2 of the New Testament, Jesus Christ is speaking to some of the Jews. He has just rid the temple of those who would treat it as a waystation, making a common place rather than a place to worship God. Here we read:
“Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things? Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? But he spake of the temple of his body. When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said” (John 2:18-22).
The Jews did not understand what Christ spoke of when he mentioned the temple. They assumed he was talking about the building, which had taken over forty years to build, and could not comprehend Him speaking of raising it up in just three days.
This is not the temple Christ spoke of. He was giving a hint as to what would happen after his death, referring to his body as a temple.
“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?” (1 Corinthians 6:19.)
We have all been given a mortal abode for our spiritual selves. Our bodies. They have been compared to a temple. When we mistreat or abuse these temples, they become places of confusion (D&C 132:8). They are weakened. When this happens our spirits cannot function properly. The same happens when others abuse or mistreat our bodies.
Satan is working so hard to hurt teens and little children. If he can get to you early, so much good is destroyed. Leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (nicknamed the Mormon Church) have warned so often about the evils of pornography, of gender/sexual confusion, and debilitating addictions.
How do we keep our bodies as temples clean? We need to read good books and watch uplifting shows/movies. Our ears must be filled with music that brings the spirit into our spirit homes. It sounds cheesy, right? Try it for just one week and watch the difference it can make. Pray for extra protection from the buffetings of Satan during this little experiment. You might be amazed to see what can happen.
