The world at large is very aware of what physical death looks like. We are also familiar with what causes physical death. For example, we know that without food and water, we will eventually die. Food and water are necessary for survival. In order to quench hunger or thirst, we must eat or drink. It is obvious and simple.
What is NOT so obvious
to the world at large is spiritual death and its devastation surrounding us. In
fact, 1 Timothy 5:6 teaches that some are “dead” while they live. Just as our
physical bodies need proper nutrition, our spirits are in desperate need as
well. Yet so, so many of us are unknowingly starving our spirits—continually.
Spiritual death is worse than physical death, but cunningly Satan tricks our
society into thinking otherwise. He says if we feel good and look good
physically, then we are “alive” and well (2 Nephi 28:21).
As mothers, we know we
can’t skip a day without food and water, or we wouldn’t be able to function. We
wouldn’t be able to nurse, have a healthy pregnancy, or meet the needs of our
children, because we would be so depleted and weak. Do we realize the same goes
for our spirits? In order to properly function and serve in our families, we
MUST nourish and feed our spirits, every day.
It is vital that we turn
to the correct source for spiritual nourishment. Oftentimes, when we feel
spiritual suffering, we turn to the wrong source to fill the void. Isn’t it
interesting how Satan deceives us to act on PHYSICAL appetites to meet our
SPIRITUAL needs? When our spirits are hurting, we might turn to food,
entertainment, spending money, dangerous addictive behaviors, drug and alcohol
abuse, physical pleasure, mind-numbing activities, and so on. These physical
appetites can never fill a spiritual void, and instead, they make the void worse.
It is neccessary that we turn to SPIRITUAL sources to meet our spiritual needs.
Thankfully, Heavenly Father has given us plenty of simple ways we can find such
nourishment.
Dallin H. Oaks teaches
how we can feed and nourish our spirits,