Carnal-mindedness means caring more about things that will die (pass away) than those things that have eternal significance and will live eternally. It’s so easy, being mortal, to slip back into seeking hope and fulfillment in carnal (temporal, of this physical realm) things.
Scripture Capturing Exercise 1 (p. 13)
Remember, to be carnally–minded is death, and to be spiritually–minded is life eternal. (2 Nephi 9:39)
I used to read the word “carnal” in the scriptures and assumed it referred to really gross behaviors–and usually to do with sexuality. Then, one day, the impression came to turn to the dictionary and look the word up. Doing so, I discovered that the synonyms for “carnal” actually opened up the meaning to ways of thinking that convicted me of being “carnally-minded.” Here are the synonyms I found:
A) bodily, corporeal (having to do with the flesh)
I had to admit that I gave far more time to worrying about, agonizing over and even hating my own body, than to the condition of my spiritual self, and all the while lusting after having a completely different body than the one I had been blessed with.
B) temporal (relating to earth life; having to do with time instead of eternity)
When I faced that truth that I certainly did spend virtually every minute of every day, at least six days a week, caught up in things “relating to earth life,” I was immediately defensive. Well, of course I was! After all I was the mother in a giganticus–enormicus family that spanned needs from diaper changes to science fair project assistance and beyond to dating curfews, etc., etc.
C) worldly (relating to, or devoted to this world and its pursuits rather than to religion or spiritual affairs)
Hmm. Worldly? Was I worldly minded? Moi?
Then one word came to my mind–media–and I had to face the truth. I had to admit that the world was way too much with me. I usually had the TV or a radio playing and I spent precious hours being caught up in media almost every day–TV and radio with the constant barrage of commercials they played running through my head; talk shows , and dozens of videos. (And all this was before cell phones and social media!)
Here and Now
I’m there again. Life is so challenging, I find myself needing to be reminded that if I want to live through this newest wave of mortal challenge (facing my husband’s terminal illness), I MUST return to the work of descending into the depths of humility and putting my spiritual life first.
Prayerful thought: Dear Father, I thank Thee for sending Thy Son to demonstrate to us His own humility by living His life completely centered in Thee. I pray, Father, to find in oneness with Him in the Spirit the humility to trust Thy will for me and my loved one even in these last days.
Thanks for your example. I need it.