Friday, April 4, 2025

Doctrine and Covenants 29: 31-35; 2 Nephi 9: 39



How does understanding that “all things … are spiritual” shape the way you view God’s commandments?

"31 For by the power of my Spirit created I them; yea, all things both spiritual and temporal—

32 First spiritual, secondly temporal, which is the beginning of my work; and again, first temporal, and secondly spiritual, which is the last of my work—


33 Speaking unto you that you may naturally understand; but unto myself my works have no end, neither beginning; but it is given unto you that ye may understand, because ye have asked it of me and are agreed.


34 Wherefore, verily I say unto you that all things unto me are spiritual, and not at any time have I given unto you a law which was temporal; neither any man, nor the children of men; neither Adam, your father, whom I created.


35 Behold, I gave unto him that he should be an agent unto himself; and I gave unto him commandment, but no temporal commandment gave I unto him, for my commandments are spiritual; they are not natural nor temporal, neither carnal nor sensual." (Doctrine and Covenants 29: 31-35)


"39 O, my beloved brethren, remember the awfulness in transgressing against that Holy God, and also the awfulness of yielding to the enticings of that cunning one. Remember, to be carnally-minded is death, and to be spiritually-minded is life eternal." (2 Nephi 9: 39)


"You make better choices when you can see things clearly. That’s why light is so important: light makes it easier to see the right path. Heavenly Father has given you access to heavenly light—the gift of the Holy Ghost—to help you see clearly what is good and bad, right and wrong.


Eternal truths

A young woman taking the water during the sacrament.


baptism you enter a joyful covenant relationship with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. In the temple, you will make additional covenants that can strengthen that relationship. Each week during the sacrament, you renew your covenants. You express your willingness to keep the commandments, and the Lord blesses you with the opportunity to have the Holy Spirit as your constant companion. It is one of His greatest gifts to you.


Making good choices improves your ability to feel the Spirit. There are many good and wholesome things in this world. Just as your body is affected by what you eat and drink, your mind and spirit are profoundly affected by what you read, watch, and listen to.

Invitations


Make time for the Lord every day. Learn of Him. Always remember Him. Pray to your Heavenly Father. Study the holy scriptures and the words of living prophets. 

Then strive to live by what you learn.


Three young people in a garden near a temple.
Seek that which uplifts, inspires, and invites the Spirit. As you make choices about what to watch, read, listen to, or participate in, think about how it makes you feel. Does it invite good thoughts? Stay away from anything that mocks sacred things or that is immoral. Don’t participate in anything that dulls your judgment or sensitivity to the Spirit, such as violence, alcohol, and harmful drugs. Have the courage to turn off a video or game, walk out of a movie or a dance, change your music, or turn away from anything that is not consistent with the Spirit.

social media heart icon


Use social media to uplift. Social media can be a powerful communication tool. If you use it, focus on light, faith, and truth. Don’t compare your life to what other people seem to be experiencing. Remember that your worth comes from being a child of heavenly parents, not from social media.


Seek wholesome experiences and real and lasting relationships. Be careful that your use of technology and media does not replace spending in-person time with family and friends. Social media and other technology can take much of your time without giving a lot of value in return. Take a break from the virtual world, and connect with people in real life." (Walk in God’s light Galatians 5:25, For the Strength of Youth)


And here's the commentary entitled: “All things unto me are spiritual.” : 


"As you study Doctrine and Covenants 29:31–35, ask yourself, “In what sense are all commandments spiritual?” You might list a few commandments and consider the spiritual truths related to each one. A review of For the Strength of Youth: A Guide for Making Choices could be helpful—it teaches some of the eternal truths behind several of God’s commandments.

How does knowing that “all things … are spiritual” affect the way you look at God’s commandments? Consider looking for spiritual meaning or purpose in other aspects of your life as well.

See also 2 Nephi 9:39.


All commandments of God are spiritual in the sense that when we strive to obey them all, our spirit reaps the blessings God has promised us. On the other hand, if we ignore or disobey even only one of those commandments, our spirit suffers and our spiritual growth gets hindered. For instance, when we obey the Word of Wisdom, we're not only blessed with a healthier and stronger physical body, we're also blessed spiritually because our spirit thrives continually. And when we choose not to obey the Lord's Law of Health by taking in harmful stuff in our body like alcohol or drugs, it's not only our physical body that gets sick, our spirituality also goes spiraling downward. 

Everything has a purpose and it's so important to do what we can to strike the balance of everything in our lives. The Lord gave us commandments so we could maintain this balance because indeed as He said, "All things unto me are spiritual."

As I strive to look to the Lord in every thought, I am able to find spiritual meaning even in the tiny details of the different aspects of my life. And I know that I can do all things through Christ as I keep relying on His power. 


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