WORTH OF THE SOUL: BODY AND SPIRIT

BYU MISSION“The mission of BYU – founded, supported, and guided by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints – is to assist individuals in their quest for perfection and eternal life.”

“The ultimate defining fact for all of us is that we are children of Heavenly Parents, born on this earth for a purpose, and born with a divine destiny. Whenever any of those other notions, whatever they may be, gets in the way of that ultimate defining fact, then it is destructive and it leads us down the wrong path.”

Elder Dallin H. Oaks

Public Affairs Interview

June 2012

NATURAL MAN VS ETERNAL LIFE

Natural Man Model(circumstances; relative)

Worth = Pride; Self Is the Source

Soul = Body vs. mind

Eternal Life Model(eternal truths; absolute)

Worth = Humility; God Is the Source

Soul = Body & Spirit; inseparable, one

Self-Acceptance Self-Esteem: Inherent Worth

“True self-esteem represents a sound, stable sense of oneself, built on a solid foundation of believing in one’s worth as a human being. Such individuals evaluate their behaviors, but their feelings of worth as people are not riding on those evaluations.”

Edward L. Deci

Why We Do What We Do

pp. 116-119

Contingent Self-Esteem: Earned Worth

“Contingent self-esteem is less stable … it is present under some conditions but vanishes under others, leaving people depleted and self-derogatory. When people are pressured to achieve particular outcomes, their self-esteem is often dependent on how those things turn out.”

Edward L. Deci

Why We Do What We Do

pp. 116-119

WHEN YOU THINK YOU EARN YOUR WORTH

WEA

KEN

S

INHERENT WORTH

EARNEDWORTH

Increase Fear of Failure Negative Stress More Self-absorbed Emotionally Reactive Negative Self-Talk

WHEN YOU KNOW YOUR WORTH IS FROM GOD

Nothing is a threat to you personally Positive self-talk Trust self/others Focused Live with dignity and respect Integrity, true to beliefs, genuine, sincere

WEA

KEN

S

INHERENT WORTH

EARNEDWORTH

True Nature of BeingBody & Spirit

“In this dispensation, the Lord revealed that ‘the spirit and the body are the soul of man’ (D&C 88:15). A truth that really is and always will be is that the body and the spirit constitute our reality and identity. When body and spirit are inseparably connected, we can receive a fullness of joy; when they are separated, we cannot receive a fullness of joy” (see D&C 93:33-34).

Elder David A. Bednar

Things as They Really Are

May 2009 CES Fireside

“One of the ultimate ironies of eternity is that the adversary, who is miserable precisely because he has no physical body, invites and entices us to share in his misery through the improper use of our bodies. The very tool he does not have and cannot use is thus the primary target of his attempts to lure us to physical and spiritual destruction.”

Elder David A. Bednar

Things as They Really Are

May 2009 CES Fireside

Worth of the SoulBody & Spirit

“Remember, the worth of souls is great in the sight of God; For, behold, the Lord your Redeemer suffered death in the flesh; wherefore he suffered the pain of all men, that all men might repent and come unto Him.”

D&C 18:10, 11

“Heavenly Father loves you – each of you. That love never changes. It is not influenced by your appearance, by your possessions, or by the amount of money you have in your bank account. It is not changed by your talents and abilities. It is simply there. It is there for you when you are sad or happy, discouraged or hopeful. God’s love is there for you whether or not you feel you deserve love. It is simply always there.”

President Thomas S. Monson

We Never Walk Alone

September 2013 General RS Meeting

“Humility is not the disavowal of our worth; rather it is the sober realization of how much we are valued by God.”

Elder Neal A. Maxwell

p. 165

Quote Book

“We don’t discover humility by thinking less of ourselves; we discover humility by thinking less about ourselves. Humility directs our attention and love toward others and to Heavenly Father’s purposes. Pride does the opposite. Pride draws its energy and strength from the deep wells of selfishness.”

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Pride and the Priesthood

October 2010 General Conference

Whole Soul Wellness

Contemporary research gives evidence that everything we do affects the body, the mind, and the spirit, as they all function as one whole integrated being, the whole soul. Approaching wellness in this manner will enhance your ability to live your life with a balance and harmony of aspects or dimensions of you. Living with harmony of the whole soul is the key to good health and wellness.

Eating Well Eating Well Eating Well Eating Well Eating WellExercising Exercising Exercising Exercising Exercising

Nutrition and a healthy weight

Govern the stresses of life

Muscular endurance and strength

Flexibility and functional fitness

Relationships

Individual and family recreation

Avoid addictive

behaviors

Cardiovascular fitness

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Science of Wellness (3.0)EXSC 221 – Coming Fall 2014

Example of research supporting integrated functioning of whole soul

Telomeres are DNA protein complexes that help stabilize a cell’s chromosomes. Telomerase is an enzyme that repairs damage to the chromosome. In the aging process, cells experience a shortening of telomeres and less effectiveness of the telomerase function. In one study of caregivers of those with Alzheimer’s compared with people matched for age, gender and other factors who were not caregivers, the telomeres in the caregivers were shorter and the telomerase function poorer in the caregivers. The lifespan of the caregivers was four to eight years less than those who are not caregivers.

Divine Nature

“An intelligent being, in the image of God, possesses every organ, attribute, sense, sympathy, affection, of will, wisdom, love, power and gift, which is possessed by God himself . . . . These attributes are in embryo and are to be gradually developed.”

Parley P. Pratt

Key to Theology

pp. 96-97

“Become who you really are. Your happiness and ability to find balance in your life will occur as you find, recognize and accept your true identity as a child of our Heavenly Father, and then live in accordance with this knowledge.”

Bishop Gerald Caussé

We Are the Architects of Our Own Happiness

CES Devotional, November 2012