Provident Living - Physical Health
It is hard for you to live an abundant life which can provide for others if you are not self-reliant. It is hard to be self-reliant if you are not healthy. It is hard to be healthy when you don't know how.
Health
Why is physical health so important? Let's look at the big picture.
God's Purpose
(Moses 1:39) |
Prerequisites
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Requirements
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Immortality
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Mortality
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Body
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Eternal Life
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Earth Life
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Community
(Body of Christ) |
We are concerned with the health of the body because it is something that we will always have and we must learn to use it wisely. It is the first gift that God has given us on this earth. Let's look at the creation of health by following the pattern that God has given us in the creation of the world:
Creation of Health
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Planet - Heaven and Earth
(Gen 1:1-5) |
Groundwork - Spirit and Body
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Firmament (Gen 1:6-8)
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Environment
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Fruit (Gen 1:9-13)
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Nourishment
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Lights (Gen 1:14-19)
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Enlightenment
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Animals (Gen 1:20-23)
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Sociality
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Man (Gen 1:24-31)
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Industry
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Rest (Gen 2:1-3)
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Spirituality
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I am going to briefly describe each area:
Groundwork - Our bodies are both physical and spiritual. In both, there are elements of nature, nurture and choice. Each area affects the others.
Nature
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Nurture
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Choice
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Physical Body
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Genetic makeup
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Growth environments
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Biochemistry
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Spiritual Body
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Personality
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Belief systems
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Attitudes
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Environment - The air and water that we are exposed to has a large effect on our health. This includes the quality, quantity and frequency, both internally and externally, of the air we breathe and the water we drink and bathe in. It also includes our hygiene and cleanliness. (respiratory, circulatory, lymphatic, urinary, integumentary)
Nourishment - We need to eat primarily what God intended to be food for man. The food we eat needs to have the proper ratio of nutrients for our needs. This includes vitamins, minerals, fats, proteins and carbohydrates. The quality, quantity and frequency of the food we eat has a large effect on our health. (digestive, integumentary)
Enlightenment - Light has the largest effect on our health and healing. Light extends much further than the visible spectrum. The quantity, quality and frequency of light that we receive and create will largely determine the nature of our health. The major communication and control of our body is through light. The power of priesthood blessings and the atonement work through light. (nervous, integumentary)
Sociality - Our relationships with others affect our emotional well-being. This includes the quantity, quality and frequency of love received and given. These can be with plants, animals, parents, spouse and children, friends and acquaintances. Our harmony with others has a large effect on our health. (endocrine, immune, reproductive, integumentary)
Industry - Our purpose in life, what motivates us and drives us, and the things that we choose to do, including our occupation, have a large effect on our health. This includes the quantity, quality and frequency of our physical labors. Money is also symbolic of our industry. (muscular, skeletal, integumentary)
Spirituality - Rest from our physical labors includes sleep, keeping the Sabbath day holy, worshiping God, fasting and wholesome recreational activities. This also includes our spiritual labors and priesthood responsibilities. All of these allow our bodies to refresh and rejuvenate. We cannot be completely healthy when nourishment of our spirit is neglected. Ultimately, despite our best efforts, God can override the length and quality of our life and health.
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