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Things spiritual and things physical...

I heard often while I was growing up that we are spiritual beings having a physical experience. It often feels the other way around - that we are physical beings who occasionally have spiritual experiences. I am gratified, then, to hear that some things have dual meanings and can be understood on different levels.

The winding up chapters of 1 Nephi are informative along those lines. He discusses the events surrounding the diaspora, the coming of the Messiah, and the eventual restoration of the 12 tribes in to the lands of their inheritance. This is literally true. The land of Israel has already become a place where Jews from all over the world can return home to the land that was promised them. They have suffered greatly from their long estrangement from this land, and now they have a place where they can gather and be at home (if not necessarily always at peace).

But peel back the physical, temporal dimension of these things, and you come to understand that these things are really spiritual in nature. And it applies not only to nations/states, but to individuals and families. Remember, the basic unit of the gospel is the family - not the ward or stake. In fact, the wards and stakes of the church are organized to sustain and support the family, not necessarily the other way around (which can often feel the case).

As individuals/families, then, we may often times feel ourselves estranged from the promised blessings of the Lord. This is always due to wickedness and can only be remedied by repentance. Procuring for ourselves the continual blessings of the Lord is only done by righteous living. Then as families and individuals, we are in the verdant pastures of the Lord, having His protection and care. And as we live righteously we are able to help others to come to the Lord also.

Remember that all things to the Lord are spiritual, and never has He ever given us a commandment that was not spiritual in nature. As you study the scriptures, look for the spiritual application for what you are reading. It opens up a whole new world of meaning and joy and richness that is only guessed at before.

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