The Gospel in words: 'Spirituality'

Fifth in a series on "ity" words

"Remember, to be carnally-minded is death, and to be spiritually-minded is life eternal." (2 Nephi 9:39)

"Spirituality" is "the quality or condition of being spiritual; attachment to or regard for the things of the spirit as opposed to material or worldly interests." To be spiritual is "pertaining to, affecting or concerning, the spirit or higher moral qualities (often) in express or implied distinction to bodily, corporal, or temporal." Also, "of, belonging or relating to, concerned with, sacred or ecclesiastical things or matters, as distinguished from secular affairs." To be spiritual has the sense of being "devout, holy, pious; morally good; having spiritual tendencies or instincts" (Oxford English Dictionary).

In these definitions and in numerous scriptural verses, it is clear that spirituality is the opposite of carnality and materialism. That is, the things of the flesh and the things of the spirit are not only incompatible but are at war with each other. Paul teaches that "the natural man receiveth not the things of the spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned" (1 Corinthians 2:14).

In order for us to live our lives on a spiritual plane such that we are open to and, in fact, receive the guidance of the Spirit, we must understand how to become spiritual beings. President David O. McKay famously said "spirituality is the consciousness of victory over self." How do we develop that consciousness?

Most indispensable to spirituality is the necessity of faith, for it is faith that puts us beyond our temporal and carnal existence, for faith is "the evidence of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1). President James E. Faust taught that if we are not careful "any of us can be left behind, drawn away by the seductive voices of secularism and materialism."

The antidote for this is faith. "To sustain faith, each of us must be humble and compassionate, kind and generous to the poor and the needy. Faith is further sustained by daily doses of spirituality that come to us as we kneel in prayer. Honesty, decency, integrity, and morality are all necessary ingredients of our faith and will provide a sanctuary for our souls" (Ensign, May 2000).

In a wonderful conference talk in October 2000, Elder Douglas L. Callister teaches "as we become more conversant with the Holy Spirit our lives become more refined. The sordid and base have no attraction. It is developed spirituality which separates us from the secular world." Elder Callister notes that our whole sense of the world changes when we see through the spirit and not our natural eyes, and quotes Elizabeth Barrett Browning, "Earth's crammed with heaven, And every common bush afire with God; And only he who sees takes off his shoes" (Ensign, November 2000).