Around the age of 3-8+ I was relentless about sneaking food. It worried my parents that, regardless of me feeling bad every time, I continued to sneak food, even in the homes of other people. It definitely needed to be solved. As time went on, I matured and learned to control myself better. Satan, using the tool previously mentioned in part one would tell me and try to convince me that I “was a thief.” He would tell me that my small weakness of sneaking food formed the biggest part of my identity. It’s laughable to think of something so small becoming so big in our mind, but Satan is very skilled in it. If an addict has a relapse, even after years of sobriety, Satan tells them that all the work was a waste and that they’re back where they started. He minimizes the “win” of having been successful for so long, and makes them believe that these mistakes define us entirely. What is God’s role in helping us to overcome this tool of Satan? He helps us to overcome this false ident...
"Well, that was stupid," I think to myself. It's 8:00 p.m., I'm walking through the mall with my wife, and I just might throw up. I knew better. But it tasted so good at the moment: 5 slices of pizza and five churros. I am beyond full, and now sitting down nauseates me. Standing up makes it worse. Adding water to the mix? Big mistake.
This might be the thousandth time I've committed to stop eating when I'm full and I blew it again. Why do I keep doing this to myself?
According to Mosiah 3:19, the natural man is an enemy to God. Some interpret this to mean that we, as the natural man, are enemies of God. This interpretation may lead us to feel the need to completely change ourselves to no longer be enemies of God, implying that we are inherently bad. But does that really make sense? Why would God create something that is naturally His enemy?
It is my belief that people are naturally good. Our identity is divine and Christlike. Most of us have a desire to be kind, loving, and helpful to others. We have our own moral compass and strive to live by our values. However, many of us struggle to always live in alignment with our morals and values.
Another perspective is that the natural man represents our instinctual tendencies and behaviors as humans. For example, I noticed growing up that I was always excited to read books about money-making strategies. I would spend hours immersed in those ideas, often neglecting my scripture study and prayers, because they seemed boring in comparison. I also enjoyed playing video games, and when I had them on my phone, I observed a similar pattern—more time and attention spent on worldly things, less on spiritual matters. It's natural for us to feel more drawn to things that aren't necessarily bad but don't bring us closer to Christ.
Additionally, we sometimes don’t live by our value system when we are affected by negative emotions. As the natural man, we naturally experience emotions. For instance, I may have full intention to study my scriptures, but if my friend says something rude, I may lose motivation and no longer feel like doing it. Emotions like anger, overwhelm, annoyance, or simply feeling “off” can create inner turmoil. When faced with a choice between doing what is right and seeking relief from the pain, the natural man often suggests taking the easier route, such as browsing social media instead of studying scriptures. This tendency can even lead to the formation of addictive behaviors.
As humans, we are subject to emotions, which means we sometimes choose to act against our value system. However, this doesn't mean that we are inherently bad. It simply indicates that the part of us that turns away from our value system becomes an obstacle in our relationship with God.
In conclusion, we are naturally good individuals with our own values and morals that we strive to live by. The natural man refers to our instinctual tendencies as human beings. The goal in life is not to change who we are at our core but to consistently live in alignment with our true and divine identity as sons and daughters of God, operating within our value system.
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