Someone took a full body picture of me this week and when I looked at it, I thought, woah, I’m starting to really look different.

Bodies are so interesting from an earthly perspective, because there is so much pressure, especially for women, to constantly be losing weight, “getting your body back”, or fitting into old jeans or dresses.

But from an eternal perspective, bodies take on a whole new meaning.

We agreed to come to earth, to deal with the terrible trials and heartaches we knew we would face, all to get a body (and everything that accompanies obtaining a body).

And those spirits who chose Lucifer’s plan instead?

Their PUNISHMENT was to never receive a body.

Your skin, your heart, your bones, your muscles, your blood…

Your body is one of the biggest blessings and gifts you’ve been given.

And when we have to leave this life and are separated from our bodies again?

I think we’ll miss them.

Until:

“Their sleeping dust was to be restored unto its perfect frame, bone to his bone, and the sinews and the flesh upon them, the spirit and the body to be united never again to be divided, that they might receive a fulness of joy.” D&C 138:17

Being reunited with our beautiful bodies will allow us to receive a fullness of joy.

Sure, bodies aren’t always totally awesome.

Mine actually is causing me a lot of grief, pain, and issues right now, while I simultaneously feel gratitude for sustaining new life.

And our bodies will be “perfected” when we are reunited with them again.

But what our bodies look like or what size we wear is so far from the point in the eternal scheme of things.

What our bodies do, what our bodies allow us to experience, from emotions, to service, to fun, to breathing, to learning, to worship, and everything between…

Getting the opportunity to do these things in a body, created by God, allows us to experience joy here on earth, and obtain a fullness of joy in the world to come.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Bodies, baby bumps, and blessings first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

We need hands that are virtually always doing something.

We need flashy white teeth to help eat and enjoy yummy treats.

We need super smart brains that are always planning and learning.

We need legs that actually get us going to different places.

We need elbows to remind us that even when we feel pain, it’s okay to still laugh and be funny.

We need every body part.

Some body parts are strange shapes. Some get all dolled up with makeup.

Some body parts have hundreds of different uses. Some do the same thing with consistency.

My nose would be of no use to me if it wanted to walk like my feet. I prefer my nose to be really awesome at being a nose.

“Also the body hath need of every member, that all may be edified together, that the system may be kept perfect.” D&C 84:110

But right before that verse, a warning.

“Let every man stand in his own office, and labor in his own calling;

“and let not the head say unto the feet it hath no need of the feet; for without the feet how shall the body be able to stand?” D&C 84:109

The warning is to each of us and it is serious.

Do we, whatever part we may play, think that we have no need of someone who is different than us?

That we need to make friends with people who are super similar to us?

That if everyone were a little more like us, the church would be even better?

That is not true.

We need everyone. We need everyone exactly how they are right now.

Every strength. Every weakness. Every quirk. Every struggle. Every personality. Every background.

Not just to make a nice church cuz diversity is cool.

But to make a PERFECT church.

Perfect is often synonymous with “whole”, “complete”, or “mature”.

We aren’t broken if we differ from “the norm”.

We are needed exactly the way that we are in order to make a small part of a complete body.

We are needed to perform a function that only we can.

We are needed to edify each other in ways we don’t even realize.

We need everyone, and our biggest downfall will be if we start thinking we don’t.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post We need all the body parts first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.