Our bodies are uniquely ours. Here are some ways to view them the way God does.
Our world constantly bombards us with images of “perfection.” Instagram models on a beach, makeup ads with acne-free skin, and tabloids advertising the newest weight loss routine all paint a picture of “ideal” bodies and appearances. It’s so easy to internalize these images and forget what our bodies truly are.
Photo by Jared Rice
In a conference talk entitled “The Sanctity of the Body,” Sister Susan W. Tanner talks about the divine nature of human bodies and how they are gifts from God. We are created in his image, and “the body is a gift to be treated with gratitude and respect.” She discusses multiple ways to do so.
One way we can show our bodies gratitude and learn to love them as divine gifts is to focus on how we treat them. For example, keeping ourselves spiritually and physically clean is a great way to respect our bodies. Additionally, when we’re clean, we are better able to view our bodies as beautiful works of art that are unique to us.
Another way to show our bodies love is to avoid anything that would poison them. Staying away from harmful substances is just one way to avoid damaging our bodies, and making sure to live a healthy lifestyle by eating well and exercising is a great way to show them the respect they deserve.
Our bodies are uniquely ours. Taking care of our bodies is the first step to loving them for what they are—a divine gift.
Read “The Sanctity of the Body” to hear the full message of how we can love our bodies for the divine gifts that they are.
Source: ChurchofJesusChrist.org
—Aaron Tobler, Latter-day Saint Insights
FEATURE IMAGE BY CHELA B
Find more insights
Check out “Rethinking Beauty: A Gospel Perspective on Body Image” by Hannah DeTavis to learn more about loving our bodies from a spiritual perspective.
Take a look at “Uprooting Negative Body Image” by Sarah Riley to learn more about how we can view our bodies as God views them.