Reality?

One result of conventional existentialism is a generalized popular concern and angst over the nature of reality, or more specifically what reality is perceived to be.  Questioning the nature of reality is something that has been the great ambition of noble philosophers since Plato and in heralding the Modern age René Descartes.  This noble ambition of great thinkers has, unfortunately, due to the influence of less than noble thinkers specifically Friedrich Nietzsche, led to the abolition of any kind of absolute reality to the perilous situation where today, this sort of nihilism denies all truth.  But concerning reality, it is popularly misconceived by a world who uses the word reality to designate what those of the LDS faith call a natural state lived by the natural man. "For the natural man is an enemy to God..."Mosiah 3:19

This "natural” state is one at its most base morally, without any virtue, is a slave to pleasure, and is fundamentally ruled by those things carnal and bestial. One may sink to it at any moment and be on a level with beasts with like behaviors or one may rise to the divine potential in all with like behaviors to the Divine. This confusion includes, beyond this primordial bestial state, that has the behavior of animals, that which fundamentally constitutes the “worldly.”  The “worldly” involves such things and such ideas that are manipulative, destructive and of very finite value limited only to the temporal such as ephemera to deceive.  Misconstrued conceptions of a "harsh reality" do in fact play a major role in the human experience as there must be adversity in all things for progression, growth and prosperity, but to know truth one must understand the difference between that which is bestial and carnal and inclusive of the ills of a worldly state of being and not refer to it as something it is not. 

These truths are absolute to those who understand them synonymously with eternity- a state of everlasting reality.  And the carnal and the “worldly” have done a service to those wishing to authenticate the very true nature of just what are the principles of universal reality.  This service is done when one might simply consider all that is present in the state of existence of the natural man and all that constitutes the “worldly” in the “world,” this being from the most nuanced to the most grievous infractions of the harmonious universal laws of God, and merely take that which does not fall into the crevices of the natural man, take that which is not sucked into the lures of the “worldly” like some giant vacuum collecting the dust of the finite conditions of the mortal sphere, and take that which remains as pure reality.

This would firstly include the eternal as opposed to the mortal; this would constitute the real as opposed to the artificial or the man-made, and that, which is the creation of God and not the arbitrary construction of humanity for the sake of itself.  Being eternal and real, it must involve those things that will transcend mortal reality to a higher plateau as all pass from this realm of existence.  As each of us pass on, what could possibly join us on our journey to constitute that, which is real? 

Love.  The love of those close and for humanity in general.  Understanding; a level of wisdom gained in mortality as one is fully armed and absorbed with universal as well as personal truths, the kind of truths that make their mark and once experienced do not dissipate.  One brings learning, learning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ as well as the strength and fortitude that comes with the strong mind well adjusted to learning for its own sake, a mind that can be depended upon that does not idly dwell in negativity or lazy thought but a mind accustomed to deep thinking and one more able to penetrate to deeper truths of the pure reality it is so conducive for.   

It is a truth that we as Latter-Day Saints are admonished to be aware and beware of the things of this “world” and that “The natural man is an enemy to god.”  We must, in this lifetime, invest in those things that are of lasting reality and not waste precious time on that, which will be worthless sooner than later and having no place in the eternities.  We might focus on our familial and healthy and productive friendly relationships, we must seek truth always, to be on a path of truth, this is a certain reality attainable in this life to set a course for eternal existence that is of the most worth and meaning and will serve those who tred it well. 

Keep the mind alive.  Keep active in activities, never be idle.  Even if one is not predisposed to read the great works of humanity, from Plato to Jung, keep the mind active always by scriptural study and pondering the mysteries that will be revealed on a personal level.  And never let the mind slip into corrosive habits such as resentments but keep the mind strong to prepare to meet God who will see someone of truth and someone who is grounded in those things real, ready for the greatest of eternal beginnings that await those who have already transcended the “world” for a reality that is now already familiar, the real reality, a pure state, where one will dwell forever, without time, with every possibility possible.