About the word temporal - 06-13-2010

Here's another crack at it.
I have to write this stuff down somewhere...

Some new things that I've been thinking about:

Physical things are worthless. Cars, houses, money, etc. seem nice to have, but they aren't of any lasting worth.

Recently a young woman at church expressed her excitement for an upcoming youth conference, saying that she was looking forward to growing "spiritually and temporally". I can fathom the term "spiritual growth", but "temporal growth" does not make sense. At least not to me. I have come to the conclusion that either she understands something that I don't about time (which is the root of the word temporal) or she mistakes the word temporal to mean something else entirely.

This brings me to consider the concept of time and the meaning of the word temporal, as it is used in scripture. Many passages speak of spiritual and temporal blessings. I think it is a mistake to equate the word temporal with the word physical. Although the terms physical and temporal are related, they are not the same thing.

As far as I can tell, we can associate the word "time" only with something that has some sort of existence; usually one that has a beginning and an end. And even at that, it can only be measured relative to something. e.g. revolutions of the earth, or orbital periods, etc. Perhaps the word "temporal", as used in the scriptures, could be replaced with the phrase, "timely", "perishable", or "bound to time". So the phrase "temporal blessings" would be rendered "blessings that are perishable, or bound to time".

Thus temporal things are as it were "fleeting" treasures. Things that have a limited life span, things that will eventually cease to exist in their current state, crumble, rot and degrade. "Temporal" things are therefore not of any real eternal worth since they will always eventually fade. The only things that are eternal are those that are spiritual in nature. Perhaps the word spiritual can be synonymous with the phrase "not bound to time, or "non-perishable". As the Master said: "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

Brigham Young once said (paraphrased) "The goods of this earth were meant for the comfort of man and not his adoration." So next time we catch ourselves thinking about how to make more money, get our hands on the latest electronic gadget or sports car, perhaps we should consider what kind of treasure we are trading our "time" for.
In the words of Alma: "...behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the night of darkness wherein there can be no labor performed."

That time spent convalescing on getting "corruptible treasure" or as Hugh Nibley puts it "counterfeit treasure" could have been used more productively in cultivating "the real thing".

And what is the "real thing?" Consider: Love, Faith, Hope, Charity, Courage, Joy, Knowledge, Wisdom, Integrity. These are not temporal nor perishable, but spiritual and eternal. These are the true treasure of life. I only pray that I can practice what I preach. :-)