Good morning, brothers and sisters.
I’ve been asked to speak about self-care in the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ. In the world, “self-care” can sound like spa days and screen breaks. Those can be fine, but the gospel invites us to see something deeper: self-care is sacred stewardship. Heavenly Father has entrusted us with a body and a spirit. How we care for them is part of how we love Him and follow His Son.
The Apostle Paul taught, “Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost… and ye are not your own? … therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” (1 Corinthians 6:19–20.) When I remember that my body is a temple and my spirit is a child of God, self-care becomes discipleship—not selfishness.
The Book of Mormon helps us live this kind of discipleship in three simple ways:
1) Be Self-Aware—Listen to Body and Spirit.
King Benjamin taught, “It is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength.” (Mosiah 4:27.) Self-awareness means noticing limits without shame. If we’re exhausted, we rest. If we’re overwhelmed, we simplify. If we’re spiritually dry, we seek the living water. The Lord doesn’t ask for burnout; He asks for a willing heart and wise effort.
2) Practice Self-Governance—Choose Daily Patterns with the Lord.
Alma counseled, “Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good.” (Alma 37:37.) Self-governance looks like small, steady choices:
- Body: Eat food that fuels, move your body, and get consistent sleep.
- Mind and Heart: “Bridle all your passions, that ye may be filled with love.” (Alma 38:12.) Set boundaries with screens and music; protect your thoughts so love can grow.
- Spirit: “Feast upon the words of Christ.” (2 Nephi 32:3.) Pray morning and night; read a little scripture daily; repent quickly.
3) Rely on the Savior—Let His Care Heal Your Care.
Alma taught that Christ would “take upon him… pains and sicknesses” so He could “succor his people.” (Alma 7:11–12.) We’re not meant to carry our struggles alone. When we come to Him, He strengthens both body and spirit. Nephi promised that if we keep the commandments, the Lord will nourish, strengthen, and provide a way (see 1 Nephi 17:3).
Now, a simple analogy: your phone and your spirit.
Most of us charge our phones every day. We watch the battery, close the apps, and connect to a strong signal so things load quickly. Spiritual life works similarly:
- Charging: Prayer, scripture, and the sacrament recharge us. No charge, no power.
- Closing Background Apps: Worry, constant noise, and tempting media drain us. Turn some of them off. Quiet makes room for the still, small voice.
- Strong Signal: Obedience and repentance strengthen our “spiritual Wi-Fi.” As we “watch and pray always” (3 Nephi 18:15), the Holy Ghost’s signal is clearer and our choices load faster with peace.
A brief example: This past [week/semester/season], I felt stretched—school, work, and family all at once. I tried a simple pattern: I set a bedtime, kept a short nightly prayer, read even just a few verses, and took a 10-minute walk each day. Nothing dramatic—but my “battery” stopped flashing red. I felt more patient at home and more focused at church. That experience taught me that true self-care is not escape; it’s preparation. When we care for the body and feed the spirit, we’re finally ready to care for others.
This matters especially on the Sabbath. The sacrament is the Savior’s invitation to start fresh. As we remember Him and take His name upon us, He renews our covenant power (see Moroni 4–5). He gave His body and His blood so we could be healed—physically, emotionally, spiritually. If He cared for us that completely, then surely we can care enough for ourselves to treat our bodies and spirits with respect.
Let me offer a simple invitation for this week:
- Choose one act of body-care (like a consistent bedtime, a water bottle that actually gets emptied, or a short walk).
- Choose one act of spirit-care (like one chapter from the Book of Mormon each day, or a real kneeling prayer).
Write them down. Counsel with the Lord about them (Alma 37:37). Then notice what changes—more peace, more strength, more love to share.
Brothers and sisters, self-care, self-awareness, and self-governance are not separate from the gospel; they are how the gospel shows up in our Monday through Saturday life. Built on Christ, the Rock (Helaman 5:12), our small, steady patterns will hold—especially when the winds blow.
I testify that as we care for our bodies as temples and our spirits as children of God, we will feel the Savior’s healing, and we will be more ready to lift the people around us. We will find that gospel self-care turns outward into Christlike service.
In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.