Let’s Talk About Muscles

 Years ago I attended BYU Education Week with my kids. 

At the end of the first night they were super excited to try this one class — Anatomical Considerations: Muscles. I thought it sounded super boring. But I wanted to be with them and no other class was jumping out at me, so I joined them. 

I went into the class with low expectations and left with my mind blown! We had to go back the rest of the week to see what more fascinating things David Morton could teach us — a class on bones and a class on nerves were upcoming. (We unfortunately missed his punchline lecture the last night of the conference). 

In the class he described muscles in great detail. He explained their structure and their use. He showed amazing graphics and told engaging stories. In the end, he tied all of this fabulous knowledge into a simple gospel principle. 

The principle: To make muscles bigger, give them a heavier load.

Morton described it this way, “The only way to grow is to carry a greater load than you’re used to. As you increase the load, our bodies match it.” 

This is as true for spiritual muscles as it is for our physical muscles. He wants our spiritual muscles to grow. Opposition is literally a part of Heavenly Father’s plan for us.  This opposition isn’t only about trials and temptations, however; it’s about working out our minds spiritually. We can stay in primary our whole lives or we can strengthen our understanding with questions, new thoughts, and deeper discussions with others. 

Yesterday in Relief Society we talked about Elder Uchtdorf’s talk, Do Your Part with all Your Heart. The teacher demonstrated a couple of talents she used to have but no longer can do because of the lack of practice through the years. Her examples were speaking and writing Russian and computing complicated math problems. She (and Elder Uchtdorf) compared this to our discipleship as well. It takes consistent and daily work to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. 

We are meant to grow up in the Lord. Richard Rohr calls it the Second Half of our Spiritual Lives. We all can reach a point where we experience more of the Savior by digging a little deeper. 

This could be in studying a gospel topic that unsettles us or working out a strained relationship. 

This could be immersing ourselves in the scriptures daily or focusing on serving our neighbors in more inconvenient ways. 

This could be being more honest in our prayers or slowing down when life is moving too fast. 

There are a myriad of ways to strengthen our spiritual muscles. We just need to find the one that is calling to us. 

* * * * * 

Faith in Jesus Christ is a gift,​​​​ but receiving it is a conscious choice that requires a commitment of all our “might, mind and strength.”​​​​ It is a practice of every day. Every hour. It takes constant learning and determined commitment. Our faith, which is our loyalty to the Savior, becomes stronger as it is tested against the opposition we face here in mortality.​​​​ It endures because we keep nourishing it,​​​​ we keep actively applying it, and we never give up. — Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Oct. 2025