Worldly, Worldliness

From The Encyclopedia of Mormonism

See this page in the original 1992 publication.

Author: Chidester, C. Richard

Latter-day Saints use the term "world" to refer to the planet Earth as well as to the social conditions created by those who live carnal, sensuous, and lustful lives (MD, p. 847). Worldly refers to people whose thoughts and interests are engrossed in fleeting, temporal pursuits of mortality such as power, success, gain, or pleasure.

Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world" (John 18:36), and "I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). In endeavoring to follow his example, Latter-day Saints seek to overcome the world as he did by valuing spiritual wealth and eternal treasures above earthly goods and attainments.

The apostle Paul defined worldly pursuits as "adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: …they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God" (Gal. 5:19-21). In contrast, the things of God or the fruits of the spirit are "love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance" (Gal. 5:22-23).

Just as the Father sent Jesus into the world, the Savior sent his disciples into the world (John 17:18). Latter-day Saints, therefore, do not believe in asceticism-a withdrawal from the world in an effort to avoid worldliness and to obtain spirituality. Their commission is to be in the world but not of the world, to improve the quality of life on earth by such things or activities as rearing good children, pursuing education, expanding their knowledge of all truth, contributing to the well-being of members of their communities, and sharing the gospel with others. Through example and precept, they seek to encourage all people to put off worldliness and become spiritually reborn by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel. In summary, LDS doctrine cautions that "Men drink damnation to their own souls except they humble themselves and become as little children,…putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the Atonement of Christ the Lord" (Mosiah 3:18-19).

[edit] Bibliography

Nibley, Hugh W. Approaching Zion. In CWHN 9. Salt Lake City, 1989.

C. RICHARD CHIDESTER

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