I am sure that some members have faced some confusion between the meaning of “walking by the Spirit” (Gal. 5: 16, 25) and obeying the laws of God, when faced with the claims by other Christians that faith is the only thing required and there is no law, or that we are not under the law because Jesus nailed that to the cross.  This can contribute to some confusion to those who are converts to the Church because for some or many, the influence from the world is still a factor in their lives and most other Christians are of the world. So is there understanding and resolution to these dilemmas?

When I read the words from Spencer W. Kimball, where he said, 

We did not come on earth to love ourselves, to appease our tempers, to satisfy our desires, lusts, longings. We came to subjugate the flesh-to make our minds and bodies do the things which the spirit knows are best in the long run. (emphasis mine)

Kimball, Spencer W., “Teachings of Spencer Kimball“, Chapter 9-”The Second Mile”.

I wondered how we are to subjugate the flesh when we are to walk by the Spirit, since the Spirit and the flesh (Gal 5:17 ) are at odds to each other and I wondered how faith works in regards to subjugating the flesh?

The gospel clearly says that we must abide in the principles, commandments, directions and teachings of God and these are set down to us through all the scriptures and taught by this Church. We know that faith is dead without works (action) and works is dead without faith. This says that there is a physical aspect to proper faith, as Abraham did perfect his faith by his righteous actions. The flesh is of mortality and all mortality is under God’s laws in order that it remain “organized” and “orderly”.    

To subjugate the flesh, means to place the flesh under some form of rule and order where it is made to abide. This is the reason for the commandments that pertain to behaviour and action in the flesh. To control lusts and flesh desires, a person must abide in the laws to succeed, as the affect of the law is subjugation of the flesh, to put the flesh under the law.  

If a person does not abide in God’s laws, then the flesh is not subjugated and the person becomes subject to the flesh or weak to the flesh since man has no power in and of himself to succeed spiritually.

The Spirit or Holy Ghost abides in God’s eternal laws and for the body or the flesh to be a tabernacle for the Spirit, the flesh must be in a clean state. If the flesh is under the laws of God and the person ensures that this is so, then he/she will be blessed by the presence Holy Spirit.  

Consider that to prepare yourself to receive the Spirit of God, fasting is practiced where there is no food or drink or sexual relations with your spouse for a period of time as you remained focused to the Father in worship, which is the worshiping in truth. This speaks about the “Law of Fasting”, ”Law of Worship” and the “Law of Chasity”. All of these laws place the flesh under the law and the result is a spiritual connection with God through his Spirit.

The “Word of Wisdom” where we are not to consume certain things is also a “law” by which the flesh is placed under. This too contributes to the subjugation of the flesh. To avoid lusts and certain desires of the flesh, is another means to subjugate the flesh which is placing it under the law.

These examples can go on, but I hope you have the idea of what I speak about. The flesh must be placed under the law in order that it become a temple for the Spirit and for a person to remain chaste, especially for the men who have the priesthood.

These are the actions of faith, in regards to the flesh. The actions toward God are different and this is where the differentiation occurs between the “law” and “faith”, and the Spirit vs the flesh.  

Toward God, one’s heart and mind must be focused, even as we do things. Proper thoughts and worship with prayer, etc and choosing the right all the time, to act and do righteously are acts of faith and this is the “walk by the Spirit”. These are things of the mind and heart, which are spiritual things.

Toward the flesh is the law, and toward God is faith.

This I believe is how it works.

Amen