Mosiah 16:3
3 For they are carnal and devilish, and the devil has power over them; yea, even that old serpent that did beguile our first parents, which was the cause of their fall; which was the cause of all mankind becoming carnal, sensual, devilish, knowing evil from good, subjecting themselves to the devil.
* At first glance this scripture seems to say that man became carnal or natural because the devil has power over him, but that is only part of it. The devil caused Adam and Eve to fall which means that they fell from their parasitical glory they enjoyed in the Garden of Eden. The fall itself caused man and the whole earth to fall to a telestial state which brought upon the world a carnal mind and further ability to be tempted by Satan and his followers.
Alma 42
6 But behold, it was appointed unto man to die–therefore, as they were cut off from the tree of life they should be cut off from the face of the earth–and man became lost forever, yea, they became fallen man.
7 And now, ye see by this that our first parents were cut off both temporally and spiritually from the presence of the Lord; and thus we see they became subjects to follow after their own will.
10 Therefore, as they had become carnal, sensual, and devilish, by nature, this probationary state became a state for them to prepare; it became a preparatory state.
* The natural man is brought about because we were separated from God and his direct influence. Remember, that in order for us to grow we had to have that separation. We are also subject to our own wills, which can be swayed by either good or evil, thus bringing about the needed growth we came to earth for.
Mosiah 3:19
19 For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father.
* Here we find the key to be transformed from a natural man and to become a saint and son or daughter of God. We will remain natural or in the same state that the fall brought upon ourselves, “unless he yields to the enticing of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man.” This yielding and putting off, will cause us to become “as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father.”
1 Corinthians 2:11, 14
11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
* So what is it that makes us natural or carnal and that is the absence of the spirit of God.
* We are a perfect vessel and heir of all that the Father hath, but we must learn to become that perfect vessel of righteousness and it will not be easy. The below quote is long but shows the importance of us putting in the effort needed to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling like our Savior and Father in Heaven did as well.
Joesph Smith
The King Follett Sermon
https://www.lds.org/ensign/1971/04/the-king-follett-sermon?lang=eng
These are the first principles of consolation. How consoling to the mourners when they are called to part with a husband, wife, father, mother, child, or dear relative, to know that, although the earthly tabernacle is laid down and dissolved, they shall rise again to dwell in everlasting burnings in immortal glory, not to sorrow, suffer, or die any more, but they shall be heirs of God and joint heirs with Jesus Christ. What is it? To inherit the same power, the same glory and the same exaltation, until you arrive at the station of a god, and ascend the throne of eternal power, the same as those who have gone before. What did Jesus do? Why, I do the things I saw my Father do when worlds came rolling into existence. My Father worked out His kingdom with fear and trembling, and I must do the same; and when I get my kingdom, I shall present it to My Father, so that He may obtain kingdom upon kingdom, and it will exalt Him in glory. He will then take a higher exaltation, and I will take His place, and thereby become exalted myself. So that Jesus treads in the tracks of His Father, and inherits what God did before; and God is thus glorified and exalted in the salvation and exaltation of all His children. It is plain beyond disputation, and you thus learn some of the first principles of the gospel, about which so much hath been said.
When you climb up a ladder, you must begin at the bottom, and ascend step by step, until you arrive at the top; and so it is with the principles of the gospel—you must begin with the first, and go on until you learn all the principles of exaltation.
Craig
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