Mosiah 3:19

Putting Off the Natural Man

Do you ever feel frustrated by your mistakes or inability to keep all of God’s commandments? King Benjamin referred to our imperfect nature as “the natural man.” He taught that we can overcome this through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. The purpose of this lesson is to help you seek the Savior’s help in overcoming your fallen nature.

Our fallen natures

President Dallin H. Oaks of the First Presidency recounted the following story:

A wise Cherokee, one of the indigenous tribes in the United States, told his grandson a parable about life. “Inside me there is a terrible fight between two wolves,” the grandfather said. “One is evil: full of anger and envy, self-pity and sorrow, greed and lies. The other is good: full of kindness and compassion, humility and truth, love and joy. That fight is going on inside each of us.” “Which wolf will win?” the grandson asked. (Dallin H. Oaks, “Choices,” For the Strength of Youth, Sep. 2021, 13; story adapted from Shayne M. Bowen, “Agency and Accountability,” New Era, Sep. 2012, 8)

• If you were the grandfather, how might you respond to your grandson’s question?

• How have you noticed this struggle between the “two wolves” in yourself?

In the story President Oaks shared, the response of the grandfather to his grandson’s question about which wolf would win was, “The one you feed.”

As part of his final address to the Nephites, King Benjamin taught truths that an angel revealed to him about our fallen nature and how it affects our relationship to God.

Read Mosiah 3:19, looking for how King Benjamin described someone who has characteristics like those illustrated by the first wolf in the story.

Mosiah 3:19 is a doctrinal mastery passage.  Consider marking doctrinal mastery passages distinctively so you can locate them easily. You will have an opportunity in the next lesson to practice applying the doctrine taught in this passage to a question or situation.

• What did you discover?

Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:

To some degree, the natural man described by King Benjamin is alive and well in each of us. The natural man or woman is unrepentant, is carnal and sensual, is indulgent and excessive, and is prideful and selfish. (David A. Bednar, “We Believe in Being Chaste,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2013, 42)

• Why do you think the natural man is an enemy to God?

• What might it mean to “feed” the natural man or woman inside all of us?

Think about some of the ways you notice the attitudes or behaviors of the natural man or woman in your life. As you continue to study, look for teachings that can help you in your efforts to overcome these attitudes and behaviors.

Overcoming the natural man

Read Mosiah 3:19 again, this time looking for what King Benjamin taught about how we can overcome the natural man.

• What did you learn from this verse that can help you overcome the natural man?

From Mosiah 3:19, we learn that by yielding to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, we can overcome the natural man and become saints through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

1. Answer the following questions:

   • How do you think Jesus Christ can help us put off the natural man and become a saint through His Atonement?

   • What do you think it means to yield to the enticings of the Holy Spirit? How do you think doing this can help you overcome the natural man?

Using cross-references to deepen your understanding

Using cross-references is a scripture study skill that can help deepen your understanding of a scripture passage. Practice this skill by finding cross-references that deepen your understanding of the teachings in Mosiah 3:19.

Consider finding cross-references by searching for the term “natural man” or other key words from Mosiah 3:19 in the Gospel Library app. You could also look up some of the scripture references and topics listed in the footnotes for Mosiah 3:19.

Another option is to study some or all of the following scripture passages:

• Galatians 5:16–17

• Mosiah 27:25–26

• Alma 22:13–14

• Ether 12:27

• Doctrine and Covenants 11:12–13

2. Answer the following questions:

   • What were at least two cross-references you used for this activity?

   • How did these cross-references enhance your understanding of or appreciation for the teachings in Mosiah 3:19?

   • What did you learn about how the Savior can help us overcome the natural man and become a saint?

Applying it to your life

3. Complete the following:

   Now that you have learned more about what it means to put off the natural man and become a saint through the Savior’s Atonement, think about how you can apply these teachings to your life. What is something you feel inspired to do or stop doing? Record your thoughts and impressions in your study journal.

Optional: Want to Learn More?

Why is it important for me to strive to put off the natural man?

Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:

The precise nature of the test of mortality, then, can be summarized in the following question: Will I respond to the inclinations of the natural man, or will I yield to the enticings of the Holy Spirit and put off the natural man and become a saint through the Atonement of Christ the Lord (see Mosiah 3:19)? That is the test. Every appetite, desire, propensity, and impulse of the natural man may be overcome by and through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. We are here on the earth to develop godlike qualities and to bridle all of the passions of the flesh. (David A. Bednar, “We Believe in Being Chaste,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2013, 43)

What if I feel discouraged in my efforts to overcome the natural man?

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:

Only [Satan] would say, “You can’t change. You won’t change. It’s too long and too hard to change. Give up. Give in. Don’t repent. You are just the way you are.” That, my friends, is a lie born of desperation. Don’t fall for it. (Jeffrey R. Holland, “How to Change,” Liahona, Feb. 2017, 60)

Brother Bradley R. Wilcox of the Sunday School General Presidency taught:

God loves us as we are, but He also loves us too much to leave us this way. Growing up unto the Lord is what mortality is all about. Change is what Christ’s Atonement is all about. Not only can Christ resurrect, cleanse, console, and heal us, but through it all, He can transform us to become more like Him. (Bradley R. Wilcox, “Worthiness Is Not Flawlessness,” Liahona, Nov. 2021, 61)