The Truth of Simplicity

As I have been studying various topics of interest I have seen a pattern of truth emerge. It started by reading The Headgate which spoke of simplifying our homes by getting rid of the excess stuff we all have.

• The “enriching home environment is not difficult to create. A home of this nature has nothing unique in it that any other good home does not have. But I think you will find that the difference between this sort of home and many other good homes is found in the things that it does not have.”
  

Then I started to read a book called Disease-Proof Your Child: Feeding Kids Right about what the average americans diet consists of and what it should consist of to provide good health.

• “Modern societies live mostly on processed foods. These foods have been developed to meet the requirements of mass production, shelf life, economics, and taste acceptance. These “fake foods” no longer resemble in any way the nutritional characteristics of real food made by nature (p.7). “
  
• “Though many think that disease is the result of genetics or bad fortune, the reality is that for the vast majority, we will get what we have earned. Our body is formed from the foods we have consumed in our life. A body made from refined foods, white flour, oils, sugar, and other highly processed “fake” food develops into a sickly human, with allergies and autoimmune diseases…(p.8)”
  
• “Americans eat only 5 percent of calories from fruits, vegetables, beans, and unprocessed nuts and seeds, the foods that contain the necessary nutrients to maintain normal health (p.12).”

In spiritual matters the standard answers to what we should do daily to promote spiritual heath are: pray, study scriptures, and emulate Jesus Christ (What would Jesus Do?/Choose the Right).

• “Pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17).”
  
• “Therefore ye must always pray unto the Father in my name (3 Nephi 18:19).”
  
• “Pray always, that you may come off conqueror; yea, that you may conquer Satan, and that you may escape the hands of the servants of Satan that do uphold his work (D & C 10:5).”
  
• “We should each study the scriptures every day. We should share these truths with our children. We should read the standard works with our children so they will learn to love them and use them for the truths they contain.
  If we desire to avoid the evils of this world, we must feed our minds with the truth and righteousness found in the scriptures (Gospel Principles p.49).”
  
• “Studying the scriptures, praying regularly, and living the gospel of Jesus Christ are works of righteousness, and the Lord has revealed this wonderful promise: ‘He who doeth the works of righteousness shall receive his reward, even peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to come’ (Things Pertaining to Righteousness).”

Finally, my husband works at a gold mine so I have thought about gold as well lately. The more refined and pure gold has less dross.

• Main Entry: dross
  Pronunciation: \ˈdräs, ˈdrȯs\
  Function: noun
  Etymology: Middle English dros, from Old English drōs dregs
  Date: before 12th century
  1 : the scum that forms on the surface of molten metal
  2 : waste or foreign matter : IMPURITY
  3 : something that is base, trivial, or inferior
  http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dross

In all these examples of simplicity, whole/real, basics, and refining the pattern of truth is revealed. Less is more, we need to get rid of the dross in our all areas of our lives to live meaningful, healthy, joyful, real, pure lives and stop living in the fake constructs of our society. This is the path to true freedom.

Just so you know…. I have a long way to go! Hope you will join me on this journey!