Originally from Idaho Falls, Idaho, Cory served a mission in Santa Maria, Brazil, graduated with a degree in accounting from Idaho State University, and lived in Boise, Idaho before settling in Pocatello, Idaho working as the CFO of a local credit union. The father of four, Cory has served as elders quorum counselor and president, Young Men counselor and president, ward executive secretary, Primary instructor, ward mission leader, and currently serves as the bishop of his ward.

Enter Cory…

Recently I decided it was time to place more energy and importance on my health, including weight management. Years of bad eating habits and poor exercise routines resulted in excess body weight that I knew over time could threaten my long-term health and goals for my future. I needed to change many things in my day-to-day life and alter my relationship with food and exercise. Through a lot of personal research, I developed a plan, changed my diet, and began frequenting the gym. I had great success for several months as I was using this method. I felt good. I saw results. Over time my focus became more lax, the stresses of life and a pandemic disrupted my new routines, and weight began to return. Initially the change was not perceptible to me. After several months I began to see the impacts, but I felt lost, without motivation, and unsure I could be successful if I tried again.

Laboring under this condition I found a program that closely mirrored what I had been doing before. I decided to join this program and follow it. Analyzing the program, I saw an eating plan that closely mirrored what I had successfully done before. I found workouts that followed the science I had come to trust. I also saw in this program a tool in the form of written plans that would help me find a baseline in those moments of lost focus. The program also included a private social media group of others also working on the program. Under this program I have had more success than I did on my own. I feel able to achieve my goals and persist in those new habits and routines.

As I ponder upon the impact this program has had on my life, it has been life changing in many ways. I share the program with nearly anyone who asks about my physical transformation. During the past several months, my mind has pondered the aspects of this program and how they may apply to a gospel setting. A few observations have come to me.

The Impact of Time

I see a parallel in my physical health journey and the journey we all experience with our spiritual health. I didn’t become out of shape overnight. That was the result of years of improper choices and habits. Some of those being simply the omission of positive actions on my part. Similarly, I have observed that most of our own spiritual health challenges stem from habits and routines over time. Few, if any, happen suddenly.

Breaking Unhealthy Cycles

Remedying the effects of poor health choices requires a change of habits and routines. Inertia must be broken. That requires energy, effort, and determination. Eating habits must be altered. Physical activity is planned and performed. Likewise, overcoming the effects of poor spiritual habits, including the effects of sin, requires energy, effort, and determination to change. My own experience indicates the level of dedication and energy to these changes can ebb over time. What begins with high motivation and excitement can become a grind and difficult.

Having a Support Team

Walking alone is a dangerous prospect. Not being sure of the best path to achieve my end goal led me to lose some focus and allowed some old habits to creep into my life that reversed some of my physical improvements. The addition of the private group that offers support has been critical to my continued success. In this group we share our successes and celebrate together. Of more import for me though, we also share our challenges and times we have failed. I am amazed to see a member of the group share that they have failed to follow their eating plans or workout plans and then see the comments of support and encouragement. Shared reminders that the person knows the baseline principles to reset and achieve their goals. Encouragement to put the past behind and not let that define their future.

As I think of spiritual matters relating to my experience, I see the hidden power of our quorums and classes. In our priesthood quorums and Relief Society we have our support network. We are all walking a path of spiritual health improvement. We are seeking to become spiritually stronger. To lose the weight of our sins and transgressions. To “deny [our]selves of all ungodliness.” To consistently walk this path we need support and encouragement. A brotherhood and sisterhood that supports us is essential. We celebrate with one another, but we also support in our challenges. We mourn with each other when setbacks occur, or we fail in our efforts to be consistent. We encourage each other to allow the effects of the Atonement of Jesus Christ to work in our lives. We share things that work for us, and we cheer others on as they experiment upon the word and find how it applies in their lives and circumstance. We seek the support of our brothers and sisters when we are feeling down, confused, exhausted, and frustrated.

An Open and Inviting Space

Creating safe space in our meetings where members feel supported to share their challenges is vital to our efforts to improve our spiritual state. Revealing our challenges and weaknesses can be terrifying. Showing our imperfections is humbling. As we share our own challenges, “confessing our sins” and seeking the support of like-minded friends, we grow and develop. We also help others grow and develop. We find we are not alone, and others realize they also are not alone. We give support and we receive support. In so doing, we become perfected in Christ and, as promised by Moroni, as we become perfected in Christ we will eventually become sanctified in Christ and achieve our ultimate goal of eternal life with our heavenly family.