Commodities and Currencies – What?

Exploring D&C 84:27 – Carnal vs. Non-Carnal Laws, Boundaries, Guidelines, and Expressions

During a recent Sunday School lesson, a passage from Doctrine and Covenants 84:27 sparked a cascade of thoughts that caught even me off guard. My initial reaction led me down a rabbit hole of reflection—one that I’m still exploring.

The verse references the “carnal commandments,” and my mind immediately began likening “carnal” to commodity-based or physical expressions—things like the Ten Commandments or the 613 traditional Jewish laws. These are tangible, actionable, and measurable.

But then I wondered: what about the non-carnal? Could these be emotional, mental, or spiritual expressions—like time, attention, thoughts, or feelings? These are less visible, often not directly actionable, and perhaps more influenced by the soul than the body.

This led me to consider how modern systems—especially those involving gamification or value capture—attempt to equalize non-physical currencies (like attention or engagement) with physical or commodity-oriented ones. It’s fascinating how these systems assign value to things that are inherently intangible, and how context can either elevate or devalue these expressions.

I haven’t distilled all of this into a single takeaway yet, but I wanted to share where my thoughts exploded. Thank you to those who helped provide the context that sparked this journey—I’m grateful for what I caught and curious about where it might lead.