Brain vs Mind - How and why the difference impacts mental health

Body or Spirit:
Brain or Mind
“The spirit and the body are the soul of
man.”
D&C 88:15

Four components
of the soul
according to
Hebrew
Psychology
Definitions for Heart, Mind,
Might, and Strength are taken
from the book “Teach the
Children” by Neil J. Flinders,
pages 123-129, Book of
Mormon Research
Foundation, 1990.

If the soul is the body and spirit
combined, it stands to reason that
each of these components include
spiritual and physical characteristics.
As we consider implications for
mental and emotional health, we will
focus on the spiritual and physical
mind and the spiritual and physical
heart.

What is the mind? How does the
mind differ from the brain?
These questions have become recent topics of
investigation in brain research. Neuropsychiatrist
Daniel J. Siegel, MD, is a researcher in this field. He
has offered some defining features of the mind
that illuminates how, what, when, where, and even
why of who we are, of what the mind is, and what
the mind’s self has the potential to become. He
explains his conclusion thus far:
The mind is not the same as the brain, but one
aspect of the mind is the brain and the whole
body and our sociality.”
- Dr. Dan Siegel, UCLA clinical psychiatry professor,
neuropsychiatrist, and author

Dr. Siegel’s discovery is consistent with
the philosophy of the French priest
over a century ago. Pierre Teilhard de
Chardin is credited with the famous
quote:
“We are not human beings
having a spiritual experience.
We are spiritual beings having
a human experience.”

The idea of spiritual beings
having a human experience is
not just a philosophy anymore.
Neuroscientists have
confirmed the mind is
something that goes beyond
the brain and nervous system.
There is an unexplained state
of consciousness that goes
beyond the physical structures
of the mortal body.
How do these discoveries
impact research about mental
and emotional health?

• We understand the brain and
nervous system are
susceptible to injury and
disease, but what about the
mind, this state of
consciousness that scientists
know so little about?
• What influence can the mind
have on our mental health?
• What influence does the brain
and nervous system have on
the activities of the mind?

• Finding answers to these
questions is fundamental to
understanding our true
identity. There is something
about each one of us that
goes deeper than our
mortal frame.
• Even the term “mental
health” can become
problematic if we connect
the condition of the brain to
one’s character or identity.
• Physical health, disease, or
injury does not define who
we are. We are something
more.

The Prophet Joseph Smith equated the mind
with our spirit when he said:
“the soul—the mind of man—the immortal
spirit”*
The footnote in the reference above provides clarity
to this statement. In 1916, the First Presidency of
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
added:
“It appears to be very clear that the Prophet had in
mind the intelligence, when he said, “the soul—the
mind of man—the immortal spirit,” was not created or
made . . . It was the doctrine of the Prophet, and is of
the Church, that the spirits of men are begotten sons
and daughters of God.” *
*Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 352-3; **Smith,
Joseph Fielding, Man: HIs Origin and Destiny, p. 255-257

President Joseph Fielding Smith later taught:
“The mind is not the brain . . .the mind is in
the spirit which inhabits the body”**
The doctrine is clear. The mind is separate
from the brain and nervous system. When
we understand the origin of our true
identity, we can say with confidence that
illness and injury to the nervous system
have not and will not ever be able to define
who we are.
Injury to the nervous system or illness in
the cerebral hemisphere may influence the
spirit’s capacity to express itself, but it will
never replace our true identity as children of
God.

Brain and Nervous
System Anatomy
To make a distinction between
mind and brain, it is helpful to
understand something about the
physical structures of the brain and
nervous system.
While this system is complex with
many intricate structures, we can
narrow them down to five basic
structures that have a direct
impact on mental and emotional
health.

#1 Prefrontal
Cortex
The frontal lobe or prefrontal cortex
is the area of the brain the houses
personality. It is made up of both
gray and white matter. This area
helps us know what we feel and
figure out what’s going on
emotionally inside. This is the part of
the brain that gives meaning to the
emotions we feel. Damage to this
area can cause personality changes,
impaired judgment, memory loss,
and reduced motor control and
language expression, depending on
the specific region affected.

#2 Left Brain
The upper lobes of the brain can be divided
into right and left hemispheres. Just behind
the prefrontal cortex are the parietal lobes.
Key functions of this area include
integrating sensory information about
touch, temperature, and pain. It combines
input from the senses to represent the body
and its location in space. It will guide
actions and movements in response to
these sensations. It also plays a role in
selecting attention and helping the mind
focus on relevant stimuli.
The left brain is used for logic and reason.
It is associated with language skills, speech
production and remembering words. This
area is not fully developed at birth. It
continues to grow and develop through
childhood and into adolescence.

#3 Right Brain
The right side is considered more
emotional and nonverbal. This area is
predominant in children under the
age of eight. It is the area that
processes social cues such as voices,
facial expressions and gestures and is
essential in creating social
connections. Activities such as
intuition, creativity, and imagination
occur in the right brain.
This area is important for regulating
stress and emotions and learning to
thrive in relationships. Adverse
childhood experiences (ACEs) can
have a lasting impact on
social/emotional health unless proper

#4 Mid-brain and
Limbic System
This area of the brain regulates
behavioral and emotional
responses, especially those needed
for survival. Structures of the limbic
system include the hypothalamus,
thalamus, amygdala, hippocampus,
and olfactory bulbs.
It is now known that the limbic
system is involved in the processing
and regulating of emotions,
learning, the formation and storage
of memories, reproduction, and
caring for young. The limbic system
is important in the body’s response
to stress.

#5 Vagus Nerve
The Vagus nerve is your communication
highway between the brain and the
heart/gut. It is the software that operates
the hardware of your vital organs. It begins
at the bottom of your brain stem and travels
through your body, touching every major
organ, and stopping at your abdomen.
Simply put—it’s the pathway between your
brain and your body. The Vagus Nerve is a 2-
way information highway instructing the
biochemistry of the brain what to do with
our hormones and neurotransmitters
The Vagus Nerve is used for survival. It
helps the body move between a state of
stress (fight or flight mode) and a state of
relaxation and rest. When you have good
vagal tone, you are more emotionally
resilient.

• The mind belongs to our spirit. It is connected to
the perfect DNA we inherited for heavenly parents.
• The mind is where we find our WILL, our
INTELLIGENCE, and our ability to REASON
• The mind responds to light and truth and can
become darkened when light and truth are taken
away.
• The mind is a tool to help us exercise our agency
The mind helps us
:
• Gather information
• Discern between right and wrong, truth and error
,
light and darkness
• Develop healthy or unhealthy thinking patterns
• Store information and abilities learned through
experience
Mind vs Brain

The Brain and Nervous System belong to our
physical body. It needs ongoing nourishment to
be healthy. It is subject to injury, disease, and
decay
Physical ailments of the Brain and Nervous
System produce symptoms of:
• Prolonged fight or flight responses
• Lack of concentration or focus
• Poor mental integration
• Misperceptions
• Anxiety and Depression
• Personality Disorders
• Gut Dysbiosis
• Heightened reactions
Mind vs Brain

Symptoms
of Burn Out
in the Brain
and Nervous
System
• Headaches
• Vertigo
• Feeling detached, episodes of dissociation
• Stomach aches, intestinal issues
• Procrastination
• Rumination (past experiences continue to replay in
your mind)
• Withdrawal or isolation
• Helplessness or Hopelessness
• Using substances or addictions to cope with stress
• Sense of failure / self-doubt
• Changes in appetite or sleep
• Brain fog or fatigue
• Chronic anxiety / depression
• Reduced performance

These symptoms
suggest nervous system
injury or burnout.
They are NOT character
flaws or identity disorders,
but instead a way for your
body to signal you to
change your lifestyle, meet
your emotional needs, or
seek out a remedy for the
stress.

A Word about Mental Illness
“Sometimes I wonder if the ‘desolating
sickness’ covering the land, as mentioned
in the scriptures, might include mental
illness. It is world-wide, covering every
continent and culture, and affecting all -
young, old, rich, and poor. Members of the
Church has not been excluded.
The following excerpt from Elder Kopischke’s General
Conference address provides helpful clarification for
anyone who struggles with mental health challenges

“At the same time, our doctrine teaches us
to strive to become like Jesus Christ and be
perfected in Him. Our children sing”, “I’m
Trying to Be Like Jesus.” We long to be
perfect even as our Heavenly Father and
Jesus Christ are perfect.
“Because mental illness can interfere with
our perception of perfection, it remains all
too often a taboo. As a result, there is too
much ignorance, too much silent suffering,
and too much despair. Many, feeling
overwhelmed because they do not meet
perceived standards, mistakenly believe
they have no place in the Church.

“To combat such deception, it is important to
remember that “the Savior loves each of His
Father’s children. He fully comprehends the
pain and struggle that many experience as
they live with a broad range of mantal health
challenges. He suffered ‘pains and afflictions
and temptations of every kind; . . taking upon
him the pains and sicknesses of his people’.
“Because HE understands all afflictions, He
knows how to ‘heal the broken hearted”.
Challenges often indicate a need for additional
tools and support and are not a character
defect.”
Elder Erich W. Kopischke, Addressing Mental
Health
October 2021 General Conference

Three Levels of Mental Health
Challenges
As we experience challenges to our mental and emotional health, we can pray for the spirit of
discernment to know which level of challenge we are coping with. In all three levels, we can exercise our
agency in a manner that allows us to learn and grow from our experiences.
Stress and Adversity Trauma and Injury Disorders and Disabilities

Stress and Adversity
No one is immune to the stress and
adversity of mortality. It is the common
lot of all mankind. Nevertheless, through
obedience to the principles of the gospel
of Jesus Christ, we can be strengthened in
adversity.
As we enter into sacred covenants with
God through proper priesthood
channels, we are given strength beyond
our own to cope with these challenges.

Trauma and Injury
All emotional traumas are stressful, but
not all stress is trauma. An emotionally
traumatic experience can be defined as
an adversity that overwhelms the
nervous system’s ability to cope causing
it to shut down.
To heal from emotionally traumatic
events, it is helpful to seek out
professional counseling to find tools that
will heal the brain and nervous system.
Obedience to gospel principles will serve
as a foundational support to healing
from trauma.

Neurodiversity, Disorders,
and Disabilities
Imperfect DNA and environmental
factors outside our control may
contribute to neurodiversity, disorders,
and disabilities in the brain and nervous
system. Even in these circumstances, we
can live a full and successful life.
We can exercise agency to determine how
to respond to these challenges.
Professional and loving guidance offer
essential support. Our hearts and
characters will continue to develop
according to the wisdom of God.

While discussing the development of our
minds, hearts, and characters, it is
important to remember that ailments of
the mortal body may limit the ability of the
spirit to express itself. Like any other illness
or handicap, this limitation is not due to a
lack of character.
At the same time, strength of character
allows you to use choose to face these
challenges with dignity. We can find hope
as we endure the limitations of our mortal
tabernacle in this life, and we are promised
that all things will be consecrated for our
good.

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